Distributed and redundant control architecture for surgical table
AssigneeAmerican Sterilizer Company
InventorsShiva K. Madishetty, James A. Petrucci, John M. Kasunich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical table for supporting a patient during a medical procedure includes a redundant controllers, communication networks and electrically-operated actuators for controlling the table. In the event a controller, communication network or electrically-operated actuator fails, a backup technique takes over thus enabling operation of the table.
Claims21
A surgical table for supporting a patient during a medical procedure, comprising:
- a main support;
- a seat section for supporting a lower torso and pelvis of the patient, the seat section connected to the main support;
- a back section for supporting an upper torso of the patient, the back section connected to the seat section, wherein the back section is movable relative to the seat section;
- at least one electrically-operated actuator coupled to the seat section and the back section, the at least one electrically-operated actuator operative to cause relative movement between the seat section and the back section;
- a primary controller communicatively coupled to the at least one electrically-operated actuator;
- and
- a secondary controller communicatively coupled to the at least one electrically-operated actuator, wherein when the primary controller is in a first state the primary controller is configured to control the at least one electrically-operated actuator and the secondary controller is configured to monitor the primary controller, and when the primary controller is in a second state the secondary controller is configured to control the at least one electrically-operated actuator.
A method for controlling a surgical table configured to support a patient during a medical procedure, the surgical table including a main support, a seat section for supporting a lower torso and pelvis of the patient, the seat section connected to the main support, and a back section for supporting an upper torso of the patient, the back section connected to the seat section, where the back section is movable relative to the seat section, the method comprising:
- controlling at least one electrically-operated actuator with a primary controller, the at least one electrically-operated actuator configured to cause relative movement between the seat section and the back section;
- monitoring, by a secondary controller, an operational status of the primary controller;
- and
- upon the secondary controller determining the primary controller is malfunctioning, the secondary controller taking over control of the at least one actuator from the primary controller.
The method according to any one of claims 133-15, wherein the surgical table further comprises a first user input device communicatively coupled to the primary controller and the secondary controller via a command bus, the method further comprising:
- the secondary controller monitoring a status of the command bus;
- and
- the secondary controller taking over control from the primary controller of the at least one actuator upon the command bus being in a malfunctioning state.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.