Surgical Equipment Relocation Module for Automated Dose-Response Records

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical records are incomplete, inaccurate, and prone to errors due to manual data entry, lacking temporal correlation between dose and response events, which hampers AI and ML analysis and increases clinician burnout.

Innovation Solution

An automated data consolidation module that integrates patient monitors and equipment under the surgical table, using sensors and machine vision to automatically record and correlate dose and response events, enhancing data accuracy and reducing manual input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual data entry is used for electronic anesthetic records, then equipment can be simple and inexpensive, but data accuracy and completeness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-documentation where surgical equipment autonomously records its own operational parameters, dose events, and response data without requiring manual intervention. The automated data consolidation module captures data directly from equipment sensors and integrates it into electronic records, eliminating the need for manual data entry while improving accuracy and completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual data entry process with automated electronic data capture systems. Sensors and machine vision components automatically detect and record surgical events, replacing the need for healthcare providers to manually type data into electronic records, thereby improving data quality without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If manual data entry is used for dose and response events, then data collection can be simple, but temporal correlation and data completeness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemporal correlationVSAvoiddata capture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously and automatically captures data from surgical equipment throughout the entire surgical event without interruption. The automated data consolidation module operates continuously to record dose events, response parameters, and temporal relationships, ensuring no information is lost and maintaining complete chronological records of all surgical activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the automated data consolidation module continuously monitors equipment status, dose administration, and patient responses, then immediately records these events with precise timestamps. This feedback loop ensures temporal correlation is maintained and allows for real-time verification of data completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If automated data capture is implemented, then data accuracy improves, but device complexity and implementation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata reliabilityVSAvoidsystem implementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated data consolidation module is designed as a universal system that can integrate with multiple types of surgical equipment and electronic health record systems. This multi-functional platform consolidates data from various sources (IV pumps, ventilators, monitors, surgical equipment) into a single unified record, improving reliability while managing complexity through standardization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an automated data consolidation module as an intermediary layer between surgical equipment and electronic health records. This intermediary system handles the complexity of data integration, normalization, and temporal correlation, shielding the rest of the system from complexity while ensuring reliable and accurate data capture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If manual data entry is used, then implementation can be simple, but clinician burnout and productivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclinician productivityVSAvoidautomation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables surgical equipment to self-document its own operation, dose administration, and response data automatically. This eliminates the need for clinicians to manually enter routine surgical data into electronic records, freeing them from administrative burdens and reducing burnout while maintaining comprehensive documentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of data entry with automated electronic capture systems that continuously monitor and record surgical events. This substitution eliminates repetitive manual tasks for clinicians, improving productivity without requiring complex manual intervention, as the automation handles data collection and integration automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250360040A1Relocation module and methods for surgical equipment
Publication Date: 2025.11.27 AUGUSTINE BIOMEDICAL DESIGN LLC
  • US20250360040A1 patent drawing
  • US20250360040A1 patent drawing
  • US20250360040A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Module for housing electronic and electromechanical medical equipment including a portable digital camera and processing circuitry with machine vision and machine learning software for automatically documenting healthcare events and healthcare equipment operations in the electronic health record.