WO2007113883A1

WO2007113883A1 - Equipment and method for the remote control of an operating table

Info

Publication number: WO2007113883A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000404
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giovanni Rapacioli; Dino Rigotti
Original assignee: U.T.E. S.R.L. Ufficio Tecnico Elettronico
Priority date: 2006-03-30
Filing date: 2006-05-26
Publication date: 2007-10-11
Also published as: WO2007113884A8; ITPD20060113A1; WO2007113884A1

Abstract

This invention relates to equipment and a method for the remote control (1) of an operating table (2) having a base (3), also known as 'column', and a moving part (4), also known as 'table-top', electrically and mechanically associated with the said base (3), the said base (3) and the said moving part (4) being moved by a plurality of operating means (5 A,..., 5F) having the characteristic of comprising a control unit (6) equipped with reception/transmission means (7), the said reception/transmission means (7) being capable of receiving/transmitting a first signal communication (Sl) between the said base (3), the said moving part (4) of the said operating table (2) and the said control unit (6) to selectively activate one or more of the said operating means of the said plurality of operating means (5 A,..., 5F), the said first signal communication (Sl) being a radio-transmitted signal communication.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title: "Equipment and method for the remote control of an operating table"

This invention relates to equipment and a method for remote control of an operating table in accordance with the precharacterising clauses of claims 1 and 17 respectively.

In addition to this, this invention relates to an operating table incorporating such an equipment in accordance with the precharacterising clause of claim 16.

The operating tables currently used in operating room substantially comprise a central or base unit comprising a column electrically and mechanically associated with a moving or a movable part.

Patients who must for example be subjected to surgery are placed on the table-top of the operating table.

The base and the moving part can be moved through a plurality of operating means, that is both the base and the moving part of the operating table are provided with electric motors capable of moving the said base and the said moving part into predetermined positions. For example the base may be placed at a predetermined height, the moving part inclined in a specific position for a particular operation, etc.

Usually such electric motors are controlled by control units housed in the base and moving part of the operating table respectively. In particular the control unit located in the base provides that there is a set of cables providing communications via signals between the electric motors present in the base, and the control unit located in the moving part in turn provides that there is another set of cables providing communication by signals with the electric motors present in that moving part.

In addition to this, these control units are in communication with each other through signals through a cable connection in such a way that one or more motors present in the base and the moving part of the operating table can be controlled simultaneously.

Furthermore these control units are also capable of managing the commands received from one or more push buttons connected to the operating table by wireless or cable.

It is also known that the control unit present in the base of the operating table can establish signal communication with a plurality of peripheral units external to the operating table. By way of example the peripheral units may comprise an operating pedal, one or more television screens located within the operating room and one or more personal computers which are also available in the operating room.

At the present time signal communications between the control unit located in the base and the peripherals are provided through equipment capable of transmitting/receiving operating signals in the infrared frequency band.

Although the use of such operating tables has many advantages, the following disadvantages have nevertheless been revealed. A first disadvantage encountered with these tables lies in the fact that a large number of cables and/or a large amount of cabling is needed in both the base and the moving part to connect the electric motors together, giving rise to increased weight, increased complexity and also appreciable design and construction costs.

A second disadvantage encountered with these tables comprises the risk of interference which infrared ray equipment may give rise to or suffer through equipment of the same type present within an operating room.

A third disadvantage encountered with these tables lies in the fact that there may be interruptions in the exchange of data between the transmission and reception means because of unforeseen obstacles, for example the edges of a drape hanging from the operating table which obstruct the light signal.

In view of the state of the art described, the object of this invention is to provide remote control equipment which is capable of overcoming the disadvantages found in operating tables constructed according to the known art.

Thanks to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a control equipment capable of drastically reducing the number of cables required in both the base and the moving part of the operating table in order to reach and control the operating means.

