Transport system, medical technology arrangement and method for operating a transport system

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport system (4) for transporting patients (2) during an examination and / or treatment with a medical device (3), comprising at least one patient bed (6) for positioning a patient (2) and a transport device (7) with at least one actuator for moving the at least one patient bed (6). - from a preparation station (13) for placing the patient (2) on the patient bed (6) to the medical technology equipment (3) and - from the medical device (3) to a post-treatment station (18) for removing the patient (2) from the patient bed (6), wherein the transport device (7) is designed to move the at least one patient bed (6) along a predefined movement path (8) that is closed at least by including a path component (9) in the medical device (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a transport system for transporting patients during an examination and / or treatment with a medical device, comprising at least one patient bed for supporting a patient and a transport device with at least one actuator for moving the at least one patient bed from a preparation station for placing the patient on the patient bed to the medical device and from the medical device to a follow-up station for removing the patient from the patient bed.

[0002] Currently, the examination and / or treatment of patients is often limited by the capacity of the medical technology facility used for this purpose. It is therefore crucial to utilize this capacity as effectively as possible. For time-efficient examination and / or treatment of the patient using the medical technology facility, it is advantageous to conduct pre-examination and / or treatment preparation and follow-up after the examination and / or treatment away from the medical technology facility to avoid unnecessarily blocking the facility. Transport systems with one or more patient couches are typically used for this purpose.

[0003] The at least one patient couch is a support element on which the patient can be moved while lying down. During the examination and / or treatment of the patient with the medical technology device, the patient remains on the patient couch or one of the patient couches and does not need to be repositioned, which is advantageous if the patient needs to be positioned in a certain way or should not be moved due to physical constraints. Furthermore, additional devices for the examination and / or treatment, for example local coils for a magnetic resonance examination, can already be correctly positioned and connected in advance. The transport device for moving the at least one patient couch is or comprises a substructure of the at least one patient couch, which substructure has wheels and optionally also a drive for the wheels. Such a construction is also referred to as a patient table.

[0004] Common transport systems for transporting patients during an examination and / or treatment with a medical device involve the manual movement of at least one patient couch by trained personnel, which may be assisted by actuators. This is explained below: The patient is prepared for the examination and / or treatment at the preparation station. There, the patient can lie down on the patient couch or one of the couches or be placed on it by trained staff. The patient can then, if necessary, be secured in a defined orientation and / or position on the couch. Equipment required for the examination and / or treatment, such as measuring coils, can also be attached to the patient and / or the couch. The patient can be medically examined and / or treated, for example, with an infusion, during the preparation at the preparation station.

[0005] After preparation, the patient, along with at least one patient couch, is moved from the preparation station to the medical device by the transport device—i.e., the substructure that enables the movement of at least one patient couch—and the personnel. The examination and / or treatment follows in or at the medical device. This can be any medical device suitable for medical examination and / or treatment.

[0006] After the examination and / or treatment, the patient, along with at least one patient couch, is moved by staff and the transport device to the follow-up station. There, the patient can step off the patient couch or be removed from it in some other way, i.e., lifted off. During the follow-up, the staff can remove any previously attached equipment from the patient and / or the patient couch. It is also possible to clean the patient and / or the patient couch and / or the equipment used, for example, by disinfecting them. The empty patient couch and the equipment are then returned to the preparation station by staff using the transport device.

[0007] The problem here is that the movement of at least one patient bed with the patient is done manually by the staff. This takes up a lot of time for the often already overworked staff and also represents a significant physical strain for them. This prevents optimal patient throughput.

[0008] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a transport system which enables an improved transport of patients during an examination and / or treatment with a medical device.

[0009] This object is achieved in a transport system of the type mentioned at the outset in that the transport device is designed to move the at least one patient bed along a predefined movement path which is closed at least by including a path component in the medical device.

[0010] The movement of the at least one patient couch along the predefined movement path is thus possible solely by the transport device, so that manual movement of the at least one patient couch is no longer necessary. By means of the transport device, the at least one patient couch can be moved independently along the predefined movement path, i.e. without the intervention of personnel, which can reduce the burden on personnel both in terms of time and physical effort. Errors that could occur when personnel move the at least one patient couch can also be better avoided, thus improving patient safety. Furthermore, the familiar path, which is particularly visible to personnel, creates a clearly defined, understandable working environment that reduces the burden on personnel.

