GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR A MEDICAL FACILITY

• US 20110214588A1
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Herrmann, Klaus, Weber, Ulrich, Grübling, Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/024,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20110214588A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 104/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0487 Motor-assisted positioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/02 with wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/22 for automatically guiding movable devices, e.g. stretchers or wheelchairs in a hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/50 for radiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1051 Arrangements for steering
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 Apparatus for transporting beds
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/03 Synchronous motors; Motors moving step by step; Reluctance motors H02K41/035 takes precedence

Abstract

A guidance system for a medical facility includes at least one floor element that extends along a path of the medical facility and is arranged in a floor area of the path. The at least one floor element is configured for magnetic interaction such that through the magnetic interaction of the floor element with a magnetic guide element arranged on a mobile transport device, a magnetic attraction is generated. The mobile transport device is guided along the at least one floor element by the generated magnetic attraction during forward motion of the mobile transport device along the path through the medical facility.

Claims

1. A guidance system for a medical facility, the guidance system comprising:

a floor element that extends along a path through the medical facility and is arranged in a floor area of the path; and

a magnetic guide element arranged on a mobile transport device,

wherein the floor element is configured for magnetic interaction such that a magnetic attraction is generated through the magnetic interaction of the floor element with the magnetic guide element, and

wherein the magnetic guide element is operable to guide the mobile transport device along the floor element during forward motion of the mobile transport device along the path through the medical facility.

2. The guidance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floor element comprises an elongated body made of a ferromagnetic material.

3. The guidance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floor element tapers at a start, an end or the start and the end of the path.

4. The guidance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floor element comprises a component that generates a magnetic field.

5. The guidance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floor element is set into the floor area.

17. The guidance system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ferromagnetic material comprises ferrous metal sheet or ferromagnetic steel.

18. The guidance system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the component that generates a magnetic field comprises a permanent magnet.

19. The guidance system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the floor element forms a smooth surface with the floor area.

6. A medical facility comprising:

a patient transport corridor with a guidance system, the guidance system comprising;

a floor element that extends along a path of the medical facility and is arranged in a floor area of the path; and

a magnetic guide element that is arranged on a mobile transport device,

wherein the floor element is configured for magnetic interaction such that a magnetic attraction is generated through the magnetic interaction of the floor element with the magnetic guide element, and

wherein the magnetic guide element is operable to guide the mobile transport device along the floor element during forward motion of the mobile transport device along the path through the medical facility.

7. The medical facility as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a treatment or diagnostic room of a particle therapy system,

wherein the path is at least partly in the treatment or diagnostic room.

8. A mobile transport device comprising:

a magnetic guide element that is configured to come into magnetic interaction with a floor element such that through the magnetic interaction a magnetic attraction is generated, the floor element being arranged in a floor area and extending along a path,

wherein the magnetic guide element is operable to guide the mobile transport device on the path during forward motion of the mobile transport device along the path.

9. The mobile transport device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the magnetic guide element comprises a permanent magnet.

10. The mobile transport device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the magnetic guide element comprises a plastic coating.

11. The mobile transport device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the magnetic guide element is at a distance less than 10 cm from the floor area.

12. The mobile transport device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a front part located forwards relative to the direction of motion,

wherein the magnetic guide element is arranged in the front part.

13. The mobile transport device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a rear part located backwards relative to the direction of motion; and

another magnetic guide element, the other guide element being arranged in the rear part.

14. The mobile transport device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a steering mechanism; and

a wheel that is connected to the magnetic guide element via the steering mechanism,

wherein the steering mechanism is operable to transfer the magnetic attraction exerted on the magnetic guide element to the wheel.

15. The mobile transport device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the magnetic guide element comprises two oppositely poled permanent magnets arranged at a distance from each other.

20. The mobile transport device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the permanent magnet is a Neodymium Iron Boron magnet.

16. A method for steering a mobile transport device along a path in a medical facility, the method comprising:

magnetically interacting a guidance system having a floor element arranged along the path with a magnetic guide element of the mobile transport device; and

guiding the mobile transport device along the path using a magnetic attraction between the magnetic guide element and the floor element when the mobile transport device is moved forward.