Patent Application
20080081992
In one embodiment, as shown in
The medical treatment system 1 may include a control unit 4. The control unit 4 is a data interface between the diagnostic unit 2 and the display device 3, i.e. the monitor provided for displaying x-ray images captured by the diagnostic device 2. As an alternative to the schematic representation in
The monitor 3 is mounted on a vehicle (cart) 7 also termed a monitor trolley, which has a drive unit 8 for automatic maneuvering. The drive unit 8 may be an electromotive drive. Individual wheels 9 of the vehicle 7 may be steerable and/or driven, for example, with the drive unit 8. The vehicle 7, which includes the display device 3 and the drive unit 8, is not mechanically connected in any way to the imaging diagnostic unit 2. For example, there is no cable connection between the vehicle 7 and the diagnostic unit 2. The x-ray image information generated by the diagnostic unit 2 is displayed on the monitor 3 in real-time, i.e. without perceptible delay, and in sufficient image quality even for interventional purposes.
In one embodiment, as shown in
In one embodiment, the vehicle 7 is maneuverable. The vehicle 7 can be controlled by the drive unit 8. The drive unit 8 may be remotely controlled by the operator of the medical treatment system 1 by input, e.g. a keyboard, joystick or mouse input, by the input device 5, implemented by way of example as a keyboard 10. Semiautomatic or completely automatic maneuvering of the vehicle 7 is also possible. The vehicle 7 may be equipped with a plurality of different input devices 5, for example, an optical acquisition system 12 incorporating two cameras 11, an acoustic acquisition system 14 employing at least one microphone 13, and a distance detection system 16 having a number of sensors 15. The sensors 15 may be, for example, laser scanners, infrared sensors, or ultrasound sensors.
The different acquisition systems 12 of the monitor trolley 7 operating as input devices 5 can be used in various ways for remotely controlled, semiautomatic, or fully automatic navigation of the vehicle (wheeled stand) 7. The optical acquisition system 12 may detect gestures of the operator of the treatment system 1. For example, the optical acquisition system 12 assumes functions which can be performed by the keyboard 10. The optical acquisition system 12 may detect the geometrical position of units located in the room, such as the positioning of subcomponents of the diagnostic unit 2, and use this information to control the drive unit 8.
In one embodiment, the acoustic acquisition system 14 is exclusively processes voice commands entered by the user. A microphone, which can be worn by the user, for example, in the form of a headset, wirelessly transmits the voice commands. The diagnostic unit 2, or some other apparatus, may include (e.g, on or in) a microphone, for example,. a directional microphone and/or a microphone with speaker locating function. As with the optical acquisition system 12, prioritizing rules can specify, for example, that the control unit 4 always executes a command entered via the keyboard 10 even if a voice or gesture input contradicting that command is simultaneously detected. The control unit 4 may be set, for example, by software in such a way that, in the event of contradictory inputs, none of the corresponding actions are executed, but a relevant message is output, for example, by the monitor 3.
In one embodiment, the distance detection system 16, in contrast to the optical acquisition system 12 and the acoustic acquisition system 14 (which detect commands deliberately entered by the operator), detect automatic control and safety functions. The distance detection system 16 may be linked to the optical acquisition system 12. Accordingly, there may be redundancy with respect to the safety functions in areas covered by the two acquisition systems 14, 16.
In one embodiment, the vehicle 7 is a computer-based support vehicle. The vehicle 7 may be battery-operated and include a charging terminal 17, which allows charging without opening the vehicle 7. A fixed charging station 18 may be used to charge the battery operated drive unit 8. The fixed charging station 18 has a charging terminal 19 compatible with the charging terminal 17.
In one embodiment, the vehicle 7 may be automatically moved toward the charging station 18. For this purpose, a navigation system 20 may operate, for example, on a radio or infrared basis and at a variance with the illustration in
The control unit 4, which may be operated by the input device 5, enables the drive unit 8 to be controlled and allows powered adjustment of the monitor 3 on the vehicle 7. For this purpose, the monitor 3 may be attached to a swivel neck 23 hinged to the vehicle 7 and having at least one joint 24. Both the vehicle 7 and the swivel neck 23 may be operated under remote control by the operator or partially or fully automatically.
In one embodiment, as shown in
Various embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another. The forgoing detailed description has described only a few of the many possible implementations of the present invention. For this reason, this detailed description is intended by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation. It is only the following claims, including all equivalents that are intended to define the scope of this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2006 046 689.6 | Sep 2006 | DE | national |
