WO2007031759A1

WO2007031759A1 - Multi-power supply modular surgical system

Info

Publication number: WO2007031759A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/003418
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Keith Buschell
Original assignee: Global Medical Systems (Europe) Limited
Priority date: 2005-09-15
Filing date: 2006-09-14
Publication date: 2007-03-22
Also published as: GB0518806D0

Abstract

A portable medical treatment and surgery system, comprises a trolley system which houses: operating lights; an anaesthetic delivery system; a diathermy system; a suction system; a defibrillator; and emergency resuscitation drugs. The system further comprises a rechargeable power supply and a power management system which is adapted to receive ac mains and convert to dc and to receive external dc power from a renewable energy source. The invention provides a multi-functional mobile or static modular surgery and surgical delivery system. The system incorporates multiple power supply options, and an installed back up rechargeable power supply, which can be variably charged via various power supply options.

Description

MULTI-POWER SUPPLY MODULAR SURGICAL SYSTEM

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to surgery systems, and particularly to portable surgical systems.

Background of the invention

Many injuries and illnesses require a patient to be transported to hospital for treatment.

Portable hospitals, sometimes called "Field Hospitals" and many forms of purpose coach built systems are well known, and these offer a wide range of different medical capabilities to be transported to a site, for example by heavy goods transport via road or by large air transporters.

In many third world countries, the transport network and/or the number of fully equipped hospitals is often not sufficient to be able to transport patients to hospital in a suitable time, as is also the case in emergency and disaster situations, when heavy goods vehicles cannot reach the many locations over a wide area. Heavy power generators can also be required to power the systems.

The known systems are generally only ac powered, via fuel-dependant generators.

Summary of the invention According to the invention, there is provided a portable medical treatment and surgery system, comprising a trolley system which houses: operating lights; an anaesthetic delivery system;^' a diathermy system; a suction system; a defibrillator; and emergency resuscitation drugs, wherein the system further comprises a rechargeable power supply and a power management system which is adapted to receive ac mains and convert to dc and to receive external dc power from a renewable energy source.

The invention provides a multi-functional mobile or static modular surgery and surgical delivery system. The system incorporates multiple power supply options, an installed back up rechargeable power supply, which can be variably charged via various power supply options.

The system provides an environmentally friendly self-contained system, which can receive multiple renewable off-grid energy source inputs, such as solar power, wind power and manpower-generated electricity.

The system is ideal for rural communities, emergency aid and humanitarian work, for marine deployment and for use as a bio-hazard system in contaminated areas, where the cost of deploying field systems is often prohibitive.

A bicycle electricity generator can be one of the power supply options. Preferably, the system also carries its own fire extinguisher.

The overall design of the system allows a hospital to be structured, scaled and issued as a partial or complete modular, power self-sufficient durable surgery system. The system is preferably flexible enough to be able to accept power in any worldwide voltage and to be able to be used as a "Plug and Play" system.

The system can preferably be supplied from a number of power supplies, at the same time, for example solar photovoltaic (PV) and direct ac mains, and other combinations. The system is small in transport size and has a fast field deployment, and also enables cost to be kept down. The system can include both ac and dc appliances. It can also be used as a back up support for existing hospitals.

The modular nature of the system facilitates the training of all surgical and medical operatives, and the system can be used to create a global standardisation in all fields, and across the range of uses of the system.

The multi-function, multi-power option modular surgery and surgical system of the invention can be used to power any standard available dc appliance up to a given appliance wattage.

Preferably, the system is capable of full depth anaesthesias, and multiple surgical procedures. The system preferably further comprises a set of medical drugs.

The system can include the bicycle electricity generator, solar panel and wind turbine. The portable trolley system may comprise a pair of trolleys, and the or each trolley can comprise a housing less than 1.4m high, less than 1m deep and less than 1.4m wide.

The power management system is preferably capable of receiving external dc power from multiple energy sources simultaneously and a plurality of different -voltage and/or frequency external ac power supplies.

Brief description of the drawings

An example of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows the system of the invention;

Figure 2 shows the two trolleys closed and clipped together; Figure 3 shows in more detail some of the components of one of the trolleys;

Figure 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of the power management system; Figure 5 shows in more detail a lighting head used in the system; and Figure 6 shows another view of the lighting head of Figure 5.

Detailed description The invention provides a modular mobile medical surgery system, which combines multiple power options. The system is a completely self-contained system using renewable energy. The system has a solar/variable charged internal power pack, allowing specific medical products, either already available globally on the market or specifically designed, to be use as "Plug and Play" items. The system is thus totally flexible, modular, durable and safe to use in almost any environment.

