Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-20
2001-03-13
Pelham, Joseph (Department: 3742)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C128S920000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201983
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus system, for example of a group of medical apparatuses which together form a medical workstation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A medical apparatus system of the above type includes, for example, a patient supporting table, an X-ray apparatus, a diagnostic ultrasound apparatus and a lithotripter having a shock wave source, which form a workstation for the treatment of patients suffering from calculi, for example kidney stones. As a rule, the apparatuses of the medical apparatus system, which are individually known, can be operated completely independently of one another and are separately designed, that is to say each of the apparatuses has, for example, a dedicated housing or a dedicated apparatus trolley with dedicated data and power supply cables, dedicated control and further items of equipment for operating the apparatus. Under certain circumstances, the individual apparatuses can be mechanically coupled to one another, at least in part, in the course of forming a workstation, as described for a lithotripter and a C-arm X-ray apparatus in European application 606 548.
The separately designed apparatuses forming a workstation must, for some treatments, be able to exchange data with one another. For example, when the focus of the shock wave source of the lithotripter is aligned with a kidney stone to be disintegrated in the patient's body between the lithotripter, the diagnostic ultrasound apparatus, the patient supporting table and the X-ray apparatus, these apparatuses must be electrically connected to one another via corresponding connecting cables. As a rule, two connecting cables are in each case necessary between two apparatuses for the data exchange between the two apparatuses. The apparatuses are supplied with power independently of one another by corresponding power supply cables which connect the individual apparatuses to respective power sources.
The manual “Your Guide to Setting Up Your LaserJet III Printer” from the company Hewlett Packard dated February, 1990 with the printing record 33449-90933 describes the connection of a printer to a personal computer PC. The PC and the printer in this case form an apparatus system, the data exchange between the PC and the printer being carried out via a serial or parallel interface. The apparatuses are supplied with power independently of one another via separate power supply cables.
It proves to be disadvantageous that the electrical connections of the individual apparatuses to one another for the purpose of data exchange and the electrical connections of the individual apparatuses to power sources for the purpose of power supply require a multiplicity of connecting cables, which complicate the connection of the apparatuses to form an apparatus system and expose personnel working on the apparatus system to the constant risk of tripping over them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus system of the type mentioned in the introduction wherein the connection of the apparatuses to one another for the purpose of common data exchange and the power supply of the apparatuses are simplified.
This object is achieved according to the invention in an apparatus system having a connection unit and apparatuses which can be connected to the connection unit and can be operated as intended independently of one another and independently of the connection unit. Each apparatus has a system lead including a number of connecting cables connected to a system connector and the connection unit having plug devices for the system connectors for the purpose of connecting the apparatuses to the connection unit. All the electrical connecting cables required to operate an apparatus in each case are combined in the system lead of the apparatus. The system lead serves for connecting the apparatus to the connection unit, which has corresponding plug devices for the system connectors for the purpose of connecting the apparatuses. In this case, the connection unit preferably has means which enable and/or control the data exchange between the individual apparatuses of the apparatus system via the system leads while also ensuring that the apparatuses of the apparatus system are supplied with power via the system leads. In this way, the connection of apparatuses to form an apparatus system is considerably simplified since each apparatus which is intended to be part of the apparatus system only has to be connected by one system lead to the connection unit, via which the apparatus is supplied with power and via which data is exchanged between the apparatus and other apparatuses. In this case, in accordance with one version of the invention, the system lead of an apparatus includes data and/or video and/or power supply cables. Therefore, in the case of the apparatus system according to the invention, the number of free electrical connecting cables of the apparatus system also can be considerably reduced, thereby reducing the risk to personnel of tripping over connecting cables which are lying around.
In order to enable operation of the apparatus of the apparatus system as intended independently of the connection unit, the apparatuses may have, an addition to the system lead, for example a separate power supply cable and also/or else other connecting cables which are necessary for the operation of the respective apparatus. These connecting cables, however, are required only for so-called stand-alone operation of the apparatuses, that is to say for the operation of the respective apparatus independently of the connection unit and/or the apparatus system. It is thus possible for an apparatus to have, for example, a power supply cable integrated in the system lead and, in addition, a separate power supply cable. The connecting cables which are not needed are in this case temporarily stored in the respective apparatus in such a way that they do not have a disruptive effect.
In another embodiment of the invention the system leads and system connectors of the apparatuses and also the plug devices of the connection unit each has an identical design. The identical embodiment has the advantage that the system leads, connectors and plug devices are, as a rule, inexpensive to produce on account of higher numbers. This identical design embodiment, however, makes it necessary to identify an apparatus which is connected to an arbitrary plug device of the connection unit, for example in order to set up a data exchange between two apparatuses. Therefore, the system connectors and leads of the different apparatuses and also the plug devices of the connection unit for the system connectors of the apparatuses may also be of different designs, the different design embodiment having the advantage that the identification of an apparatus by the connection unit is simple, although the production of the system leads, connectors and plug devices is more expensive. In both cases, the connection unit preferably has means which are able to identify an apparatus connected to the Connection unit in accordance with the plug play principle.
In a further version of the invention the connection unit has at least one communications bus, to which, for example, the data cables of the system leads and/or the corresponding connections of the system connectors and/or plug devices are connected. The data exchange between the apparatuses connected to the connection unit can thus take place in an advantageous manner via the communications bus. The connection unit can have at least one control computer, which is preferably connected to the communications bus. In this way, it is possible for the control computer to control the data exchange between the apparatuses of the apparatus system via the communications bus, or to make the control computer superordinate to the controllers of the apparatuses, thereby enabling the apparatus system to be controlled centrally from the control computer. Such a control computer may be, for example, a personal computer (PC) having
Haumann Hans-Juergen
Herrmann Klaus
Weimar Heinz
Pelham Joseph
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
LandOfFree
Combined power and data transmission arrangement... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Combined power and data transmission arrangement..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Combined power and data transmission arrangement... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2455716