Apparatus having a moveable component and method for controlling a movement of the moveable component

• US 20080258866A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Pommi, Doris
• Granted Patent: US 8,319,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/02 Adjustable operating tables; Controls therefor

Abstract

In the field of medical devices, for instance patient tables, it is known to block the movement of moveable components of a respective apparatus using blocking means and to release these only after actuating a switch. To be able to dispense with the foot switch, an authorized operator is equipped with a radio frequency identification tag and interrogation means for interrogating the radio frequency identification tag are provided on the apparatus. Once the operator initiates a movement by exerting a force, a sensor detects this force and activates the interrogation means. If the interrogation means identify that the radio frequency identification tag is sufficiently close thereto, it is concluded that the authorized operator would like to initiate the movement and the moveable part is released.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a moveable component;

a portable automatically interrogatable identification object;

an interrogation unit that detects whether the portable automatically interrogatable identification object is located within a predetermined minimum distance from the interrogation unit;

a blocking unit that prevents the moveable component from moving; and

a control unit that controls the blocking unit to terminate the movement of the movable component if the portable automatically interrogatable identification object is located within the predetermined minimum distance.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a sensor that detects a force effect on the moveable component.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control unit terminates the movement of the movable component if the sensor detects the force effect.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensor is constantly active and the interrogation unit is activated once the sensor detects the force effect on the moveable component.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the portable automatically interrogatable identification object is a radio frequency identification tag.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the interrogation unit comprises a transmitter/receiver for detecting the radio frequency identification tag.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the movable component comprises a moveable patient table.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the movable component comprises a ceiling stand for an x-ray tube or an x-ray detector.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the portable automatically interrogatable identification object is carried on an authorized operator of the apparatus.

17. A method for controlling a movement of a moveable component of an apparatus by an authorized operator, comprising:

equipping the authorized operator with a portable automatically interrogatable identification object;

detecting if the portable automatically interrogatable identification object is located within a minimum distance from a reference object; and

controlling a blocking unit to termite the movement of the moveable component if the portable automatically interrogatable identification object is located within the minimum distance from the reference object.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising detecting whether a force is exerted on the moveable component.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the movement of the moveable component is terminated if the force is detected on the moveable component.