Apparatus having a transponder enabled moveable component and method for control thereof

• US 8,319,602 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Pommi, Doris
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGDORF, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US12/148,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20080258866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/5.6, 340/5.2, 340/572.1, 340/5.31, 560/0, 560/1, 560/7, 560/8, 560/9, 561/0, 561/1, 561/2, 561/3, 561/4, 561/6, 561/7, 561/8, 561/9, 564/0, 563/4, 563/5, 5 8/11.R, 5 8/31, 5 8/51, 5 8/71, 5 8/81, 5 8/61, 5 8/41, 5 8/11.C, 5 8/11.RF, 5 8/11.HS
• US Class Current: 340/5.31
• 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. An apparatus, comprising:

a medical device including a moveable component supported by freely articulable arms, which is adjustable to medically treat a patient;

wherein the moveable component comprises either a moveable patient table or a ceiling stand for an x-ray tube or an x-ray detector;

a portable automatically interrogatable identification object;

an interrogation unit coupled to the medical device, the interrogation unit normally inactive and when activated is arranged to detect 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, comprising a brake that acts on an appendage of the medical device to prevent the moveable component from moving;

a pressure sensor affixed to the appendage, the sensor arranged to detect a force effect on the moveable component, wherein the sensor is constantly active and the interrogation unit is activated in response to a detection by the sensor of the force effect on the moveable component; and

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

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable automatically interrogatable identification object is a radio frequency identification tag.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the interrogation unit comprises a transmitter/receiver for detecting the radio frequency identification tag.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable automatically interrogatable identification object is carried on an authorized operator of the apparatus.

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

providing a medical device including the moveable component supported by freely articulable arms, which is adjustable to medically treat a patient;

wherein the moveable component comprises either a moveable patient table or a ceiling stand for an x-ray tube or an x-ray detector;

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

arranging an interrogation unit to be normally inactive;

when the interrogation unit is activated, detecting if the portable automatically interrogatable identification object is located within a minimum distance from a reference object;

affixing a pressure sensor to an appendage of the moveable component;

arranging the sensor to be constantly active for detecting a force effect on the moveable component;

activating the interrogatable identification object in response to a detecting by the sensor of the force effect on the moveable component; and

controlling a blocking unit comprising a brake that acts on the appendage of the medical device to permit the movement of the moveable component only if the portable automatically interrogatable identification object is located within the minimum distance from the reference object.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a medical device including a moveable component supported by freely articulable arms, which is adjustable to medically treat a patient;

wherein the moveable component comprises either a moveable patient table or a ceiling stand for an x-ray tube or an x-ray detector;

a portable automatically interrogatable identification object;

an interrogation unit coupled to the medical device, the interrogation unit constantly active to detect 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, comprising a brake that acts on an appendage of the medical device to prevent the moveable component from moving;

a pressure sensor affixed to the appendage, the sensor normally inactive and when activated is arranged to detect a force effect on the moveable component, wherein the sensor is activated in response to a detection by the interrogation unit of the interrogatable identification object being located within the predetermined minimum distance; and

a control unit that controls the blocking unit to permit the movement of the movable component only when the portable automatically interrogatable identification object is located within the predetermined minimum distance and the sensor detects the force effect on the moveable component.