Hierarchical Control for Semi-Autonomous Vehicle Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices (IMDs) often fail to make medically optimal decisions due to lack of clinical information, suboptimal programming, inability to distinguish between conditions, or device malfunctions, necessitating external inputs for improved decision-making.
Innovation Solution
The IMD system incorporates a multi-entity control structure involving the IMD, patient, patient device, medical professional, and medical expert device, allowing for direct or indirect patient input, hierarchical control structures, and selective notification to enhance decision-making and oversight, with algorithms blending diverse data types for better patient management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If implantable medical devices operate autonomously with complex decision-making algorithms, then device automation and independence are improved, but decision accuracy and medical optimality deteriorate due to insufficient clinical information and inability to distinguish between different conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote medical professional as an intermediary who receives clinical information from the IMD, analyzes it externally, and provides control signals back to the device. This mediator bridges the gap between autonomous operation and accurate decision-making by adding external clinical expertise to the decision loop.
Solution Approach 2:
The decision-making function is segmented between the IMD (which collects and processes local physiological data) and the remote medical professional (who provides clinical context and final decisions). This segmentation allows each component to specialize: the device handles continuous monitoring while the human expert handles complex judgment.
2Reliability
If implantable medical devices collect and process more clinical information, then decision-making accuracy is improved, but device complexity and information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts complex information processing and clinical judgment functions from the implantable device and relocates them to an external medical professional. The IMD retains only essential data collection and transmission capabilities, while the remote analyst performs the complex analysis externally.
3Ease of operation
If implantable medical devices operate independently without external input, then device simplicity and ease of operation are improved, but ability to make medically optimal decisions deteriorates due to lack of external clinical perspective
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the IMD transmits operational data and clinical measurements to a remote medical professional, who analyzes the information and sends control signals back to adjust device behavior. This feedback mechanism enables continuous improvement of medical decisions while maintaining ease of device operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Semi-autonomous vehicle apparatus which is controlled by a plurality of control sources includes a vehicle which may function autonomously and apparatus for control of the vehicle by either an onboard driver or a driver not situated onboard. The vehicle may also be controlled by an off-vehicle computational device. Hierarchy setting apparatus determines which one or combination of the possible control entities take priority. Persons using the apparatus are identified by either a password or, preferably by providing identification based on a biologic feature. Management of impaired vehicle operators is provided for.