In particular, thanks to the present invention it is possible to obtain remote control equipment having a single control unit which may preferably be positioned in the base and is capable of communicating with or controlling the operating means of the base and the moving part through wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth, Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi.

Furthermore, it is possible to obtain an operating table having remote control equipment which uses wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth, Zigbee and Wi-Fi to communicate with sensors and actuating members, drastically reducing the cost of the cabling and its dimensions.

A further object of the invention comprises providing equipment which is capable of providing a secure connection between the base and the moving part of an operating table.

According to this invention this object is accomplished through remote control equipment according to claim 1, through an operating table incorporating such equipment according to claim 16 and through a method according to claim 17.

The characteristics and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a practical embodiment thereof illustrated by way of a non- restrictive example together with the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a circuit diagram of remote control equipment according to this invention,

- Figure 2 shows a diagrammatical illustration of an operating table in which the remote control equipment in Figure 1 is incorporated according to this invention, - Figure 3 shows a diagrammatical illustration of the peripheral units which can be connected to the operating table in Figure 2,

- Figure 4 shows a diagrammatical illustration of the base and the moving part of the operating table in Figure 2.

With reference to the annexed figures, 1 indicates as a whole the remote control equipment for an operating table 2.

Operating table 2 comprises a base 3 and a moving part 4 which can be associated with base 3. Base 3 takes the form of a column, while moving part 4 takes the form of a table-top on which patients undergoing operations can be laid.

In particular, in accordance with techniques well known to those skilled in the art, once moving part 4 is associated with base 3 there are suitable means (not shown in the figures) for creating an electrical and mechanical connection between said moving part 4 and said base 3.

In addition to this, in a manner which is in itself known to those skilled in the art, base 3 and moving part 4 each have a plurality of operating means 5 A₅... ,5F. These ensure that base 3 and moving part 4 can be moved in relation to each other or independently of each other.

In particular base 3 may be adjusted to various heights with respect to a reference plane, moving part 4 may be guided into one or more positions according to the type of operation which the patient has to undergo, etc. Alternatively operating table 2 takes the form of an operating table provided with a moving part, which acts as a table-top on which the patient is laid, the moving part being fixed to the base. In such an operating table the moving part cannot therefore be removed from the base.

In the rest of this description reference will be made to an operating table of the type comprising a base and a moving part which can be associated with the base, that is a moving part which can be removed from the base.

With reference to Figure 1, equipment 1 according to the invention comprises a control unit 6 having reception/transmission means 7 capable of receiving/transmitting a first wireless signal communication Sl between said base 3, said moving part 4 of said operating table 2 and said control unit 6.

It must be pointed out that first wireless signal communication Sl takes the form of a radio-transmitted signal communication, that is a signal communication which is substantially immune to. the presence of any obstacles lying along its route.

Advantageously control unit 6 is capable of selectively operating one or more of the said plurality of operating means 5A,...,5F through first signal communication Sl as described below.

According to this invention therefore control unit 6 forms the dominant (or master) function and the plurality of operating members 5A,...,5F depending on that control unit 6 perform the function of slaves. It should be noted that three operating means may be located within operating table 2 for example, while between six and ten operating means may for example be housed in moving part 4.

With reference in particular to Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that the plurality of operating means 5A,...,5F comprises:

- a first plurality of motor means 8A₅...,8C associated with said base 3, and

- a second plurality of motor means 9D₅...,9F associated with said moving part 4.

It should be noted that for simplicity of illustration only operating means 5A and 5D of said plurality of operating means 5A,...,5F have been illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Preferably such first motor means 8A₅...,8C and second operating means 9D₅...,9F take the form of electric motors of the brushless DC type or direct current electric motors. These electric motors are usually powered by a feed voltage of 48V or alternatively 36V.

First signal communication Sl can selectively operate one or more of said first plurality of motor means 8 A, ... ,8C and/or second plurality 9D₅... ,9F .

