Medical apparatus and method

• US 7,664,557 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Staab, Reiner, Danzer, Uwe, Sierk, Dietmar, Regn, Judith, Kagermeier, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ramesh B
• Application Number:
  US11/897,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20080058967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 700/56, 700/60, 700/61, 700 65- 66, 607/60
• US Class Current: 700/66
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0487 Motor-assisted positioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices

Abstract

To facilitate an intuitive operation of an adjustable device of a medical apparatus, a system for the automatic setting of an operating configuration of the portable control module controlling the adjustable device is provided. Different operating configurations regarding the directional control of the movement of the movable device differ are based on the relative spatial position of the adjustable device with respect to the control module. The system includes at least one signal sender unit for sending a signal. The signal sender unit may be arranged on the control module. The system further includes at least two signal converter units for converting and retransmitting or for converting and reflecting the signal. The signal converter units may be arranged on different positions on the device. A signal receiver unit is used for receiving the converted signal, and the receiver unit may be arranged on the control module.

Claims

1. A medical apparatus, comprising:

an adjustable device;

a portable control device that controls a movement of the adjustable device;

a signal sender unit arranged on the control device that sends a signal;

a plurality of signal converter units arranged on different positions of the adjustable device that convert and retransmit the signal, wherein the different positions for the plurality of signal converter units include at least a first side of the adjustable device and at least a second side of the adjustable device, wherein the first and second sides are mutually perpendicular to one another, wherein the plurality of signal converter units are configured to process the signal from the sender unit so that a directional control by the control device with respect to the adjustable device, as perceived by the user, remains spatially unchanged regardless of whether the user is facing the first or the second side of the adjustable device; and

a signal receiver unit arranged on the control device that receives the converted signal for setting an operating configuration of the control device to provide said directional spatial control in the control device.

2. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal sender unit and the signal receiver unit comprise an RFID reader.

3. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal converter units comprise RFID transponders.

4. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal sender unit comprises an optical sender unit and the signal receiver unit comprises an optical sensor.

5. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the signal converter units comprise markings selected from the group consisting of:

optically reflecting, optically refracting, and optically absorbing.

6. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the markings are adhesive strips.

7. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal converter units are detachable.

8. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustable device is a patient table.

9. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the patient table comprises an at least two-dimensionally adjustable tabletop.

10. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustable device is an adjustable C-arm of an x-ray device.

11. The medical apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable control device is a joystick or a remote operating unit.

12. A method for automatically setting an operating configuration of a portable control device controlling an adjustable device of a medical apparatus, comprising:

sending a signal from the portable control device to the adjustable device;

positioning a plurality of signal converter units on at least a first side of the adjustable device and on at least a second side of the adjustable device, wherein the first and second sides are mutually perpendicular to one another;

converting the signal into a response signal by a plurality of signal converter units arranged on the adjustable device, wherein the response signal is configured so that a directional control by the control device with respect to the adjustable device, as perceived by the user, remains spatially unchanged regardless of whether the user is facing the first or the second side of the adjustable device;

receiving the response signal by the portable control device; and

setting the operating configuration of the portable control device to provide said directional spatial control based on the response signal.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the setting is carried out automatically when the medical apparatus or the control device is in operation.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the setting is carried out automatically at a regular period of time.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the signal is a radio signal or an optical signal.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the optical signal is converted and reflected by markings arranged on different sides of the adjustable device that are selected from the group consisting of:

reflecting, refracting, and absorbing.