Method and device for bidirectional IR data transfer between a medical treatment table and an operator control device

• US 20070110448A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maquet GmbH & Company KG (Universal Robot Systems GmbH & Co KG)
• Original Assignee: Maquet GmbH & Company KG (Universal Robot Systems GmbH & Co KG)
• Inventors: Biehl, Thomas, Ruch, Jurgen
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/140
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/02 Adjustable operating tables; Controls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

The invention presents a method and a device for bidirectional IR data transfer between a medical treatment table, particularly an operating table (10a to 10d), and an operator control device (12a to 12d) which are subscribers in the IR data transfer and which each comprise an IR transmitter and an IR receiver, where the data to be transferred by a subscriber (10a to 10d, 12a to 12d) are split into data blocks which are transmitted in succession, with a respective break being observed between the transmission of the individual data blocks, and where data from another subscriber are transmitted within the breaks.

Claims

1. A method for bidirectional IR data transfer between a medical treatment table, particularly an operating table, and an operator control device which are subscribers in the IR data transfer and each comprise an IR transmitter and an IR receiver, wherein the data to be transferred by a subscriber are split into data blocks which are transmitted in succession, with a respective break being observed between the transmission of the individual data blocks, and where data from another subscriber are transmitted within the breaks.

2. The method according to claim 1, in which the transmission of a data block is preceded by a check to determine whether IR signals are currently present, and in which if IR signals are present then the transmission of the data block is held until a predetermined waiting time has elapsed since the disappearance of the IR signal.

3. The method according to claim 2, in which the predetermined waiting time for the operator control device is different from, in particular shorter than, the predetermined waiting time for the operating table.

4. The method according to claim 2, in which a plurality of operating tables and associated operator control devices having at least partly overlapping IR signal reception ranges are provided, and each of the subscribers is allocated a different waiting time.

5. The method according to claim 2, in which different waiting times are provided and the relevant waiting time is selected at random.

6. The method according to claim 1, in which the subscribers receive their transmitted IR signal themselves, check it and, if the signal has been disturbed, retransmit the associated data.

7. The method according to claim 1, in which the carrier frequency for the IR signals is more than 120 kHz, preferably 350 kHz to 550 kHz.

8. The method according to claim 1, in which each data block contains an identification code which is associated with a subscriber, and in which each subscriber identifies from the identification code whether the data block is intended for it.

9. The method according to claim 1, in which the signal length of a data block is between 1 ms and 50 ms, preferably 2 ms and 10 ms.

10. The method according to claim 1, in which the break between the transmission of two data blocks by the same subscriber is 5 to 50 times, preferably 10 to 25 times, the signal length of a data block.

11. The method according to claim 1, in which the data to be transferred from the operator control device to the operating table relate to adjustment commands for adjusting the bearing surface of the operating table.

12. The method according to claim 1, in which the data to be transferred from the operating table to the operator control device relate to one or more of the following states of the operating table:

the current attitude and position of the bearing surface, the arrival at stored attitudes and positions of the bearing surface, error messages, information about functions which are not possible, connection to the power supply, the charge state of storage batteries, and a warning about a collision between the operating table and accessories.

13. The method according to claim 1, in which the operator control device is formed by a portable, hand-held remote control, by a footswitch or by a wall-mounted remote control.

14. The method according to claim 13, in which the operator control device has a display.

15. A device for bidirectional IR data transfer between a medical treatment table, particularly an operating table, and an operator control device, having a first IR data transfer unit which is arranged in the treatment table and which comprises an IR transmitter and an IR receiver, and having a second IR data transfer unit which is arranged in the operator control device and which comprises an IR transmitter and an IR receiver,

in which the first and/or the second IR data transfer unit is programmed such that it splits data which are to be transferred into data blocks and transmits them in succession to the second or first data transfer unit,

where it observes a respective break between the transmission of the individual data blocks and where the second or first data transfer unit is programmed to transmit data to the first or second data transfer unit within the breaks.

16. The device according to claim 15, in which the data transfer unit is programmed such that it checks whether IR signals are currently present, and if IR signals are present then it holds transmission of the data block until a predetermined waiting time has elapsed since the disappearance of the IR signal.

17. The device according to claim 16, in which the predetermined waiting time for the operator control device is different from, in particular shorter than, the predetermined waiting time for the operating table.

18. The device according to claim 15, in which the IR data transfer unit in the treatment table and/or the data transfer unit in the operator control device is programmed such that it receives its transmitted IR signal itself, checks it and, if the signal has been disturbed, retransmits the associated data.

19. The device according to claim 15, which is suitable for carrying out a method.