Rotating Display for Mobile X-ray Apparatus Sterility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile X-ray examination apparatuses used in operating theaters, the control and display components are often positioned in a way that they are either an obstacle to surgeons or are difficult to keep sterile due to their proximity to potential body fluids, and there is limited space for comfortable operation.

Innovation Solution

The display devices are mounted to a mobile carriage with 180° rotational freedom around a vertical axis, allowing them to be easily positioned towards either the surgeon or the operator, reducing the risk of contamination and improving sterility, and enabling the operator to be positioned without obstructing the surgeon.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the control means and display means are positioned close to the surgeon for easy access and visibility, then the surgeon can easily view X-ray images and control the apparatus, but the control means are exposed to body fluids and difficult to keep sterile

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgeon access to display and controlVSAvoidcontamination risk to control means
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is divided into functionally independent modules: the control means are separated from the display means and positioned on opposite sides of the patient. This segmentation allows the control means to be kept away from the sterile field while the display can be positioned where the surgeon needs it, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and sterility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patient acts as an intermediary element that physically separates the control means from the display means. By positioning the control means on one side of the patient and the display on the other, the patient's body serves as a barrier that protects the control means from exposure to body fluids while still allowing the surgeon to access the display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the control means and display means are positioned close to the operator for comfortable operation, then the operator can easily control the apparatus and view images, but the operator becomes an obstacle to the surgeon in the limited space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator comfort in controlling apparatusVSAvoidobstacle to surgeon in limited space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control means and display means are segmented and positioned at opposite ends of the apparatus, allowing the operator to stand on one side for comfortable operation while the surgeon can access the display from the other side without obstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The arrangement transitions from a one-sided control station to a distributed layout where control and display are separated along the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. This dimensional redistribution allows both operator and surgeon to access their respective functions simultaneously without spatial conflict.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the display device is fixed in position to maintain stable imaging, then the X-ray images remain stable for measurement, but the display cannot be flexibly positioned towards surgeon or operator as needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of X-ray image for measurementVSAvoidflexibility in positioning display
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The display means are made dynamically positionable along the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, allowing them to be moved to different locations depending on whether the surgeon or operator needs to view the images. This dynamic positioning capability maintains image stability while providing operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP1940291B1X-ray examination apparatus
Publication Date: 2015.09.23 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP1940291B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1940291B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP1940291B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An X-ray examination apparatus (100) is described, comprising a mobile carriage (10) carrying a human-operable control input device (21) and a display device (22), the carriage (10) having a front side (11) and a back side (12); wherein said human- operable control input device is located closer to the front side (11) of the carriage while said display device is located closer to the back side (12) of the carriage; wherein the carriage has a control position where the said display device has its image screen (23) directed substantially towards the front side (11) of the carriage, and a surgeon position where the said display device has its image screen (23) directed substantially towards the back side (12) of the carriage; and wherein said display device is mounted to the mobile carriage such as to be displaceable between the control position and the surgeon position.