N foot-activated controller (70) that communicateswith at least one medical device (96) is dis-closed.This controller (70) may incorporate a number offeatures. Multiple displays (90) may be positioned onthe controller (70) for depicting the functionality of itsvarious actuators (82). Tapping or partially depressingan actuator (82) may cause an output that is representativeof its functionality to be generated on its correspondingcontroller display (90), while fully depressingan actuator (82) may initiate execution of its assignedfunction. The function assigned (84) to each of thevarious actuators (82) may be programmed by an externalcomputer (98) that may communicate with the controller(70) over an appropriate communication link (100) andvia a communication port (76) on the controller (70).Different audible feedbacks (86) may be assigned to thevarious actuators (82), for instance to provide an audibleindication of the function being executed.
