Wireless power supply system for medical devices with magnetic attachment mechanism

Abstract

To easily implement protective grounding for medical devices mounted on mobile vehicles. [Solution] The system comprises at least a power supply unit 10 connected to a power source, a mobile body 20 on which medical device A can be mounted, a power receiving unit 30 fixed to the mobile body 20 and capable of supplying power to medical device A via wireless power supply from the power supply unit 10, an alignment unit 40 consisting of a combination of an electromagnet 41 and a magnetized object 42, and a control unit 50 capable of switching whether or not magnetic force is generated by the electromagnet 41 based on a control signal from a user-operable operation unit 60 and / or a control signal from a proximity detection unit 70 that detects the proximity of the electromagnet 41 and the magnetized object 42. When the electromagnet 41 and the magnetized object 42 are magnetized, power is transmitted from the power supply unit 10 to the power receiving unit 30, and protective grounding of medical device A is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless power supply system for medical devices, and more particularly, to a wireless power supply system for medical devices that can facilitate alignment between a power supply unit and a power receiving unit and ensure protective grounding of a medical device when implementing wireless power supply.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, medical devices such as infusion pumps capable of controlling the drip rate are installed and used on moving objects such as drip stands. Such medical devices are connected to a fixed outlet provided on the floor surface or wall surface, or a movable outlet of an extension cord connected to the fixed outlet, and power is supplied. Therefore, when changing the usage location such as moving to another hospital room, it is necessary to plug and unplug the power cord (including the extension cord) from the fixed outlet.

[0003] In order to make medical devices cable-free, a wireless power supply system is effective. The wireless power supply system includes, for example, a power supply unit having a power supply coil to which a voltage is supplied from an AC power source, and a power receiving unit having a power receiving coil arranged to face the power supply coil and magnetically coupled to the power supply coil, and performs power supply using electromagnetic induction or magnetic resonance (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic device mounting stand as an example of a moving object to which a wireless power supply system is applied.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Incidentally, when applying wireless power supply systems to medical devices, it is necessary to comply with the safety standards for medical devices (JIS T 0601-1) "Medical devices - Part 1: General safety requirements". Specifically, medical devices belonging to Class I are required to be equipped with means for connecting to the facility's medical grounding terminal.

[0006] However, the wireless power supply system disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not have a protective earthing structure and therefore cannot be used to power medical devices belonging to Class I.

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a wireless power supply system for medical devices that can easily implement protective grounding for medical devices mounted on mobile devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention, made to solve the above problems, is essentially a wireless power supply system for medical devices comprising at least a power supply unit connected to a power source, a mobile body capable of mounting medical devices, a power receiving unit fixed to the mobile body and capable of supplying power to the medical devices via wireless power supply from the power supply unit, an alignment unit consisting of a combination of an electromagnet and a magnetized object, and a control unit capable of switching whether or not the electromagnet generates a magnetic force, wherein when the electromagnet and the magnetized object are magnetized, power is transmitted from the power supply unit to the power receiving unit and protective grounding of the medical devices is ensured. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, protective grounding of medical devices can be easily achieved when wirelessly supplying power to medical devices mounted on a mobile device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the wireless power supply system for medical devices according to Example 1. [Figure 2]A schematic diagram showing the wireless power supply status of the wireless power supply system for medical devices according to Example 1. [Figure 3] A schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the wireless power supply system for medical devices according to Example 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Examples]

[0012] <1> Overall structure (Figure 1) Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the wireless power supply system for medical devices according to the present invention (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "this system").

[0013] <1.1> Power supply method The wireless power transfer method used in this system is not particularly limited, and various methods such as electromagnetic induction and electric field coupling can be employed. Therefore, a detailed explanation of the internal structure of the power supply unit 10 and the power receiving unit 30, which will be described later, will be omitted.

[0014] <1.2> Components of each part (Figure 1) The wireless power supply system for medical devices according to this embodiment comprises at least a power supply unit 10, a mobile body 20, a power receiving unit 30, a positioning unit 40, and a control unit 50. The details of each part are explained below.

[0015] <2> Power supply unit (Figure 1) The power supply unit 10 is a device for wirelessly supplying power to the power receiving unit 30, which will be described later. The power supply unit 10 is configured to receive power from a commercial power source (not shown in Figure 1) provided in the operating room or patient room.

