Operating table system

Abstract

An operating table system is disclosed. The operating table system has a first transmitting-receiving device that is mountable to a transport device, a second transmitting-receiving device that is mountable to an operating table column, and a coupling device that couples a patient support and the operating table column. The first transmitting-receiving device is configured to transmit a request command and a transfer command to the second transmitting-receiving device. The second transmitting-receiving device is configured to transmit a device address to the first transmitting-receiving device. The coupling device is actuated based on the second transmitting-receiving device receiving the request command and the transfer command and the first transmitting-receiving device receiving the device address.

Claims

1. An operating table system, comprising: a first transmitting-receiving device that is mountable to a transport device; a second transmitting-receiving device that is mountable to an operating table column; and a coupling device that couples a patient support and the operating table column; wherein the first transmitting-receiving device is configured to transmit a request command and a transfer command to the second transmitting-receiving device; wherein the second transmitting-receiving device is configured to transmit a device address to the first transmitting-receiving device; and wherein the coupling device is actuated based on the second transmitting-receiving device receiving the request command and the transfer command and the first transmitting-receiving device receiving the device address.

2. The operating table system of claim 1, wherein transmission between the first transmitting-receiving device and the second transmitting-receiving device is line of sight transmission.

3. The operating table system of claim 1, wherein the first transmitting-receiving device is configured to transmit the transfer command to the second transmitting-receiving device when an operating device is activated by an operator.

4. The operating table system of claim 3, wherein the operating device is a pedal disposed on the transport device.

5. The operating table system of claim 1, wherein the first transmitting-receiving device and the second transmitting-receiving device are infrared transmitting-receiving devices.

6. The operating table system of claim 1, wherein the coupling device is actuated based on the second transmitting-receiving device first receiving the request command, the first transmitting-receiving device then receiving the device address, and the second transmitting-receiving device then receiving the transfer command.

7. The operating table system of claim 1, wherein the second transmitting-receiving device cyclically transmits the device address to the first transmitting-receiving device.

8. The operating table system of claim 1, wherein the first transmitting-receiving device transmits the transfer command only after: the first transmitting-receiving device and the second transmitting-receiving device are in a paired state based on the second transmitting-receiving device having received the request command and the first transmitting-receiving device having received the device address; and an operating device disposed on the transport device is activated by an operator.

9. An operating table system, comprising: a patient support; a transport device that transports the patient support; an operating table column; a coupling device that couples the patient support and the operating table column; a first infrared transmitter and a first infrared receiver that are disposed on the transport device; a second infrared transmitter and a second infrared receiver that are disposed on the operating table column; and at least one operating device disposed on the transport device; wherein the first infrared transmitter is configured to transmit a request command to the second infrared receiver; wherein after the second infrared receiver receives the request command, the second infrared transmitter transmits a device address to the first infrared receiver, forming a paired state between the second infrared transmitter and the first infrared receiver; and wherein the first infrared transmitter is configured to transmit a transfer command to the second infrared receiver when: the second infrared transmitter and the first infrared receiver are in a paired state; and the at least one operating device disposed on the transport device is activated by an operator.

10. The operating table system of claim 9, wherein the at least one operating device includes two monofunctional elements, with a single transfer function being assigned to each one thereof, with the transfer function of one element being reciprocal to the transfer function of the other element.

11. The operating table system of claim 9, wherein the at least one operating device includes a bifunctional element, with two reciprocal transfer functions being assigned thereto.

12. The operating table system of claim 9, wherein the first infrared transmitter transmits an infrared signal at a predetermined angle which is configured to remain substantially within a range of movement within which the second infrared receiver moves when the operating table column is moved relative to the transport device in a predetermined transfer configuration in which the operating table column and the transport device are arranged relative to one another for transfer of the patient support.

13. The operating table system of claim 9, wherein the second infrared transmitter and the first infrared receiver remain in a paired state as long as the second infrared transmitter cyclically transmits a device address that is received by the first infrared receiver.

14. The operating table system of claim 13, wherein the device address is the operating table column address.

15. The operating table system of claim 14, wherein the second infrared transmitter and the first infrared receiver remain in a paired state only as long as the first infrared receiver cyclically receives the same operating table column address for the operating table column.

16. An operating table system, comprising: a first line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device that is mountable to a transport device; a second line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device that is mountable to an operating table column; and a coupling device that couples a patient support and the operating table column; wherein the first line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device is configured to transmit a request command to the second line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device; wherein the second line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device is configured to transmit a device address to the first line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device after receiving the request command from the first line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device; and wherein the first line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device is configured to transmit a transfer command to the second line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device after: the first line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device has received the device address; and an operating device disposed on the transport device is activated by an operator.

17. The operating table system of claim 16, wherein the first line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device and the second line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device are infrared transmitting-receiving devices.

18. The operating table system of claim 16, wherein the operating device includes at least one pedal.

19. The operating table system of claim 16, wherein the second line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device cyclically transmits the device address to the first line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device, forming a paired state between the first line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device and the second line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device.

