Peripheral Component Interface for Medical Imaging Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of attaching peripheral components to medical imaging systems increases with the number of components, due to differing communication protocols and the need for component-specific control logic, leading to maintenance and interoperability challenges.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an interface device that facilitates bi-directional communication between peripheral components and the control unit, using a standardized protocol to simplify the attachment and operation of various peripheral components, thereby reducing the need for component-specific control logic in the control unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If component-specific control logic is provisioned in the control unit for each peripheral component, then compatibility with various peripheral components is achieved, but maintenance complexity and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with peripheral componentsVSAvoidcontrol logic complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an interface device as an intermediary between the control unit and peripheral components. This interface device handles component-specific communication protocols and control logic, allowing the control unit to interact with diverse peripheral components through a standardized interface. The interface device translates between the standardized control unit interface and component-specific protocols, thereby achieving compatibility without increasing control unit complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the control system into two distinct parts: a standardized control unit and component-specific interface devices. The control unit maintains simple, universal communication protocols, while interface devices handle component-specific logic. This segmentation isolates complexity to modular interface devices that can be independently managed, updated, and maintained without affecting the control unit or other peripheral components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If component-specific control logic is maintained in the control unit, then interoperability with various peripheral components is supported, but maintenance becomes more complex and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinteroperabilityVSAvoidmaintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The interface device acts as a mediator that encapsulates component-specific control logic outside the control unit. This allows maintenance personnel to service and update interface devices independently without risking errors in the control unit's core functionality. The standardized interface between control unit and interface devices ensures interoperability is maintained while simplifying maintenance procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts component-specific control logic from the control unit and places it in separate interface devices. This extraction removes the source of maintenance complexity and errors from the control unit, allowing the control unit to remain stable and reliable while interface devices are independently maintained and updated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple communication protocols are supported for different peripheral components, then component compatibility is improved, but the number of control logic requirements increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent compatibilityVSAvoidnumber of control logic

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface device serves as a protocol translation intermediary. It receives standardized commands from the control unit and translates them into component-specific protocols required by different peripheral components. This approach maintains component compatibility while the control unit itself requires only a single standardized control logic, significantly reducing the total number of control logic requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit is designed with universal, component-agnostic control logic that works with all peripheral components through the standardized interface. The interface devices provide the multi-functionality needed to handle different protocols, allowing the control unit to maintain simplicity while supporting diverse components through the universal interface standard.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11435421B2Attaching peripheral components of a medical imaging system

Publication Date: 2022.09.06 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

One or more peripheral components are attached to a medical imaging system. One or more devices are attached to the one or more peripheral components and configured to communicate data with a controller of the medical imaging system.