The use of a renewable power supply enables use of the system in any environment giving additional security. The system provides a way of providing clinical and surgical needs with a low cost of implementation.

Currently, the only option for providing surgical procedures at remote locations, other than high investment specialist works, is the use of a mains ac only system, as in general hospital systems. There are also military based variations, in the form of packed formations, which still require ac mains/power generators and adaptors, and are all individually packed. These are not immediately useable, and this even applies to multi-million dollar coach built military specials.

The system of the invention offers a flexible solution to the growing needs of environmental trends.

The system is shown in Figure 1, and is configured as two trolleys 10, which function as containers for a range of surgical equipment devices.

Each trolley is equipped with a bank of drawers which can be used to contain various drugs, surgical equipment, and diagnosis and testing equipment. Figure 1 also shows a lighting boom 12 and a drip support 14, as well as a power pack 16 to which devices can be connected as required.

Each trolley is designed to be transported by road, for example in a Land Rover, by rail or air and have a height of approximately 80cm, a depth of approximately 50cm and a width of approximately 75cm.

The equipment contained in the trolleys 10 is selected to enable a range of surgical procedures to be carried out.

Some examples of the possible range of surgical procedures include: Mobile or static accident and emergency

-trauma knife and bullet wounds, Eye surgery -cataract surgery

ENT (Ear nose and throat) -all specialist areas General biopsy Dental -impacted

-extraction Specialist trauma Basic amputation Rectal surgery Hernia surgery

Appendectomy Tracheotomy Vasectomy

In addition to the surgical procedures enabled by the system, the system includes monitoring and non-surgical procedure equipment. The electrical equipment is configured in a plug and play manner, with a bank of power sockets provided to which the equipment is connected. There may for example be a bank of 4 power outputs on each trolley drawing up to 6 Amps. The electrical equipment includes:

(i) 12 and 24 volt dc electrical equipment

Lighting;

Diathermy;

Defibrillation;

Suction; ECG;

Ultrasound;

X ray;

Mobile Communications;

Lap tops; Oxygen Concentrator.

(ii) Variable ac Voltage 110 to 260 volt electrical equipment

Diathermy;

Any other appliances up to 300 Watts.

These electrical components are all operated in plug and play manner, with the trolleys provided with numerous standard world adaptable ac outlet sockets, enabling the components to be installed in the most convenient location.

Of course, for operation of ac high voltage equipment, the system must be connected to the mains, and then function to convert the received mains into the required voltage and frequency for the equipment to be used.

In order to implement the range of possible surgical, monitoring and other treatment procedures, the system is configured as: a surgical delivery system; a consumables delivery system; a multi instrumentation system; and a basic pathology delivery system (optional).

These systems are supplemented by a mechanical anaesthesia system (mechanical).

The surgical systems include:

Lighting;

Diathermy; Defibrillation / Resuscitation / Airway management;

Patient monitoring;

Sterile pre operative consumables;

Sterile post operative consumables; and

Suction, with both manual and 12 volt options.

The surgical Instrumentation includes sterile surgical consumables.

Figure 2 shows that the two trolleys 10a, 10b can be coupled together. One trolley 10a is a surgical delivery trolley and the other 10b is a consumables delivery trolley.

Figure 3 shows the surgical system in more detail, and shows the lighting system 17, anaesthesia drug system 18, diathermy system 19a, defibrillation/resuscitation/airway management system 19b, storage 19c for pre-operative and post operative sterile consumables, and a suction system 19d.

The control of the electrical equipment power supply is by a power management PCB, which is computer controlled, and has an operating temperature range of -10 degrees C to + 50 degrees C, and is designed to operate at altitude up to 2,000 m.

The power supply is a key component of the system, and allows power to be received from multiple sources. The power pack battery system is also modular in segments of up to 110 Amps and up to 6 segments can be used to a total 660 Amps. The combined use of solar and ac/dc conversion can give a combined 8 Amp maximum dc current output.

As mentioned above, the device has one or more banks of 4 DC 12V output ports, and also has multiple dc charging input ports, for example 2, for charging the onboard battery. These are for receiving charge from multiple renewal energy sources simultaneously if desired, for example solar panels, bicycle electricity generators, wind generators, as well as receiving mains power converted to dc.

The charge input ports and output supply ports are each protected by a self-resetting fuse (for example 4A for the two charge input ports and 6A for the four output ports), and the battery input is protected against polarity inversion. The dc systems are all 12V and each draw less than 6A.

