Patent Application
20240325228
The present disclosure relates to a medical system with an operating table and a remote control, an operating table, a remote control, and a method for operating a medical system with an operating table.
Medical devices, such as operating tables, can be controlled remotely by use of a remote control in a convenient way. Compared to remote controls without touchscreens, remote controls with touchscreens can provide more information and flexibility to the user for interacting with the medical device.
A remote control for controlling a medical appliance is described in WO 2016/131659 A1.
Currently an operating table remote control and the associated operating table can be regarded as two independent systems, which interact with each other via a command and information exchange interface. The operating table is responsible for carrying out all movements of the table, interfacing with other systems in a hospital, interpreting commands received from the remote control, and generating commands and information to send to the remote control. The remote control system is responsible for accepting user input over hardware buttons and touchscreen, if any, for generating a graphical user interface (GUI) shown to the user on a screen or touchscreen of the remote control, for interpreting commands and information it receives from the table, and for sending user generated commands to the table.
As the operating table and the remote control are independent systems, all capabilities provided for interacting with the table via the remote control to a user must be included in the software for both systems. This also applies to state of the art remote controls used in conjunction with other medical devices that are not operating tables.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved medical system with a medical device, in particular an operational table and a remote control. It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved medical device and an improved remote control. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of operating a medical system with a medical device and a remote control. The medical devices may be, for example, an operating table for supporting a patient.
At least in some embodiments of the present invention, a medical system in accordance with the present invention comprises:
Thus, at least in some embodiments, the display of the remote control can be controlled by a graphical user interface of the computer system, and hence, the remote control, or at least its display, can be regarded as an extension of the computer system. For example, the remote control can serve to display image data provided by the computer system to the remote control via the communication interface, and to provide user input directly to the computer system by use of the graphical user interface, while the remote control itself neither has to interpret any received data nor user input.
As least in some embodiments, the computer system and the remote control can be implemented as a client-server system, in which the display of the client, which corresponds to the remote control, hosts the GUI of the server system, which corresponds to the computer system, for example a computer within an operating table. The remote control can therefore be a means for displaying the at least one graphical user interface element, but a separate GUI system of the remote control, if any, does not obtain any information about the provided data, except for what is necessary to display it. In some embodiments, the remote does not need to be able to recognize the data in order to associate it with predetermined displaying instructions in the remote control (such as how to convert the information into human readable form, and how fit it into a predetermined layout), instead the information along with basic displaying instructions is enough that the remote does not need to recognize data and associate it with any predetermined displaying instructions.
In some embodiments, the at least one graphical user interface element is at least one of the following: an image, an input field, such as a slider or a tick box. The graphical user interface element can be any element that can be shown on a display. For example, it can be an image or a sequence of images. However, preferably, live images, for example of a patient are not provided. The computer system can determine the way how the visualized elements are displayed to the user. For example, it can determine at least one of the following: font, colour, location, making user readable, contextual information. This is in particular due to the fact that the computer system provides the GUI elements.
In some embodiments, the at least one graphical user interface element is at least one of the following:
Radio buttons are used to allow users to select one item at a time. A dropdown button consists of a button that when clicked displays a drop-down list of mutually exclusive items. A toggle button allows the user to change a setting between two states. They are most effective when the on/off states are visually distinct. A slider, also known as a track bar, allows users to set or adjust a value. An icon is a simplified image serving as an intuitive symbol that is used to help users to navigate the system. An icon can be hyperlinked.
In some embodiments, the at least one graphical user interface element corresponds to at least one image and the computer system is configured to provide or generate data that includes image data of the at least one image. The computer system can be configured to send the data to the remote control for display of the at least one image on the screen. The image can be displayed on the screen, in particular in the portion, which is controlled by the graphical user interface. The remote control is not required to interpret the image or generate the image on its own. Thus, the complexity that has to be put into the remote control can be reduced, while the functionality and user experience of the remote control can still be enhanced due to using the graphical user interface of the computer system which serves to control the screen of the remote control.
