WO2021239820A1

WO2021239820A1 - Patient supporting surface for an operating table with multiple supporting surface sections

Info

Publication number: WO2021239820A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/064070
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus WEINGARDT; Michael ROSKORSCH; Tim Golde
Original assignee: MAQUET GmbH
Priority date: 2020-05-27
Filing date: 2021-05-26
Publication date: 2021-12-02
Also published as: DE102020114190A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a patient supporting surface (100) for securing to an operating table column, comprising a supporting surface main section (102) having an interface (110) for coupling to the operating table column, and one or more supporting surface plane sections (104, 106, 108), which can be detachably connected to the supporting surface main section (102), wherein the supporting surface main section (102) has at least one light source (130) and at least one detector element (132), wherein the one or more supporting surface plane sections (104, 106, 108) each have one or more light guides (140, 150, 160) and a respective marking element (143, 153, 161), which changes light in a specific manner for the respective supporting surface plane section (104, 106, 108), and wherein, if at least one part of the supporting surface plane sections (104, 106, 108) is connected to the supporting surface main section (102), the light generated by the at least one light source (130) is guided via the light guide (140, 150, 160) to the marking elements (143, 153, 161) of the supporting surface plane sections (104, 106, 108) connected to the supporting surface main section (102) and from the marking elements (143, 153, 161) to the at least one detector element (132).

Description

Patient table for an operating table with several table sections

Technical area

The present disclosure relates to a patient support surface for an operating table that has a plurality of support surface sections.

Revelation background

A patient can be placed on a patient support surface attached to an operating table column, for example during a surgical procedure. A patient bed can be of modular design and have a main bed section that can be expanded by coupling various bed surface flat sections. For this purpose, the main bearing surface section and the secondary bearing surface sections can have mechanical connecting elements with which the main and secondary bearing surface sections can be detachably connected. Bearing surface secondary sections can be, for example, leg or head sections. Furthermore, bearing surface secondary sections can also be extension or intermediate sections which, for example, are inserted between the bearing surface main section and the head section.

If a bearing surface secondary section is adjusted in its position or extended, the risk of the bearing surface secondary section colliding with another object should be as low as possible. The risk of collision depends, among other things, on the type of secondary section of the bearing surface. For example, a leg section is longer than a head section and therefore has a different collision risk than a head section. It would therefore be desirable if it could be determined which bearing surface minor sections are connected to the bearing surface main section.

Summary of the revelation It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a patient support surface for fastening to an operating table column, which makes it possible to determine which support surface secondary sections are connected to the support surface main section of the patient support surface. A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a patient support surface with which it can be determined in which order support surface secondary sections are connected to the support surface main section of the patient support surface.

In particular, electronic assemblies should be dispensed with in the secondary sections of the bearing surface when detecting the secondary sections of the bearing surface. Electronic assemblies can generate electromagnetic radiation, which can lead to various types of interference. For example, x-rays can be adversely affected by the operation of electronic assemblies. Furthermore, electronic assemblies cannot be operated in high magnetic fields, such as those used for magnetic resonance tomography recordings, for example. Furthermore, dispensing with electronic assemblies in the storage surface areas would make batteries for power supply in the storage area secondary sections unnecessary.

According to the present disclosure, a patient support surface comprises a support surface main section and one or more support surface secondary sections which can be detachably connected to the support surface main section. The main support surface section, which can also be referred to as the central support surface section, has an interface for coupling the patient support surface to an operating table column. The main bearing surface section contains at least one light source that is used to generate light, and at least one detector element with which light can be detected.

The one or more secondary bearing surface sections each contain one or more light guides and one marking element each. The marking elements change light which falls on the marking elements in a specific manner for the respective secondary bearing surface section. If at least a part of the bearing surface secondary sections, that is, one or more of the available bearing surface secondary sections, is connected to the bearing surface main section, the light generated by the at least one light source is by means of the Light guides in the secondary bearing surface sections to the marking elements of the secondary bearing surface sections connected to the main bearing surface section and guided by the marking elements to the at least one detector element.

Since the marking elements change the light in a manner specific to the respective secondary bearing surface section, the light returned by the marking elements to the at least one detector element and detected by the at least one detector element can be used to infer which secondary bearing surface sections and in particular in which order the secondary bearing surface sections are connected to the main bearing surface section.

For the detection of the bearing surface secondary sections connected to the bearing surface main section, it is not necessary to integrate electronic assemblies into the bearing surface secondary sections.

The marking elements can be used to detect the secondary bearing surface sections connected to the main bearing surface section. For this purpose, the marking elements change the light that falls on them in a manner which is specific for the respective secondary bearing surface section. In one embodiment, the marking elements can change the spectral light characteristics of the incident light. For example, only light in a certain wavelength range can be transmitted by the marking elements. The wavelength range which is transmitted by a respective marking element is specific for the respective bearing surface secondary section. In one embodiment, the at least one light source can generate white light and the marking elements can be optical filters which only allow light of a specific color or a specific wavelength range to pass through. For example, the marking elements can each transmit red, green or blue light. On the basis of the wavelength ranges detected by the at least one detector element, it can be determined which bearing surface secondary sections are connected to the bearing surface main sections.

Instead of the wavelength, the marking elements can select the incident light according to other criteria, for example according to the polarization state. In one embodiment the marking elements can only let through light with a certain polarization state or a certain polarization direction. The at least one detector element can use the polarization state of the detected light to determine which bearing surface secondary sections are coupled to the bearing surface main section.

