Patient Position Display System with Last Known Position Buffer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing patient position display systems fail to provide continuous location tracking when the medical transmitter loses communication with the display device, either due to moving out of range or battery power depletion, leaving no clue about the patient's position.

Innovation Solution

A patient position display system comprising a position information transmitter, a medical transmitter that detects and transmits biological information, an antenna for receiving this information, and a display device that continues to show the patient's last known position for a set time even if communication is lost, using area and gate modes for varying transmission intervals and determining the patient's state to decide on displaying the position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the medical transmitter is used to transmit patient position information, then the patient position can be displayed when in communication range, but the position display is lost when the transmitter moves outside communication area or battery power is depleted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient position display reliabilityVSAvoidpatient position information loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously updating and storing the patient's position information before communication is lost. When the transmitter is still in range, the system captures position data and maintains it in memory, so that even when communication is interrupted (transmitter moves out of range or battery depletes), the last known position remains available for display, preventing information loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares compensatory measures in advance by implementing a buffer mechanism that stores position information locally. When communication with the display device is interrupted, this pre-stored information acts as a cushion, ensuring continuous position display without gaps. This beforehand cushioning prevents the harmful effect of position information loss during communication failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Loss of information

If the medical transmitter continuously transmits position information, then the position display remains updated, but energy consumption increases and communication interruptions occur more frequently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient position information continuityVSAvoidmedical transmitter energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous transmission, the system employs periodic action where the medical transmitter sends position information at predetermined time intervals. This approach maintains position information continuity by regularly updating the display while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous transmission. The periodic updates ensure that even if one transmission is missed due to battery depletion or communication issues, subsequent updates will restore the position information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the system displays patient position only when in communication range, then energy consumption is reduced, but the position information is lost when communication is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedical transmitter energy consumptionVSAvoidpatient position display reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Measurement precision

If the position information transmitter transmits frequently, then the position update accuracy is improved, but the system complexity and communication load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition update accuracyVSAvoidcommunication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2392254B1Patient position display system

Publication Date: 2020.04.22 NIHON KOHDEN CORP

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AI summary

A patient position display system (10) includes: a position information transmitter (20a, 20b) which transmits position information on a position of a place; a medical transmitter (30) which is to be attached to a patient and which detects and transmits biological information on the patient, the medical transmitter (30) receiving the position information from the position information transmitter and when receiving the position information, transmits the position information; an antenna (40) which receives the position information and the biological information from the medical transmitter; and a display device (50) which can display a position and a state of the patient based on the position information and biological information received by the antenna. Even when the antenna becomes not to receive the position information, the display device continues to display the position of the patient for a constant time period, based on position information which is last received.