In some embodiments, the data further includes displaying instructions for displaying the at least one image on the screen; and the remote control is configured to display, in accordance with the displaying instructions, the at least one image on the screen. The displaying instructions can provide information, such as an anchor point, that defines where on the screen the image should be displayed.
In some embodiment, the graphical user interface element corresponds to human readable and/or human ready instructions or information and the computer system is configured to provide data that includes the instructions or information to the remote control. The instructions can be basic instructions, such as text instructions, and the information can include text, symbols, and numbers. The remote control can be configured to carry out the instructions. For example, the display of some elements on the screen could be initiated by instructions, as opposed to directly providing images. For instance, a list of WLAN networks in the vicinity of the medical device could be sent as data which includes a set of text items and instructions where to display them. An “OK” and a “cancel” button could be created simply by sending data comprising instructions to show a “Cancel” button at the top left and an “OK” button at the top right of the screen. Moreover, information can be displayed on the screen.
In some embodiments, the instructions include an identifier for at least one image and displaying information where to display the at least one image on the screen, wherein the remote control is configured to identify, based on the identifier, the at least one image in a database on the remote control and to display the at least one image on the screen in accordance with the displaying information. For example, an “OK” and a “cancel” button could be created simply by sending data comprising instructions to show a “Cancel” button at the top left and an “OK” button at the top right of the screen. Images of the “OK” and a “cancel” button can be stored on a local database of the remote control.
At least in some embodiments, the computer system can control remotely the remote control and in particular its screen by use of Virtual Network Computing (VNC), which is a graphical desktop-sharing system. The VNC can be used to share the computer system's graphical user interface with the remote control. Thus, the computer system can, based on VNC and by using the Remote Frame Buffer protocol (RFB), remotely control the remote control, either fully or partially. The remote control can transmit keyboard and/or touchscreen events to the computer system, which can send graphical-screen updates to the remote control.
In some embodiments, the computer system is configured to receive user input from the remote control, and to initiate, in accordance with the received user input, the display of at least one updated graphical user element. The updated graphical user element can for example include updated image data, which is provided or generated by the computer system in accordance with the received user input. The computer system can transmit the updated image data to the remote control. User input, for example by pressing a key or a button on the remote control, is communicated to the computer system and further processed there. The user input can be related to the at least one image shown on the display, and the user input can be aimed at causing a change of a setting of the medical device.
In some embodiments, the computer system can be configured, in particular by use of a further computer system that controls the operation of the medical device, to cause a change of a setting of the medical device in accordance with received user input. Moreover, the updated image data can reflect, for example, a corresponding change of the settings and comprise at least one updated image, which shows the medical device in the new setting. The updated image data can be sent to the remote control, in particular in form of updated data comprising the updated image data of at least one updated image and displaying instructions for displaying the at least one updated image on the screen. In some embodiments, the computer system is part of an operating table and causes one or more sections of the operating table to move in response to the received user input from the remote. In some embodiments, the computer then updates an image of the operating table to reflect the movement of the operating table, and then sends the updated image of the operating table to the remote control where it is displayed.
In some embodiments, the screen is a touch screen and the computer system is configured to receive positional information of a user input on the touchscreen and to initiate the display of at least one updated graphical user interface element on the screen in dependence on the received positional information of the user input. For example, the computer system can generate or provide updated image data based on the received positional information of the user input. For example, the positional information of a user input can relate to coordinates on the touchscreen of a touch event that is detected. The coordinates of the touch event can be sent from the remote control to the computer system, where the coordinates are interpreted. In some embodiments, an updated image of the medical device can be generated in dependence on the coordinates. For example, the medical device can be an operating table, and the coordinates of the touch event can correspond to a position of a leg support of the operating table. An updated image can therefore show the operating table having a lifted leg support. In some embodiments, the computer system can process the information obtained about the touch event or initiate extern events, such as a movement of the operating table.