[0011] The term "along" can be understood to mean that the at least one patient support can be moved either directly along the movement path or within a preferably narrowly defined tolerance range around the movement path. The tolerance range is preferably predetermined and has an extension of, for example, 5 cm to 100 cm on both sides of the movement path. The transport device can thus be configured to move the at least one patient support either directly along the predefined movement path or within the tolerance range around the predefined movement path along the movement path.

[0012] The at least one actuator required for the movement can be an electric motor. It can be provided, for example, in the form of a linear drive, in particular a chain drive.

[0013] The movement path is predefined, i.e., fixed. It can be understood as a route along which at least one patient bed can be moved by the transport device. The movement path includes at least the preparation station, the medical technology device, and the follow-up station as working points.

[0014] As mentioned above, the patient, together with the at least one patient couch on which they are placed, is moved into or through the medical device for examination and / or treatment. A portion of the movement path of the at least one patient couch can therefore be predetermined by the medical device. Overall, the movement path is closed, at least with the inclusion of this portion. This also means that the movement path runs from the follow-up station back to the preparation station. Thus, a patient couch that has become vacant and possibly cleaned at the follow-up station can be independently moved by the transport device to the preparation station, where it is then ready for the next patient.In other words, the movement path is a closed loop along which the at least one patient bed can be moved from the preparation station to the medical technology device, from the medical technology device to the follow-up station and from the follow-up station back to the preparation station in a predefined manner that is known in particular to the staff.

[0015] The preparation station, the follow-up station, and the medical device are operating points at which the movement of the at least one patient bed can be stopped by the transport device. However, the transport system can also be configured such that the at least one patient bed can be moved through one or more of these operating points by means of the transport device without stopping, in particular at an adjusted speed.

[0016] The preparation station and / or the medical device and / or the follow-up station and / or the processing station can be spatially separated from one another. In particular, they can each be provided in a separate room. If this is the case, the rooms along the movement path can be connected by locks to enable unhindered movement of the at least one patient couch along the movement path.

[0017] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the transport system comprises a plurality of patient beds, wherein the patient beds are preferably movable independently of one another along the movement path. Thus, a patient on a first patient bed can be moved to the medical device or examined and / or treated therein, while simultaneously one or more further patients on one or more further patient beds can be prepared or removed from their respective patient beds afterward. This allows for more efficient use of the medical device with as few waiting times as possible. Patient throughput can thus be increased without placing a massive increase in the burden on staff, since an automatic, predefined, and closed movement through the transport system takes place.

[0018] In a particularly preferred embodiment, a section of the movement path from the follow-up station to the preparation station includes a processing station for processing the at least one patient bed for a patient following the patient. The at least one patient bed can then be moved independently along the movement path to the processing station by means of the transport device. The processing station also represents a working point.

[0019] By providing the processing station, the follow-up processing station can serve the sole purpose of removing the patient from the patient couch and / or, if present, removing the equipment used for the examination and / or treatment from the patient. In exemplary embodiments, the equipment can remain on the patient couch. The processing of the at least one patient couch and / or the equipment before being made available again at the preparation station can take place at the processing station, separately from the follow-up processing station. This separation is particularly advantageous when processing takes a long time, as it can prevent a backlog of patient couches at the follow-up processing station. It can therefore be ensured that a patient can get off or be removed from their patient couch upon reaching the follow-up processing station without further delay.

[0020] Advantageously, the processing station can comprise at least one cleaning device for manual and / or automated cleaning of the at least one patient bed. The processing station can thus serve to clean the at least one patient bed and / or equipment used for examination and / or treatment. This advantageously allows a predetermined hygiene standard to be maintained. Cleaning can be understood, in particular, as disinfection with disinfectants and / or by means of irradiation.

[0021] The at least one cleaning device can be configured for manual cleaning, i.e., for cleaning by personnel. It can then comprise, for example, a cloth or a mop or the like. However, to reduce the workload on personnel, the at least one cleaning device is preferably configured to clean the at least one patient bed and / or the equipment at least partially or even fully automatically. In this case, it can be, for example, a cleaning robot or comprise a cleaning robot. Additionally or alternatively, it can be or comprise an irradiation device, in particular a UV lamp.

[0022] In a specific embodiment, the at least one cleaning device is an irradiation device, wherein the at least one patient bed can be moved past or through the at least one irradiation device by means of the transport device for cleaning.

