WO2007113884A1

WO2007113884A1 - Method and connection equipment for connecting the central unit and the peripheral units of an operating table, and operating table incorporating such equipment for implementing the method

Info

Publication number: WO2007113884A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000405
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giovanni Rapacioli; Dino Rigotti
Original assignee: U.T.E. S.R.L. Ufficio Tecnico Elettonico
Priority date: 2006-03-30
Filing date: 2006-05-26
Publication date: 2007-10-11
Also published as: WO2007113884A8; ITPD20060113A1; WO2007113883A1

Abstract

This invention relates to a connection method and equipment (3) for connecting the central unit (5) and the peripheral units (6,..., 9) of an operating table (4), and an operating table (4) incorporating such equipment (3) to implement that method. In particular this equipment (3) comprises first and second processing means resident in such central unit (5) and such peripheral units (6,..., 9) respectively to process packets of data, first and second transmission/reception means located in such central unit (5) and such peripheral units (6,..., 9) respectively to transmit/receive such packets of data carried by radio waves and detection means located on such central unit (5) to detect at least one peripheral unit (6) in the context of such peripheral units (6,..., 9) and identification means associated with such at least one peripheral unit (6) to unequivocally identify such at least one critical peripheral unit (6).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title: "Method and connection equipment for connecting the central unit and the peripheral units of an operating table, and operating table incorporating such equipment for implementing the method".

This invention relates to a method and connection system for connecting the central unit and the peripheral units of an operating table according to the precharacterising clause of claims 1 and 13. In addition to this, this invention relates to an operating table incorporating such a system to implement the method.

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.

It is also known that signal communications with a plurality of peripheral units may also be provided in the central unit of the operating table. By way of example the peripheral units may comprise a control keyboard/push buttons, an operating pedal, one or more television screens available in the operating field and one or more personal computers also available in the operating theatre.

At the present time signal communications between the central unit, the moving part and the peripheral units is brought about through equipment capable of transmitting/receiving signals operating 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 operating tables derives from the fact that the operating radius of the infrared ray equipment is very small and transmission is directional. It is therefore very difficult to achieve communications of this type with peripherals which are not in the immediate vicinity of the operating table and which are not in line of sight with it.

A second 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.

A third 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 theatre.

In the light of the state of the art described, the object of this invention is to provide a method and equipment for connection which are capable of overcoming the disadvantages encountered with operating tables constructed according to the known art.

In this context one object of this invention comprises providing a method and equipment which are capable of providing a secure connection between the central unit and the peripheral units of an operating table, in particular between the central unit and the moving part which is effectively positioned on the said central unit.

Another object of this invention comprises providing equipment which is capable of ensuring high redundancy in all connections between the central unit and the peripheral units of an operating table.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide equipment capable of assisting control of the operating table and maintenance work on it.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide equipment through which an operating table fitted with this equipment can be integrated into the hospital environment in which it operates.

This task, together with this and other objects which will be more apparent below, is accomplished through a method according to claim 1 through connection equipment to connect the central unit and the peripheral units of an operating table according to claim 13, and an operating table incorporating equipment according to claim 23.

In particular the method of connection for connecting the central unit and the peripheral units of an operating table comprises a connecting stage to connect the central unit to the peripheral units and a stage of recognising identification data for a critical peripheral unit in the context of those peripheral units such that at least one unequivocal connection can be established between that central unit and that critical peripheral unit. This detection stage precedes the connection stage and takes place in accordance with the standard characteristics of the radiofrequency identification technology known by the acronym RFID (radio frequency identification).

In turn the connecting equipment for connecting the central unit and the peripheral units of an operating table comprises first and second processing means resident in the central unit and in the peripheral units respectively to process packets of data, first and second transmission/reception means located in the central unit and the peripheral units respectively to transmit/receive these packets of data transferred by radio waves, detection means located on the central unit to detect a critical peripheral unit in the context of those peripheral units and identification means associated with such critical peripheral units to unequivocally identify the critical peripheral unit which will enable the detection means to establish an unequivocal connection relationship between the first and second reception/transmission means of such a central unit and such a critical peripheral unit.

In particular the detection and identification means are organised in accordance with a hardware architecture characteristic of the radiofrequency technology known by the acronym RFID (radiofrequency identification).