The positional information of a user input are not limited to only coordinates of a touch event on the screen. At least in some embodiments, the positional information can relate to a slide event on the touchscreen. The positional information can be represented by a sequence of coordinates that reflect the slide event on the touchscreen. For example, by an upward slide carried out over a graphic of a leg portion of an operating table, a corresponding upward movement of the leg portion can be initiated. Moreover, an updated image that is generated in response to the detection of such a slide event could show the leg support in a lifted position. Also multi-touch or dual-touch events can be detected and processed in a corresponding way.
In some embodiments, the computer system is configured to determine, based on user input received from the remote control that a state of the medical device is to be changed from a current state to a new state. For example, a touch event or a sliding movement on the touchscreen could be interpreted as a user command to change a setting or a state of the medical device from a current state to a new state. The input event can also be a multi-touch or dual-touch event.
In some embodiments, the computer system is configured to generate updated image data, which includes at least one updated image of the medical device which shows the medical device in the new state, and wherein the computer system is configured to provide the updated image data to the remote control. For example, the medical device can be an operating table and the new state can relate to an uplifted position of a leg support of the operating table. The leg support can have been selected via the remote control to be moved. The updated image data can be provided to the remote control by sending updated data from the computer system to the remote control. The updated data can include the updated image data and, optionally, displaying instructions, such as an anchor point for displaying the at least one updated image.
In some embodiments, updated image data can be buffered on the computer system and/or on the remote control.
In some embodiments, the at least one graphical user interface element includes an input option or a set of input options which is displayed on the screen.
In some embodiments, the computer system is configured to provide image data to the remote control, which includes at least one visualization of the medical device for each input option of the set of input options.
In some embodiments, the computer system provides control means for controlling the graphical user interface. In some embodiments, a graphical user interface logic is provided by the computer system, and the logic can be used by the remote control for displaying the graphical user interface on its screen. A GUI can be divided into the graphics and layout displayed to the user, and the logic which determines how the GUI responds to the user's interaction. In some embodiments, the computer system is configured to control both aspects of the GUI. The location where computer-generated GUIs are displayed may be a predetermined subset of the remote control screen.
In some embodiments, a set of input options is provided to a user and the image data of the data provided to the remote control includes at least one view of the medical device for each input option of the set of input options. For example, in order to address potential issues with reaction time after user input, the computer system can provide at least one view of the medial device for each input option. The views can be provided as images or animations corresponding to a series of sequential images, and the view can be prebuffered on the remote control.
In some embodiments, the image data further includes instructions that cause the remote control, in response to the user selecting an input option, to display the at least one view of the medical device which is related to the selected input option. For example, a prebuffered view can be displayed by the remote control on the screen directly in response to a specific user input, as for example specified by a graphical user interface logic provided by the computer system.
For example, the computer system of an operating table may instruct the remote control to replace an image representation of a GUI button with an image that shows a pressed-down button, when the user presses in a region, which is defined by the computer system, on the touchscreen. In this way, the remote control can appear to respond more quickly to user input, without waiting for the computer system to receive and process the user input. The computer system can send an updated image to be displayed. The remote control can show an immediate response to the user by depicting one or more prebuffered images and until the at least one updated image arrives. The user experience is thereby enhanced. Similarly, the computer system can instruct the remote control, in particular by use of the displaying instructions provided in updated data that is sent to the remote control, to replace certain graphics or show prebuffered images in response to the user pressing a specific hardware button on the remote control.
In some embodiments, different input options are provided in different regions of the touchscreen. The different input options can for example be visualized in an intuitive way, so that the user can easily identify the input options.
In some embodiments, the communication interface is a wireless communication link/interface, which is provided by a WLAN. Therefore, a large bandwidth can be ensured. A Wifi connection can be created between the computer system and the remote control. The computer system can create an “Access Point” that the remote control can connect to when the functionality is needed. Alternatively, the communication interface can be a wired communication link/interface.
