EP3861973B1

EP3861973B1 - Component of an operating table

Info

Publication number: EP3861973B1
Application number: EP20156314.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ivo Mueller
Original assignee: Baxter Medical Systems GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Baxter Medical Systems GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-02-10
Filing date: 2020-02-10
Publication date: 2023-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2040-02-10
Also published as: EP3861973A1

Description

The invention relates to a component of an operating table, in particular, to a component comprising a communication module.
EP2702974A2 discloses a system comprising a control device to enable displacement of operating table elements and an accessory only within a virtual collision-free movement space. A radio identification data element stores an identification data element related to the accessory. A radio reading device reads the identification data element and is connected with a memory device and the control device, where the accessories of the memory- and control devices are determined again and stored in the virtual collision-free movement space as a function of the read identification data element. The radio identification element is configured as passive radio identification element such as passive transponder.
US10314758B2 discloses systems and processes of controlling a function of a person support apparatus are provided. An example system includes a person support apparatus adapted to support a patient. The person support apparatus comprising a controller adapted to communicatively couple with at least one removable component of the person support apparatus. The controller is adapted to determine the absence or presence of the at least one removable component. In response to the determination, the controller is further adapted to disable at least one movement of the person support apparatus in response to a determination that the at least one removable component is not present or enable the at least one movement in response to a determination that the at least one removable component is present.
US2018344559A1 discloses a system for supporting or positioning a patient before, during, or after a medical procedure, including a surgical table. The surgical table is configured to use radio-frequency identification (RFID), or another identification protocol. An upper platform or another portion of the surgical table can include two or more spaced-apart sockets. Each socket can be configured to receive at least a portion of an extension of a second attachment. The RFID technology can allow the respective socket and extension to communicate with each other and/or remaining portions of the surgical table. One or more RFID tags and/or readers can be positioned in or on one or both of the extensions and/or in or on one or more of the sockets.
Operating tables can be configured with a wide range of components for different disciplines of surgical interventions. These components are, e.g., leg sections, pelvis extensions, back sections, and head sections. The applicants provide operating tables comprising components that can be coupled to a basic configuration of the operating table and to other components by means of a coded coupling system. Hence, merely configurations which can be considered by a control of the operating table in view of collisions of attached components with the ground or with other components are possible. For example, a collision of the head section with the floor in a low operating table position in combination with a Trendelenburg position or a collision of the leg section with a column of the operating table if the leg section is downwardly moved 90° in combination with a reverse Trendelenburg position are avoided by algorithms of the control.
Nevertheless, there is the disadvantage that the control of the operating table does not recognize which components of the operating table are actually attached so that an actual possible range of movement cannot be used due to a limitation for a configuration having the worst case configuration.
Therefore, the object underlying the invention is to remedy the above disadvantage and to provide a component of the operating table, the operating table, and a method which enable a safe use of the operating table in a maximum possible range of movement.
The object is achieved by a component of an operating table according to claim 1, an operating table according to claim 12, and a method according to claim 14. Advantageous further developments are included in the dependent claims.
According to an aspect of the invention, a component of an operating table comprises a communication module for transmitting information of the component and a detection device comprising a switch which can detect a characteristic of a further component to which the component is attachable. The switch is configured to activate the communication module. The communication module comprises a memory device configured to store information of the component, a transmission unit configured to transmit at least a part of the information of the component and to transmit the characteristic of the further component detected by the detection device, and a power supply device configured to supply the transmission unit with energy.
By such a component comprising the communication module, the information of the component of the operating table can be transmitted autonomously without providing a separate power supply. When storing and transmitting at least an identifier providing information of a type of the component in the memory, a receiver of the operating table can determine the type of the component attached to the operating table. Therefore an algorithm of a control of the operating table can consider the actual configuration of the operating table for determining the range of movement without collision.
By this detection device, the further component to which the component is attached can be identified so that an exact determination of the configuration of the operating table is possible since not only a presence of the component can be determined by also the location of the component.
The switch for detecting the characteristic of the further component is a simple element which is easily to provide at low costs.
When using the switch for detecting the characteristic of the further component also for activating the communication module, provision of a further switch can be refrained from so that procurement costs and costs for assembly can be saved.
By transmitting the characteristic of the further component detected by the detection device, the type of the further component and its location can be passed to a control device for further processing this information in order to determine the exact configuration of the operating table.