[0023] If an additional reprocessing station is not required, at least one cleaning device can alternatively be located at the post-operative care station. Cleaning of the patient bed and any equipment used can then be carried out at the post-operative care station after the patient has been removed.

[0024] In an advantageous first embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, the transport device comprises at least one rail for guiding the at least one patient support along the movement path. If this is the case, the at least one patient support is preferably fixed to the at least one rail so that it can move along the movement path. The patient support is preferably supported and / or guided on the rail by means of at least one plain bearing or by using rollers.

[0025] The at least one rail can be designed in various ways. It can comprise a single rail or several stand-alone or connected rails. Specifically, the at least one rail can comprise two or more rails, particularly horizontally spaced apart from one another and connected by connecting elements. However, any common design of a rail suitable for guiding an object along the movement path is conceivable.

[0026] The at least one patient support is preferably movable on the at least one rail only in a longitudinal direction along the movement path. Movement of the at least one patient support in the transverse direction is advantageously blocked by the at least one rail. Thus, the rail allows for precise guidance along the predefined movement path, which is also visible to the staff at all times.

[0027] The at least one rail can be provided in or on a floor. Preferably, it is spaced from the floor at a variable height, in particular along the movement path. The height of the rail can be 50 cm to 110 cm. Along the movement path, the at least one rail can be spaced further from the floor at one or more of the working points, i.e., at the preparation station and / or the medical device and / or the post-processing station and / or, if present, the processing station, than in the remaining areas of the movement path. This enables patient transport close to the floor between two or more of the working points, which can improve patient safety, for example, with regard to the patient falling from the patient couch.

[0028] Preferably, the at least one rail within the medical device is continued by at least one rail of the medical device along the path portion of the medical device. This allows the at least one patient support to be moved particularly easily into and out of the medical device. The at least one rail of the transport device is preferably connected flush with one end of the at least one rail of the medical device. The at least one rail of the medical device can be configured in the same or a similar, compatible manner as the at least one rail of the transport device, in particular to allow the use of the same actuator.

[0029] In a further development, it is advantageous if the movement path traverses the medical technology device in a traversing direction and the at least one rail is continued on both sides in the traversing direction. The at least one rail of the medical technology device is then connected at two opposite ends to the at least one rail of the transport device. This makes it particularly easy for the at least one patient bed to pass completely through the medical technology device. The at least one patient bed can therefore be moved into the medical technology device on one side by means of the transport device and moved out of the medical technology device on another, in particular opposite, side. This allows for a particularly space-efficient implementation of the rail guide.

[0030] Preferably, each connection point between the at least one rail of the transport device and the at least one rail of the medical device is not noticeable or only slightly noticeable for a patient who is moved over it by means of the at least one patient couch.

[0031] Particularly for high movement speeds of the at least one patient support, it can be advantageous if the at least one rail is designed such that, at least in curved regions in which it runs in an arc, in particular parallel to the floor, it causes the at least one patient support to be inclined laterally to the path of the at least one rail. Relative to the floor, the at least one patient support can thus have an inclination of 5° to 45°, preferably 5° to 15°. At least in the curved regions, this can improve the guidance of the at least one patient support by the rail and / or achieve a more secure support of the patient on the support.

[0032] In a second embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, the transport device comprises at least one patient table that can be moved autonomously along the movement path and is configured to transport the at least one patient couch. In this way, the movement of the at least one patient couch along the movement path is possible even without a rail. The transport device can therefore be designed to save space, in particular with regard to spaces crossed. The patient table can, as mentioned initially, be understood as a substructure of the at least one patient couch, which enables the autonomous movement of the at least one patient couch. For this purpose, the patient table can have the at least one actuator and / or a sensor system. Preferably, each patient couch has its own patient table.

[0033] In the second embodiment of the transport system, the transport device is preferably configured to detect the movement path using at least one path marking on and / or in the floor. Such path markings are known in particular from the manufacturing sector and can be used analogously here. The at least one path marking can run exactly on the movement path or at least along the movement path. It can be provided on the floor in a visually visible manner, in particular as a line. This has the advantage that it can be attached and / or adjusted without great effort. In addition, it is clearly visible to personnel and indicates the course of the movement path. It can also be provided on a ceiling or a wall, provided that it can be detected sufficiently well by the transport device there.Additionally or alternatively, the at least one path marker can be provided in the ground, in particular embedded, for example as a metallic cord or rail or cable, for example for electromagnetic path guidance.