The device also has one or more ac to dc mains converters for charging the on-board battery from the mains by means of the dc charging input ports.

Mains power can also be used to power the electronic devices directly, in a bypass mode in which the battery is disconnected. In this case, the unit simply provides a conversion function from the mains received at the particular location into the power supply needed for the device, if this is required. Thus, the system provides protection of the systems used from any irregularities in the mains supply provided on location.

The battery is a sealed solar battery, suitable for deep cycle service. The mains adapters provides up to 4A DC, and two such adapters can be used to provide a maximum 8A current, with each used to couple the mains to a respective one of the two dc charge input ports. When the battery is connected, an initial test is performed for damaged cells, and once installed, the battery capacity is displayed on an LCD screen. This screen also displays when the battery is being charged. The system has a low voltage alarm to warn when the battery needs recharging. For example, increasing frequency warning bleeps may be given when the battery voltage drops to 11.Ov, 10.8V, 10.6V.

The battery charging alternates between a full charge mode (up to 14.2V) and a trickle charge mode which is then enabled until the voltage drops below 13.0V.

The battery charger circuit is based around the battery monitor described above, and this consists of for example two voltage detectors to implement the functionality outlined above. The first voltage detector senses the incoming supply. voltage for example from an unstabilised mains adaptor or a solar panel.

When the input voltage exceeds a predetermined level, for example 12.4V, the first voltage detector turns on the second voltage detector. This prevents the charger from charging a battery with a short circuit cell and thereby overcharging the battery, and also minimises the battery drain when no charging voltage is available, by disconnecting the second voltage detector's sensing circuit. Until the second voltage detector is activated, the battery is only supplied with a trickle current.

When the power pack battery voltage reaches 14.2 Volts, the second voltage detector turns off, so that the charging switches back to a trickle charge. The battery then only receives a trickle charge once again. When the battery voltage drops to 13 volts the cycle is repeated. Eventually the battery voltage will not drop below 13V and the charger will remain off just supplying a trickle current.

In a preferred embodiment, the circuit includes for example four self resetting variable value fuses, which protect a mains adaptor from overload, and the system and the battery from overload in the event that the charger circuit should fail to short circuit. The power management system is a key part of the systems invention and a schematic circuit diagram is shown in Figure 4, implemented by Buckleys (UVRAL) Ltd.

The system comprises a microprocessor controller 40 and surrounding circuitry, essentially comprising filtering circuitry for providing surge protection and high frequency suppression, charging control circuitry for controlling battery charging, and voltage level shifting circuits required as the processor operates at 5V whereas the battery charging and external inputs operate at around 12V. The processor is programmed to implement the functionality explained above.

The power management circuit and system controls all aspects of the system power functions. Two variable power inputs 42a, 42b allow a wide variety of power supplies, such as solar PV, DC Bike Generators, AC mains (via an AC adaptor, not shown) which is also designed to accept power from AC power supplies on a global scale.

The power control system can also accept a mix of these supplies, according to the available power supply options, and the system then regulates monitors and distributes incoming power supplies for charging internal power packs or as a direct power source. The power management control system controls, regulates and discharges power via the processor 40, which in turn allows the system to be continually allowed to be charged, and monitored, via the power supply examples as listed above.

The system includes a testing circuit 44 for testing an internal battery 46. The battery charging function is controlled in the manner outlined above by a battery charging control circuit. This responds to an output pin (labelled RA2) of the microprocessor 40, and the circuit components labelled as 48 provide suitable voltage level shifting and control, with the charging controlled by the transistor labelled Q6. A buzzer 50 provides a series of charge level warning signals. This functions as an alarm system which alerts users to a low or depleted power pack.

The power management system also checks the systems status, in all functions, every 30 seconds, thus giving real time data and system status protection, even when the system is not in use. The power control system can be designed to use only a few milliamps to perform all its functions. AC power is converted via a standard AC converter (not shown), which is converted direct from a battery connection.

The two inputs are fused by 8A fuses 52, and the four outputs are individually fused by the bank 54 of 7A fuses.

The circuit shown as 56 is a 12V to 5V converter circuit acting as the power supply to the processor 40 and an LCD panel (not shown).

The system is designed to control and avoid voltage dips, surges and power failures to the system and its battery back up, and the power management system automatically switches on under any form of power outages from external power supplies, monitors and indicates any system problems.