In some embodiments, the computer system is a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) server and the remote control is a TCP client connected to the TCP server via the wireless communication interface. Based on a TCP/IP client-server model, the communication between the remote control and the computer system can be implement in an efficient way. In conjunction with a WLAN connection a real-time or close to real-time user experience can be obtained.
The computer system can be a computer system that is associated with the medical device, and the computer system can be arranged in a housing of the medical device. The computer system can be connected to another computer system, in particular within the medical device, which controls the operation of the medical device.
The graphical user interface, when executed on the remote control, can be configured to control at least one of the following: the screen, a processor, a storage, a database on the storage of the remote control. The processor can be a CPU (for central processing unit) of the remote control. The storage can be a non-volatile storage of the remote control.
At least in some embodiments, the images or other graphical user interface elements provided by the computer system to the remote control are stored in a database on the computer system. Some images can reflect different states of the medical device. For example, when the medical device is an operating table, some images might show the medical device with an upwardly lifted leg support, while other images show the medical device with a lowered leg support. The images can be generated or provided in real time. Furthermore, a 3D-rendering of the medical device or parts thereof can be implemented.
In some embodiments, the remote control is configured similar as a web browser using its screen to display graphic elements and in particular images provided by the computer system, which is configured similar as a web server. The computer system, which functions similar as web server, can instruct the remote control of what type of graphic elements shall be displayed, and where on the screen, and the computer system can send any image or animation, which corresponds to a sequence of images. The remote control can use instructions provided by the computer system and display the image or animation onscreen as instructed.
At least in some embodiments of the present invention, a medical system in accordance with the present invention comprises:
The computer system, which can control operation of the medical device, in particular via a further computer system of the medical device, can have direct control over the remote control and in particular over the screen of the remote control. The computer system is enabled to provide data to the remote control that includes image data and displaying instructions on the basis of which the remote control displays the at least one image that is associated with the image data on the screen. The computer system can interact with a user and provide visual information to the user in a way that is not necessarily programmed into a GUI software of the remote control. Rather, the remote control is enabled to display the at least one image based on the data that is provided by the computer system.
At least in some aspects, the invention relates to a medical device, in particular for use in a medical system in accordance with the present invention. At least in some embodiments, the medical device comprises a computer system which is configured to provide a graphical user interface to the remote control to control at least a portion of a screen of the remote control by the graphical user interface and to initiate the display of at least one graphical user interface element on the screen of the remote control. The graphical user interface element can be an image.
In some embodiments, the computer system can be configured to provide or generate data which comprises image data of at least one image and displaying instructions for displaying the at least one image on a screen. The computer system may be configured to send the data over a communication interface, in particular to a remote control.
The remote control can be a dedicated remote control. The primary purpose of the remote control is therefore to control the medical device. At least in some embodiments, it is not intended that the remote control is used for purposes that are unrelated to the medical device to which it is dedicated. However, in some embodiments, the remote control can be employed, in particular by use of the computer system, to control other devices as well.
The computer system of the medical device can be connected with another, second computer system and obtain the at least one graphical user interface element, for example relation to the mentioned data or the updated data, from the second computer system. In this regard, the computer system can act as an intermediate station in between the remote control and the second computer, which can control the remote control, in particular via its graphical user interface that is used to control the remote control. In some embodiments, the (first) computer system is part of an operating table, and the second computer system is part of a different second medical device (such as an operating light), and the operating table computer system acts as an intermediate between the remote control and the second medical device.
At least in some aspects, the invention also relates to a remote control, in particular for use in a system in accordance with the present invention. In at least some embodiments, the remote control comprises a screen, such as a touch screen, and the remote control is configured to receive data, in particular from a computer system over a wireless communication interface, which comprises image data of at least one graphical user interface element, in particular an image, and displaying instructions for displaying the at least one graphical user interface element on a screen. The remote control can be configured to display, in accordance with the image data and the displaying instructions, the at least one graphical user interface element on the screen.
At least in some embodiments, the remote control is configured to execute a graphical user interface provided by the computer system that controls at least a portion of the screen of the remote control.
