Medical Accessory Dock for Auto Charging and Wireless Pairing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical devices used in emergency scenarios face issues with tangled cables from wired accessories, leading to inefficiencies and increased risk of losing or misplacing wireless accessories due to lack of tethering, and requiring manual charging and pairing.

Innovation Solution

An accessory dock that integrates with medical devices to provide a storage, charging, and pairing mechanism for wireless accessories, allowing automatic charging and pairing through proximity detection, eliminating the need for manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wired accessories are used to monitor physiological parameters, then reliable data collection is achieved, but cables become tangled and create inefficiencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collection reliabilityVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with a wireless communication system. Wireless accessories transmit physiological data to the medical device via wireless signals (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi), eliminating the need for physical cables and their associated tangling problems while maintaining data collection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an accessory dock as an intermediary device that facilitates wireless communication and data transfer between wireless accessories and the medical device. The dock acts as a mediator that enables reliable data collection through wireless means without requiring direct cable connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If wireless accessories are used to eliminate cables, then operational efficiency is improved, but accessories become prone to loss and misplacement due to lack of tethering

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidaccessory retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the tethering function from the cable itself and relocates it to the accessory dock. The dock provides a designated storage location with retention mechanisms that secure wireless accessories when not in use, separating the wireless operation benefit from the security function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The accessory dock serves as an intermediary that provides both wireless charging capability and physical security. It acts as a intermediary between the wireless accessory and the user, offering automated pairing and charging while preventing loss through secure retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual charging and pairing procedures are used for wireless accessories, then device compatibility is maintained, but user effort and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidsetup time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service functionality where the accessory dock automatically detects wireless accessories, initiates pairing procedures, and begins charging without user intervention. The system performs these tasks autonomously while maintaining compatibility with various wireless accessory types through standardized protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The accessory dock performs preliminary actions of detection, pairing, and charging setup before the user needs to use the accessory. By preparing the connection and power transfer in advance, the system eliminates manual configuration steps and reduces setup time while maintaining device compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 accessory dock ensures wireless accessories are securely stored, automatically charged, and paired with the medical device, reducing user effort and minimizing the risk of loss or misconfiguration, thereby enhancing efficiency and reliability in emergency care.

Implementation Method 1

The wireless accessory can be configured to receive power from the medical device upon being positioned within a threshold distance of the medical device to charge the battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4393540B1Accessory dock for wireless medical accessories
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 STRYKER CORP
  • EP4393540B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4393540B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4393540B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An accessory dock is described, the accessory dock for docking wireless accessories that are configured to be used with a medical device. The accessory dock has at least one docking receptacle configured to receive a wireless accessory. In some examples, the wireless accessory receives power from the medical device upon being positioned within a threshold distance of the medical device to charge a battery of the wireless accessory. In some examples, the wireless accessory pairs with the medical device upon being positioned within a threshold distance of the medical device. In some examples, a processor of the medical device causes performance of an accessory health check upon the wireless accessory being docked in the docking receptacle, the accessory health check for determining a readiness of the wireless accessory.