Medical Apparatus Visual Model Control for Intuitive Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical technological apparatuses, such as C-arm systems, are not intuitively controlled due to unclear relationships between operating elements and movement axes, leading to potential errors in positioning movable elements.
Innovation Solution
A medical apparatus with a touch-sensitive screen and computing device that displays a model of the apparatus, allowing users to input positions for movable elements, with the system only accepting inputs at identified locations and requiring a trigger signal for actual movement, reducing the likelihood of errors by visualizing target positions before movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If joysticks or buttons are used to control the medical apparatus, then the apparatus can be operated, but the control is not intuitive and errors occur due to unclear relationship between operating elements and movement axes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy (graphical model) of the medical apparatus on the display device that mirrors the physical apparatus. This graphical model allows operators to see the exact relationship between control inputs and resulting movements, eliminating the unclear correspondence that caused errors in traditional joystick control. The visual feedback loop ensures intuitive and reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous visual feedback by displaying the graphical model that updates in real-time to reflect the current position of movable elements. This feedback mechanism allows operators to immediately see the effect of their control inputs, preventing erroneous operations and enabling intuitive control without requiring memorization of control mappings.
2Measurement precision
If a touch-sensitive screen with visual model is used for control, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive display device serves multiple functions: it displays the graphical model of the apparatus, provides the user interface for control inputs, and delivers visual feedback. By combining these functions into a single multi-functional device, the patent achieves high positioning accuracy without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical control interfaces (joysticks, physical buttons) with a touch-sensitive graphical interface. This substitution eliminates the need for separate mechanical control components while providing more precise positioning control through visual feedback, thereby improving accuracy without significant complexity increase.
3Reliability
If the system requires trigger signal for movement execution, then error probability is reduced, but the operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system requires operators to define the target position in the graphical model before executing the movement via trigger signal. This preliminary action allows operators to review and verify the intended movement before it occurs, reducing errors. The visual preview function ensures that only deliberate, correct movements are executed.
Solution Approach 2:
Once the target position is defined in the graphical model, the actual movement execution is rapid and direct upon trigger signal. The system skips unnecessary intermediate verification steps by relying on the visual confirmation already provided during the positioning phase, thus minimizing the time penalty while maintaining high reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical apparatus has a plurality of movable elements that are remotely displaced. A display device receives inputs for positioning the movable elements from a user. A computing device that is coupled to the display device displays a model of the medical apparatus on the display device. The movable elements are displayed in the model in accordance with the received inputs for positioning. In response to a trigger signal of the user for moving the movable elements, the movable elements are driven so as to adopt the displayed position.