In an advantageous implementation of the component, the transmission unit is configured as having a low energy consumption.
By providing the transmission unit having the low energy consumption, efforts for a power supply can be minimized. Furthermore, due to the transmission unit with a low energy transmission power, a transmission range can approximately correspond to dimensions of the operating table, so that no information from components of other operating tables can be received by a receiver of the control of the operating table.
In a further advantageous implementation of the component, the transmission unit comprises a radio transmission device.
The radio transmission device provides a reliable transmission of the information also in case of obstacles preventing a direct view from the transmission device of the communication module to a receiver of a controller of the operating table. Moreover, the small transmission range allows a provision of a transmission unit having low energy consumption.
In another advantageous implementation of the component, the transmission unit comprises an infrared emitter.
The provision of the infrared emitter facilitates the operation of the transmission unit since safety requirements concerning a use of radio transmission which can be strict regulations are not to be considered.
In a further advantageous implementation of the component, the power supply device comprises a battery.
The provision of the battery, which can be a rechargeable battery, enables a simple power supply. In particular when using batteries having a long term lifetime of ten years or when using the rechargeable batteries, an effort for service is minimized.
In a further advantageous implementation of the component, the power supply device comprises an energy harvesting device.
By the use of the energy harvesting device, the transmission unit can be supplied with energy without providing an energy storage or by a rechargeable energy storage so that the effort for service for replacing the energy storage can be eliminated or further reduced.
In a further advantageous implementation of the component, the power supply device comprises a solar panel.
When using of a low energy transmission unit, a provision of the solar panel as the energy harvesting device, as the case may be, in combination with the rechargeable battery, is sufficient for providing the power supply for the communication module.
In a further advantageous implementation of the component, the power supply device comprises a piezo element.
By the piezo element as the energy harvesting device, which may be, e.g., provided below a lying surface of a tabletop section or on a handle for installing the component, and due to the use of the low energy transmission unit, the piezo element, as the case may be, in combination with the rechargeable battery, is sufficient for providing the power supply for the communication module.
According to a further aspect of the invention, an operating table comprises the component comprising a first interface device, at least one further component to which the component is attachable, wherein the at least one further component comprises a second interface device, and a controller comprising a receiver configured to receive an information transmitted by the transmission unit.
By such an operating table, the stored information of the component of the operating table can be transmitted autonomously without providing a separate power supply. When storing at least an identifier providing information of a type of the component in the memory, a receiver of the operating table can unambiguously determine the type of the component attached to the operating table. Therefore an algorithm of a control of the operating table can consider the actual configuration of the operating table for determining the range of movement without collision.
In an advantageous implementation of the operating table, the operating table comprises several further components, wherein at least two of the second interface devices of the further components are different from each other, the first interface device comprises the detection device comprising a switch, and the detection device is configured to distinguish different second interface devices, and the transmission unit is configured to transmit an information of the component including an identifier of the component and a characteristic of the further component to which the component is attached.
By distinguishing the different further components, the characteristics thereof can be considered when controlling the operating table in order to determine to which further component the component is attached in order to determine the exact configuration of the operating table.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for determining a configuration of an operating table comprising a component and at least a further component to which the component is attachable includes the steps: detecting a characteristic of the further component to which the component is to be attached by a detection device comprising a switch, activating the communication module of the component by actuating the switch when attaching the component to the further component, transmitting at least a part of stored information of the component and the characteristic of the further component to which the component is to be attached, and determining the configuration of the operating table from the transmitted information of the component and the transmitted characteristic of the further component.
By this method, the operating table can unambiguously determine the type of the component and a location where the component is attached to the operating table. Therefore an algorithm of a control of the operating table can consider the actual configuration of the operating table, e.g., for determining the range of movement without collision.
The detection device comprises a switch, and the method comprises the step: activating a communication module of the component by activating the switch when attaching the component to the further component. By this step, the communication module can be switched off when not being attached to the operating table in order to save energy. When attaching the component to the operating table, the communication module is automatically activated so that the controller of the operating table can reliably determine the configuration of the operating table.
In an advantageous implementation of the method, the stored information comprises an identifier of the component.
When transmitting the identifier of the component, characteristics of the component stored in the controller of the operating table can be used, e.g., for determining the range of movement without collision.
Below, the invention is elucidated referring to the attached drawing by means of embodiments.
In particular,