[0016] <2.1> Installation location of the power supply unit In the present invention, the location and height for attaching the power supply unit 10 are not particularly limited, and a configuration in which it is built-in or externally attached to any location on the wall, floor, ceiling, or furniture in an operating room or a hospital room can be appropriately selected. Note that the power supply unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 is assumed to be configured to be externally attached to the wall B of the hospital room by connecting the power cable of the power supply unit 10 to a fixed outlet (not shown in FIG. 1) provided on the wall B. The power supply unit 10 is provided with a power supply unit 11 composed of a coil and an electrode.

[0017] <3>Mobile body (FIG. 1) The mobile body 20 is a member for moving the mounted medical device A to a predetermined use location. In the present invention, the mobile body 20 includes all devices that use the medical device A while appropriately moving it, and examples include an intravenous drip stand, a medical wagon, a medical cart, and the like.

[0018] <3.1>An example of the mobile body The mobile body 20 shown in FIG. 1 is assumed to be an intravenous drip stand composed of legs 21 provided with casters, a column 22 erected from the legs 21, a hanging portion 23 provided at the head of the column 22 capable of hanging an intravenous drip bag or the like, a handle 24 provided at an arbitrary height of the column 22, and the like.

[0019] <4>Power receiving unit (FIG. 1) The power receiving unit 30 is a device for supplying the power received from the above-described power supply unit 10 to the medical device A when performing wireless power supply. The power receiving unit 30 is mounted at an arbitrary location on the mobile body 20 and is connected to the medical device A via a power cable (not shown in FIG. 1). The power receiving unit 30 is provided with a power receiving unit 31 composed of a coil and an electrode.

[0020] <4.1>The mounting position of the power receiving unit In this invention, the mounting position of the power receiving unit 30 on the mobile body 20 is not particularly limited and can be appropriately determined according to the position of the power supply unit 10. Furthermore, to allow reuse even when the mounting position of the power supply unit 10 differs depending on the location of use, a variable mechanism may be provided on the mobile body 20 that allows the mounting position of the power receiving unit 30 to be changed.

[0021] <4.2> Power supply methods for medical devices The power received by the power receiving unit 30 from the power supply unit 10 may be configured to supply power to the medical device A via a power outlet separately provided on the power receiving unit 30, or it may be configured to store the power in a separately provided battery and supply power to the medical device A via a power outlet provided on this battery.

[0022] <5> Alignment part The alignment section 40 is a component for aligning the power supply unit 10 and the power receiving unit 30 to a predetermined positional relationship. In the present invention, the alignment section 40 is composed of a combination of an electromagnet 41 and a magnetized body 42. In the present invention, the object on which the electromagnet 41 and the magnetized body 42 are provided is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from the mobile body 20, medical device A, power receiving unit 30, power supply unit 10, mounting location of power supply unit 10 (wall B, floor C, etc.), etc. Alternatively, the electromagnet 41 and the magnetized body 42 may be swapped between the power supply unit 10 and the power receiving unit 30. In Figure 1, the electromagnet 41 is installed in the power receiving unit 30, and the magnetized body 42 is installed in the power supply unit 10.

[0023] <5.1> Positional relationship between the power supply unit and the power receiving unit In the present invention, when the power supply unit 10 and the power receiving unit 30 are aligned by the magnetization of the electromagnet 41 and the magnetized body 42, it is sufficient that wireless power supply is performed, and there is no particular limitation on whether or not the power supply coil 11 and the power receiving coil 31 are in physical contact.

[0024] <5.2> Ensuring protective grounding In this invention, the power supply unit 10 is configured to be connected to a grounding wire provided on medical device A, and the power receiving unit 30 is configured to be electrically connected to a medical grounding terminal. With this configuration, when the electromagnet 41 and the magnetized body 42 are magnetized together, protective grounding of the medical device A is ensured through physical contact between the power supply unit 10 and the power receiving unit 30.

[0025] <6> control unit The control unit 50 is a component for switching whether or not the electromagnet 41 generates a magnetic field. An example of the control of the electromagnet 41 by the control unit 50 is shown below. (1) Control example 1: Control is performed to switch the ON / OFF of the power supply to the electromagnet 41 using signals transmitted by the user when the user manually operates an operating unit 60 consisting of a switch, lever, pedal, etc., provided on the power receiving side and / or power supply side. (2) Control example 2: A proximity detection unit 70 consisting of proximity sensors provided on the power receiving side and / or power supply side is used. If the proximity detection unit 70 does not detect the proximity of the electromagnet 41 and the magnetized object 42, the electromagnet 41 is not energized, and when the proximity of the electromagnet 41 and the magnetized object 42 is detected, the control is performed to energize the electromagnet 41.

[0026] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to a configuration employing either of the control examples 1 and 2 described above, but may also employ both.