In other words this selective operation makes it possible for control unit 6 to control the said first motor means 8A₅...,8C and/or second motor means 9D₅...,9F in the following ways: - controlling each electric motor of the said first plurality of motor means 8A,...,8C and/or second plurality 9D,...,9F independently of the others,

- controlling several electric motors of the first plurality of motor means 8A,...,8C and/or second plurality 9D₅...,9F at the same time.

Again with reference to Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that the said plurality of operating means 5A,...,5F may also comprise:

- a first plurality of sensor means 10 A,... ,1OC operatively connected with the said first plurality of motor means 8A,...,8C, and

- a second plurality of sensor means 11D,...,11F operatively connected with the said second plurality of motor means 9D, ... ,9F .

Preferably the said first plurality of sensors 10 A,..., 1OC and second plurality 11D,...,11F take the form of limit stop sensors, zero position sensors, accessory recognition sensors, control push-buttons and also outputs to Leds, displays, etc.

It should also be noted that said transmission/reception means 7 substantially comprise:

- first transmission/reception means 12 associated with said control unit 6,

- second transmission/reception means 13A,...,13F each of which are respectively associated with said first plurality of motor means 8A,...,8C and the said second first plurality of motor means 9D, ... ,9F ,

- first processing means 14 connected with the said first transmission/reception means 12, and

- second processing means 15A,...,15F operatively connected with the said second transmission/reception means 13A,...,13F, the said first processing means 14 and second processing means 15A,...,15F being capable of processing first signal communication Sl.

Advantageously second reception/transmission means 13A,...,13F and second processing means 15A,...,15F are also capable of receiving/transmitting a second wireless signal communication S2.

This second signal communication S2 is capable of exchanging first data directly between the said first plurality of motor means 8A,...,8C and second plurality 9D,...,9F.

In particular these first data are those detected by the said first plurality of sensors 10 A,..., 1OC and second plurality 11 D,..., 11 F, data which may for example be present position, position reached, actual speed, loading conditions or the limit stop condition.

In fact whenever there is a requirement that electric motor 8 A of operating means 5 A and electric motor 9D of operating means 5D should "travel" at precisely the same speed, they must be capable of communicating data such as present position, position reached and actual speed between them as necessary for synchronising their motion.

In other words, through this invention, reception and transmission means 12 and 13 are capable of establishing signal communication S2, which may be autonomous, between the various operating means for the plurality of operating means 5A₅... ,5F.

For example, if limit stop sensor 1OA relating to motor 8 A were to be connected to another operating means 5B on the grounds of rationalising cabling, operating means 5 A which moves such motor 8 A would require the status of sensor 1OA for operating means 5B while motor 8 A connected to it was moving.

Advantageously the said second communication S2 would also be a radio-transmitted signal communication.

Thanks to remote control equipment 1 it is therefore possible to drastically reduce the quantity of cabling required to transmit/receive the command signals between one or more of the said plurality of operating means 5A,...,5F.

Advantageously transmission/reception means 7, that is first transmission/reception means 12 and second means 13A,...,13F respectively associated with said control unit 6 and said plurality of operating means 5A,...,5F and first processing means 14 and second processing means 15A,...,15F respectively connected to said first transmission/reception means 12 and second transmission/reception means 13A,...,13F are organised on the basis of a hardware architecture of the Bluetooth type.

In other words, said first signal communication Sl and second signal communication S2 are a two-way signal communication according to a communication protocol of the Bluetooth type.

In particular the Bluetooth communication protocol has a radius of action or operating distance D of between ten metres and one hundred metres, preferably often metres.

Alternatively, said first signal communication Sl and second signal communication S2 may be a two-way signal communication according to a communication protocol selected from the communication protocols Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi.

It should be noted that signal communication effected through Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi has a radius of action or operating distance of between ten metres and one hundred metres, preferably ten metres.

It should be pointed out that in this description the term radius of action (or operating distance) means the distance within which it is possible for a transmitted/received signal to be correctly identified.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention control unit 6 may lie outside operating table 2, that is it may be a device which is independent of operating table 2.