In one embodiment, bearing surface secondary sections of the same type can have marking elements which change the light in the same way. For example, leg sections and head sections can each contain marking elements that act in the same way on the incident light. This makes it possible to differentiate leg and head sections from one another.

The marking elements can be designed in such a way that the light generated by the at least one light source passes through them. The marking elements can also be designed in such a way that they reflect the light generated by the at least one light source.

The marking elements can be integrated into one of the light guides in the respective secondary bearing surface section or can be arranged at one end of a light guide. Furthermore, the marking elements can be integrated into another optical component, for example a beam splitter, or can be arranged adjacent to the optical component.

In one embodiment, the at least one light source can emit light in the visible, infrared and / o the ultraviolet range. In one configuration, the at least one light source can emit white light. The at least one light source can be designed as one or more light-emitting diodes.

In one embodiment, the at least one detector element can contain a plurality of photodiodes which each detect light of different wavelength ranges. For example, one photodiode can be designed for the detection of red light, another photodiode for the detection of green light and yet another photodiode for the detection of blue light.

In one embodiment, at least some of the secondary bearing surface sections can be moved and / or extended. In one embodiment, an evaluation unit can be provided which is coupled to the at least one detector element and uses the light detected by the at least one detector element to determine which of the one or more secondary bearing surface sections are connected to the main bearing surface section. Furthermore, the evaluation unit can use the light detected by the at least one detector element to determine the order in which the one or more secondary bearing surface sections are arranged.

In one embodiment, the evaluation unit cannot be arranged inside the patient bed, but rather outside the patient bed. The patient support surface can have an interface via which data can be exchanged with the evaluation unit. The patient bed can communicate with the evaluation unit via radio or wired communication.

In one embodiment, a control unit can be provided which controls the at least one light source and in particular the at least one detector element. The control unit can be integrated into the evaluation unit.

The main bearing surface section and the one or more secondary bearing surface sections can each contain at least one interface to which a further bearing surface section, i. i.e., the main bearing surface section or a secondary bearing surface section, can be coupled. The interfaces can each have connections for one or more light guides. The connections can form inputs or outputs of the respective light guides.

The interfaces can be designed such that when two bearing surface sections are connected to one another, the connections of the two bearing surface sections are in contact with one another. The interfaces can have a predetermined design which makes it possible to connect the bearing surface sections to one another in different configurations and thereby ensure that the light guides of the respective bearing surface sections are coupled to one another. The respective light guides can, for example, butt against one another at an interface between two bearing surface sections without further connecting elements. The light guides can be aligned laterally in such a way that the light from one light guide is coupled into another light guide. It is also possible to maintain a certain distance between two light guides, for example in the range of a few millimeters. The scattering of the light when it emerges from the one light guide generates, due to the distance between the two light guides, an enlarged light spot in which the other light guide can be located. This gives more leeway for the lateral alignment of the two light guides.

Furthermore, the light emerging from a light guide can be bundled by means of suitable lenses in order to obtain a higher coupling factor.

The one or more secondary bearing surface sections can each be designed either as an intermediate section or as an end section. An intermediate section is a secondary bearing surface section which can be arranged between the main bearing surface section and a further secondary bearing surface section or between two further secondary bearing surface sections. Intermediate sections are also referred to as level N-1 or level N-2 storage sections. Intermediate sections can, for example, be shoulder sections that serve to support the shoulder of a patient, or extension sections.

An end section is an end section that is arranged last in a row of bearing sections. An end section can accordingly be coupled to the main bearing surface section or a secondary bearing surface section. End sections are also referred to as level N Lagerab sections. End sections can, for example, be head or leg sections which are used to support the head or a leg of a patient.

Each intermediate section can have a first connecting element on a first side for releasable mechanical connection to the main bearing surface section or a further secondary bearing surface section and on a second side a second connecting element for releasable mechanical connection to a further secondary bearing surface section. Furthermore, an intermediate section can also have a third connecting element in order to be able to connect a further secondary bearing surface section to the intermediate section. Each end section can have a connecting element for releasable mechanical connection to the main bearing surface section or to an intermediate section on only one side.

Two bearing surface sections can be mechanically connected to one another in various ways. For example, a bearing surface section can have one or more hooks and these hooks can engage in complementary hook receptacles of another bearing surface section in order to thereby ensure a secure and stable mechanical connection of the two bearing surface sections. Furthermore, a locking element can be provided which prevents accidental separation of two interconnected storage surface sections and which has an unlocking mechanism which can be actuated when the two storage surface sections are intended to be separated.

Furthermore, pins or socket pins can also be provided for the mechanical connection of two bearing surface sections. The pins or socket pins attached to a bearing surface section can be inserted into complementary receiving openings on another bearing surface section. Locking elements, which are arranged in particular in the pin or socket pin, can be moved between a release position and a locking position and secure the mechanical connection of two bearing surface sections against accidental separation.

In one embodiment, the main bearing surface section can contain several detector elements. In each secondary bearing surface section, the light generated by the at least one light source can pass through the respective marking element and can then be guided to one of the plurality of detector elements via a separate light guide path made up of one or more light guides. Separately means that the light guide path is traversed only by the light that has previously traversed the marking element of the respective secondary bearing surface section. Consequently, a respective detector element is assigned to each bearing surface secondary section coupled to the bearing surface main section.

If several storage surface secondary sections are connected to one another, the light generated by the min least one light source can be via a common light guide path from one or several light guides are guided to the bearing surface secondary sections. The common one

Optical fiber path extends through the interconnected bearing surface secondary sections.

