CN-121986275-A - System for tracking consoles and accessories

Abstract

A system for locating devices in a surgical facility is presented. The system comprises at least one console or console conveyor, wherein the console conveyor is adapted to carry and convey at least a patient support surface of the console. The console or the console transporter includes a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate with the central tracking unit and to receive wireless signals from the plurality of auxiliary devices. The communication module is configured to receive identity information identifying the transmitting auxiliary device from each wireless signal, determine distance data comprising information indicative of a distance between the transmitting auxiliary device and the patient support device from each wireless signal, and transmit the identity information and the distance data for each received wireless signal to the central tracking unit. The central tracking unit may generate a virtual map of the surgical facility and use the identification information and distance data received from the patient support device to locate the console or console transporter and any ancillary equipment in the map.

Inventors

• TIM GORDON

Assignees

• 迈柯唯有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20231006

Claims (20)

1. 1. A system for positioning equipment in a surgical facility, the system comprising at least one console or at least one console conveyor, wherein the console conveyor is adapted to convey and transfer at least a patient support surface of the console, The console or console transporter includes a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate with a central tracking unit and receive wireless signals from a plurality of auxiliary devices, the communication module further configured to: i. identity information identifying the sending auxiliary device is received from each wireless signal, Determining distance data from each wireless signal, the distance data including information indicative of a distance between the sending auxiliary and the console or console conveyor, and Transmitting identification information and distance data for each received wireless signal to the central tracking unit.
2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central tracking unit is configured to generate a virtual map of the surgical facility and to locate the at least one console or console transporter and any ancillary equipment in the map using the identification information received from the patient support device and the distance data.
3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the central tracking unit comprises a storage device for storing the virtual map.
4. 4. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the system comprises a user interface for displaying to an end user the location of at least one of the console, the console transporter 15 and the auxiliary device.
5. 5. The system according to any preceding claim, wherein the auxiliary device comprises a medical device configured to transmit identity information, in particular intermittently, The auxiliary device preferably further comprises a fixed location beacon configured to periodically transmit identity information, the fixed location beacon being arranged at a respective fixed location in the surgical facility, The system is configured to determine the location of the console or console conveyor using signals received from one or more fixed location beacons and to determine the distance between the medical device and the console or console conveyor 15 using signals received from the medical device.
6. 6. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the auxiliary device comprises a beacon attached to the medical device and configured to transmit identity information, in particular periodically or intermittently.
7. 7. The system of claim 5 or 6, wherein the medical device comprises a fitting adapted to be attached to a console or a console conveyor 15, the fitting preferably comprising at least one of a leg plate, an extension plate for supporting a portion of a patient, and an arm support, the fitting preferably being spaced apart from the console or console conveyor 15 and not currently attached to the console or console conveyor 15.
8. 8. The system according to any preceding claim, wherein the console is a mobile console, in particular a mobile console comprising at least one of wheels and casters.
9. 9. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the system is configured to use distance triangulation to determine the location of at least one of the console or console conveyor 15 and the auxiliary device.
10. 10. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the wireless signal uses at least one of infrared, wifi, ultrasound, zigbee, RFID, and short range wireless technology.
11. 11. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the wireless signal is a bluetooth wireless technology signal.
12. 12. The system of any preceding claim, wherein for each received signal the distance data comprises information about the strength of the received signal, in particular wherein the system is configured to determine the distance between the at least one console or console transporter and at least one of a fixed location beacon and a medical device based on the strength of the received signal.
13. 13. A system for locating medical equipment in a surgical facility, the system comprising a central tracking unit and at least one console; Wherein the console comprises a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate with the central tracking unit and to receive wireless signals from a fixed location beacon and from a medical device to be positioned and not in contact with the console, the communication module further configured to: (i) Wirelessly receiving identity information from a fixed location beacon, and (Ii) Wirelessly receiving identity information from the medical device; wherein the system is configured to: (iii) Determining a location of the console using wireless signals from one or more fixed location beacons, in particular determining a location of the console based on signal strength of wireless signals received at the console from one or more fixed location beacons, and (Iv) The distance between the medical device and the console is determined using a wireless signal from the medical device, in particular, based on the signal strength of the wireless signal received from the medical device at the console.
14. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system is configured to determine the location of the medical device based on the location of the console and a distance between the medical device and the console.
15. 15. The system of claim 13 or 14, wherein the system comprises a plurality of consoles; Wherein the system is configured to determine the position of the medical device based on the positions of two or more of the plurality of consoles and the respective distances of the medical device from the two or more of the plurality of consoles, in particular using triangulation to determine the position of the medical device.
16. 16. The system of any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the system is configured to determine the location of the console by determining a distance of the console from two or more fixed location beacons, in particular wherein the fixed location beacons are spaced apart within the surgical facility.
17. 17. The system according to claims 13 to 16, wherein the console is a mobile console, in particular a mobile console with at least one of wheels or casters.
18. 18. The system of claims 13 to 17, wherein the wireless signals comprise bluetooth wireless technology signals.
19. 19. The system of claims 13 to 18, wherein the wireless signals comprise at least one of infrared, wifi, ultrasound, zigbee, RFID, and short range wireless signals.
20. 20. The system of claims 13-19, wherein the central tracking unit is configured to create a map of the surgical facility, the map including locations of one or more consoles and/or medical devices.

