3D Physical Handset for Surgical Table Control with Force Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handsets for controlling surgical operating tables are cumbersome and difficult to use, lacking ergonomic design and providing inadequate visual, audible, or touch feedback, making it challenging for healthcare operators to select and control desired movements accurately and safely.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional physical representation of a surgical operating table with sensors and a control system that generates output control signals in response to touch or movement inputs, providing visual feedback through illumination and allowing for precise control of table movements via a trigger mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a handset with many push buttons and icons is provided to control all movement functions, then the control capability is comprehensive, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in searching and selecting buttons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a three-dimensional physical copy of the surgical table tabletop structure within the handset. This copy includes segmented representations (head section, torso sections, pelvis section, leg sections) that mirror the actual table's anatomy. Users interact with this physical model by applying force or movement to the relevant section, which directly translates to controlling the corresponding table segment, eliminating the need to search through numerous buttons and icons.
Solution Approach 2:
The handset's physical representation is divided into multiple independent sections corresponding to the surgical table's segments. Each section (head, torso, pelvis, legs) can be independently manipulated. This segmentation allows users to control specific areas of the table without being overwhelmed by a unified complex control interface, improving both versatility and ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If small push buttons with manufacturer icons are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to difficulty in reading and correct interpretation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using abstract icons and text labels that require interpretation, the patent creates a direct physical copy of the table structure in the handset. The spatial arrangement and segmentation of the physical model intuitively represent the actual table configuration, eliminating ambiguity and misinterpretation risks associated with small text and manufacturer-specific icons.
3Ease of operation
If manual pressing of buttons is used to activate movements, then the ease of operation is simple, but the reliability deteriorates due to lack of visual, audible or touch feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates multiple feedback mechanisms: visual feedback through illumination devices (such as LEDs) that light up to confirm button selection and provide status information, and force feedback through the physical model itself where users can feel resistance or movement corresponding to the table's actual position and state. This multi-sensory feedback ensures users can verify their commands were correctly received and executed, improving reliability while maintaining simple operation.
4Device complexity
If a compact array of push buttons is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation worsens due to difficulty in selecting buttons accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional array of buttons to a three-dimensional physical model. Users can apply force in multiple directions (pushing, pulling, rotating) on different sections of the physical model, adding spatial and mechanical dimensions to the control interface. This dimensional expansion provides more intuitive and accurate control while maintaining a compact form factor.
5Device complexity
If push buttons are used without feedback mechanisms, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to possibility of inadvertent pressing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates illumination devices that provide immediate visual feedback when a section is selected or activated. This feedback mechanism allows users to verify their intended action before execution and to detect inadvertent selections. The system can also provide feedback about the table's current state, enabling users to confirm that movements are occurring as expected, thereby preventing safety issues from unnoticed incorrect operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ergonomic design simplifies the user interface, reduces the risk of accidental movements, and allows for precise control of table movements with visual feedback, enhancing safety and efficiency in a medical environment.
Implementation Method 1
a respective sensor arranged to sense a force or movement applied to a surface of the respective section by a touch applied to the surface
Implementation Method 2
The illumination device may be a light emitting diode and may provide a visual feedback when the sensor senses the applied force or movement
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A handset for controlling a surgical operating table, the handset comprising a three-dimensional physical representation of a tabletop of a surgical operating table, the physical representation of the tabletop comprising a back section, a seat section and one or more leg sections, wherein at least one of the sections includes a respective sensor arranged to sense a force or movement applied to a surface of the respective section by a touch applied to the surface, and a control system within the handset which is connected to the sensor, the control system being arranged to generate an output control signal for transmission to the surgical operating table to be controlled in response to an input command of an applied force or applied movement sensed by the respective sensor. Methods of controlling a tabletop of a surgical operating table using the handset are also disclosed.