Furthermore, each intermediate section can have a beam splitter which decouples part of the light from the common light guide path and feeds it to the respective marking element.

When the light generated by the at least one light source passes through the marking element of a respective secondary bearing surface section, the light can be changed in the manner specific to the respective secondary bearing surface section. By detecting the light changed by the marking element, in particular by the evaluation unit, it can be concluded that the bearing surface secondary section in question is coupled to the bearing surface main section. The position at which the respective secondary bearing surface section is arranged within a series of secondary bearing surface sections connected to one another is indicated by the respective detector element which detects the light supplied by the secondary bearing surface section.

In one embodiment, the light generated by the at least one light source can be guided to the secondary bearing surface sections via a first common light guide path which is formed from one or more light guides. Each intermediate section can have a beam splitter which decouples part of the light from the first common light guide path and then guides it through the respective marking element. After the light has been guided through the respective marking element, it can be coupled by the beam splitter into a second common light guide path, which is formed from one or more light guides. The second common light guide path can guide the light to the at least one detector element. The coupling out of part of the light by the beam splitter in one of the intermediate sections has the effect that the intensity or amplitude of the light in the first common light guide path downstream of the beam splitter is reduced. Each beam splitter that decouples light from the first common light path can reduce the intensity by at least a predetermined factor. For example, the factor can be 0.1. In this case, the light intensity in the first common light guide path is reduced by at least 10% after each beam splitter. The factor can alternatively be 0.2 or 0.3 or 0.4 or 0.5. Another suitable value for the factor can also be selected. The second common light guide path can feed the light changed by the marking elements to the at least one detector element, which detects the light changed by the marking elements and its intensity. By detecting the light changed by the marking elements, in particular by the evaluation unit, it can be concluded which bearing surface secondary sections are coupled to the bearing surface main section. The intensity of the detected light indicates the position at which the respective secondary bearing surface section is located within a series of secondary bearing surface sections connected to one another.

In one embodiment, the light intensity or light amplitude measured by the at least one detector element can be used to determine the position of a respective secondary bearing surface section and / or the sequence of the secondary bearing surface sections. For example, if the highest light intensity is detected for a secondary bearing surface section, it can be deduced from this that this secondary bearing surface section is positioned closest to the main bearing surface section. Lower light intensity that is detected by the at least one detector element indicates that the corresponding secondary bearing surface section is positioned further away from the main bearing surface section.

In one embodiment, the main bearing surface section can have a plurality of light sources which generate light one after the other and, in particular, offset in time with respect to one another. In one embodiment, the light sources can each generate light pulses periodically, the light sources emitting the light pulses offset in time with respect to one another and in particular not in an overlapping manner. The light generated by each light source can be guided via a separate light guide path, which is formed from one or more light guides, to the marking element of a respective bearing surface secondary section and can pass through the marking element. Separately means that the light guide path is only traversed by the light that was generated by the respective light source. After the light has passed through a respective marking element, the light can be coupled into a common light guide path made up of one or more light guides and fed to the at least one detector element. Since the light sources emit light one after the other, the at least one detector element can detect the light changed by the respective marking elements with a time delay. This makes it possible, in particular for the evaluation unit, to determine which bearing surface secondary sections are coupled to the bearing surface main section. Furthermore, it can be established at which point in time or in which time slot the light changed by the respective marking elements is detected. This makes it possible, in particular for the evaluation unit, to determine the position at which the respective secondary bearing surface section is located within a series of secondary bearing surface sections connected to one another.

In one embodiment, an end section can have a light guide, an input and an output. The light guide can connect the input to the output so that light received at the input is guided to the output of the light guide. Furthermore, the light guide can guide the received light through the marking element of the end section. The marking element can, for example, be integrated into the light guide or be arranged at one end of the light guide.

The present disclosure also relates to an operating table which has an operating table column and a patient support surface according to the disclosure. The patient support surface can be attached to the operating table column with its interface provided for this purpose.

In addition, the present disclosure comprises a bearing surface secondary section for releasable connection to a bearing surface main section and / or one or more further bearing surface secondary section (s) of a patient bearing surface. The secondary storage surface section can have one or more light guides and a marking element which changes light in a manner specific to the secondary storage surface section. In particular, the marking element can be integrated into one of the light guides or be arranged at one end of one of the light guides so that light is guided from the light guide through the marking element. The bearing surface secondary section can be designed according to the disclosure.

The present disclosure also includes a method of operating a patient support surface that is attached to an operating table column. The patient support surface can be designed in accordance with the disclosure. The patient bed has a main bed section and one or more bearing surface secondary sections which are releasably connected to the bearing surface main section. The secondary storage surface sections each contain one or more light guides and a marking element which changes light in a manner specific to the respective secondary storage surface section. The method comprises that light is generated by means of at least one light source integrated in the main bearing surface section. The light generated by the at least one light source is guided by means of the light guide to the marking elements of the bearing surface main section connected to the bearing surface main section. Furthermore, the light guides guide the light from the marking elements to at least one detector element integrated in the main bearing surface section. The at least one detector element detects the light.

In one embodiment, the method can include that, on the basis of the light detected by the at least one detector element, it is determined which of the one or more secondary bearing surface sections are connected to the main bearing surface section. In particular, it can be determined in which order the one or more Lagerflächenennebenab sections are arranged.

