Touch-Sensitive Control Device with Safety Loop for Medical Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control methods for medical apparatuses are cumbersome to adapt to different devices, lack blind operability, and pose safety risks due to unmonitored movements, making them difficult to use and costly to modify.
Innovation Solution
A control method using a touch-sensitive display with a safety loop that allows controlled movements of medical apparatus components via virtual joysticks and a dead man's switch, enabling safe and flexible operation with visual feedback and preventing unintended movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a touch-sensitive display with safety loop is implemented, then safety and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the touch-sensitive display interface with a safety loop system into an integrated control device. The control device merges movement control functionality with safety monitoring, allowing the system to execute movements only when the safety loop is closed (user is holding the device). This integration resolves the contradiction by unified multiple functions into a single device rather than adding separate complex safety systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements visual feedback mechanisms that display movement status and safety loop state on the touch-sensitive display. The system provides real-time feedback to the user about whether movements are being executed and whether the safety conditions are met, allowing the user to monitor the system state without direct visual contact with the medical apparatus itself. This feedback mechanism improves safety while maintaining a relatively simple interface.
2Ease of operation
If blind operability is enabled through visual feedback on control device, then ease of operation is improved, but information presentation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the touch-sensitive display as an intermediary between the user and the medical apparatus. Instead of requiring direct visual contact with the apparatus, the display presents visual feedback about apparatus status and movement execution. This intermediary allows the user to operate the system blindly (without seeing the apparatus) while still receiving necessary visual information about system state through the display interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If control method is made adaptable to various apparatuses, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the control device with universal functionality that can control different types of medical apparatus components (x-ray detector, x-ray radiator, C-arm, patient table) using the same touch-sensitive display interface and safety loop mechanism. The control method is formulated to be apparatus-agnostic, allowing the same device to adapt to various medical imaging systems without requiring apparatus-specific control hardware, thereby achieving versatility while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method to control movements of a medical apparatus via a control device with a touch-sensitive display, an apparatus component of the medical apparatus is selected and; and move the selected apparatus component is moved according to commands made at the touch-sensitive display. A safety loop must be closed in order to activate the movement of the apparatus component. A control device to control a medical apparatus, and a medical apparatus having at least one apparatus component, operate according to this method.