Thanks to the establishment of an unequivocal connection relationship between the central unit and the peripheral unit as described above, this method and this equipment accomplish the object of the invention which comprises making this connection secure so as to avoid unforeseen interactions with other systems or items of equipment. According to other characteristics of the invention the aforesaid connection stage takes place in accordance with a communication protocol of the Bluetooth type.

In turn the first and second processing means are organised on the basis of a hardware architecture which is characteristic of the Bluetooth communication protocol and the first and second transmission/reception means comprise electronic transmission/reception interfaces for transmitting/receiving such radio waves.

Thanks to the solution of using Bluetooth technology and the radio waves in data communication between the central unit and the peripheral units of the operating table this method and this equipment fulfil the object of achieving high redundancy in all communications.

Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi communication protocols may also be used as an alternative.

Finally this arrangement makes it possible to render the network associated with an operating table open to new connections with other peripheral units.

This aspect is particularly advantageous because it permits temporary connection of peripheral units required for management and maintenance and makes it possible for the operating table to be interconnected with the hospital environment achieving a so-called intranet network, and/or with the external environment, thus achieving a so-called internet network.

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 diagrammatical view of equipment according to the invention,

- Figure 2 shows a diagrammatical view of an operating table.

With reference to the appended figures, the connection equipment implementing the method of connection is indicated as a whole by means of reference number 3.

This connecting equipment 3 connects the central unit and a plurality of peripheral units of an operating table 4. In detail, the central unit comprises the loadbearing column or base 5 and the plurality of peripheral units comprise:

- a table-top or moving part 6,

- screens and/or personal computer 7,

- hand-held devices 8, and - push button panels 9.

This equipment 3 comprises first and second processing means (not illustrated in the figures) which can be associated with the central unit 5 and with the peripheral units 6, ..., 9 to process first data respectively.

In addition to this, equipment 3 comprises first and second transmission/receiving means (not illustrated in the figures) which can be associated with the central unit 5 and with the peripheral units 6, ... , 9 to transmit/receive the said first data by radio waves respectively. It should be pointed out that these first and second transmission/receiving means take the form of electronic transmission/reception interfaces for transmitting/receiving such radio waves.

Advantageously such first and second transmission/reception means are capable of establishing a first communication of the two-way signal Sl so as to transmit/receive the said first data.

It should be pointed out that the said first data represent the control signals capable of controlling the said plurality of peripheral units 6, ... ,9.

It should be noted that such first and second processing means and such first and second transmission/reception means are organised in accordance with a hardware architecture characteristic of communication technology of the Bluetooth type.

According to this invention central unit 5 performs the dominant (or master) function and peripheral units 6, ..., 9 depend on that central unit 5, that is they perform the function of slaves.

In particular the Bluetooth communication protocol has a radius of action or operating distance Dl of between ten metres and one hundred metres, preferably often 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. Thus signal communication between central unit 5 and peripheral units 6, ..., 9 through a Bluetooth protocol makes it possible to establish a first communication of a two-way signal S 1 between the first and second reception/transmission means of central unit 5 and the said plurality of peripheral units 6, ..., 9.

It should be noted that the variability in the radius of action D 1 depends on the class of the first and second transmission/reception means incorporated in the peripherals 6, ..., 9, and by the presence/absence of obstacles within the operating theatre capable of interfering with communications.

Alternatively such first and second processing means and such first and second transmission/reception means may be organised in accordance with the typical hardware architecture of communication technology chosen from either 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 Dl of between ten metres and one hundred metres, preferably ten metres.

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. For example the possibility may arise that control signals passed via a central unit of an operating table are performed not by the moving part of that operating table which at that moment is associated with that central unit but by the moving parts of other operating tables which are in the vicinity of that central unit.

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

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

For solving such a problem, the equipment 3 comprises further detection means (not illustrated in the figures) which may be associated with such central unit 5 to detect at least one peripheral unit within the range of those peripheral units 6, ..., 9 and identification means (not illustrated in the figures) associated with the said at least one peripheral unit in order to unequivocally identify that at least one peripheral unit among the said plurality of peripheral units 6, ..., 9.

