Adaptive Display Orientation for Medical Devices with Cable Constraints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical devices with attached cables and hoses face orientation constraints, leading to obstructions and hazards, and existing display systems that adapt to orientation changes often result in confusing button layouts, making it difficult for healthcare workers to read and interpret data accurately.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a sensor to detect device orientation and generate adaptive display images and button functions, ensuring that medical parameters and button labels remain upright and functionally consistent across different orientations, minimizing confusion and errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the medical device is physically rotated to optimize cable routing, then cable obstructions and hazards are reduced, but the display image becomes rotated and harder to read

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable obstructions and hazardsVSAvoiddisplay readability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rotating the physical device to change cable orientation, the patent inverts the approach by keeping the device in a fixed, readable orientation while using software to simulate different cable connection sides. The display image and button functions are adaptively reoriented based on detected cable side, reversing the traditional solution of physically rotating the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical solution of physically rotating the device with an electronic/software-based solution. An orientation sensor detects the device orientation, and a processor adaptively reorients the display image and button functions, substituting mechanical rotation with electronic image processing and software adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If buttons are located near the edge of the display screen for dynamic reassignment, then function flexibility is improved, but button location consistency deteriorates when device orientation changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction reassignment flexibilityVSAvoidbutton location consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the problem by not physically moving buttons or relying on fixed physical locations. Instead, it uses software to dynamically reassign button functions based on the detected cable side, while maintaining consistent visual positioning of buttons on the display. The button labels and functions are adaptively mapped to match the detected orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic button function assignment based on real-time orientation sensor data. When the device orientation changes, the system dynamically reassigns button functions and updates display labels to reflect the new orientation, while keeping the buttons in their original physical positions on the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the device is made physically smaller for easier rotation, then rotational ease is improved, but device functionality is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational easeVSAvoiddevice functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of making the device smaller for easier rotation with an electronic/software solution. The full-sized device with complete functionality remains, and ease of orientation adjustment is achieved through electronic image reorientation and software-based button reassignment rather than physical rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 system effectively maintains clear and accurate display of medical data and button functions regardless of device orientation, reducing the risk of errors and improving usability for healthcare workers.

Implementation Method 1

A sensor conditions a generation of a display image on the display screen oriented to be upright in the first and second orientations of the device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOrientation detection:

Data Source

PatentEP2084590B1A system for adaptively orienting a display image on a device

Publication Date: 2017.01.04 DRAEGER MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A system adaptively orients a display image on a device for presenting data acquired via one or more cables connected to a particular side of the device. The system includes a sensor for detecting orientation of the device and providing a device orientation representative signal indicating whether the device is in a first orientation or a second orientation substantially different to the first orientation. A display screen presents display images on the device. A display generator automatically generates a display image on the display screen oriented to be upright in the first and second orientations of the device, in response to the orientation representative signal. A command processor adaptively selects functions assigned to user selectable buttons positioned on both sides of the display screen of the device, in response to the orientation representative signal.