[0034] To detect the at least one path marker, the transport device preferably has at least one detection sensor, in particular a camera. The detection sensor or one of the detection sensors can alternatively be an inductive and / or a capacitive sensor.

[0035] The transport device can be configured to move the at least one patient couch precisely along the at least one path marking or within a tolerance range around the at least one path marking. As described above, the tolerance range is preferably predetermined and has an extent of, for example, 5 cm to 100 cm on both sides of the movement path. The transport device can also be configured for autonomous path finding within the tolerance range around the at least one path marking. The at least one patient couch can therefore also be moved laterally to the movement path or the at least one path marking by means of the transport device. In this way, obstacles can be avoided, for example. The movement of the at least one patient couch does not have to follow the movement path or the path marking exactly.

[0036] Alternatively, the movement path of the transport device can be learned by tracking, so that no path marking is required. For this purpose, the transport device has, in particular, a camera capable of capturing the surface structure of the floor with such precision that, after the movement path has been completed, the location of at least one patient bed along the movement path can be determined solely by the surface structure of the floor captured by the camera. Other positioning systems, particularly in combination with a digital map of the traveled area, can also be used, optionally in conjunction with dead reckoning.

[0037] In an advantageous development of the second embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, the transport device is configured for independent coupling to at least one coupling device of the medical device. The medical device can therefore have at least one coupling device by means of which the transport device can be coupled to the medical device. The transport device is preferably configured for independent coupling to the at least one coupling device. In particular, following the movement path as precisely as possible, at least during the approach to the medical device, has the advantage of avoiding unwanted offset during coupling and enabling smooth, automatic coupling.

[0038] In the coupled state, the transport device enables the patient support(s) to be independently introduced into the medical device and removed from the medical device. In other words, the transport device in this embodiment according to the invention is configured to independently feed the patient support(s) to the medical device during an active coupling with the at least one coupling device. In addition, the transport device in this embodiment according to the invention is configured to independently remove the patient support(s) from the medical device during an active coupling with the at least one coupling device. With regard to the design of the medical device, two variants are conceivable: In a first variant, the medical device can have only one coupling device, wherein the or one of the patient beds can be moved into and out of the medical device by coupling the transport device to the coupling device.

[0039] In a second variant, the medical device can have a first coupling device and a second coupling device, wherein the transport device can be coupled to the first coupling device in order to move the at least one patient support into the medical device, and can be coupled to the second coupling device in order to move the at least one patient support out of the medical device. The two coupling devices can be arranged on opposite sides of the medical device so that the patient support can be moved in a straight line through the medical device.

[0040] In the second variant, it is advantageous if the transport device is configured to move independently around at least a partial area of ​​the medical device, in particular along at least one path marker. Preferably, the transport device is configured to move independently around the partial area of ​​the medical device during the examination and / or treatment of the patient and to couple to the second coupling device. The patient can then be automatically moved from the medical device to the transport device for further transport after the examination and / or treatment.

[0041] Regardless of the design, the transport system preferably has a control device configured to control the at least one actuator of the transport device for moving the at least one patient bed along the movement path. The control is preferably dependent on a predetermined movement sequence and / or a user input via at least one operating means of the transport system and / or on sensor data from at least one sensor monitoring the movement path.

[0042] A corresponding operating means can, for example, be a control panel. This can be attached to the transport device, in particular a patient table of the patient couch, or to the at least one patient couch. The operating means can also be provided in a control room for operating the medical technology device, in particular in the form of a computer. Such a control panel can preferably also be installed at the various work points, in particular at the preparation station and / or the post-processing station and / or the medical technology device and / or the processing station. A portable operating means, in particular in the manner of a remote control, is also expediently conceivable. In embodiments, operation can be carried out, for example, using an app provided on a smartphone and / or a tablet. A corresponding sensor can, for example, be the aforementioned detection sensor.

[0043] It is also conceivable for the transport device to have at least one receiving device configured to receive a signal and transmit it to the control device for controlling the at least one actuator. This allows remote control of the at least one patient bed.

[0044] The user input preferably describes a longitudinal guidance of the at least one patient support along the movement path, with a transverse guidance of the at least one patient support being predetermined by the transport device, so that the predefined movement path remains unchanged. The user input can, for example, specify a start or stop of the movement of the at least one patient support and / or the speed of the at least one patient support.