Advantageously the detection means and the identification means are able to establish a second signal communication S2 between said central unit 5 and said at least one peripheral unit when the said at least one peripheral unit is in the proximity of or in contact with said central unit 5, the said second signal communication S2 having a radius of action D2. In other words, the second signal communication S2 is established when the said at least one peripheral unit is at a predetermined distance from the said central unit 5, this predetermined distance being less than or equal to the said radius of action D2.

It should further be noted that the second signal communication S2 has a radius of action D2 which is smaller than the radius of action Dl of the first signal communication S 1.

It should be pointed out that in the preferred embodiment of this invention the identification means are associated with the table-top or moving part 6 of operating table 4. The second communication of signal S2 is a radiotransmitted communication which is established between central unit 5 and moving part 6 of operating table 4 when moving part 6 is within (or not beyond) the radius of action D2 of such second signal communication S2.

In this situation the detection means associated with central unit 5 of operating table 4 are capable of receiving second data transmitted by second identification means associated with moving part 6 of operating table 4.

The second data are data capable of unequivocally identifying moving part 6. In particular these second data constitute the mac-address (Media Access Control Address) or unequivocal characteristic code of the devices incorporated into that moving part 6 of the operating table in accordance with the Bluetooth and/or Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi hardware architecture. Advantageously these detection and identification 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 and identification means are of the passive type, that is the identification means take the form of a transmitter (or "transponder") associated with moving part 6 of operating table 4, while the detection means 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 6 of operating table 4 is in proximity with or in contact with central unit 5.

In particular the transponder contains the said second data which can be read from the said base station when moving part 6 of operating table 4 is in the proximity of or in contact with central unit 5.

More particularly the detection means (or base station) associated with central unit 5, in addition to having suitable processing means to process the said second data, comprise: - generating means to generate an activating signal capable of activating the transponder of the identification means,

- transmission means to transmit that activation signal,

- memory means to place the codes identifying each of the plurality of peripherals 6, ..., 9 in memory, and - reception means to receive a response signal originating from the transponder of the said identification means.

In turn the identification means associated with moving part 6 of operating table 4 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 D2 of between a few centimetres and a few tens of centimetres.

In particular radius of action D2 lies between five and fifty centimetres, and is preferably equal to approximately ten centimetres.

It should be pointed out that the identification codes placed in memory by the storing means incorporated in the detection means take the form of the mac-address (Media Access Control Address) of each peripheral unit 6, ..., 9. In fact the first and second processing means and the first and second transmission/reception means organised in accordance with the Bluetooth and/or Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi hardware architecture which are present in the plurality of peripherals 6, ..., 9 have an unequivocal characteristic code and it is specifically this identification code which is placed in memory in such memory means.

Again with reference to Figures 1 and 2 in the appended table, operating table 4 comprises a central unit and a plurality of peripheral units and connection equipment 3 is associated with it in such a way as to connect central unit 5 and plurality of peripheral units 6, ..., 9 as previously described.

It should be pointed out that through the connection equipment previously described it is for example possible to use computer 7 and/or hand-held device 8 to read the operating parameters of equipment 3, and to set the same, or to update the software included in the processing means of the reception/transmission and/or detection processing means, or to run diagnostic programs to evaluate any malfunctions in operating table 4 without the need to disconnect and/or connect cables to the operating table itself.

The connection equipment 3, whose circuit configuration has previously been illustrated, will now be described.

It is assumed that the operation of loading the operating surface or moving part 6 onto the loadbearing column or central unit 5 of operating table 4 must be carried out.

When table-top 6 is located in the immediate vicinity or in the proximity of supporting column 5, for example not more than fifty centimetres away, or is positioned on it, the stage of recognition of the operating surface or moving part 6 by central unit 5 begins.

The detection means associated with central unit 5 operate as follows:

The generating means generate an activating electrical signal which the transmission means transmit to the area surrounding supporting column 5 when moving part 6 is in the vicinity of said central unit 5, for example not more than fifty centimetres from central unit 5, and preferably ten centimetres.

In turn the identification means associated with moving part 6 react as follows.