In one embodiment, several detector elements can be integrated into the main bearing surface section. In each bearing surface secondary section, the light generated by the at least one light source can be guided through the respective marking element. The light can then be detected by a respective detector element. One of the detector elements can be assigned to each bearing surface secondary section.

In one embodiment, the light generated by the at least one light source can be guided one after the other in a common light guide path through the interconnected bearing surface sections. In at least one side section of the bearing surface, in particular in an intermediate section, part of the light can be coupled out of the common light guide path and guided through the respective marking element. The intensity of the light in the common light guide path can be reduced by at least a predetermined factor by coupling out the light. In one embodiment, a plurality of light sources can be integrated into the main bearing surface section, which light sources generate light one after the other. The light produced by any light source can be transmitted through the

Marking element of a respective bearing surface secondary section are guided and then detected by the at least one detector element.

The present disclosure further comprises methods for moving and extending bearing surface main and secondary sections of a patient bed.

The present disclosure also includes circuitry and / or electronic instructions for controlling patient support surfaces.

Brief description of the drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. Show in it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an operating table with a patient positioned on a Pati duck support surface of the operating table;

2 shows a schematic representation of a patient support surface according to the disclosure with a support surface main section and a plurality of support surface secondary sections coupled to the support surface main section;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a method according to the disclosure for operating the patient support surface shown in FIG. 2; FIG.

4 shows a schematic representation of a further patient support surface according to the disclosure with a main support surface section and a plurality of secondary support sections coupled to the main support surface section;

5 shows a diagram in which the light intensity of the light detected by a detector element is plotted against the wavelength; FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a method according to the disclosure for operating the patient support surface shown in FIG. 4;

7 shows a schematic representation of yet another patient support surface according to the disclosure with a main support surface section and a plurality of secondary support surface sections coupled to the main support surface section;

8A is a diagram in which the light intensity of the light generated by various light sources is plotted against time;

8B shows a diagram in which the light intensity of the light detected by a detector element is plotted against time; and

FIG. 9 shows a schematic illustration of a method according to the disclosure for operating the patient support surface shown in FIG. 7.

Detailed description of the figures

In the following description, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are not necessarily true to scale, but are only intended to illustrate the respective features schematically.

It should be noted that the features and components described below can each be combined with one another, regardless of whether they have been described in connection with a single embodiment. The combination of features in the respective embodiments serves only to illustrate the basic structure and the mode of operation of the claimed device.

In the figures, identical or similar elements are provided with identical reference symbols, insofar as this is appropriate. Fig. 1 shows schematically a mobile operating table 1, which can be used for the storage of a patient 2 during a surgical procedure and for his transport. The mobile operating table 1 comprises, from bottom to top, a stand 4 for placing the operating table 1 on a surface, a vertically arranged operating table column 6 encompassing the stand 2, and a patient support surface 8 releasably attached to an upper end of the operating table column 6.

The patient support surface 8 is modular and serves to support the patient 2. The patient support surface 8 comprises a main section 10 connected to the operating table column 6, which can be expanded as required by coupling various auxiliary support sections. In Fig. 1, a leg section 12, a shoulder section 14 and a head section 16 are coupled to the main bearing surface section 10 as secondary bearing surface sections.

The patient support surface 8 of the operating table 1 can be brought to a suitable height depending on the type of surgical intervention to be carried out and both be canted and inclined.

The operating table column 6 is designed to be adjustable in height and has an internal mechanism for adjusting the height of the patient support surface 8 of the operating table 1. The mechanism is arranged in a housing 18 which protects the components from contamination.

The base 4 has two sections 20, 22 of different lengths. The section 20 is a short section associated with a foot end of the leg section 12; H. the end of the patient support surface 8 on which the feet of the patient 2 to be treated lie. From the section 22 is a long section 3, which is assigned to the head section 16 of the patient support surface 8.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a patient support surface 100 according to the disclosure, which is designed for attachment to an operating table column. The patient support surface 100 contains a support surface main section 102 as well as a plurality of support surface secondary sections 104, 106, 108, which can be detachably connected to the support surface main section 102. The secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106 are intermediate sections which can be arranged between the main bearing surface section 102 and a further secondary bearing surface section or between two further secondary bearing surface sections. The Lagerflächenennebenab section 108 is an end portion which is arranged as the last in a series of bearing sections.

The secondary bearing surface section 108 is arranged as an end section in a stage N, whereas the secondary bearing surface section 106 is arranged in a stage N-1 and the secondary bearing surface section 104 is arranged in a stage N-2. For example, the bearing surface minor portion 108 may be a head or leg portion and the bearing surface minor portions 104, 106 may be extension portions.

For better illustration, a Cartesian coordinate system X-Y-Z is shown in the figures. The X-axis is the vertical axis, the Y-axis and the Z-axis are the horizontal axes. The Y-axis extends along the side-by-side bearing surface secondary sections 104, 106, 108.

In Fig. 2, only bearing surface secondary sections are shown, which are arranged on one side of the bearing surface main portion 102. Die LagerflД sich in der Bearing surface main section 102. It can also be arranged on a different side of the bearing surface main portion 102, which are not shown in Fig. 2, secondary bearing surface sections on another side.

The main bearing surface section 102 has an interface 110 on its underside with which the main bearing surface section 102 can be coupled to an operating table column.