[0045] If the transport system comprises multiple patient couches, these can be moved along the movement path independently or independently of one another, particularly by means of the control device. In a specific embodiment, the transport system comprises multiple patient couches, each of which, as part of the transport device, has a patient table with an actuator that is controlled by the control device.

[0046] In addition to the transport system, the invention also relates to a medical device arrangement for the medical examination and / or treatment of patients, comprising a transport system according to the invention. Features, embodiments, and advantages described for the transport system according to the invention can be transferred to the medical device arrangement according to the invention, and vice versa.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment of the medical technology arrangement according to the invention, the medical technology device is a device for medical imaging, in particular a magnetic resonance device or a computed tomography device. With both the magnetic resonance device and the computed tomography device, it is customary to prepare the patient for the examination and / or treatment in advance, for example, by placing the patient on the patient couch and / or by applying equipment for the examination and / or treatment, specifically, for example, local coils in the case of the magnetic resonance device. Therefore, it is particularly advantageous to provide a transport system according to the invention for patient transport in order to achieve the most efficient use of the medical technology device.

[0048] In a further development, the transport device of the transport system for guiding the at least one patient couch along the movement path preferably comprises at least one rail, wherein the at least one rail is continued within the medical technology device by at least one rail of the medical technology device. The at least one rail enables particularly simple guidance of the at least one patient couch along the movement path. By supplementing the at least one rail of the transport device with the at least one rail of the medical technology device, at least one closed rail is present overall. This describes a type of loop that runs exactly on the movement path and along which the at least one patient couch can be moved.Because the at least one rail is completely closed and the at least one patient couch can only move along the at least one rail, guided by the at least one rail, an independent and very safe movement of the at least one patient couch without personnel is possible.

[0049] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a transport system for transporting patients during an examination and / or treatment with a medical device, comprising at least one patient bed for supporting a patient and a transport device with at least one actuator for moving the at least one patient bed - from a preparation station for placing the patient on the patient couch to the medical device and - from the medical device facility to a follow-up station for removing the patient from the patient bed.

[0050] According to the invention, the method is characterized in that the at least one patient bed is moved along a predefined movement path that is closed at least by including a path component in the medical device.

[0051] In particular, a transport system according to the invention can be operated with the method, wherein the transport system according to the invention can in particular be comprised by a medical technology arrangement according to the invention.

[0052] All features, embodiments and advantages previously mentioned and described with regard to the transport system according to the invention and the medical technology device according to the invention can be transferred to the method according to the invention and vice versa.

[0053] In particular, the method also includes moving the at least one patient bed along the movement path from the follow-up station to the preparation station. On the path section between the follow-up station and the preparation station, the at least one patient bed can also be moved by means of the transport device to a processing station with at least one cleaning device for cleaning the at least one patient bed.

[0054] Further features, advantages, and details of the present invention are explained below using specific embodiments and the figures. The figures are schematic representations and show: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a medical technology arrangement according to the invention with a first embodiment of a transport system according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a medical technology arrangement according to the invention with a second embodiment of a transport system according to the invention, and Fig. 3 an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

[0055] Fig. Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a medical technology arrangement 1 according to the invention for the medical examination and / or treatment of patients 2, comprising a medical technology device 3 and an exemplary embodiment of a transport system 4 according to the invention. In the present exemplary embodiment, the medical technology device 3 is a magnetic resonance device 5 for medical imaging. In other embodiments, however, the medical technology device 3 can be any desired medical technology device, in particular a computed tomography device.

[0056] The transport system 4 is configured to transport the patient 2 to and from the medical device 3. For this purpose, the transport system 4 comprises a plurality of patient beds 6, each for supporting a patient 2. It also comprises a transport device 7 with a plurality of actuators (not shown in detail), in this case electric motors, for moving the patient beds 6 along a predefined movement path 8 (dashed line).

[0057] The movement path 8, with the addition of a path component 9 in the medical device 3, is a closed movement path 8. The movement path 8 is predefined, i.e., fixed. It represents an unchangeable path that serves as a reference for the movement of the patient beds 6. The transport device 7 is configured to move the patient beds 6 independently of one another along the movement path 8, in this case clockwise (see arrow 10). In the exemplary embodiment, the transport device 7 is also configured to move the patient beds 6 directly along the movement path 8.

