Medical Device Collision Detection With First-Fault-Safe Drive Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the medical sector, there is a need for reliable collision detection in medical devices with moving elements powered by electric drives, as the increasing complexity of movement degrees makes it difficult for staff to monitor movements effectively, posing a risk of personal injury and damage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a first-fault-safety collision detection method in medical devices, which involves an evaluation apparatus monitoring a contact element for actuation and transmitting collision signals to both the control apparatus and a monitoring apparatus. This system ensures immediate cessation of movement and prevents further drive action upon detecting a collision, thereby ensuring safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If staff manually monitor movements of medical device components, then operational control is maintained, but reliability of collision detection deteriorates due to increasing complexity of movement degrees
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring with an automated sensor-based detection system. Sensors detect collisions mechanically and transmit signals electronically to the control apparatus, which automatically responds by stopping the drive. This substitution eliminates reliance on staff monitoring while handling complex multi-degree-of-freedom movements reliably.
2Reliability
If automated sensor-based collision detection is implemented, then collision detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a contact element as an intermediary between the collision event and the control system. The contact element is actuated by collision forces and transmits this information to the control apparatus via a signal line. This intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a dedicated collision detection interface that works independently of the complex drive system.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus uses its existing sensor elements and control mechanisms for their primary functions while simultaneously utilizing them for collision detection. The same sensors that monitor position and speed during normal operation also detect collision conditions, eliminating the need for completely separate detection hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If immediate cessation of movement is implemented upon collision detection, then safety is improved, but response time requirements increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus is pre-programmed with collision response protocols. When a collision signal is received from the contact element or sensor, the control apparatus immediately executes a standardized stop command to the drive. This preliminary preparation of response procedures enables instantaneous reaction to collisions without requiring complex real-time decision-making algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
In the normal mode of a medical device, a control apparatus moves a moving element of the medical device in a controlled manner via a drive when corresponding movement commands are issued. In the normal mode, an evaluation apparatus monitors a first-fault-safety contact element arranged on the medical device for actuation and, in the event of actuation, transmits a normal collision signal via lines to the control apparatus and a monitoring apparatus. In the event of a normal collision signal being transmitted to it, the control apparatus immediately ends the movement of the moving element, at least in the current direction of travel, and, at the latest after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed without actuation of the drive as such, the monitoring apparatus prevents the drive from acting on the moving element.