20. The operating table system of claim 16, wherein: the first line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device and the second line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device remain in a paired state only as long as the first line-of-sight transmitting-receiving device cyclically receives the device address; and the device address is an operating table column address.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present disclosure are explained in more detail with reference to the following Figures.

(2) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an operating table system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a configuration of a transport device and a table column;

(4) FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the configuration according to FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration showing an example embodiment of the operating table system at the beginning of a preoperative support transfer;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration showing an example embodiment of the operating table system in the transfer configuration;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration showing an example embodiment of the operating table system in the course of generating a paired operating state;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration showing an example embodiment of the operating table system at the beginning of patient support transfer;

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration showing an example embodiment of the operating table system at the end of patient support transfer; and

(10) FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration showing an example embodiment of the operating table system at the end of preoperative patient support transfer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(11) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing components of an operating table system 10. The operating table system 10 may comprise a table column 20 which can be mechanically coupled to a patient support 100, and a transport device 50 which may transport the patient support 100 to and away from the table column 20.

(12) Two pedal buttons 52 and 54 may be arranged at the transport device 50, with the pedal buttons being coupled with an infrared sensor 56. The infrared sensor 56 may be part of a first infrared transmitting-receiving unit, generally designated by the reference sign 58. The first infrared transmitting-receiving unit 58 may include, besides the infrared transmitter 56, an infrared pairing receiver 60. The infrared transmitter 56 may be formed, for example, by a light-emitting diode which emits infrared radiation. The infrared pairing receiver 60 may be formed as a photodiode. The first infrared transmitting-receiving unit 58 and the two pedal buttons 52 and 54 may form an operating unit generally designated by reference sign 62 in FIG. 1.

(13) The table column 20 may include a transfer mechanism 22 (e.g., a coupling device) which serves for coupling the patient support 100 with the table column 20 and decoupling it therefrom. For this purpose, both the table column 20 and the patient support 100 may have mechanical interfaces enabling mechanical coupling and decoupling.

(14) The table column 20 may further include an infrared receiver 24, e.g. in the form of a photodiode, and an infrared pairing transmitter 26 which may be, for example, a light emitting diode. The infrared receiver 24 and the infrared pairing transmitter 26 may constitute a second infrared transmitting-receiving unit, generally designated by reference sign 28 in FIG. 1, which may communicate with the first infrared transmitting-receiving unit 58 arranged on the transport device 50 via infrared signals (e.g., provided that a line of sight is present).

(15) For transfer of the patient support 100, the transfer mechanism 22 that may be included in the table column 20 may be actuated in accordance with a transfer command designated by the reference sign T in FIG. 1. The transfer command T may be transmitted by the infrared transmitter 56 of the first infrared transmitting-receiving unit 58 to the infrared receiver 24 of the second infrared transmitting-sending unit 28, for example, if one of the two pedal buttons 52 and 54 is operated and at the same time the infrared transmitter 56 and the infrared receiver 24 are in the paired operating state. In order to establish this paired operating state, the infrared transmitter 56 may transmit a request command, designated by the reference sign A in FIG. 1, to the infrared receiver 24 upon start-up of the operating unit 62. For example, if there is a line of sight between the infrared transmitter 56 arranged on the transport device 50 and the infrared receiver 24 arranged on the table column 20, the infrared receiver 24 may receive the request command A. For example, in this case, the infrared pairing sensor 26 that may be contained in the second infrared transmitting-receiving unit 28 may respond to the request command A by cyclically transmitting the device address designated by G in FIG. 1. This device address may be received by the infrared pairing receiver 60 contained in the first infrared transmitting-receiving unit 58.

(16) As long as the infrared pairing receiver 60 cyclically receives one and the same device address in response to the request command A, for example, the infrared transmitter 56 arranged on the transport device 50 and the infrared receiver 24 arranged on the table column 20 may be paired. For example, as long as this paired operating state continues, the transfer command T may be received by the infrared receiver 24, and may be used in the table column 20 for actuating the transfer mechanism 22 when the pedal button 52 or 54 is operated. The transfer command T may be transmitted by the infrared transmitter 56 as an infrared signal that is suitably converted to an electric signal in the table column 20 so as to be usable for actuating the transfer mechanism 22.

(17) FIGS. 2 and 3 show exemplary embodiments of the transport device 50 and the table column 20. The transport device 50 and the table column 20 in FIGS. 2 and 3 are shown in a correct transfer configuration with respect to each other in which transfer of a patient support 100 is possible.

(18) For example, the transport device 50 may be constituted by a movable frame comprising two parallel longitudinal rails 64, 66, a cross-member 68 connecting the two longitudinal rails 64, 66 at one end of the transport device 50, and two grip parts 71 and 73 which are arranged above the two longitudinal rails 64, 66 and are parallel thereto. The transport device 50 may have four rollers which are provided in pairs at the longitudinal rails 64 and 66. In FIGS. 2 and 3 three of the four rollers are shown that are designated by 70, 72 and 74.

