Virtual Storage Buttons for Medical Device Position Recall

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional biomedical imaging devices face difficulties in storing and recalling device positions, especially when the number of positions exceeds the number of physical storage buttons, making it challenging to identify and retrieve specific positions accurately.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic storage apparatus with a user interface featuring virtual storage buttons that can be actuated using a pointer object, allowing for adaptable storage and visualization of device positions through a 3D model, enabling flexible operation and easy selection of stored positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a set number of physical storage buttons is used to store device positions, then the device structure remains simple, but the system cannot handle more positions than the number of buttons and becomes inflexible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of storable positionsVSAvoidinterface structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical storage buttons with virtual storage buttons displayed on a screen. These virtual buttons are graphical representations that can be selected via a user interface (e.g., touchscreen or mouse). This copying approach allows unlimited storage positions without adding physical components, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically generates and manages virtual storage buttons based on user needs. The number and arrangement of buttons can change during operation, allowing the interface to adapt to different workflow requirements. This dynamic nature enables the system to handle any number of positions while maintaining a simple underlying device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple device positions are stored in conventional systems, then position storage capacity increases, but it becomes difficult to identify and select the correct position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of storable positionsVSAvoidposition identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs visual differentiation of virtual storage buttons through color coding, icons, or graphical indicators. Each button can display distinctive visual characteristics that help users quickly identify and select the desired position among many stored positions, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the large set of stored positions into manageable groups or categories, with each virtual button representing a specific position. The visual interface organizes these segmented positions in a way that facilitates quick scanning and selection, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and ease of identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If virtual storage buttons are introduced to increase storage capacity, then system flexibility improves, but the interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage flexibilityVSAvoidsoftware interface

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual storage button interface serves multiple functions: storing positions, displaying position information, enabling selection, and providing visual feedback. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate components into a single unified interface, improving storage flexibility while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9962138B2Device and method for dynamically storing medical device positions, biomedical engineering imaging system, and computer program product

Publication Date: 2018.05.08 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

A storage apparatus for dynamically storing and for recalling a position of an imaging biomedical engineering device has an interface to a position establishment apparatus of the imaging biomedical engineering device. A display unit has a display field with a user interface having a selectable number of virtual storage buttons that are actuatable by a pointer object. If an unoccupied virtual storage button which does not yet have a medical device position assigned thereto is actuated, the storage button is assigned a current medical device position. If an occupied virtual storage button which already has a medical device position assigned thereto is actuated, the stored medical device position is selected and visualized on the display field. A biomedical engineering imaging system as well as a method for dynamically storing and for recalling medical device positions and a program product are described.