Furthermore, the main bearing surface section 102 contains one or more connecting elements 114 on a side surface 112. The secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106 each also have one or more connecting elements on two opposite side surfaces 116, 118 or 120, 122. The secondary bearing surface section 108 has one or more connecting elements 114 on only one side surface 124. The connecting elements 114 are designed in such a way that they connect the main bearing surface section 102 and the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108 can mechanically connect with each other. Furthermore, the connecting elements 114 are designed to be detachable in order to establish the mechanical connection between the bearing surface main section 102 and the

To be able to solve secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108 if necessary.

The bearing surface main section 102 contains a light source 130, which emits white light, and three detector elements 132, 133, 134, which can detect light at least in the visible range. A control and evaluation unit 136 integrated in the main bearing surface section 102 is electrically coupled to the light source 130 and the detector elements 132, 133, 134. The control and evaluation unit 136 is used to control the light source 130 and the detector elements 132, 133, 134 and to evaluate the light detected by the detector elements 132, 133, 134. The detector elements 132, 133, 134 transmit to the control and evaluation unit 136 electrical signals that contain information about the detected light.

An interface 138 on the side surface 112 of the bearing surface main section 102 provides connections, not shown, for the light source 130 and the detector elements 132, 133, 134. The light source 130 and the detector elements 132, 133, 134 can be connected directly to the interface 138 or light guides can lead from the interface 138 to the light source 130 and the detector elements 132, 133, 134.

The secondary bearing surface section 104 contains a light guide 140, which leads from the side surface 116 to the side surface 118. A beam splitter 141, which couples light out of the light guide 140 into a light guide 142, is integrated into the light guide 140. The light guide 142 leads to the side surface 116. Furthermore, an optical filter 143 designed as a marking element is arranged at the end of the light guide 142, which is designed such that it only lets through light in the red spectral range. Furthermore, light guides 144, 145 lead from the side surface 118 to the side surface 116. Interfaces 146 and 147, which each provide connections for the light guides 140, 142, 144, 145, are arranged on the side surfaces 116, 118.

The secondary bearing surface section 106 is constructed similarly to the secondary bearing surface section 104. The secondary bearing surface section 106 contains a light guide 150 which leads from the side surface 120 to the side surface 122. A beam splitter 151, the light coupled out of the light guide 150 into a light guide 152. The light guide 152 leads to the side surface 120. Furthermore, an optical filter 153 designed as a marking element is arranged at the end of the light guide 152 and is designed such that it only lets through light in the green spectral range. Furthermore, light guides 154, 155 lead from the side surface 122 to the side surface 120. Interfaces 156 and 157 are arranged on the side surfaces 120, 122, each providing connections for the light guides 150, 152, 154, 155.

The secondary bearing surface section 108 contains a light guide 160 which couples an input located on the side surface 124 to an output also located on the side surface 124. Furthermore, an optical filter 161 embodied as a marking element is arranged at one end of the light guide 160 and is embodied in such a way that it only lets through light in the blue spectral range. An interface 162 is also arranged on the side surface 124, which provides connections for the input and output of the light guide 160.

When the main bearing surface section 102 and the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108 are fastened to one another via the connecting elements 114, the interfaces 138, 146 or 147, 156 or 157, 162 are each connected to one another in pairs. The interfaces 138, 146, 147, 156, 157, 162 are designed in such a way that various components described below are coupled to one another.

In detail, the light source 130 is coupled to the light guides 140, 150, 160. The light guides 140, 150, 160 form a common light guide path which guides the white light generated by the light source 130 to the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108. Furthermore, the interfaces 138, 146, 147, 156, 157, 162 are designed in such a way that the red light allowed by the optical filter 143 is guided to the detector element 132, the green light passed by the optical filter 153 via a Light guide 144 formed separate light guide path is guided to the detector element 133 and the blue light transmitted by the optical filter 161 is guided via a separate light guide path formed from the light guides 145, 154 to the detector element 134. The direction of propagation of the light within the patient support surface 100 is shown in Fig. 1 by arrows. A method 200 according to the disclosure for operating the patient bed 100 is shown schematically in FIG. 3. The method 200 begins at a step 202 in which the light source 130 generates white light.

In a step 204, the white light generated by the light source 130 is guided through the common light guide path formed by the light guides 140, 150, 160 to the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108. Part of the light is decoupled from the common light guide path by the beam splitters 141, 151 and guided to the optical filters 143, 153 arranged in the secondary sections 104, 106 of the bearing surface. The part of the white light generated by the light source 130 that remains in the common light guide path is guided by the light guide 160 to the optical filter 161 arranged in the secondary bearing surface section 108.

In a step 206, only the respective spectral range is allowed to pass through the optical filters 143, 153, 161. The red light transmitted by the optical filter 143 is guided to the detector element 132. The green light transmitted by the optical filter 153 is guided to the detector element 133. The blue light transmitted by the optical filter 161 is guided to the detector element 134.

In a step 208, the detector elements 132, 133, 134 detect the light transmitted by the respective optical filters 143, 153, 161 and transmit corresponding electrical signals to the control and evaluation unit 136.

In a step 210, the control and evaluation unit 136 evaluates the electrical signals received and the information contained therein. On the basis of the red, green or blue light detected by the detector elements 132, 133, 134, the control and evaluation unit 136 determines that the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108 are connected to the main bearing surface section 102. Since the detector elements 132, 133, 134 have detected the red, green and blue light in this order, the control and evaluation unit 136 can also determine that the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108 are connected to the main bearing surface section 102 in this sequence are. 4 shows schematically a patient support surface 300 according to the disclosure, which is designed for attachment to an operating table column. The patient support surface 300 is largely similar to the patient support surface 100 shown schematically in FIG. 2. Elements of the patient support surface 300 which are identical or similar to elements of the patient support surface 100 are provided with identical reference numerals. The differences between the patient support surface 300 and the patient support surface 100 are described below.

