Medical apparatus provided with a collision detector
First Claim
1. An apparatus for medical diagnosis or therapy which includes drive means for driving a movable part of the apparatus relative to an object being examined and a detection device for detecting contact between the movable part of the apparatus and the object, said detection device comprising:
- sensor means for detecting an instantaneous force exerted on the movable part by the object, said sensor means including a force sensor arranged to directly detect the instantaneous force exerted on the movable part by the object, comparison means for comparing the detected force with an expected force value available in the apparatus, said comparison means being arranged to generate an alarm signal when a predetermined difference between the detected force and the expected force value is exceeded, and response means for initiating a reaction by said drive means in response to the alarm signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical apparatus for (radiation) diagnosis or therapy can be provided with moving parts 6. Such an apparatus must be provided with a collision detection device 26, 28, 30. A known collision sensor measures the supply current for the drive motor and hence induces a high degree of inaccuracy in the collision detection. According to the invention the force applied to the moving part (image intensifier 6) is measured directly on the relevant part so as to be compared with an expected value, an alarm signal being generated when a threshold value for the difference is exceeded. The expected value is calculated while taking into account all movement and acceleration parameters of the apparatus. The expected values can be calculated in advance and stored in a look-up table or can be calculated, preferably while using a model of the apparatus, during operation of the apparatus.
26 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for medical diagnosis or therapy which includes drive means for driving a movable part of the apparatus relative to an object being examined and a detection device for detecting contact between the movable part of the apparatus and the object, said detection device comprising:
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sensor means for detecting an instantaneous force exerted on the movable part by the object, said sensor means including a force sensor arranged to directly detect the instantaneous force exerted on the movable part by the object, comparison means for comparing the detected force with an expected force value available in the apparatus, said comparison means being arranged to generate an alarm signal when a predetermined difference between the detected force and the expected force value is exceeded, and response means for initiating a reaction by said drive means in response to the alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for medical diagnosis or therapy including a movable part, comprising:
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drive means for driving the movable part, and detection means for detecting the presence of an object in contact with the movable part, said detection means comprising a force sensor for directly detecting an instantaneous force exerted on the movable part, comparison means coupled to said force sensor for comparing the detected force to an expected force value and generating an alarm signal based on the comparison of the detected force to the expected force value, and response means coupled to said comparison means for initiating a reaction by said drive means in response to the alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification