Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Including component designed to receive a disparate article... – Component having specific attachment for an article...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-19
2001-03-20
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Including component designed to receive a disparate article...
Component having specific attachment for an article...
C052S220600, C052S220800, C052S234000, C312S209000, C312S223100, C312S245000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202360
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a medical workstation formed by a number of interconnected medical devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Medical workstations of the above type usually have stand-alone units, for example device cabinets, that accept the various medical devices, for example an RF device or an ultrasound device. The applicators belonging to the medical devices, for example a high-frequency scalpel or an ultrasound head, are usually arranged in the proximity of a patient support of the workstation, within reach of, for example, a physician treating a patient lying on the patient bearing device. The connection of the medical devices to the appertaining applicators ensues via connecting lines laid in the treatment room containing the medical workstation.
Such a workstation provided for minimally invasive surgery is disclosed, for example, in German Utility Model 92 18 373. The workstation has a mobile apparatus cabinet placed immediately next to a patient support of the workstation, the medical devices required for the operation being accepted in this mobile device cabinet. The workstation is also provided with a patient connection panel that is connected to the medical devices in the device cabinet via a supply conduit and to which applicators of the medical devices can be connected.
It has proven disadvantageous that such a device cabinet in known workstations generally occupies space, with only limited space being available in the treatment room containing the workstation. Particularly if the device cabinet is disposed directly next to the patient support, the cabinet presents a hinderance since it limits the space needed for the freedom of movement and action of a physician during the treatment of a patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical workstation of the type initially described wherein the medical devices can be arranged in a room containing the workstation so that the space for movement and action required, for example, by a physician for the treatment of a patient is not restricted.
According to the invention, this object is achieved in a medical workstation having medical devices that are disposed in a double ceiling and/or in a double floor of a room containing the workstation. The medical devices of the inventive workstation are thus no longer arranged in a device cabinet that occupies space, for example, in a treatment or operating room, but in a double ceiling and/or in a double floor of the treatment or operating room. In this way, the devices are removed from the movement and action space of, for example, a physician or an operating team and do not limit the movement and action space in the treatment of a patient. The devices also can be partly or even completely (i.e., not visible from the outside) integrated into the double ceiling or into the double floor. The devices can be arranged only in the double floor, only in the double ceiling or both in the double floor as well as in the double ceiling.
In one version of the invention the workstation has at least one connection unit connected to the medical devices and projecting from the double ceiling or from the double floor into the room. This connection unit is provided with connections for the applicators and/or operating and/or display devices belonging to the medical devices. The connection unit for the applicators and/or operating and/or display devices of the medical devices offers the advantage that none of the applicators of the individual medical devices or the operating and display devices must be respectively directly connected to the corresponding medical devices, but simply can be connected to this connection unit, that is preferably arranged so as to be easily accessible in the room and favorable in location with reference to the patient on the patient support mechanism. The connection unit usually requires little space and is thus barely a disturbing factor in the treatment of a patient. Different connection units can be provided for different device groups of medical devices. For example, separate connection units can be provided for anesthesia devices and for surgical devices, respectively.
In another version of the invention, the connection unit and the medical devices form a device center that is displaceable, with the connection unit moving within the room and the medical devices moving in the double ceiling or in the double floor. In this way, the device center can be adapted to different treatment situations, i.e. can be positioned in a suitable way relative to a patient to be treated who is, for example, on a patient support mechanism, so that a physician can work in a relaxed and comfortable way at the workstation. Long connecting lines between the connection unit and the applicators of the medical devices utilized in the operating site, that are complicated to manipulate in a surgical intervention, thus are avoided. There is also the possibility that, for example, anesthesia devices together with a connection unit form an anesthesia center and surgical and/or diagnostic devices of the workstation together with a further connection unit form a surgery center, both of which are adjustable relative to one another and, for example given a surgical intervention, can be respectively placed relative to a patient support mechanism at locations which are beneficial in view of the type of surgery to be conducted.
In another embodiment of the invention only the connection unit is adjustable relative to the medical devices, namely within the room. In this embodiment of the invention, thus, the medical devices need not be displaced together with the connection unit in order, for example, to make it possible for a physician to work in a comfortable and relaxed way at the workstation. Rather, the medical devices are stationarily arranged and only the connection unit is selectively placed relative to, for example, a patient on a patient support mechanism in conformity with a treatment situation. Connecting lines between the connection unit and the applicators of the medical devices utilized at the operating site that are long and difficult to manipulate thus are avoided.
In a further version of the invention the medical workstation is provided with a system for climate control and/or air circulation in the room containing the workstation, with the components of such a system also being disposed in the double ceiling and/or in the double floor of the room containing the workstation. This embodiment has the advantage that the components for climate control and/or air circulation are arranged outside the motion and action space of, for example, a physician, so that these components do not occupy any space in the room and thus do not have a disturbing effect on the treatment of a patient.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4993683 (1991-02-01), Kreuzer
patent: 5072906 (1991-12-01), Foster
patent: 5107636 (1992-04-01), Schindele et al.
patent: 5299338 (1994-04-01), Foster
patent: 5377371 (1995-01-01), Foster
patent: 5398359 (1995-03-01), Foster
patent: 5455975 (1995-10-01), Foster
patent: 5618090 (1997-04-01), Montague et al.
patent: 92 18 373 U (1994-03-01), None
patent: OS 197 14 984 (1997-11-01), None
Malter Bernd
Rattner Manfred
Friedman Carl D.
Horton Yvonne M.
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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