(19) The table column 20 may be constituted by two column parts 30 and 32 which are telescopically slidable with respect to each another. The table column 20 can be extended and retracted in a substantially vertical direction by moving the two column parts 30 and 32 with respect to each other.

(20) The first infrared transmitting-receiving unit 58 which may contain the infrared transmitter 56 and the infrared pairing receiver 60 may be located on the upper side of one longitudinal beam 66. The second infrared transmitting-receiving unit 28 which may contain the infrared receiver 24 and the infrared pairing transmitter 26 may be located on the upper column part 32 of the table column 20 on a side face thereof which, in the predetermined transfer configuration, may face the first infrared transmitting-receiving unit 58.

(21) In FIG. 2 the radiation characteristic is shown at which the first infrared transmitting-sending unit 58 (e.g., the infrared transmitter 56 thereof) radiates the infrared signals towards the table column 20. The radiation characteristic is indicated by a solid angle (e.g., a predetermined angle) which may be maintained substantially within a range of movement within which the second infrared transmitting-receiving unit 28 moves in a substantially vertical direction when the two column parts 30 and 32 are moved with respect to each other for adjusting the table column 20. In FIG. 2, the exemplary upper limit of movement of the second infrared transmitting-receiving unit 28 is indicated by solid lines, and the exemplary lower limit of movement is indicated by dashed lines.

(22) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a further infrared transmitting-receiving unit may be arranged on a side face opposite the side face 34 of the upper column 32, said unit having a similar structure as the infrared transmitting-receiving unit 28. For example, there may be multiple transfer configurations of the transport device 50 and the table column 20 with respect to each other in which support transfer can be performed. Also for example, if a single correct transfer configuration is desired, the further infrared transmitting-receiving unit may be omitted.

(23) As illustrated in FIG. 3, the two pedal buttons 52 and 54 may be located on the upper side of the cross-member 68 in the region of the longitudinal rails 64 and 66. Thus, the operator can conveniently reach them with his/her feet for activating the first infrared transmitting-receiving unit 58.

(24) In the following exemplary embodiment, an example of a preoperative support transfer performed with the operating system 10 according to the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9.

(25) FIG. 4 illustrates how the patient support 100 positioned on the transport device 50 may be moved toward the table column 50. In FIG. 5, the transport device 50 may be positioned so as to be in the predetermined transfer configuration with respect to the table column 20, which allows for transfer of the patient support 100 to the table column 20.

(26) In this transfer configuration, the first infrared transmitting-receiving unit 58 that may be arranged on the transport device 50 and the second infrared transmitting-receiving unit 28 that may be arranged on the table column 20 may be paired by the first infrared transmitting-receiving unit 58 first sending the request command A, and the second infrared transmitting-receiving unit 28 subsequently responding by cyclic transmission of the device address G individually preset for the table column 20. This cyclic transmission of the device address G may in turn be registered by the first infrared transmitting-receiving unit 58, and it may be determined that the desired paired operating state is present.

(27) When the two infrared transmitting-receiving units 58 and 28 are paired, the transfer command T may be transmitted from the first infrared transmitting-receiving unit 58 to the second infrared transmitting-sending unit 28 by pressing one of the two pedal buttons 52 and 54, as indicated in FIG. 7. Accordingly, as long as the pedal button 52 or 54 is pressed, the transfer mechanism 22 contained in the table column 20 may be actuated such that the table column 20 is moved vertically upward, as indicated in FIG. 8. At least one of the operating elements (for example, pedals) 52 and 54 may include two monofunctional elements (e.g., with one single transfer function being assigned to each one thereof) with the transfer function of one element being reciprocal to the transfer function of the other element. Also, at least one operating element (for example, pedals) 52 and 54 may include a bifunctional element (e.g., with two reciprocal transfer functions being assigned thereto).

(28) Once the upper side of the table column 20 contacts the lower side of the patient support 100, the patient support 100 may be lifted from the transport device 50 and received by the table column 20. Subsequently, the patient support 100 may be fixed to the table column 20.

(29) Also, the transport device 50 may be moved away from the table column 20, as shown in FIG. 9, which may complete the preoperative support transfer.

(30) A postoperative support transfer may be carried out similarly as described above, but for example in a reverse manner. For example, the transport device 50 may be first brought into the correct transfer configuration relative to the table column 20. Subsequently, the two infrared transmitting-receiving units 28 and 58 may be paired. Then, the transfer mechanism 22 contained in the table column 20 may be actuated by pressing the pedal button 52, 54 in order to transfer the patient support 100 to the transport device 50. Finally, the patient support 100 that is settled on the transport device 50 may be moved away from the table column 20.

(31) It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed method and apparatus. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed method and apparatus. It is intended that the specification and the disclosed examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope being indicated by the following claims.