[0027] <7> Usage examples (Figures 1 and 2) The usage image of the wireless power supply system for medical devices according to this embodiment will be described below. In this embodiment, a drip stand is assumed as the mobile body 20 equipped with the medical device A on the power receiving side. A magnetized body 42 is provided on the power supply side, and an electromagnet 41, control unit 50, operation unit 60, and proximity detection unit 70 are provided on the power receiving side.

[0028] (1) Alignment work (Figure 1) When the proximity detection unit 70 detects that the power supply unit 10 is present in a predetermined area, the control unit 50 transmits a control signal to the electromagnet 41 to turn on the power supply, and the electromagnet 41 starts generating magnetic force (Figure 1). Subsequently, the electromagnet 41 and the object to be magnetized 42 are attracted to each other and magnetize each other (Figure 2). In the magnetically attached state of the electromagnet 41 and the magnetized body 42, the power supply unit 10 and the power receiving unit 30 are aligned in a state where power can be transmitted. Furthermore, power is transmitted from the power supply coil 11 to the power receiving coil 31 via physical contact between the power supply unit 10 and the power receiving unit 30, while ensuring protective grounding of the medical device.

[0029] (2) Release of alignment After wireless power supply ends, the user operates the control unit 60, which sends a control signal from the control unit 50 to the electromagnet 41 to turn off the power supply and stop the generation of magnetic force by the electromagnet 41. After the magnetization between the electromagnet 41 and the magnetized object 42 is released, the user can move the mobile object to any desired location. Furthermore, after the magnetization between the electromagnet 41 and the magnetized object 42 is released, the control unit 50 may be configured to ignore the signal from the proximity detection unit 70 detecting approach until a predetermined time has elapsed. Alternatively, after the predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 50 may be configured to restart the generation of magnetic force by the electromagnet 41 based on the signal from the proximity detection unit 70 detecting approach again.

[0030] <8> summary According to the wireless power supply system for medical devices of the present invention described above, wireless power supply can be performed while ensuring protective grounding of the medical device A mounted on the mobile body 20 by alignment operation through magnetic attachment between the electromagnet 41 and the magnetized body 42. [Examples]

[0031] The configuration of the second embodiment of this system will be explained with reference to Figure 3. In this embodiment, an electromagnet 41, a control unit 50, an operating unit 60, and a proximity detection unit 70 are provided on the power supply side, and a magnetized body 42 is provided on the power receiving side. The operating unit 60 is pedal-shaped and can be pressed by the user. The operating procedures for each part during alignment and alignment release are the same as in Embodiment 1, so a detailed explanation is omitted. In this embodiment, in addition to the configuration shown in Figure 3, an operating unit 60 may be added to the handle 24 of the mobile unit 20 on the power receiving side, and this operating unit 60 may be configured to switch the presence or absence of magnetic force generation to the electromagnet 41 provided on the power supply side using wireless communication or the like (not shown). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 10: Power supply unit 11: Power supply unit 20: Mobile 21: Legs 22: Post 23: Hanging section 24: Handle 30: Power receiving unit 31: Power receiving section 40: Alignment section 41: Electromagnet 42: Magnetized object 50: Control Unit 60:Operation unit 70: Proximity detection unit A: Medical devices B:Wall C: Floor

Claims

1. A power supply unit that connects to the power source, A mobile vehicle capable of carrying medical equipment, A power receiving unit, which is fixed to the mobile body and capable of supplying power to the medical device via wireless power transfer from the power supply unit, A positioning section consisting of an electromagnet and a magnetized body, The system comprises at least a control unit capable of switching whether or not a magnetic force is generated by the electromagnet, The electromagnet and the object to be magnetized are magnetized, and power is transmitted from the power supply unit to the power receiving unit, and protective grounding of the medical device is ensured. Wireless power supply system for medical devices.

2. The control unit is configured to switch whether or not the electromagnet generates a magnetic force based on a control signal from a user-operable operation unit and a control signal from a proximity detection unit that detects the proximity of the electromagnet to the magnetized object. The wireless power supply system for medical devices according to claim 1.

3. The control unit is configured to switch whether or not magnetic force is generated by the electromagnet based on a control signal from a user-operable control unit. The wireless power supply system for medical devices according to claim 1.

4. The mobile body or the power receiving unit is characterized by being provided with the operating section. A wireless power supply system for medical devices according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The power supply unit is characterized by being provided with the operating unit. A wireless power supply system for medical devices according to claim 2 or 3.

6. The aforementioned mobile device is characterized by being an IV stand. The wireless power supply system for medical devices according to claim 1.

Images