Fig. 1: shows a principle view of an operating table comprising components respectively comprising a communication module;
Fig. 2: shows an enlarged portion of Fig. 1 depicting a component comprising a first interface device comprising a detection device and a further component comprising a second interface device;
Fig. 3: shows the operating table of Fig. 1 depicting the locations of coupling points of the components 2, i.e. of the different second interfaces 5; and
Fig. 4: shows a flowchart of a method for determining a configuration of the operating table.

Fig. 1 shows a principle view of an operating table 1 comprising components 2 respectively comprising a communication module 3. In an alternative embodiment, not all of the components 2 comprise a communication module 3.
The operating table 1 comprise further components 2' to which the components 2 are attachable. The components 2 respectively comprise a first interface device 4 and the further components 2' respectively comprise a second interface device 5. The first interface device 4 interacts with the second interface device 5.
Some elements of the operating table 1 are merely one of the further components 2' comprising second interface devices 5. For example a base 6 of the operating table 1 is one of the further components 2'. Therefore, several different further components 2' are provided. Other elements of the operating table 1 are merely components 2 comprising the first interface device 4. For example, a head section 7 and a leg section 8 respectively are one of the components 2. Furthermore, there are elements which are to be seen as one of the components 2 comprising the first interface device 4 and as well as one of the further components 2' comprising the second interface device 5. For example, add-on modules 9 or a back section 10 form one of the elements being both one of the components 2 and one of the further components 2'. In an alternative embodiment, elements comprising the first interface device 4 and the second interface device 5 are not provided, or merely one further component 2' is provided.
Fig. 2 shows an enlarged portion of Fig. 1 depicting the component 2 comprising a first interface device 4 having a detection device 18 and a further component 2' comprising a second interface 5 device.
The communication module 3 comprises a memory device 11, a transmission unit 12, and a power supply device 13. The communication module 3 transmits information of the component 2 of the operating table 1.
The memory device 11 stores information of the component 2. This information includes an identifier (not shown) of the component 2, i.e., a component ID. Alternatively, not a component ID but another information describing a type or characteristics of the component 2 is stored.
The transmission unit 12 comprises a radio transmission device 14 and transmits at least a part of the information of the component 2. Alternatively, the transmission unit 12 comprises an infrared transmitter.
As already shown in Fig. 1, the operating table 1 comprises a controller 15 comprising two receivers 16. The receivers 16 receive the information transmitted by the transmission unit 12. Alternatively, another suitable quantity of receivers 16 are provided.
The transmission unit 12 is a low energy consumption transmission unit and transmits a short information including an initiation signal which awakes the controller 15 of the operating table 1. Further, the information includes a security code which is a bit sequence in order to verify the transmitted information. As mentioned above, the information includes the component ID and, moreover, a coupler ID elucidated below. Alternatively, the information does not include all of these parts or further information parts are provided.
The power supply device 13 supplies the transmission unit 12 with energy. Therefore, the power supply device 13 comprises a battery 17. In alternative embodiments, the power supply device 13, additionally or alternatively, is provided with an energy harvesting device, as, e.g., a solar panel, a piezo element, or a device receiving energy from electromagnetic waves, e.g., WLAN, for generating energy.
The component 2, in particular a first interface device 4 of the component 2, further comprises a detection device 18. The detection device 18 detects a characteristic of the further component 2' to which the component 2 is attached.
Thereto, the detection device 18 comprises three switches 19 which detect the characteristic of the further component 2'. In this embodiment, four different second interface devices 5 are provided. Alternatively, depending on the quantity of different types of further components 2' and of different second interface devices 5, at least one switch 19 or another quantity of switches 19 is provided.
The further components 2', in particular, the second interface devices 5 thereof, have different characteristics which can be detected by the three switches 19. The second interface devices 5 have a flat surface 21 or a recess 22 or hole at locations corresponding to a respective switch 19 so that a specific switch 19 can distinguish whether, at the location corresponding to the specific switch 19, the second interface devices are provided with the flat surface 21, or the recess 22 or hole. Alternatively, no switches 19 and flat surfaces 21, recesses 22 and holes are provided but another kind of detector, e.g., an optical detector, and appropriate different surfaces of the second interface device 5 are provided.
Thereby, the detection device 18 distinguishes different further components 2'. As elucidated below concerning Fig. 3 , two types Mb, Lb of the different second interfaces devices 5 belong to the base 6, one type Sc of the different second interface devices 5 respectively belong to the add-on modules 9, and one type Lc of the different interface devices 5 belong to the back plate 10. The second interface devices 5 of the base 6 are distinguished by the controller 15 by the location of the second interface device 5 on the base 6. The second interface devices 5 of the two add-on modules 10 are distinguished by the controller 15 by the second interface devices 5 of the back plate 10 and of the base 6 to which the two add-on modules 9 are respectively attached.
An information as a result of the detection performed by the three switches 19 providing the characteristic of the further component 2' is expressed by the above mentioned coupler ID. The coupler ID includes the information of the type of the further component 2' to which the component 2 is attached, and a type and the location of the second interface 5 on the further component 2'. Alternatively, the coupler ID does not include all this information.

