Patient Support Apparatus Marker Unit for Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current patient support apparatuses for neurosurgical interventions face challenges in securely and rapidly positioning the surgical head fastening unit within the permissible occupancy area for medical imaging examinations, leading to complex workflows, increased risk of infection, and potential collisions with medical imaging apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus equipped with a marker unit that marks the maximum occupancy area for the surgical head fastening unit, allowing for secure and rapid positioning and fixing of the patient's head, using a marker element such as a fan laser unit to indicate critical collision areas and optimize workflow, reducing the risk of collisions and minimizing the need for repeated positioning and sterile coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the surgical head fastening unit is positioned using rough estimation by clinical personnel, then the positioning process is simple, but the surgical head fastening unit may collide with the housing wall of the medical imaging apparatus or require repeated alignment and positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-marking the maximum occupancy area on the patient support apparatus before the surgical head fastening unit is positioned. This allows clinical personnel to directly place the unit within the marked area without requiring rough estimation or repeated adjustments, thereby maintaining operational simplicity while ensuring accurate positioning that prevents collision with the housing wall.
2Reliability
If the surgical head fastening unit is repositioned repeatedly due to collision risk, then positioning accuracy can be improved, but the workflow complexity and infection risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates workflow complexity by performing the positioning guidance action in advance through the marker unit. The maximum occupancy area is marked before the surgical head fastening unit is positioned, allowing clinical personnel to complete the positioning in a single attempt without repeated adjustments, thereby simplifying the workflow while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a marker unit as an intermediary element between the patient support apparatus and the surgical head fastening unit. This marker unit provides visual guidance (maximum occupancy area) that mediates the positioning process, enabling clinical personnel to accurately position the unit without complex procedures or repeated adjustments, thus reducing workflow complexity while ensuring reliability.
3Device complexity
If the surgical head fastening unit is positioned without clear guidance markers, then the apparatus structure remains simple, but the preparation time and positioning time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-marking the maximum occupancy area on the patient support apparatus before the surgical head fastening unit is positioned. This allows clinical personnel to directly place the unit within the marked area without requiring rough estimation or repeated adjustments, thereby maintaining operational simplicity while ensuring accurate positioning that prevents collision with the housing wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual markers (color changes or optical signals) to indicate the maximum occupancy area on the patient support apparatus. This visual guidance system allows clinical personnel to quickly identify the correct positioning zone without complex procedures or repeated adjustments, thereby reducing positioning time while maintaining a relatively simple apparatus structure.
4Productivity
If the maximum occupancy area is marked on the patient support apparatus, then positioning speed and accuracy improve, but the apparatus complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual markers (color changes or optical signals) to indicate the maximum occupancy area on the patient support apparatus. This visual guidance system allows clinical personnel to quickly identify the correct positioning zone without complex procedures or repeated adjustments, thereby reducing positioning time while maintaining a relatively simple apparatus structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a marker unit as an intermediary element between the patient support apparatus and the surgical head fastening unit. This marker unit provides visual guidance (maximum occupancy area) that mediates the positioning process, enabling clinical personnel to accurately position the unit without complex procedures or repeated adjustments, thus simplifying the workflow while ensuring reliability.
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
The solution enables a time-saving, cost-effective, and safe preparation of patients for medical imaging examinations by clearly marking the maximum occupancy area, reducing the risk of collisions and optimizing the workflow for clinical personnel, while ensuring the patient's head is securely fixed during imaging procedures.
Implementation Method 1
using a marker element such as a fan laser unit to indicate critical collision areas
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a patient support apparatus having a patient support couch, a moveable support plate for supporting a patient, a surgical head fastening unit for fastening a head of the patient in an examination position and/or in an operation position. The patient support apparatus includes a marker unit for marking a maximum occupancy area for the surgical head fastening unit.