Many factors should be considered when choosing a medical foot control for your device. Design Engineers must know that the operation of a foot switch is often very critical to a procedure, so the look of the pedal cannot be the only consideration. Switch integrity and reliability has to be the most important factors due to the seriousness of the atmosphere it will be performing in.
Quite often the foot control is that last piece of the puzzle that has to be added and usually without a lot of time left to spare. This can pose a serious problem if shortcuts are taken to save time or money. The foot control is just as important to the integrity of the entire system as every other component because it acts as an interface between the system and the end user.
LINEMASTER KEY FEATURES
MEDICAL STANDARDS
CONTACT US
Many key features that Linemaster considers when designing a medical foot control are as follows:
- Medical standards
- Style of foot control
- Wired vs. Wireless
- Digital vs. Linear
- How many functions are required, push button option
- PCB vs. Mechanical
- Ergonomics, weight considerations, measurements
- Ingress Protection Rating
- Material of the foot control, base plate, channel, handle, base pads, divider bars
- Does it need to have a foot guard
- Handles, toe loops, ease of picking up and maneuverability
- Cable selection
- Gauge, flexibility, memory
- Connector selection
- Strain relief selection
- Cable management
- Traction
- foot traction considerations
- floor friction considerations
- Lighting (LED requirements)
- Surface finishes
- Marking (pad print, silk screen, labeling)
- Paint Type, texture
- Safety Features:
- Electronic lockout -vs- Mechanical Lock
- Positive stop design
- Magnetic Immunity
- Serviceability
- Testing required (Prototypes, Impact, Environmental, Shipping, Production, ATE)
- Traceability (serial labels, bar-coding, Intelligent p/n’s, date coding)
- Cleaning, Storage, Drainage
Medical Standards
When designing a medical foot control there are many things that must be into account. Certain criteria must be followed in order to produce an interface that meets the standards set forth by the Medical world. Deciding on things such as paint type and the weight of the foot switch may seem minor, but they can be critical to the acceptance of it in the field. Thinking of the end user and their surroundings will help in creating a foot control that is not only aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing, it will also be a functionally safe and reliable interface for them.
Linemaster has a list of medical standards that are followed when creating a medical grade foot control. The list is quite extensive, but the medical field requires a guarantee that the product is suitable for various applications and atmospheres. Each item listed in the categories below play an important role in the development of a quality interface that will be well received in the medical world. Linemaster’s practice is to follow all of these guidelines along with many others to create a top of the line medical grade foot control.
Material
- Stainless Steel Fasteners
- Foot Pad
- Diecast Metal Parts
- Base Pads & Rubber Feet
- Handles (Retractable & Fixed)
- Low Memory Cable
- High Impact Plastic
- Multiple Guard Selections
- Multiple Strain Relief Selections
- UL Approved Label Basestock
Cosmetics
- Powder Coat Paint
- Soft Colors
- Silk Screen images
- Serialized Labeling
- Molded Colors for Non paint finish
- Drainage Considerations
Extras
- Ergonomic Designs
- Weight Considerations
- Easy to Clean Switch & Cable
- Low Memory Cable
- Handles (Retractable & Fixed)
- Proper Pedal Hinge Position
- Fail Safe Technology – Positive Stop
- Magnetic Immunity
- Redundant Interior Design
- Tip Switches
Testing
- Automated Test Equipment
- Hipot Testing
- Water Testing
- Multiple Station Testing
- Drop Testing
- Cycle Testing to 1 million cycles
- Cable Flex Tester
- Pick up and drop Test
Compliances
- IEC/UL 60601.1
- EMC Directive EN60601-1-2
- EN60601-2-2
- EN60601-2-22
- EN60601-2-32
- ISO 13485
- EN60529 Degree of Protection IP68
- FDA 510(k)
- tin
Contact Us
LINEMASTER Switch Corporation
29 Plaine Hill Road, POB 328
Woodstock, CT 06281-0238 USA
www.linemaster.com
Telephone
(860) 974-1000
FAX:
(860) 974-0691
(800) 974-3668 (Toll Free US Only)
