Historically medical device manufacturers, requiring a foot control as a human interface, have used a cabled unit that would plug-into the console of the device being operated.  Until recently, a “cabled” unit has been the only available option.

While these “cabled” solutions proved to be acceptable, many OEMs recognized that the cable presented some limitations.  These included:

• The cable posed a “tripping hazard” to personnel.
• The cable limited the location of the foot control relative to the location of its host medical device.
• The cable was typically the single most frequent point of failure … either from excessive stress at the strain relief, or due to damage to the cable (from being rolled-over by chairs, examination tables or equipment carts).
• The cable made it difficult to store and/or clean the foot control.

As a result of these issues, field experiences, and a proliferation of wireless equipment (e.g. cell phones, patient monitoring systems, computers, et al) many medical device OEMs asked if it was possible to eliminate the cable.  Wireless operation became the most frequently requested feature.