The input and output ports contain self setting fuses which are included to form part of the systems overall safety features, also which includes a medical grade shielding designed to protect against known and unknown RF signal frequencies, fast transient bursts, and to protect against any attempt to operate at incorrect system levels. The system also provides electromagnetic compatibility to protect against radiated emissions. The system can also detect locality humidity and air pressure problems, including static charges or discharges, for which protection can also be provided.

The system of the invention is multi-functional and is suitable for various applications, fully automated, and incorporates both internal and external options. The system is rechargeable via power for example solar power, mains ac (via an ac/dc converter), small wind turbines or a cycle based power generator, and has means for variable and combined charge power input options, for example, a multi-regulated and fusing system. This feature in turn provides a specific power supply for specified applications and duty use.

Figure 5 shows in more detail the lighting head which is mounted on the lighting boom. The head has an arrangement of LED light clusters mounted in a carrier, which is mounted by hinge on the boom, as shown at 62. The LED lighting hood uses K2 LED diodes which require a heat sink system. A handle for adjusting the position is shown as 64. Figure 6 shows the lighting head in side view.

One embodiment of the invention described above, as a stand aione, multi rechargeable modular surgery and surgical system. The system offers a modular Surgical or clinical at a fractional cost, and size of existing systems.

The system design allows for the safe use and transport of almost all 12 Volt medical appliances, and can be scaled for specific cover.

In addition to the components outlined above, the system can include various drugs in kit form and surgical implements, for example for resuscitation/ airway management.

The renewable energy power generation systems and the internal ^• power supply system mentioned above are of course part of the system, and these can comprise:

-solar panel, typically giving 12 volt DC 40 watt maximum. -pedal power generator

-ac/dc converter for mains

-de battery and charger

-small dc wind turbines up to 8 amps Each system is designed modularly around a specialised steel housing and transportation unit, which are to European Medical Directive Standards, to suit the actual specified duty requirements as issued, and the surgical specifications required.

The training of all surgical and medical operatives is simplified, and the system creates a global standardisation.

The system incorporates power calculative options, to enable the power reserve of the system to be calculated, compared with the known or estimated appliance power consumptions, so that the surgical team can calculate in a worst case scenario the system's power supply capabilities durability.

The system can be used in various applications, for example, applications within the marine military and humanitarian environments, for and by way of particular example, as a "multi disciplined" emergency field surgery system.

The electrical management system has already passed all the British Standards to 61000, including radiation transmissions, and CE certification and conformity to EN 6000-1. The anaesthesia system has ALSO been successfully used on live patients.

In order to enable the widest range of surgical procedures to be implemented, various modification are made to standard equipment. Most notably the operating lights based on K2 LEDs, the anaesthesia delivery system, the diathermy system, the power management system, the power bike generator, and the power pack configuration. Many other systems can be used as standard, for example the suction system and defibrillator.

A kit of emergency resuscitation drugs is provided to optimise the capability versus space taken. The anaesthesia drugs are designed to avoid the need for refrigeration, but include all the standard drugs required to cover almost all standard surgery applications. An example set of drugs is listed in the table below:

The embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein is exemplary only and changes can be made to the illustrated embodiment while remaining within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the invention should be defined only by the scope of the claims appended hereto. The system is also adaptable for veterinary practices.

Claims

1. A portable medical treatment and surgery system, comprising a trolley system which houses: operating lights; an anaesthetic delivery system; a diathermy system; a suction system; a defibrillator; and emergency resuscitation drugs, wherein the system further comprises a rechargeable power supply and a power management system which is adapted to receive ac mains and convert to dc and to receive external dc power from a renewable energy source.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a set of medical drugs.

3. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a bicycle electricity generator.

4. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a solar panel electricity generator.

5. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a wind turbine electricity generator.

6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the portable trolley system comprises a pair of trolleys.

7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each trolley comprises a housing less than 14m high, less than 1m deep and less than 1.4m wide.

8. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the power management system is capable of receiving external dc power from multiple energy sources simultaneously.

9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the power management system is capable of receiving a plurality of different voltage and/or frequency external ac power supplies.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the power management system is adapted to provide a mains power supply to devices of the system when it is supplied with external ac power.

11. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the trolley system further houses: an electric suction system; an ECG system; an ultrasound system; and an X-ray system.

12. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the trolley system further houses: a mobile communications device; and a dc powered portable computer.

13. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the trolley system further houses an oxygen concentrator.

14. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the system further houses sterile pre-operative consumables and sterile post-operative consumables.

15. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the power management system comprises protection for RF interference, and/or voltage dips and surges and/or power failures and/or provide electromagnetic compatibility.

16. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an ac to dc converter.