Patent attributes
Disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods for preventing unintentional laser emission via an integrated foot controller having an electronic shroud that is implemented using electronics and software. The risk of unintentional laser emission is reduced by permitting laser emission via the pedal of the foot controller only at defined stages of surgical procedures, and by requiring that the user initiate control of laser emission by actuating existing switches on the foot controller in a specified sequence, such as a passcode unique to a particular user. Additionally, disclosed embodiments include one more proximity sensors useful to detect data indicative of the presence of the user's foot on the foot controller. Such data may be useful in determining whether the system should remain in a ready state for laser emission or whether the system should be taken out of ready state to reduce the risk of unintentional laser emission when the user's foot is not present.