At least in some aspects, the invention also relates to a method of operating a medical system, which comprises a medical device, in particular an operating table, with a computer system and a remote control, the method comprising:
At least in some aspects, the invention also relates to a method of operating a medical system comprising a medical device, in particular an operating table, with a computer system and a remote control. At least in some embodiments, the method comprises:
The method can further include the step of displaying, for example based on the image data and the displaying instructions, the at least one image on the screen of the remote control.
The invention also relates to a medical system comprising an operating table with a computer system for controlling operation of the operating table. The computer system of the operating table is configured to be connectable or is connected with a plurality of electronic devices via a wireless or a wire-based connection between each electronic device and the computer system. The computer system can further be configured to send control instructions to the remote control.
At least in some embodiments, the communication between the computer system and each electronic device is based on the IEEE 11073 service-oriented device connectivity (SDC) family of standards, which define a communication protocol for point-of-care medical devices. A manufacture-independent communication can thereby be achieved between the computer system of the operating table and other medical or non-medical electronic devices connected to the computer system. Although some of the present claims are related to an operating table, the invention can also be related to other medical devices. At least in some embodiments, the invention can be related to a medical system with a medical device, such as operational lights, and a remote control, and a method of operating a medical system with a medical device and a remote control.
Various embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:
The medical system 11 of
The computer system 15 are configured to provide via the communication interface 21 a graphical user interface to the remote control 17, and the remote control 17 is configured to execute the graphical user interface. The computer system 15 is further configured to control at least a portion of the screen 19 by use of the graphical user interface, when executed in the remote control 17, and to initiate the display of at least one graphical user interface element on the portion of the screen of the remote control 17.
In some embodiments, the computer system 15 is configured to provide the at least one graphical user element to the remote control 17 by use of data 23 which is sent to the remote control 17 over the wireless communication interface 21. The data 23 comprises image data 25 of at least one image, in particular an image of the medical device, and optional displaying instructions 27 for displaying the at least one image on the screen 19 of the remote control 17.
A location where the image is displayed can be predetermined. Then, no displaying instructions 27 would be required. Thus, in some cases, the remote control might only need the image(s) to be shown or streamed. It does not need displaying information, like an “anchor point”. For instance, the remote control can in some embodiments have a defined box onscreen where it would put an image when it is received. Also, if the computer system controls the entire screen, there is no need to provide displaying instructions, because the image can be fit to the entire screen.
The remote control 17 is configured, in particular by use of the graphical user interface, to display the at least one image on the screen 17 in accordance with the image data 25 and the displaying instructions 27. Thus, in some embodiments, the at least one graphical user interface element corresponds to at least one image that is provided by the computer system 15 to the remote control 17 and displayed on its screen 19.
At least in some embodiments, the remote control 17 is a dedicated remote control whose primary purpose is to enable remote control means for the medical device 13. The remote control 17 is configured, in particular by use of the graphical user interface provided by the computer system 15, to accept user input 33 from a user either via the screen 17, when it is a touchscreen, or via physical buttons 31, and to communicate the user input 33 to the computer system 15, which interprets the user input 33 and which can initiate the steering of the medical device 13 accordingly.
At least in some embodiments, the wireless communication interface 21 is provided by a WLAN (for wireless local area network). The computer system 15 can create an access point to the WLAN that the remote control 17 can connect to in order to establish the communication interface 21. At least in some embodiments, the computer system 15 is configured as a TCP server and the remote control 17 is configured as a TCP client, which is connected to the TCP server via the wireless communication interface 21.
At least in some embodiments, the computer system 15 can receive user input 33, received at the touchscreen 19 or at a physical button 31 of the remote control 17. For example, the user input 33 can trigger a change of a setting of the medical device 13. For example, a leg support of an operating table can be moved to an upwardly lifted position in response to receiving the user input. The computer system 15 can generate updated image data 35 in accordance with the received user input 33. In accordance with the mentioned example, the updated image data 35 can include at least one updated image 37 of the operating table in which the leg support is shown in the upwardly lifted position. The updated image data 35 can be provided to the remote control 17 and the at least one image 37 can be shown on its screen 19, in accordance with updated displaying instructions 39 included in the updated image data 35. Thus, a graphical user interface element can relate to the updated image 37.
