Surgical Table Handset Zoning for Faster Movement Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handsets for controlling surgical operating tables are cumbersome and difficult to use, with numerous push buttons requiring time-consuming searches and lacking visual, audible, or touch feedback, making it challenging to control movement speed and direction effectively.
Innovation Solution
A handheld device with a touchscreen display divided into zones, each with icon switches and physical switches that provide haptic and visual feedback, allowing for easy selection and control of movement functions, minimizing the number of icon selector switches and enabling single-handed operation in an ergonomic design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If numerous push buttons are provided on the handset to control all movement functions, then the device can control all elements of the surgical table, but the handset becomes complex and time-consuming to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into multiple zones, with each zone containing icons representing specific control functions. This segmentation allows the handset to control all surgical table elements while organizing functions into manageable groups, reducing the perceived complexity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The touchscreen display serves multiple functions: it displays icons, provides tactile feedback through vibration, and responds to different input methods (touch, pressure). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate physical buttons for each control function.
2Ease of operation
If many push buttons are arranged in a compact array to fit the handset, then the handset remains portable, but the buttons become difficult to locate and select
Solution Approach 1:
The display provides visual feedback by illuminating or highlighting selected icons and zones, making it easy for the user to locate and identify the correct control function without searching through a compact array of buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate visual feedback on the display when a zone or icon is selected, and tactile feedback through vibration. This confirms to the user that the correct function has been selected, eliminating the need to search or guess.
3Ease of operation
If physical push buttons are used to control movement, then the control mechanism is simple, but no visual, audible, or touch feedback is provided to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides multiple types of feedback: visual feedback through display illumination and icon highlighting, and tactile feedback through vibration when a zone or icon is selected. This confirms to the user that the correct function has been selected.
Solution Approach 2:
The touchscreen display acts as an intermediary between the user's touch input and the control system, providing both input detection and feedback output in a single interface element.
4Speed
If the speed of motion is controlled by selecting different push buttons, then speed adjustment is possible, but it requires multiple button selections and is difficult to control precisely
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts motion speed based on the duration and repetition of touches on the same icon. Continuous or repeated touches increase speed, while single touches maintain lower speed, allowing precise speed control without requiring multiple buttons or menus.
Data Source
AI summary
A handset for controlling a device having a plurality of movable elements, the handset having a housing, a display on a front face of the housing, the display being divided into a plurality of zones, each zone including at least one icon switch, each icon switch being aligned with a respective associated icon, wherein each icon identifies a respective element or group of elements of a device to be controlled by the respective icon switch, and a plurality of physical switches on the front face, each physical switch being associated with a respective zone, and wherein each physical switch is configured to control movement of the element or elements shown by the icon or icons in the respective zone, and a control mechanism within the housing which is connected to the plurality of icon switches and the plurality of physical switches, the control mechanism being arranged to generate an output control signal for transmission to the device in response to an input command at the plurality of icon switches and the plurality of physical switches.