[0058] The transport device 7 comprises a rail 11 that runs along the movement path at a height of approximately 100 cm above a floor B. In a transverse direction Q, the movement of each patient couch 6 is blocked or predetermined by the rail 11, so that the patient couches 6 can only be moved in a longitudinal direction L, i.e., along the movement path 8. The rail 11 thus provides transverse guidance for the patient couches 6. It can, as in the exemplary embodiment, run exactly above the movement path 8 or offset from it.

[0059] Along the movement path 8, several operating points, here stop positions 12, are provided, past which the patient couches 6 can be moved or stopped by the transport device 7 at a constant or adjusted, in particular reduced, speed. In this case, the movement of the patient couches 6 is temporarily stopped at each stop position 12.

[0060] Fig. 3 describes an embodiment of the method according to the invention for operating the transport system 4. The further description of the Fig. 1 is made with additional reference to the procedure of Fig. 3: If patient 2 is to be examined using medical device 3, they are first prepared for the examination at a preparation station 13. Here, patient couch 6 is positioned at a holding position 12. At the preparation station 13, patient 2 is placed on patient couch 6, and the equipment 14 required for the examination, which in this case includes several measuring coils 15 (local coils), is attached to patient 2 and patient couch 6.

[0061] After completion of the preparation, step S1 of the procedure of Fig. 3. The patient 2 is then moved by means of the patient couch 6 and the transport device 7 along the movement path 8 from the preparation station 13 to the medical device 3.

[0062] Once the medical device 3 is ready to examine patient 2, the patient couch 6 and patient 2 are moved together and independently, i.e., without the intervention of personnel, into the medical device 3 by means of the transport device 7 and held there. The examination of patient 2 then follows. Therefore, the medical device 3 also contains a holding position 12 in which the patient couch 6 and patient 2 remain during the examination. After the examination is completed, the patient couch 6 and patient 2 are moved together and independently out of the medical device 3 by means of the transport device 7.

[0063] As in Fig. 1, the movement path 8 passes through the medical device 3 in a direction of passage 16. This means that the patient bed 6 with the patient 2 is on one side (in Fig. 1 on the left side) of the measuring device 3 can be inserted into it. On the opposite side (in Fig. 2 on the right side) of the measuring device 3, the patient bed 6 with the patient 2 can be guided out of the medical device 3 again. To enable such a movement of the patient bed 6 through the medical device 3, the rail 12 within the medical device 3 is continued on both sides in the direction of passage 16 by a rail 17 (dotted line) of the medical device 3. This creates a closed rail 12, 17 that runs along the predefined and closed movement path 8. It is, so to speak, a loop.

[0064] After the patient bed 6 has been moved out of the medical device 3, step S2 of the method of Fig. 3. In step S2, the patient support 6 with the patient 2 is moved from the medical device 3 to a follow-up station 18 by means of the transport device 7. The movement of the patient support 6 is also temporarily stopped at the follow-up station 18. This station thus also represents a holding position 12 for the patient support 6. At the follow-up station 18, the previously attached equipment 14, 15 is first removed. Patient 2 can then dismount from the patient support 6. Alternatively, the patient could be repositioned, i.e., removed from the patient support 6, by trained personnel.

[0065] Once the follow-up is completed, step S3 of the procedure follows the Fig. 3. By means of the transport device 7, the patient bed 6 is then moved for processing, specifically for cleaning, together with the equipment 14 to a processing station 19. The path section of the movement path from the post-processing station 18 to the preparation station 13 thus has the processing station 19. The processing station 19 comprises a cleaning device 20 for the automated cleaning of the patient bed 6 and the equipment 14, 15. In the present case, the cleaning device 20 is a cleaning robot for the automatic disinfection of the patient bed 6 and the equipment 14, 15. Alternatively, the cleaning device 20 can also be an irradiation device. The cleaning device 20 can also be configured for the manual cleaning of the patient bed 6 and the equipment 14, 15. In the example of the Fig. 1, the patient couch 6 is stopped at the processing station 19 for the duration of the cleaning, so that a holding position 12 is also present here. However, it is also conceivable for the patient couch 6 to be moved through the processing station 19 at a reduced speed by means of the transport device 7, for example, to slowly move past an irradiation device as a cleaning device 20. In other embodiments of the transport system 4, the processing station 19 can be omitted entirely. The cleaning of the patient couch 6 and equipment 14, 15 can then take place, for example, at the follow-up station 18, in particular by the cleaning device 20.