At least in some embodiments, the screen 19 is a touch screen and the computer system 15 is configured to receive positional information of a user input 33 on the touch screen 19. The positional information can include coordinates of the user input 33 as occurred on the touchscreen 19. The positional information can further include a pressure value related to the touch event. The computer system 15 can interpret the positional information and initiate a movement of a part of the medical device. Furthermore, updated image data 35 can be generated and provided to the remote control 17 for display. The updated image data 35 can include at least one image of the medical device or at least the part of the medical device which reflects that the movement has been carried out. A graphical user interface element can therefore relate to the updated image.
a-f relate to an example medical system in which the medical device is an operating table and the figures illustrate an example communication process. In each of
As shown in
As illustrated on the left part of
The right part of
The left part of
As shown in the left part of
As shown in the right part of
Thus, as illustrated with regard to
In another example, illustrated with reference to
As shown in the right part of
According to the left part of
As shown in the left part of
According to the right part of
The home button, which is shown in the left corner of the right part of each of
As illustrated by way of example, the computer system of the table can be in direct communication with other devices in the operating room (for example one or more operating lights). The remote control will not have direct communication with those devices. The table can also be able to use its internet connection, and to get software updates, such as the latest control profiles for newly installed equipment in the operating room. The remote control is not required to have this capability.
As the computer system can control the remote control, the remote control does not need to be updated when new control profiles are installed on the computer system of the operating table. Moreover, the remote control does not necessarily need to be aware of context or events that are happening when it is being used to control another device in the operating room. It can simply show the images the table computer tells it to, and the return the user input events to the computer system of the table, which will be able to handle the rest.
This can be important when a remote control needs to be replaced in the middle of an operation (because it malfunctions, or is dropped, etc.). If the replacement remote (taken from storage) has not been updated to the latest software, then it might not have all the device profile information needed to control the other devices in the room. However, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, this will not be a problem, because the remote does not need to have this information.
a-i relate to another example medical system in which the medical device is an operating table and the figures illustrate an example communication process. In each of
As shown in
As illustrated on the left part of
The right part of
The left part of
Thus in some embodiments the computer (which can be in a table) generates a list of options (which may relate to the table or another operating room device) and instructions for graphically presenting the list of options to a user. The computer can send instructions for graphically presenting the list of options to the remote, which displays the list of options on at least part of the remote display. The remote may then record a touch event in relation to the list of options, and relay the touch event back to the computer/table (without interpreting the touch event). The computer then interprets the touch event in relation to the list of options (which may be a selection of one of the options), and generates and transmits instructions in response to the touch event and/or in response to the selection from the list of options. Lists could be provided as a set of buttons, as a simple list of options, or as a drop-down menu, for example. In some embodiments, the list of options may be yes/no for a question, or on/off for a feature or a device.
Returning to the specific
The left part of
As shown on the right of
Further with regard to
Thus in some embodiments the computer (which can be in a table) generates a graphic for requesting and receiving alphanumerical input from a user. The computer can send instructions for graphically requesting and receiving the alphanumerical input to the remote, which displays a graphic for requesting and receiving alphanumerical input. In this example, the graphic is in the form of a virtual touchscreen keyboard. The remote may then record one or more touch events with respect to the graphic, and relay the one or more touch events back to the computer/table. The computer then interprets the one or more touch events as alphanumerical user input, and generates and transmits instructions and/or information in response to the alphanumerical user input. In this example the alphanumerical input is a network password, but other types of alphanumerical input are also contemplated. The remote does not necessarily need to “understand” the alphanumerical input at all or translate it onto commands.
