Wireless Medical Room Control with Transceiver Locator

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wired central remote control units for medical devices in medical areas face limitations due to physical constraints of wired connections, which restrict operating distance and require significant manual effort for setup.

Innovation Solution

A wireless controller system that uses transceiver locator devices for determining the presence and location of medical devices within a medical room, allowing for central wireless control without the need for wired connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wired connections are used for central control of medical devices, then control reliability is improved, but operating distance is limited and setup time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol reliabilityVSAvoidsetup time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces wired mechanical connections with wireless communication systems (RF transceivers) to eliminate physical cords between the master controller and medical devices. This substitution maintains control functionality while removing the time-consuming cord connection process and enabling remote operation without physical constraints.

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

2Length of stationary object

If wireless control signals are transmitted over long distances, then operating distance is improved, but control of wrong devices may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating distanceVSAvoidcontrol accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the master controller receives identification signals from medical devices and automatically determines which devices are present in the room. The system queries devices and processes their responses to build an accurate inventory of controllable devices, ensuring that control signals are directed only to intended targets even when transmitted over long distances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The master controller performs preliminary scanning and identification of medical devices in the room before initiating control operations. By预先 determining the presence and status of devices through wireless identification signals, the system prepares an accurate device inventory that prevents miscontrol of devices in adjacent areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3905258B1Wireless medical room control arrangement for control of a plurality of medical devices
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 STRYKER CORP
  • EP3905258B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3905258B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3905258B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless medical room control arrangement includes a wireless controller having a wireless router. A room identifier and a device identifier are stored in the controller. A communication interface sends commands to and receives commands from the wireless controller. In response to commands from the interface, the wireless controller sends wireless control signals to operate medical devices in the room. A room monitor adjacent a doorway provides room identifiers to medical devices and wireless controllers entering the room and provides dummy identifiers to medical devices and controllers exiting the room. The room monitors may connect to a global network processor that determines the location of the medical devices in a medical facility.