The main support surface section 102 of the patient support surface 300 contains a light source 130 which emits white light, and a detector element 132 which can detect light at least in the visible range. The control and evaluation unit 136 integrated in the main bearing surface section 102 is electrically coupled to the light source 130 and the detector element 132 and is used to control the light source 130 and the detector element 132 and to evaluate the light detected by the detector element 132.

The secondary bearing surface section 104 contains light guides 170, 172, which lead from the side surface 116 to the side surface 118. A beam splitter 174 guides part of the light from the light guide 170 into the light guide 172. The optical filter 143 designed as a marking element is integrated into the beam splitter 174 and is designed in such a way that it only lets light through in the red spectral range. The interfaces 146 and 147 arranged on the side surfaces 116, 118 each provide connections for the light guides 170, 172.

The secondary bearing surface section 106 is constructed similarly to the secondary bearing surface section 104. The secondary bearing surface section 106 contains light guides 176, 178, which lead from the side surface 120 to the side surface 122, as well as a beam splitter 180, which guides part of the light from the light guide 176 into the light guide 178. The optical filter 153 designed as a marking element is integrated into the beam splitter 180 and is designed such that it only lets through light in the green spectral range. The interfaces 156 and 157 arranged on the side surfaces 120, 122 each provide connections for the light guides 176, 178. The auxiliary bearing surface section 108 contains the light guide 160, which is coupled to two connections of the interface 162 located on the side surface 124. The optical filter 161 formed as a marking element, which only allows light in the blue spectral range to pass through, is integrated into the light guide 160.

When the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108 are coupled to the main bearing surface section 102, the light guides 170, 176, 160 are fed by the light emitted by the light source 130. The light guides 170, 176, 160 form a first common light guide path that extends through the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108. The beam splitters 174, 180 kop peln each part of the light from the first common light guide path and feed this light into the light guides 172 and 178, respectively. Furthermore, the light guide 160 feeds the light remaining in the first common light guide path into the light guide 178. The light guides 160, 172, 178 form a second common light guide path, which cuts through the Lagerflächenennebenab 104, 106, 108 and guides the light to the detector element 132. The light that is fed into the second common light guide path first passes through one of the optical filters 161, 174, 180. Accordingly, the second common light guide path contains both red, green and blue light.

The beam splitters 174, 180 are configured such that the intensity or amplitude of the light in the first common light guide path through each of the beam splitters 174, 180 is reduced by at least a predetermined factor. The factor is, for example, 0.5. This means that the light intensity in the light guide 170 after the beam splitter 174 is at most 50% of the light intensity before the beam splitter 174. In the same way, the light intensity in the light guide 176 after the beam splitter 180 is at most 50% of the light intensity before the beam splitter 180.

The configuration of the beam splitter 174, 180 described has effects on the spectral distribution of the light in the second common light guide path, which is shown by way of example in FIG. Fig. 5 shows a diagram in which the light intensity of the light that is guided from the second common light guide path to the detector element 132 is carried against the wavelength. The light striking the detector element 132 has red, green and blue components which are identified by the reference symbols 182, 183 and 184, respectively. The intensity of the red part 182 is the strongest. The intensity of the green part 183 is significantly smaller and is approx. 50% of the red portion 182. The intensity of the blue portion 184 is the lowest and amounts to approx. 25% of the red portion 182.

A method 400 according to the disclosure for operating the patient support surface 300 shown in FIG. 4 is shown schematically in FIG. 6. The method 400 begins at a step 402 in which the light source 130 generates white light.

In a step 404, the white light generated by the light source 130 is guided through the first common light guide path formed by the light guides 160, 170, 176 to the secondary sections 104, 106, 108 of the bearing surface. Part of the light is decoupled from the first common light guide path by the beam splitters 174, 180 and guided to the optical filters 143, 153 arranged in the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106. The portion of the white light generated by the light source 130 that remains in the first common light guide path is guided by the light guide 160 to the optical filter 161 arranged in the secondary bearing surface section 108.

In a step 406, only the spectral range provided in each case is allowed to pass through the optical filters 143, 153, 161 and fed into the second common light guide path, which is formed from the light guides 160, 172, 178. The second common light guide path guides the light to the detector element 132.

In a step 408, the detector element 132 detects the received light. The detector element 132 contains several photodiodes that can detect red, green and blue light. The light detected by the detector element 132 contains a spectral distribution as shown in FIG. 5 by way of example. The detector element 132 transmits to the control and evaluation unit 136 electrical signals containing information on the detected light.

In a step 410, the control and evaluation unit 136 evaluates the electrical signals received and the information contained therein. On the basis of the red, green and blue light detected by the detector element 132, the control and evaluation unit 136 determines that the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108 are connected to the main bearing surface section 102. Since the intensity of the red, green and blue light components in decreases in this order, the control and evaluation unit 1S6 also determines that the

Storage surface secondary sections 104, 106, 108 in this order with the storage surface main section 102 are connected.

7 schematically shows a patient support surface 500 according to the disclosure, which is designed for attachment to an operating table column. The patient support surface 500 is largely similar to the patient support surface 100 shown schematically in FIG. 2. Elements of the patient support surface 500 which are identical or similar to elements of the patient support surface 100 are provided with identical reference numerals. The differences between the patient support surface 500 and the patient support surface 100 are described below.

