Medical Apparatus Functional Sequence Visualization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Operators of complex medical apparatuses face difficulties in reproducing and diagnosing faults within these devices due to intricate mechanical components and lengthy workflows, as existing log files require high expertise to interpret and often need manufacturer evaluation.

Innovation Solution

A method for visualizing the functional sequence of medical apparatuses using mathematical models and log files to determine and display state variables, allowing for intuitive understanding and visualization of mechanical operations, including potential collisions, through a combination of mathematical modeling and log file analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If log files are used to record device parameters for fault diagnosis, then fault information is captured, but interpretation requires high expertise and manufacturer evaluation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault diagnosis accuracyVSAvoidease of fault diagnosis

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A visualization system acts as an intermediary between raw log files and operators. The system processes log data through mathematical models to generate intuitive visual representations of device states, workflows, and faults, enabling non-experts to diagnose issues without requiring deep technical knowledge while maintaining diagnostic accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates visual copies or representations of the actual device states and workflows. Instead of directly interpreting raw log parameters, operators view visualized replicas of device operations, fault conditions, and sequence flows, making complex information accessible to those without specialized expertise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If mathematical models and visualization are used to represent device states, then fault diagnosis becomes intuitive for non-experts, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of fault diagnosisVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Mathematical models of device workflows and states are pre-developed and stored during system setup or device commissioning. When faults occur, these pre-existing models are directly applied to log data without requiring real-time complex calculations, reducing processing burden while maintaining visualization capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The visualization system divides complex device workflows into discrete, manageable sequence steps or states. Each segment can be independently visualized and analyzed, breaking down overwhelming complexity into comprehensible units that operators can easily interpret and diagnose

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9892233B2Visualization of a functional sequence of a medical apparatus

Publication Date: 2018.02.13 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

Visualization of a functional sequence of a medical apparatus includes accepting a mathematical model describing at least the medical apparatus, and accepting a log file. The log file includes at least one value of at least one electrical signal of the medical apparatus during the functional sequence. At least one state variable of the medical apparatus is determined as a function of the mathematical model and the log file, and the at least one state variable of the medical apparatus is visualized.