Alternatively, according to a preferred embodiment of this invention control unit 6 may be associated with base 3 of operating table 2 (Figure 2).

In particular it is especially advantageous to incorporate control unit 6 within base 3 in order to obtain a system having reduced dimensions.

Alternatively control unit 6 may be incorporated into each of the said operating means for the said plurality of operating means 5A,...,5F in such a way as to obtain greater compactness for the system, a fewer number of cables and greater flexibility in mounting the systems in view of developments/changes in the models of operating tables. With reference to Figure 3 it will be noted that equipment 1 according to the invention may comprise a plurality of peripherals 16 which can be connected with control unit 6 by wireless.

In the specific example in Figure 3 provision was made for control unit 6 to be located in base 3 of operating table 2.

In particular such plurality of peripherals 16 comprise third transmission/reception means (not illustrated in the figures) which are capable of receiving/transmitting a third signal communication S3 established between control unit 6 and said plurality of peripherals 16.

This third signal communication S3 is capable of monitoring or controlling one or more of said plurality of peripherals 16.

It should be pointed out that the said third signal communication S3 is a two-way signal communication according to a communication protocol selected from the Bluetooth, Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi communication protocols.

For example, plurality of peripherals 16 may comprise television screens 18, personal computers 19, hand-held devices 20 and/or push-buttons 21, etc.

It should be pointed out that by using a Bluetooth network associated with an operating table, there is a risk of interference between the Bluetooth network associated with said operating table and other Bluetooth networks associated with other operating tables and/or other devices present for example within the same operating theatre or in its vicinity.

Particularly it may be possible for signals sent through control unit 6, housed for example in base 3, not to be carried out by moving part 4 of operating table 2 which is associated with that base 3 at that moment but by the moving table-tops of other operating tables (not illustrated in the figures) which lie within the vicinity of that base 3.

This possibility may give rise to particularly dangerous situations, with obvious and imaginable risks to patients.

In fact the moving parts 4 of operating table 2 are subjected to repeated changes in the course of the daily work of an operating room when lifting patients on and off, and incorrect identification of the moving part by the central unit 6 of the operating table could cause wholly unforeseen events which would be harmful to patients.

With reference to Figure 4, in order to solve such a problem it is known that base 3 comprises detection means 22 to detect moving part 4 and that said moving part 4 comprises identification means 23 for unequivocally identifying said moving part 4, said detection means 22 and said identification means 23 being capable of establishing a fourth signal communication S4 between said base 3 and said moving part 4.

It should be pointed out that fourth signal communication S4 is a radio-transmitted communication such as to enable said detection means 22 to establish a one to one connection to receive/transmit said first signal communication Sl, second signal communication S2 and/or third signal communication S3 between base 3 and moving part 4 of said operating table 2 and said control unit 6.

Advantageously, through fourth signal communication S4 it is possible to prevent the possibility that signal communication Sl, S2 or S3 delivered via control unit 6, housed for example in base 3, will be carried out not through moving parts 4 of that operating table 2 which is associated with that base 3 at that time but by the moving table-tops of other operating tables (not illustrated in the figures) which lie within the vicinity of that base 3.

With this object said detection means 22 are capable of receiving second data from said identification means 23, the said second data being capable of unequivocally identifying said moving part 4.

Advantageously such fourth signal communication S4 is set up when moving part 4 is close to or in contact with base 3.

In particular, fourth signal communication S4 is such that it has a radius of action or operating distance Dl. It should be pointed out that radius of action Dl is less than radius of action D of communications signals Sl, S2 and/or S3.

In other words fourth signal communication S4 is established when said moving part 4 is at a predetermined distance from said base 3, this predetermined distance being less than or equal to the said radius of action Dl . When the above mentioned condition applies, detection means 22 associated with base 3 of operating table 2 are capable of receiving second data transmitted by said identification means 23 associated with moving part 4 of operating table 2.