The main support surface section 102 of the patient support surface 500 contains three light sources 190, 192, 194, each of which emits white light, and a detector element 132 which can detect light at least in the visible range. The light sources 190, 192, 194 generate successively, i. H. light staggered in time. The control and evaluation unit 136 integrated in the main bearing surface section 102 is electrically coupled to the light sources 190, 192, 194 and the detector element 132 and is used to control the light sources 190, 192, 194 and the detector element 132 and to evaluate the detector element 132 detected light. In the interface 138 arranged on the side surface 112 of the bearing surface main section 102, connections for the light sources 190, 192, 194 and the detector element 132 are provided.

The support surface secondary sections 104, 106, 108 of the patient support surface 500 have the same structure as the support surface secondary sections 104, 106, 108 of the patient support surface 100 shown in FIG. 2. The difference is that the light travels through the light guides in the opposite direction. Specifically, the light sources 190, 192, 194 are arranged in such a way that the light generated by them is fed into the light guides 142, 144 or 145 of the secondary bearing surface section 104.

The light guide 142 forms a separate light guide path which guides the light fed in by the light source 190 into the light guide 140 after it has been guided through the optical filter 142. The red light transmitted by the optical filter 143 passes through the beam splitter 141 in the opposite direction compared to the patient bed shown in FIG 100. The light guides 144, 152 also form a separate light guide path that separates that of the

Light source 192 leads light emitted via the optical filter 153 to the beam splitter 151. The beam splitter 151 guides the green light transmitted by the optical filter 153 into the light guide 150. Furthermore, the light guides 145, 154 form a separate light guide path which guides the light generated by the light source 194 to the optical filter 161. The blue light transmitted by the optical filter 161 is fed into the light guide 160.

Furthermore, the light guides 140, 150, 160 form a common light guide path which extends through the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108 and guides the light to the detector element 132. The light in the common light guide path contains red, green and blue components. The detector element 132 contains several photodiodes that can detect red, green and blue light.

FIG. 8A shows a diagram in which the light intensity of the light generated by the light sources 190, 192, 194 is plotted against time. The light sources 190, 192, 194 each generate a light pulse at the points in time ti, t2 and t3. The light pulses generated by the light sources 190, 192, 194 do not overlap one another. The times at which the light sources 190, 192, 194 generate the light pulses are selected by the control and evaluation unit 136. The light pulses generated by the light sources 190, 192, 194 can be repeated, in particular periodically.

Since the light sources 190, 192, 194 generate the light pulses with a time delay, the response light pulses are detected by the detector element 132 with the same time delay, as is shown in FIG. 8B. 8B shows a diagram in which the light intensity of the light detected by the detector element 132 is plotted against time. The detector element 132 detects a red light pulse at time ti, a green light pulse at time t2 and a blue light pulse at time t3.

A method 600 according to the disclosure for operating the patient support surface 500 shown in FIG. 7 is shown schematically in FIG. 9. The method 600 begins at a step 602, in which the light sources 190, 192, 194 generate white light pulses offset in time with respect to one another. In a step 604, the light pulses generated by the light sources 190, 192, 194 are guided via the respective light guide paths to the optical filters 14S, 15S and 161, respectively.

In a step 606, the optical filters 14S, 15S, 161 allow the respectively intended spectral component of the impinging pulses, i. H. red, green and blue light pulses through. The light pulses are fed into the common light guide path formed by the light guides 140, 150, 160 and arrive at the detector element 1S2.

In a step 608, the red, green and blue light pulses are detected by the detector element 132. Electrical signals with information on the detected light pulses are transmitted from the detector element 132 to the control and evaluation unit 136.

In a step 410, the control and evaluation unit 136 evaluates the electrical signals received and the information contained therein. On the basis of the red, green and blue light pulses detected by the detector element 132, the control and evaluation unit 136 determines that the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108 are connected to the main bearing surface section 102. On the basis of the points in time or time slots at which the different light pulses were detected, the control and evaluation unit 136 also determines that the secondary bearing surface sections 104, 106, 108 are connected to the main bearing surface section 102 in this order.

Claims

Expectations

A patient support surface (100; 300; 500) for attachment to an operating table column, comprising: a bearing surface main section (102) with an interface (110) for coupling to the operating table column, and one or more bearing surface secondary sections (104, 106, 108), the are releasably connectable to the main bearing surface section (102), the main bearing surface section (102) having at least one light source (130) and at least one detector element (132), the one or more secondary bearing surface sections (104, 106, 108) each having one or more light guides ( 140, 150, 160) and each have a marking element (143, 153, 161) which changes light in a manner specific to the respective bearing surface secondary section (104, 106, 108), and if at least part of the Bearing surface secondary sections (104, 106, 108) is connected to the bearing surface main section (102), the light generated by the at least one light source (130) by means of the Light guides (140, 150, 160) to the marking elements (143, 153, 161) of the bearing surface secondary sections (104, 106, 108) connected to the bearing surface main section (102) and from the marking elements (143, 153, 161) to the at least one Detector element (132) is guided.

2. Patient support surface (100; 300; 500) according to claim 1, further comprising an evaluation unit (136) which is coupled to the at least one detector element (132) and uses the light detected by the at least one detector element (132) to determine which of the one or more secondary storage surface sections (104, 106, 108) connected to the main storage surface section (102) and in particular the order in which the one or more secondary storage surface sections (104, 106, 108) are arranged.

