Medical Device Control System Error Detection via Virtual Component Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical treatment and diagnostic devices face challenges in detecting errors in safety-critical components without the need for redundant designs, which increase computing requirements and hardware expenditure, and existing methods do not effectively address error detection in these systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for error detection in medical treatment and diagnostic devices involves processing test data sets containing input and output values from correct operations, comparing generated output values in a test mode with stored values, and using these comparisons to detect malfunctions in safety-critical components, thereby avoiding redundant designs and enabling cyclic verification of correct functioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant design of safety-critical components is implemented, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and hardware expenditure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of safety-critical components through software simulation. A test data set containing pairs of input and output values from correct operations is stored in memory, allowing the system to virtually replicate expected component behavior without physical redundancy. This software-based copying approach maintains reliability while avoiding the hardware complexity of redundant physical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/hardware-based redundant component design with a software-based test and comparison system. Instead of using duplicate physical components to ensure safety, the system uses software to generate test data, simulate component operations, and compare results against stored reference values, thereby substituting a software information processing system for a hardware redundancy system.
2Reliability
If permanent comparison of output values with target values is performed, then error detection capability is improved, but computing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-generating and storing a complete test data set containing all expected input-output value pairs from correct operations in memory before actual operation begins. This allows the system to quickly compare actual outputs against pre-computed reference values during runtime, avoiding the need for complex real-time calculations and reducing ongoing computing power requirements while maintaining strong error detection capability.
3Reliability
If independent redundant components are used, then system safety is improved, but hardware expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single safety-critical component universally testable with multiple different input values from the test data set, allowing one component to serve both the primary function and multiple test scenarios. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate redundant components for different test cases, reducing hardware resources while maintaining the ability to independently verify component behavior under various conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for error recognition in a control system (20) of a medical treatment and/or diagnosis device (2), in particular in a control system an adjustment system (30) of the medical treatment and/or diagnosis device (2), wherein the control system processes data in a regular operating mode and the control system (20) has a test mode in which a safety-critical component of the control system (20) is supplied with test data (E, A) of a test data record T (E, A) and checked.