Patient Support Table With Force-Sensed Motor Assistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient support tables require excessive manual force to move heavier patients, especially when tilted, and are complex and costly to construct, with limited manual movement capabilities beyond horizontal positions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a force sensor that communicates with a closed-loop motor control system to assist manual movement, ensuring the user only applies a predetermined reference force, allowing for easier and safer movement of the table plate in any direction, including tilted positions, by adjusting motor assistance based on actual force measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manually actuated clutch is provided to decouple the table plate from the drive train to enable manual movement, then manual movement becomes possible, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the clutch mechanism entirely from the system. Instead of using a clutch to decouple the drive train during manual movement, the system allows direct manual movement of the table plate without any decoupling mechanism, thereby eliminating the complexity and cost associated with the clutch while preserving manual movement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical clutch-based decoupling system with an electronic control system. The control facility monitors manual movement requests and temporarily disables motorized movement through electronic control, eliminating the need for mechanical decoupling components while achieving the same functional result
2Ease of operation
If the support unit is constructed to permit great ease of movement for heavy patients, then manual movement becomes easier, but the construction complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical support unit modifications with an electronic control system. Instead of modifying the mechanical support structure to reduce friction or improve movement, the system uses the control facility to detect manual movement intentions and provide assisted movement through the existing motor, thereby achieving ease of movement without increasing mechanical construction complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing motorized drive train to assist manual movement. When the control facility detects that the user is attempting to move the table plate manually, it automatically provides motor assistance to reduce the force required, allowing the system to serve itself by using its own motor to assist manual operation without requiring additional mechanical complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If the table plate is tilted to align the patient with the imaging device, then patient positioning is optimized, but manual movement becomes impossible due to excessive force requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need for mechanical force to move a tilted table plate with an electronic control system. When the table plate is tilted and the user attempts to move it manually, the control facility detects the movement intention and activates the motor to provide assisted movement, eliminating the need for excessive manual force while maintaining the ability to reposition the tilted plate
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the table plate's position and the user's input. When the plate is tilted, the control facility is particularly attentive to manual movement signals and provides appropriate motor assistance, allowing the system to adapt its assistance level to the current operational conditions and maintain ease of movement across all positions
4Ease of operation
If motorized movement is used to move the tilted table plate, then movement is possible, but the process becomes more time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between manual and motorized movement modes based on real-time detection. When the control facility detects that the user is applying force to move the table plate manually, it temporarily enables motor assistance only for the duration of the manual movement, then returns to normal motorized control, thereby achieving fast movement without the complexity of continuous motorized operation
Solution Approach 2:
The control facility periodically monitors for manual movement intentions and temporarily activates motor assistance in response to detected manual input. This periodic monitoring and temporary activation allows the system to provide motor assistance only when needed, reducing overall movement time while maintaining system simplicity
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
Enables simple and efficient manual movement of the table plate with reduced force requirements, independent of patient weight, and allows movement in any direction, including tilted positions, by providing motor assistance that limits the force applied to a reference value, thus reducing user effort and construction complexity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one sensor that determines the force exerted by the user on the table plate for table plate movement
Implementation Method 2
the motor operates in such a way as to assist the tactile force input by the user, so that the motor operates with respect to the force in the same direction in which the user wishes to move the table plate
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support table is provided. The patient support table includes a table plate that may be moved manually or by at least one motor having a control facility. At least one sensor is provided on the table plate. The at least one sensor is operable to determine a force exerted by a user on the table plate for table plate movement and produce a sensor signal. The at least one sensor is operable to communicate with the control facility of the motor. The control facility is operable to control the motor as a function of the sensor signal that is based on a predetermined reference force value such that the reference force value is not exceeded during the table movement.