The reception means receive the activation signal which is processed in such a way as to activate the transmission means to transmit its signal whose information content is the mac-address of the transmission/reception means of moving part 6 of operating table 4, the said transmission/reception means being implemented, for example, in accordance with Bluetooth and/or Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi hardware architecture.

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 6.

In turn the reception means of the detection means associated with central unit 5 receive that identification signal. This signal is processed and compared with the identification codes for the plurality of peripherals 6, ... , 9 previously placed in memory in the storing means in such a way that the identification code of moving part 6 can be unequivocally recognised.

Signal communication S2 between said moving part 6 and said central unit 5 of said operating table 4 is established in this way.

Signal communication S2 is therefore established in accordance with the specifications of the RFID communications protocol, that is an unequivocal signal communication is established between the central unit represented by supporting column 5 and the peripheral unit represented by operating table 6.

The stage of recognition of moving part 6 is completed at this point.

Advantageously, once moving part 6 has been unequivocally identified a plurality of control signals can be generated to control the said plurality of peripherals 6, ..., 9 in such a way as to establish another signal communication Sl between the said central unit 5 and the said plurality of peripherals 6, ... , 9 of said operating table 5.

Advantageously, signal communication Sl between said central unit 5 and the said plurality of peripherals 6, ..., 9 of said operating table 4 is radiotransmitted in accordance with the characteristics of the Bluetooth and/or Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi protocols.

It should be pointed out that the combination of the detection and identification means organised in accordance with hardware architecture of the RFID type and the first and second processing means and the first and second transmission/reception means organised in accordance with a hardware architecture characteristic of communications technology of the Bluetooth and/or Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi type makes it possible to establish an unequivocal signal communication between such first and such second reception/transmission means of such central unit 5 and such moving part 6 of operating table 4 respectively. In practice it has been established that the method, equipment and operating table according to the invention fulfil the object and intentions specified, overcoming the disadvantages encountered in the state of the art.

In particular the method and equipment have been demonstrated to be capable of providing a secure connection between central unit 5 and moving part 6 of operating table 4.

In addition to this equipment 3 has proved to be capable of ensuring high redundancy in all connections between central unit 5 and peripheral units 6, ..., 9 of an operating table 4.

Finally the equipment makes it possible to integrate an operating table equipped with this equipment with the hospital environment within which it operates.

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. A method of connection for connecting the central unit (5) and a plurality of peripheral units (6, ..., 9) of an operating table (4) comprising a stage of connection to connect the said central unit (5) to the said plurality of peripheral units (6, ..., 9) characterised in that it comprises a stage of recognizing the identification data of at least on peripheral unit (6) within the context of the said plurality of peripheral units (6, ..., 9) so as to enable at least one unequivocal connection to be established between the said central unit (5) and the said at least one peripheral unit (6).

2. A method of connection according to claim 1, in which the said recognition stage comprises the stages of:

- generating an activation signal when at least one peripheral unit (6) of the said plurality of peripheral units (6, ..., 9) is in the proximity of the said central unit (5) at a predetermined distance,

- establishing a first signal communication (S2) between the said at least one peripheral unit (6) and the said central unit (5) of the said operating table (4), the said signal communication (S2) being a radiotransmitted communication,

- processing the said first signal communication (S2) to unequivocally identify the recognition data for the said at least one peripheral unit (6).

3. A method of connection according to claim 2, in which once the said at least one peripheral unit (6) of the said plurality of peripheral units (6, ..., 9) has been identified there is a further stage of generating a plurality of control signals capable of controlling the said plurality of peripherals (6, ..., 9) in such a way as to establish a second signal communi cation (Sl) between the said central unit (5) and the said plurality of peripherals (6, ..., 9) of the said operating table (4), the said second signal communication (Sl) being a radiotransmitted communication.

4. A method of connection according to claims 2 and 3, in which the said first signal communication (S2) has a first radius of action (D2), the said second signal communication (Sl) has a second radius of action (Dl), the said first radius of action (D2) being smaller than the said second radius of action (Dl).

5. A method of connection according to claim 4, in which the said first radius of action (D2) lies between five and fifty centimetres, preferably ten centimetres, the said second radius of action (Dl) lies between ten and one hundred metres, preferably ten metres.

6. A method of connection according to claims 2, 4 and 5, in which the said predetermined distance is less than or equal to the said first radius of action (D2).