As described with reference to
In some embodiments, the computer system can send the remote prebuffered images (or other graphical user interface elements) or a sequence of prebuffered images (or graphical user interface elements), which corresponds to an animation, and associated instructions to display them directly on the screen of the remote control in response to a specific user input. For example, the table may instruct the remote control to replace an image representation of a GUI button with a pressed version of the image, when the user presses in a defined region of the screen. In this way, the remote control can appear to more quickly respond to user input, without waiting for the computer system to receive and process the touch event, and then send the next image to be displayed. Similarly, the computer system can instruct the remote control to replace certain graphics in response to the user pressing a specific hardware/physical button.
In some embodiments, the computer system only provides images for part of the remote control screen, not the entire screen. For example, in some embodiments, the remote control is configured to locally generate one or more graphic elements, in particular GUI elements, on a first portion of the screen at the same time as the computer system controls and displays GUI elements on the second portion of screen. In some embodiments, the remote control can place graphic elements outside a displayed image provided by the computer system. In some embodiments, the remote control layers graphic elements in front of or behind a displayed image provided by the computer system. In some embodiments, the remote control can provide a button, such as a home button, which takes the user back to the home screen of the remote control. Such button can be placed at the top left corner of the screen. In some embodiments, the computer system can specify a transparent area within an image to be displayed. When the image is shown on the screen of the remote control, the transparent area can be used to visualize a graphic element, which is placed by the remote control at a layer behind the transparent area.
In some embodiments, a single universal remote control is usable with several different types of operating table. Each table model can be unique and can have special needs and capabilities. The remote control can be used with tables in many specialized setups. For instance, it can be used in a so-called “Hybrid Operating Room” where the operating table and imaging systems from different manufacturers work together. As the display of the remote control can be controlled via the computer system as described before, situation specific interfaces need only be programmed into the computer system of an operating table (and not necessarily in the remote), which then communicates with and controls the remote control. In this way, there is no need to program every possibility into the remote control. Thus in some embodiments, a single remote control is usable with a plurality of different types of medical tables. The respective tables provide, and the remote receives and displays, graphics and functional options which are appropriate for the type of table which is being controlled.
At least in some embodiments, the remote control is sold with the medical device, such as the operating table, and its primary function is to control the medical device. However, at least in some embodiments, the remote control can be linked, in particular via the computer system and the functionality as described before, to other devices, such as operational lights. In some embodiments, the communication can be direct between the lights and the remote control, without being facilitated by the computer system of the medical device as an intermediary.
The medical system schematically shown in
The communication between the computer system 103 and each electronic device 105-109 can be based on the IEEE 11073 service-oriented device connectivity (SDC) family of standards.
The examples disclosed in this application are non-limiting. It will be appreciated that the general concepts and specific examples disclosed here may be used in various combinations.
Exemplary embodiments and variants in accordance with the present disclosure are described in the following list of items and options:
The terms “communication link” (21) and “communication interface” (21) are considered equivalent and interchangeable herein. Where one term is used, the other should be considered as also included and recited.
A computer system (15) may be or include one or more of the following in various combinations: control systems, microcrontollers, digital signal processors (DSP), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), computer processors, and/or central processing units (CPU). More than one computer (or other electronic means) which together provide certain steps and/or features as described or claimed can collectively constitute a computer system (15). Various electronics within a single table may be a computer system (15) of the table.
This disclosure includes medical systems including remote controls, and remote controls for use with medical systems. The medical systems may or may not include operating tables. This disclosure also includes medical and operating tables, remote controls for use with medical and operating tables, and systems including both a medical or operating table, and also a remote control. This disclosure also includes systems with a table and a remote control, where the table controls additional devices (other than the table and the remote) at least partially based on input from the remote. This disclosure also includes methods of operating said medical systems, operating tables, and remotes both independently and collectively. This disclosure also contemplates electronic and computer executable instructions to cause the computers, remotes, and other components to execute the steps and methods described herein.
The examples described above are non-limiting examples only. It will be appreciated that the features and functions described herein can be used in various combinations.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21187232.0 | Jul 2021 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/070525 | 7/21/2022 | WO |