The second data are data capable of unequivocally identifying moving part 4. In particular the said second data take the form of the mac-addresses (Media Access Control Address) or unequivocal characteristic codes of transmission/reception means 13D,...,13F of plurality of operating means 5D,...,5F implemented in moving part 4 of operating table 2, that is of the second plurality of motor means 9D,...,9F and the second plurality of sensors HD₅...,11F.

In fact the first and second processing means and the first and second transmission/reception means organised in accordance with Bluetooth and/or Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi hardware architecture present in the plurality of operating means 5D, ... ,5F implemented in moving part 4 have unequivocal characteristic codes and it is specifically those identification codes which are transmitted during said fourth communication S4.

Advantageously these detection 22 and identification 23 means are organised in accordance with a hardware architecture which is characteristic of the radiofrequency identification technology known by the acronym RFID (radiofrequency identification).

In the preferred embodiment these detection 22 and identification 23 means are of the passive type, that is the identification means 23 take the form of a transmitter (or "transponder") associated with moving part 4 of operating table 2, while the detection means 22 take the form of a base station (or "reader") having a suitably dimensioned antenna, this transponder being capable of being powered by the magnetic field generated by that antenna when the moving part 4 of operating table 2 is in proximity with or in contact with base part 3.

In particular the transponder contains the said second data (mac address) which can be read from the said base station when moving part 4 of operating table 2 is in the proximity of or in contact with central unit 3.

More particularly the detection means 22 (or base station) associated with central unit 3, in addition to having suitable processing means 24 to process the said second data (mac address), comprise:

- generating means to generate an activating signal capable of activating the transponder of the identification means 23 ,

- transmission means to transmit said activation signal,

- storing means to store the codes identifying each of the plurality of operating means 5D,...,5F, and

- reception means to receive a response signal originating from the transponder of the said identification means 23.

In turn the identification means 23 associated with moving part 4 of operating table 2 comprise:

- storing means to store the said second data in memory, - reception means to receive the activation signal generated by the aforesaid generating means.

Advantageously, in the preferred embodiment of this invention, the transmission means are dimensioned so as to have a radius of action Dl between five and fifty centimetres, and is preferably equal to approximately ten centimetres.

It should also be pointed out that thanks to remote control equipment 1 it is for example possible to use computer 19 and/or hand-held device 20 to read the operating parameters of each of the plurality of operating means 5, and to set the same, or to update the software present in processing means 14, 15 and 24 of reception/transmission means 7 and/or detection means 22, or to run diagnostic programs to evaluate any malfunctions in operating table 2 without the need to dismantle and/or connect cables to the operating table itself.

Again with reference to the appended figures, operating table 2 comprises a base 3 and a moving part 4 which are mechanically and electrically associable with base 3, said base 3 and said moving part 4 being moved by the plurality of operating means 5A,...,5F.

Advantageously operating table 2 comprises remote control equipment 1 for selectively operating one or more of the said plurality of operating means 5A,...,5F.

The functioning of remote control equipment I₅ previously illustrated as a circuit diagram, will now be described. It is assumed that the operation of loading moving part 4 on base 3 of operating table 2 has to be carried out.

When moving part 4 is located in the immediate vicinity of or close to base 3, for example not further than fifty centimetres, or is positioned on top of the latter, the stage of recognising moving part 4 by base part 3 begins.

The detection means 22 associated with base part 3 operate as follows.

The generating means generate an activating electrical signal which the transmission means transmit to the area surrounding the base part 3 when moving part 4 is in the vicinity of said base part 3, preferably ten centimetres.

In turn the identification means 23 associated with moving part 4 react as follows. The reception means receive the activating signal which is processed in such a way as to activate the transmission means to transmit a signal whose information content is the mac-address, that is the second data..

In other words there is a stage in which the activation signal is processed to transmit an identification signal containing the identification data for moving part 4.