3. patient support surface (100; 300; 500) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main bearing surface section (102) and the one or more secondary bearing surface sections (104, 106, 108) each have at least one interface (138,

146, 147, 156, 157, 162) for coupling to another bearing surface section

(102, 104, 106, 108), and wherein the interfaces (138, 146, 147, 156, 157, 162) each have connections for one or more light guides.

4. patient support surface (100; 300; 500) according to claim 3, wherein the interfaces (138, 146, 147, 156, 157, 162) are designed such that when two support surface sections (102, 104, 106, 108) are connected to one another are, the connections of the two bearing surface sections (102, 104, 106, 108) are in contact with one another.

5. patient support surface (100; 300; 500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more support surface secondary sections (104, 106, 108) are each designed either as an intermediate section (104, 106) or as an end section (108), each intermediate section (104, 106) on a first side (116, 120) a first connecting element (114) for releasable connection to the main bearing surface section (102) or a further secondary bearing surface section (104, 106, 108) and on a second side (118, 122 ) has a second connecting element (114) for detachable connection to a further secondary bearing surface section (104, 106, 108), and each end section (108) on only one side (124) a connecting element (114) for detachable connection to the main bearing surface section ( 102) or an intermediate section (104, 106).

6. Patient support surface (100) according to claim 5, wherein the support surface main section (102) has a plurality of detector elements (132, 133, 134), and wherein in each support surface secondary section (104, 106, 108) the light generated by the at least one light source (130) the respective marking element (143, 153, 161) and the light is then guided to one of the multiple detector elements (132, 133, 134) by means of a separate light guide path made up of one or more light guides.

7. patient support surface (100) according to claim 6, wherein the light generated by the at least one light source (130) is guided via a common light guide path composed of one or more light guides (140, 150, 160) to the support surface secondary sections (104, 106, 108) and wherein each intermediate section (104, 106) has a beam splitter (141, 151) which decouples part of the light from the common light guide path and feeds it to the respective marking element (143, 153).

8. patient support surface (300) according to claim 5, wherein the light generated by the at least one light source (130) via a first common light guide path of one or more light guides (160, 170, 176) to the auxiliary bed sections (104, 106, 108) each intermediate section (104, 106) has a beam splitter (174, 180) which decouples part of the light from the first common light guide path and guides it through the respective marking element (143, 153) and then into a second common light guide path from one or more light guides (160, 172, 178), wherein the second common light guide path guides the light to the at least one detector element (132), and wherein the intensity of the light in the first common light guide path through each beam splitter (174, 180 ) is reduced by at least a specified factor.

9. The patient support surface (500) according to claim 5, wherein the support surface main section (102) has a plurality of light sources (190, 192, 194) which generate light one after the other, and wherein the light generated by each light source (190, 192, 194) via a separate one Light guide path from one or more light guides to the marking element (143, 153, 161) of a respective bearing surface secondary section (104, 106, 108) and passes through the marking element (143, 153, 161) and then coupled into a common light guide path made up of one or more light guides (140, 150, 160) which guides the light to the at least one detector element (132).

10. patient support surface (100; 300; 500) according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the end portion (108) has a light guide (160), an input and an output, and wherein the light guide (160) light from the input to the exit and through the marking element (161) of the end section (108).

11. Operating table with an operating table column and a patient support surface (100; 300; 500) attached to the operating table column according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Bearing surface secondary section (104, 106, 108) for releasable connection with a bearing surface main section (102) and / or one or more further storage surface secondary sections (104, 106, 108) of a patient bed (100; 300; 500), comprising one or more a plurality of light guides (140, 150, 160) and a marking element (143, 153, 161) which changes light in a manner specific to the bearing surface minor section (104, 106, 108).

13. The method (200; 400; 600) for operating a patient bed which is attached to an operating table column and has a main bed section and one or more sub bed sections which are detachably connected to the main bed section, wherein the one or more sub bed sections each have one or more light guides as well as a marking element which changes light in a specific manner for the respective secondary bearing surface section, the method (200; 400; 600) comprising: Generating (202; 402; 602) of light by means of at least one light source integrated in the main section of the bearing surface,

Guiding (204, 206; 404, 406; 604, 606) the light by means of the light guides to the marking elements of the bearing surface secondary sections connected to the bearing surface main section and from the marking elements to at least one detector element integrated in the bearing surface main section, and detection (208; 408 ; 608) of the light by means of the at least one detector element.

14. The method (200; 400; 600) according to claim 13, further comprising: determining (210; 410; 610) on the basis of the light detected by the at least one detector element which of the one or more secondary bearing surface sections is connected to the main bearing surface section and in particular which one Order the one or more storage surface secondary sections are arranged.

15. The method (200) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein a plurality of detector elements are integrated in the main bearing surface section, and wherein in each bearing surface secondary section the light generated by the at least one light source is guided through the respective marking element and the light is then detected by a respective detector element will.

16. The method (400) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the light generated by the at least one light source in a common light guide path is successively guided through the interconnected Lagerflä chennebenabschnitte and cut in at least one Lagerfläennebenab part of the light is decoupled from the common light guide path and is guided through the respective marking element, and wherein the intensity of the light in the common light guide path is reduced by at least a predetermined factor by the coupling out of the light.

17. The method (600) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein a plurality of light sources are integrated in the main bearing surface section, which generate light one after the other, and wherein the light generated by each light source is guided through the marking element of a respective secondary bearing surface section and is then detected by the at least one detector element.