Dual Control Circuit Braking System for Medical Positioner Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
In medical imaging apparatuses, the existing braking control systems fail to safely control the positioner during power failures, such as overcurrent, short circuits, or overvoltage, leading to uncontrolled movement and potential patient injury due to the lack of controlled power supply to the electro-mechanical brake.
Innovation Solution
A braking system comprising a brake coil with dual control circuits and a current sensor, enabling and disabling these circuits in sequence to ensure safe braking operations by monitoring and confirming brake current levels, thereby preventing uncontrolled motion of the positioner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single control circuit is used to control power supply to the electro-mechanical brake, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates because the system cannot detect or respond to control circuit failures such as overcurrent, short circuit, or overvoltage
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit is divided into two separate control circuits (first and second control circuits) that independently control power supply to the brake coil from opposite polarity sides. This segmentation allows each circuit to be monitored separately by the control system, enabling detection of failures in either circuit without affecting the other, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors the state of both control circuits and the brake coil current, providing feedback to detect overcurrent, short circuit, or overvoltage conditions. When a failure is detected in either control circuit, the system can immediately respond by disabling the affected circuit and maintaining brake engagement, ensuring reliable operation despite the added monitoring complexity
2Stability of the object's composition
If continuous power is supplied to the electro-mechanical brake during normal operation, then the positioner remains stable against gravity, but the harmful factor increases because any control circuit failure results in uncontrolled positioner movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by continuously monitoring both control circuits and preparing emergency response protocols. If a control circuit failure is detected before it causes uncontrolled movement, the control system can immediately switch to a safe state by maintaining brake engagement through the healthy control circuit or by activating emergency braking, thereby cushioning against the potential harmful effect of uncontrolled positioner movement
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary between the dual control circuits and the brake coil, mediating power supply and monitoring circuit health. This intermediary function allows the system to detect failures in either control circuit and respond appropriately by maintaining stable positioner operation through the healthy circuit or by engaging emergency braking, thus preventing uncontrolled movement while allowing continuous power supply for stability
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 prevents uncontrolled positioner movement by proactively detecting and addressing failures in the control circuits, ensuring patient safety by maintaining controlled braking even in the event of single-point failures, thus preventing shocks or falls during medical imaging.
Implementation Method 1
A brake coil is coupled to a power supply... The electro-mechanical brake is likely to receive continuous power supply that may result in uncontrolled movement
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a braking system for a positioner in a medical imaging apparatus comprises a brake coil coupled to a power supply, a first control circuit coupled to a top side of the brake coil, a second control circuit coupled to a bottom side of the brake coil, and a current sensor coupled to at least one of the first control circuit and the second control circuit.