[0066] Once the patient bed 6 and the equipment 14, 15 have been cleaned, they are removed in step S4 of the method of Fig. 3 is moved from the processing station 19 back to the preparation station 13 by means of the transport device 7. There, the patient bed 6 with the equipment 14, 15 is then ready for the next patient 2.

[0067] To control the movement of the patient couches 6, the transport system 7 has a control device 21. This is configured to control the actuators of the transport device 7 for moving the patient couches 6 along the movement path 8. The control depends, on the one hand, on a user input generated by an operating means 22, in this case an operating panel 23, and forwarded to the control device 21 for processing. The operating panel is provided in a control room K, which primarily serves to control and monitor the magnetic resonance system 3, 5. In addition, the control device also has a receiving device 31, by means of which a user input can be received via a further operating means 22 in the form of a remote control 32. The movement of the patient couches 6 can therefore also be controlled for each patient couch 6 individually or for all patient couches 6 together using the remote control 32.

[0068] In addition to these control variants, the control of the actuators also depends on sensor data from several sensors of the transport device 7, which monitor the movement path 8. In this case, the transport device 7 has collision sensors for this purpose, which detect an impending collision between two patient beds 6 on the movement path 8. Should such a collision occur, the actuators can be controlled in a timely manner by means of the control device 21 to avoid a collision. For this purpose, the transport device 7 is further configured to determine and monitor the exact position of each patient bed 6 along the movement path 8 in real time.

[0069] A seat belt sensor can also detect whether patient 2 is strapped into the patient couch 6. The control device 21 controls the actuators accordingly, so that movement of the patient couch 6 with the patient 2 is only permitted when the patient is strapped in.

[0070] Of course, the control of the actuators by means of the control device 21 in other embodiments of the transport system 4 can only depend on a user input and / or individual sensor data or additional sensor data.

[0071] Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a medical technology arrangement 1 according to the invention. This corresponds to the medical technology arrangement 1 of Fig. 1. However, the transport system 4 of the Fig. 2 of which the Fig.1 in that the transport device 7 does not comprise a rail 12, but rather a patient table 24 for each patient couch 6. This patient table 24 can be moved autonomously along the movement path 8 to transport the respective patient couch 6. For this purpose, each patient couch 24 has sensors 25 for autonomous movement. In the present case, they comprise a radar, a lidar, and several cameras. To move the patient couches 6, the actuators of each patient couch 24 are controlled by the control device 21 depending on the sensor data determined by the sensors 25. In the present case, the actuators on each patient couch 6 move wheels 26.

[0072] The patient tables 24 are configured to detect the movement path 8 (dashed line) using a path marking 27 on the floor B. For this purpose, the patient tables 24 have suitable cameras as sensors 25. The path marking 27 can alternatively be provided in the floor B, whereby the patient tables 24 can detect it using capacitive and / or inductive sensors 25. The patient tables 24 are also configured for independent pathfinding in an area around the detected movement path 8. They can therefore move along the movement path 8 using the path marking 27, and they can adapt their movement laterally to the movement path 8 in order to be able to autonomously avoid obstacles on the movement path 8.

[0073] The path marker 27 (dotted line) runs exactly on the movement path 8. Alternatively, it can run alongside the movement path 8. While the patient couches 6 continue to move in a straight line through the medical device 3 in the traversing direction 16, the patient tables 24 are configured to move autonomously around the medical device 3 during the examination of the patient 2. For this purpose, the path marker 27 is guided along a section 28 around the medical device 3. The movement of the patient tables 24 therefore deviates from the movement path 8 of the patient couches 6 here.

[0074] If a patient table 24 with a patient couch 6 and a patient 2 arrives at the free medical technology device 3, the patient table 24 automatically couples to a coupling device 29 of the medical technology device 3. When the coupling is active, the patient couch 6 with the patient 2 is automatically moved off the patient table 24 and into the medical technology device 3, whereupon the examination of the patient 2 begins. During this time, the patient table 24 releases the coupling from the coupling device 29 and moves autonomously along the section 28 of the path marking 27 to the opposite side of the medical technology device 3. Here, the patient table 24 automatically couples to the coupling device 29 of the medical technology device 3 on that side. Once the examination of patient 2 is completed, the patient couch 6 with the patient 2 is automatically moved out of the medical technology device 3 and onto the waiting patient table 24.The patient table 24 then releases the coupling with the coupling device 29 and the movement along the movement path 8 is continued.

