Abstract: A method and system of establishing communications between at least two independent software modules in a safety critical system, such as a medical system, is provided. The design comprises providing an exclusive Bluetooth connection between at least two wireless devices. A master wireless device is configured with Bluetooth master device functionality and a slave wireless device is configured with Bluetooth slave device functionality. The wireless devices are employed in performing procedures in a safety critical environment. The method further comprises acquiring a stored unique address from the slave wireless device over the Bluetooth connection, comparing the stored unique address to a master wireless device unique address available at the master wireless device, and exclusively pairing the master wireless device and the slave wireless device when the unique address acquired from the slave wireless device is found to identically match the master wireless device unique address.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the establishment of a wireless connection between an instrument host and a non-fixed device is provided. The method comprises acquiring the non-fixed medical device address over a fixed wire by replacing the traditional wireless searching mechanism. The method also comprises providing an authentication mechanism between the instrument host and the non-fixed device, for example, across a wireless communications network.

Abstract: A surgical footpedal includes a treadle size for receiving a user's foot and adapted for enabling depression thereof in order to activate signals for control of associated surgical apparatus. A vibrator is disposed on the treadle for vibrating the treadle at selected treadle depressions to provide sensory warning to the user that further treadle depression will cause a given event to occur. A bracket is provided for attaching the vibrator to the treadle for causing resonant vibration of the treadle and the vibrate.

Abstract: A surgical footpedal includes a treadle size for receiving a user's foot and adapted for enabling depression thereof in order to activate signals for control of associated surgical apparatus. A vibrator is disposed on the treadle for vibrating the treadle at selected treadle depressions to provide sensory warning to the user that further treadle depression will cause a given event to occur. A bracket is provided for attaching the vibrator to the treadle for causing resonant vibration of the treadle and the vibrate.