Patient Couch Gesture Control via 3D Camera

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional control systems for medical devices, such as patient couches, are often less intuitive, leading to potential errors and hygiene issues due to complex cleaning requirements and non-sterile operation methods.

Innovation Solution

A 3D camera-based control system that records and processes gestures to enable safe, rapid, and hygienic control of a patient couch, incorporating a motor for movement control, authorization signals for user verification, and flexible movement capabilities, including translation and rotation, while ensuring only authorized users can operate the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional operating elements (pushbuttons, switches, levers) are used for control, then the device structure is simple, but the operation is less intuitive and hygiene maintenance is complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintuitiveness of controlVSAvoidcomplexity of control system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical operating elements (pushbuttons, switches, levers) with a gesture recognition system using 3D cameras and image processing. This substitution eliminates the need for physical contact with control elements, making operation more intuitive through natural hand gestures while reducing hygiene concerns in medical environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of 3D cameras, image processing units, and gesture recognition algorithms that mediate between the user's intent and the device control. This intermediary layer captures hand gestures, processes them through computer vision, and translates them into control commands, providing an intuitive interface without direct mechanical interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional operating elements are used, then the control system is simple to manufacture, but cleaning and hygiene maintenance becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of control system manufacturingVSAvoidhygiene contamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical operating elements that require cleaning with a contactless gesture recognition system. By using 3D cameras and image processing to detect hand gestures, the system eliminates surfaces that could harbor contaminants, making hygiene maintenance simple while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized camera and computing components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If gesture recognition is implemented for non-contact control, then hygiene is improved, but the risk of incorrect operation may increase without proper verification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene contaminationVSAvoidaccuracy of control operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the image processing unit continuously monitors and recognizes gestures in real-time. The system provides visual or haptic feedback to confirm gesture recognition and interpretation, allowing users to verify that their intended action was correctly captured before execution, thereby preventing incorrect operations while maintaining contactless control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary gesture verification and validation before executing control commands. The image processing unit analyzes gesture patterns, confirms they match intended commands, and validates authorization signals before acting on the control input, ensuring reliable operation while maintaining hygienic non-contact control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If multiple control gestures are recognized from multiple cameras, then control reliability is enhanced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol verification accuracyVSAvoidnumber of cameras and processing requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges data from multiple 3D cameras and gesture recognition processes into a unified control decision. By combining inputs from different camera angles and processing them through coordinated image processing units, the system achieves enhanced verification reliability while managing complexity through integrated processing architecture that consolidates data streams and control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10290373B2Patient couch with a control system and method for controlling the patient couch

Publication Date: 2019.05.14 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

A patient couch with a control system and a method for controlling the patient couch are provided. The control system is based on a three-dimensional (3D) camera for recording first 3D images of a recording area. The 3D camera is attached to the patient couch. An image processing unit for identifying at least one control gesture in the first 3D images allows a safe and fast control of the x-ray device. In order to carry out the control, the control system includes a control unit with a motor for controlling a movement of the patient couch based on the first control gesture.