[0075] The medical device 3 can also have only one coupling device 29, to which the patient table 24 remains coupled during the examination. The coupling is then only released after the patient couch 6 has been completely moved out of the medical device 3, whereby moving the patient table 24 around the medical device 3 is not necessary.

[0076] To control the movement of the patient couches 6, the control device 21 in each patient table 24 has a control unit 30 configured to process the sensor data from the sensors 25. Furthermore, the control device 21 in each patient table 24 has a receiving device 31, by means of which a control signal can be received remotely. The control signal can be used to send control commands and user information from a user input made via the operating means 22, here the remote control 32, to each patient table 24. The user input makes it possible to start and stop the movement of each patient table 24, and thus of the respective patient couch 6, as well as to specify its speed. The movement of the autonomously moving patient tables 24 can thus also be controlled remotely.

[0077] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0078] Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, persons with male, female or other gender identities are included.

Claims

[1] Transport system (4) for transporting patients (2) during an examination and / or treatment with a medical device (3), comprising at least one patient bed (6) for supporting a patient (2) and a transport device (7) with at least one actuator for moving the at least one patient bed (6) - from a preparation station (13) for placing the patient (2) on the patient couch (6) to the medical device (3) and - from the medical device (3) to a follow-up station (18) for removing the patient (2) from the patient bed (6), characterized by in that the transport device (7) is designed to move the at least one patient bed (6) along a predefined movement path (8) which is closed at least with the addition of a path portion (9) in the medical technology device (3). [2] Transport system (4) according to claim 1, characterized bythat a path section of the movement path (8) from the follow-up processing station (18) to the preparation station (13) has a processing station (19) for processing the at least one patient bed (6) for a patient (2) following the patient (2). [3] Transport system (4) according to claim 2, characterized by that the processing station (19) comprises at least one cleaning device (20) for manual and / or automated cleaning of the at least one patient bed (6). [4] Transport system (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the transport device (7) comprises at least one rail (11) for guiding the at least one patient couch (6) along the movement path (8). [5] Transport system (4) according to claim 4, characterized bythat the at least one rail (11) within the medical technology device (3) is continued by at least one rail (17) of the medical technology device (3) along the path portion (9) in the medical technology device (3). [6] Transport system (4) according to claim 5, characterized by that the movement path (8) traverses the medical device (3) in a traversing direction (16) and the at least one rail (11) is continued on both sides in the traversing direction (16). [7] Transport system (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the transport device (7) comprises at least one patient table (24) which is autonomously movable along the movement path (8) and is designed to transport the at least one patient couch (6). [8] Transport system (4) according to claim 7, characterized bythat the transport device (7) is designed to detect the movement path (8) using at least one path marking (27) on and / or in a floor (B). [9] Transport system (4) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by that the transport device (7) is designed for independent coupling to at least one coupling device (29) of the medical technology device (3). [10] Transport system (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , a control device (21) which is designed to control the at least one actuator of the transport device (7) for moving the at least one patient bed (6) along the movement path (8) in dependence - a predetermined movement sequence and / or - at least one user input via at least one operating means (22) of the transport system (7) and / or - sensor data from at least one sensor (25) monitoring the movement path (8) is trained. [11] Transport system (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the transport system (4) comprises a plurality of patient beds (6), wherein the patient beds (6) are preferably movable independently of one another along the movement path (8). [12] Medical technology arrangement (1) for the medical examination and / or treatment of patients (2), comprising a medical technology device (3) and a transport system (4) according to one of the preceding claims. [13] Medical device (1) according to claim 12, characterized by that the medical technology device (3) is a device for medical imaging, in particular a magnetic resonance device (5) or a computer tomography device. [14] Medical device (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized byin that the transport device (7) of the transport system (4) for guiding the at least one patient bed (6) along the movement path (8) comprises at least one rail (11), wherein the at least one rail (11) is continued within the medical technology device (3) by at least one rail (17) of the medical technology device (3). [15] Method for operating a transport system (4) for transporting patients (2) during an examination and / or treatment with a medical device (3), comprising at least one patient bed (6) for supporting a patient (2) and a transport device (7) with at least one actuator for moving the at least one patient bed (6) - from a preparation station (13) for placing the patient on the patient couch (6) to the medical device (3) and - from the medical device (3) to a follow-up station (18) for removing the patient (2) from the patient bed (6), characterized by that the at least one patient bed (6) is moved along a predefined movement path (8) which is closed at least with the addition of a path portion (9) in the medical device (3).

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