Medical AC/DC Backup Power Switching With Isolated IT Network

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power supply systems for medical facilities, particularly in medical practices and care centers, suffer from high losses, increased failure risks, non-compliance with safety standards, high wear and tear, lack of redundancy, and complex maintenance requirements, leading to operational disruptions and safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A battery-backed power supply system with modular design, redundancy, and integrated monitoring, ensuring single-fault tolerance, mechanical and electrical interlocking, and easy maintenance, compliant with DIN VDE 0100-710 standards, providing reliable AC and DC power with minimal losses and rapid fault detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If power supply is provided via DC and AC inverters under normal operating conditions, then emergency power supply capability is achieved, but power losses increase and component wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency power supply capabilityVSAvoidpower losses
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-charging batteries during normal operation so that when a mains failure occurs, the batteries are already charged and can immediately take over power supply without requiring inverters or rectifiers to switch modes. This eliminates the need for continuous inverter operation and reduces energy losses while maintaining emergency power supply capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If electronic switching device (EUE/ATSD) is used for power supply switching, then automatic transfer capability is achieved, but compliance with medical safety standards is violated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic transfer capabilityVSAvoidcompliance with medical safety standards
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electronic switching devices with a mechanical switching system. The switching is performed by physically isolating the mains connection using mechanical switches or disconnectors that provide visible break and meet medical safety standards, while automation is achieved through control logic that operates the mechanical switches based on mains failure detection, thus combining mechanical reliability with automatic transfer capability.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple inverters and rectifiers are used for AC and DC voltage conversion, then versatile power output is achieved, but power loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveversatile power outputVSAvoidpower loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the inverters and rectifiers from the power supply path during normal operation. By using batteries that can directly supply both AC and DC voltages without requiring conversion through inverters or rectifiers, the system eliminates these energy-converting components from the active power path, thereby reducing power losses while maintaining versatile power output capability through the battery's inherent ability to provide different voltage types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If emergency power supply system is used for device replacement, then operational continuity is maintained, but system maintenance becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational continuityVSAvoidsystem maintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power supply system into independent, modular components - specifically separate battery units that can be individually accessed and replaced. This modular segmentation allows maintenance personnel to replace batteries or other components without affecting the entire system, simplifying maintenance procedures while maintaining operational continuity through hot-swappable modules or easy hot-standby replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Ensures high operational reliability, minimal power loss, and compliance with safety standards, allowing maintenance and expansion without operational disruptions, and rapid fault detection and recovery, ensuring patient and healthcare professional safety.

Implementation Method 1

a battery system with a first AC/DC rectifier (49), a battery (18), and a DC/AC inverter (9) for power supply via a first line (36)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBattery (electricity): Battery (electricity)

Data Source

PatentEP4350942B1Apparatus and method for powering devices in medical facilities
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 ESA ELEKTROSCHALTANLAGEN GRIMMA
  • EP4350942B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4350942B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4350942B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a device for battery-supported power supply of devices with alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) for medical facilities, comprising: - a battery system (46) consisting of an AC/DC rectifier (49) connected to a mains connection (6) and having on its output side a battery (18) connected via an emergency power supply (SV) (22); - AC sockets (15) connected via an isolation transformer (5) to the emergency power supply (SV) (22); - DC operating lights (14) each connected via converters (11) to the emergency power supply (SV) (22); - the emergency power supply (SV) (22) connected to at least one extension battery (30).wherein, in parallel, the mains connection (6) is connected via a general power supply AV (21) to a first load break switch (39) of the medical network switching unit (12) and the emergency power supply SV (22) is connected via inverter (9), electronic bypass (19), manual bypass (35) to a second load break switch (40) of the medical network switching unit (12), so that the medical network switching unit (12) is connected to an isolating transformer (5) and AC voltage for the sockets (15) in the IT network (7) can be generated in the BSV main distribution board (24). The present invention further relates to a method for battery-supported power supply of devices with AC and DC voltage for medical facilities.