In turn the reception means of the detection means 22 receive that identification signal.

This signal is processed and compared with the identification codes for the transmission/receiving means 13D,...,13F of the plurality of operating means 5D,...,5F previously stored in the storing means in such a way that the identification code of moving part 4 can be unequivocally recognised.

Signal communication S4 between said moving part 4 and said base part 3 of said operating table 2 is established in this way.

The stage of recognition of moving part 4 is completed at this point.

Advantageously, once the moving part has been unequivocally identified it is possible to generate one or more radio-transmitted signal communications Sl, S2 and/or S3 in accordance with the characteristics of the Bluetooth and/or Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi protocols.

It should be noted that whenever operating table 2 takes the physical form of an operating table equipped with a moving part which acts as a table-top mechanically fixed to a base, the previously described recognition operation is superfluous in that the identification codes of the reception/transmission means have already been placed in memory by the manufacturer during the operations of assembling the operating table.

Obviously in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements a person skilled in the art could apply many modifications and variants to the configurations described above, all of which are however included within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Equipment (1) for the remote control of an operating table (2) having a base (3) and a moving part (4) electrically and mechanically associated with that base (3), the said base (3) and the said moving part (4) being moved by a plurality of operating means (5 A,... ,5F)₅ characterised in that it comprises a control unit (6) having reception/transmission means (7), said reception/transmission means (7) being capable of receiving/transmitting a first signal communication (Sl) between the said base (3), the said moving part (4) of the said operating table (2) and the said control unit (6) to selectively operate one or more of the said operating means of the said plurality of operating means (5A₅... ,5F)₅ the said first signal communication (Sl) being a radio- transmitted signal communication.

2. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to claim 1, in which the said plurality of operating means (5 A₅... ,5F) comprise a first plurality of motor means (8 A₅..., 8C) associated with the said base (3) and a second plurality of motor means (9D,...,9F ) associated with the said moving part (4), the said first signal communication (Sl) being capable of selectively activating one or more of the said first plurality of motor means (8 A,..., 8C) and second plurality of motor means (9D,...,9F ).

3. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to claim 1 or 2, in which the said plurality of operating means (5 A,..., 5F) comprises a first plurality of sensors (1OA,..., 10C) operatively connected with the said first plurality of motor means (8A,...,8C) and a second plurality of sensors (HD₅...,11F) operatively connected with the said second plurality of motor means (9D,...,9F )₅ the said reception/transmission means (7) being capable of receiving/transmitting a second signal communication (S2) to communicate first data between the said plurality of operating means (5 A,...,5F), the said first data being detected by the said first plurality of sensors (1OA,... ,10C) and second plurality of sensors (1 ID₅...,1 IF).

4. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to claims 1 to 3, in which the said transmission/reception means (7) comprise:

- first transmission/reception means (12) and second transmission/reception means (13A,...₅13F) associated with the said control unit (6) and the said plurality of operating means (5 A, ... ,5F) respectively,

- first processing means (14) and second processing means (15A_S...,15F) respectively connected to said first transmission/reception means (12) and second transmission/reception means (13 A,..., 13F) capable of processing the said first signal communication (Sl) and second signal communication (S2).

5. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the said control unit (6) is operatively associated with the said moving part (4) of the said operating table (2).

6. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the said control unit (6) is incorporated into one or more operating means of the said plurality of operating means (5A,...,5F).

7. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the said control unit (6) is external to the said operating table (2).

8. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of peripherals (16) which can be connected by wireless to the said control unit (6).

9. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to claim 8, in which the said plurality of peripherals (16) comprises third transmission/reception means capable of receiving/transmitting a third signal communication (S3) between the said control unit (6) and the said plurality of peripherals (16), the said third signal communication (S3) being capable of operating one or more of the said plurality of peripherals (16).

10. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to claims 8 to 9, in which the said plurality of peripherals (16) are selected from the group comprising television screens (18), personal computers (19), hand-held devices (20) and/or pushbuttons (21).

11. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said first (Sl), second (S2) and third (S3) signal communications are two-way signal communications in accordance with a communication protocol selected from the Bluetooth, Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi communication protocols.

12. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said base (3) comprises detection means (22) to detect the said moving part (4) and the said moving part (4) comprises identification means (23) to unequivocally identify the said moving part (4), the said detection means (22) and the said identification means (23) being capable of establishing a fourth signal communication (S4) between the said base (3) and the said moving part (4) when the said moving part (4) is in the vicinity of the said base (3) at a predetermined distance, the said fourth signal communication (S4) being a radio-transmitted communication, in such a way as to permit the said detection means (22) to establish a one to one connection to receive/transmit the said first signal (Sl) and/or second signal communication (S2) between the said base (3), the said moving part (4) of the said operating table (2) and the said control unit (6).

13. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to claim 12, in which the said detection means (22) are capable of receiving second data from the said identification means (23), the said second data being capable of unequivocally identifying the said moving part (4).

14. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to claims 12 and 13, in which he said detection means (22) comprise further processing means (24) capable of processing the said data.

15. Equipment for the remote control of an operating table according to claims 12 to 14, the said detection means (22) and the said identification means (23) are organised on the basis of a hardware architecture characteristic of technology of the RFID type.

16. Operating table (2) comprising a base (3) and a moving part (4) which can be mechanically and electrically associated with the said base (3), the said base (3) and the said moving part (4) being moved by a plurality of operating means (5), characterised in that it comprises remote control equipment (1) for selectively activating one or more of the means of the said plurality of operating means (5 A, ... ,5F) in accordance with any one of preceding claims 1 to 15.

17. Method for the remote control of an operating table (2) having a base (3) and a moving part (4) which can be electrically and mechanically associated with the said base (3), the said base (3) and the said moving part (4) being adjustable through a plurality of operating means (5 A,..., 5F), the said method comprising the stages of:

- providing a base (3) and a moving part (4),

- recognising identification data for the said moving part (4) so as to make it possible to establish a one to one connection between the said base (3) and the said moving part (4), the said recognition stage comprising the further stages of:

- generating an activating signal whenever the said moving part (4) is in the proximity of the said base (3) at a predetermined distance,

- establishing a first signal communication (S4) between the said moving part (4) and the said base (3), the said signal communication (S4) being a radio-transmitted communication,

- processing the said first signal communication (S4) to unequivocally identify the recognition data for the said moving part (4).

18. Method of connection according to claim 17, in which the said operating table (2) can be connected by wireless with a plurality of peripherals (16) and once the said moving part (4) has been identified there is a further stage of generating a plurality of control signals capable of controlling the said plurality of peripherals in such a way as to establish a second signal communication (Sl₅ S2, S3) between a control unit (6) and the said plurality of peripherals (16), the said second signal communication (Sl, S2, S3) being a radio-transmitted communication from the said control unit (6).

19. Method of connection according to claims 17 and 18, in which the said first signal communication (S4) has a first radius of action (Dl), the said second signal communication (Sl, S2, S3) has a second radius of action (D), the said first radius of action (Dl) being less than the said second radius of action (D).

20. Method of connection according to claim 19, in which the said first radius of action (Dl) is between 5 and 50 centimetres, preferably 10 centimetres, the second radius of action lies between ten and hundred metres, preferably ten metres.

21. Method of connection according to claims 17 to 20, in which the said predetermined distance is less than or equal to the said first radius of action.

22. Method of connection according to any one of the preceding claims from 17 to 21, in which the said first signal communication (S4) is a signal communication according to a communication protocol of the RPID type.

23. Method of connection according to any one of the preceding claims from 17 to 22, in which the said second signal communication (Sl, S2, S3) is a two-way signal communication radio-transmitted according to a communication protocol of the Bluetooth, Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi type.