Fig. 3 shows the operating table of Fig. 1 depicting the locations of coupling points of the components 2, i.e. of the different second interfaces 5:

coupler ID	coupling point	description
001	Mb	coupling point "Medium" on base 6
010	Lb	coupling point "Large" on base 6
011	Mc	coupling point "Medium" on further component 2', i.e. back plate 10
100	Sc	coupling point "Small" on further component 2', i.e. add-on module 9

Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a method for determining a configuration of the operating table 1.
In use, in order to determine a configuration of the operating table 1 comprising the components 2 and the further components 2' to which the components 2 are attachable, in a first step S1, a characteristic of the further component 2' to which the component 2 is attached is detected by the detection device 18.
Then, in step S2, at least a part of stored information of the component 2 and the characteristic of the further component 2' to which the component 2 is attached is transmitted.
The information transmitted by the communication module 3 is a very short information in order to save energy. This information is transmitted cyclically in respectively after a suitable timespan, in this embodiment after one minute. Alternatively, the information is not very short and it is not cyclically transmitted but merely when attaching the component 2 to the further component 2' or after another timespan.
The information includes the initiation signal which awakes the controller 15 of the operating table 1. Further, the information includes the security code which is a bit sequence in order to verify the transmitted information and the coupler ID. Alternatively, the information does not include all of these parts or further information parts are provided.
Subsequently, in step S3, the configuration of the operating table is determined from the transmitted information of the component 2 and the characteristic of the further component 2'. The stored information comprises an identifier of the component 2. In alternative embodiments, the stored information does not comprise the identifier of the component 2 but other characteristics, such as dimensions, movement ranges, etc.. Due to a short distance between the transmission unit 12 and the receivers 16 and a very short information transmitted by the transmission unit 12, energy consumption is low. Therefore, providing the energy by a long life battery or by a rechargeable battery in combination with the solar panel and the piezo element is sufficient. Moreover, if not attached to the operating table 1, the communication module 3 is not actuated and, therefore, there is no energy consumption.
By pressing one of the three switches 19, i.e., by actuating at least one of the switches 19, when attaching the component 2 to the further component 2', furthermore, the communication module 3 is activated. Alternatively, the communication module 3 is activated by another switch or it is constantly activated.
From the determined configuration, the controller 16 gathers an information if a motion of the operating table is to be enabled, which motions are enabled and which motion ranges are allowed in order to avoid a collision.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawing and the foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Claims

A component (2) of an operating table (1), the component (2) comprising:
a communication module (3) for transmitting information of the component (2); and,

a detection device (18) comprising a switch (19) which can detect a characteristic of a further component (2') to which the component (2) is attachable and wherein the switch (19) is configured to activate the communication module (3),

wherein the communication module (3) comprises:
a memory device (11) configured to store information of the component (2),

a transmission unit (12) configured to transmit at least a part of the information of the component (2) and to transmit the characteristic of the further component (2') detected by the detection device (18), and

a power supply device (13) configured to supply the transmission unit (12) with energy.
The component (2) of claim 1, wherein
the transmission unit (12) comprises a radio transmission device.
The component (2) of claim 1 or 2, wherein
the transmission unit (12) comprises an infrared emitter.
The component (2) of any preceding claim, wherein
the power supply (13) device comprises at least one of a battery, an energy harvesting device, a solar panel and a piezo element.
The component (2) of any preceding claim, wherein the component (2) is one of: a head section (7); a leg section (8); an add-on module (9); and a back section (10).
An operating table (1) comprising
a component (2) of claim 5 comprising a first interface device (4),

at least one further component (2') to which the component (2) is attachable, the at least one further component (2') comprising a second interface device (5), and

a controller (15) comprising a receiver (16) configured to receive an information transmitted by the transmission unit (12).
The operating table (1) of claim 6, wherein
the operating table (1) comprises several further components (2'), wherein at least two of the second interface devices (5) of the several components (2') are different from each other,

the first interface device (4) comprises a or the detection device (18) comprising a switch (19), and

the detection device (18) is configured to distinguish the different second interface devices (5), and

the transmission unit is configured to transmit an information of the component (2) including an identifier of the component (2) and a characteristic of the further component (2') to which the component (2) is attached.
The operating table (1) of claim 6 or 7, wherein the further component (2') is at least one of: a base (6) of the operating table (1); and a component (2).
A method for determining a configuration of an operating table (1) of claim 6, 7 or 8, the method including the steps:
detecting a characteristic of the further component (2') to which the component (2) is to be attached by the detection device (18) comprising a switch (19);

activating the communication module (3) of the component (2) by actuating the switch (19) when attaching the component (2) to the further component (2');

transmitting at least a part of stored information of the component (2) and the characteristic of the further component (2') to which the component (2) is attached; and

determining the configuration of the operating table (1) from the transmitted information of the component (2) and the transmitted characteristic of the further component (2').
The method of claim 9, wherein
the stored information comprises an or the identifier of the component (2).