7. A method of connection according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the further stage of placing the identification data for the said plurality of peripherals (6, ..., 9) in a memory.

8. A method of connection according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said stage of processing the said first signal communication (S2) comprises the further stage of comparing the information content of the said first signal communication (S2) with the identification data stored in the said memory.

9. A method of connection according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said first signal communication (S2) is a signal communication according to a communication protocol of the RFID type.

10. A method of connection according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said second signal communication (Sl) is a two-directional signal communication radiotransmitted in accordance with a communication protocol of the Bluetooth type.

11. A method of connection according to any one of the preceding claims from 1 to 8, in which the said second signal communication (Sl) is a two-way signal communication radiotransmitted in accordance with a communication protocol selected from Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi.

12. A method of connection according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said at least one peripheral unit (6) of the said plurality of peripheral units (6, ..., 9) is the moving part of the said operating table (4).

13. Connection equipment for connecting the central unit (5) and the peripheral units (6, ..., 9) of an operating table (4) comprising first and second transmission/reception means located on the said central unit (5) and on the said peripheral units (6, ..., 9) respectively to transmit/receive the said first data carried by radio waves, characterised in that it comprises detection means located on the said central unit (5) to detect at least one peripheral unit (6) in the context of the said peripheral units (6, ..., 9) and identification means associated with the said at least one peripheral unit (6) to unequivocally identify the said at least one peripheral unit (6) which enable the said detection means to establish an unequivocal relationship of connection between the said first and the said second reception/transmission means of the said central unit (5) and the said at least one peripheral unit (6).

14. Connection equipment according to claim 13, characterised in that:

- the said first and second transmission/reception means are capable of establishing a first signal communication (Sl) to transmit/receive the said first data, the said first signal communication (Sl) being a radiotransmitted communication,

- the said detection means and the said identification means are capable of establishing a second signal communication (S2) between the said central unit (5) and the said at least one peripheral unit (6) when the said at least one peripheral unit (6) is in the vicinity of the said central unit (5) at a predetermined distance (D2), the said detection means being capable of receiving second data from the said identification means, the said second signal communication (S2) being a radiotransmitted communication.

15. Connection equipment according to claim 14, in which the said second signal communication (S2) takes place when the said at least one peripheral unit (6) lies within a first radius of action (D2) and the said first signal communication (Sl) takes place when the said plurality of peripherals (6, ... , 9) lies within a second radius of action (Dl), the said first radius of action (D2) being smaller than the said first radius of action (Dl).

16. Equipment according to claims 13 to 15, characterised in that the said detection means comprise further processing means capable of processing the said second data, the said second data being capable of unequivocally identifying the said at least one peripheral unit (6) among the said plurality of peripheral units (6, ..., 9).

17. Equipment according to claims 13 to 16, characterised in that it comprises memory means capable of placing the identification data for the said plurality of peripheral units (6, ... , 9) in memory.

18. Equipment according to claims 13 to 17, characterised in that the said first transmission/reception means and second transmission/reception means respectively comprise first and second processing means capable of processing the said first data, the said first data being capable of identifying the command signals for the said plurality of peripheral units (6, ..., 9).

19. Equipment according to claims 13 to 18, characterised in that the detection means and the said identification means are organised in accordance with a hardware architecture characteristic of technology of the RFID type.

20. Equipment according to claims 13 to 19, characterised in that the said first transmission/reception means and the second transmission/reception means are organised in accordance with a hardware architecture characteristic of communication technology of the Bluetooth type.

21. Equipment according to claims 13 to 19, characterised in that the said first transmission/reception means and the second transmission/reception means are organised in accordance with a hardware architecture characteristic of the communication technology selected from Zigbee and/or Wi-Fi.

22. Equipment according to claims 13 to 21, characterised in that the said at least one peripheral unit (6) of the said plurality of peripheral units 6, ..., 9) is the moving part of the said operating table (4).

23. An operating table (4) comprising a central unit (5) and a plurality of peripheral units (6, ... , 9), characterised in that it comprises connection equipment (3) to connect the said central unit (5) and the said plurality of peripheral units (6, ..., 9) according to any one of the preceding claims from 13 to 22.