Description

System for tracking consoles and accessories Technical Field The present disclosure relates to tracking of devices within a surgical facility. The present disclosure relates particularly to tracking of mobile consoles, conveyors, and accessories connectable to these and other devices within a surgical facility. Background Surgical wards have many different kinds of equipment for use before, during and after surgery. These devices include mobile consoles, console conveyors, and various other stationary or mobile devices, including but not limited to respirators, monitors, and imaging devices. In addition, there may be multiple accessories or accessories for the console. These devices enable the console to be configured in a number of different ways depending on the surgical procedure or patient needs. For example, a hospital with 10 consoles may have 200 or more interchangeable accessories that can be optionally attached to the console according to the needs of the upcoming procedure. In a surgical department or facility, some accessories may only be available in a limited number. Keeping track of the equipment is important to ensure efficient use of facilities and personnel. When a table accessory or other device is lost in a surgical ward, finding it can be very costly, especially if the reservation process cannot be started before it is found. This need to find items can occur multiple times per day in a surgical ward and is responsible for time loss and inefficiency. The ability to reliably locate equipment has the added benefit of facilitating planning by ensuring that all equipment for a predetermined procedure is in the required room prior to the procedure. This is especially useful when certain devices are available only in a limited number and must be shared between processes. To address this problem, some hospitals began installing beacons on movable items and using signal-based indoor positioning systems to determine the location of these beacons and the items to which they are attached in the surgical ward area. These systems require the use of multiple fixed access points strategically placed at known locations throughout the area being monitored. To achieve real-time tracking results, the relative positions of beacons must be continuously reported to the central system in order to achieve continuous position tracking. To achieve this, the beacon (on the item being tracked) or fixed access point must have a continuous communication interface to the central system. The communication interface may be wired or wireless. If the interface is wired, a network connection must be made between each fixed access point and the central system (mobile beacons cannot be wired for obvious reasons). This entails a great installation cost and a risk that existing systems may be disturbed. If the interface is wireless, then enough power must be available to the access point or beacon to support continuous wireless communication with the central system. The beacons or base stations that communicate with the central system must then be electrically hardwired, connected to wall sockets that may not always be available in the optimal location, or have batteries that are charged or replaced frequently, which requires continued maintenance. In either case, the known system requires a large amount of building infrastructure, prospective planning of installation, and ongoing maintenance to ensure proper operation. These electrical requirements are not easily integrated with existing systems, particularly in old and existing buildings that were not designed to support beacons placed around the surgical department and to continuously supply power thereto. Disclosure of Invention It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to propose a system for locating devices in a surgical ward, which overcomes the problems of prior art systems, is flexible and can be easily deployed together with the prior art systems. These and further objects are achieved according to a system and a patient support device for positioning equipment in a surgical facility as defined in the appended claims. According to one aspect, a system is presented, comprising at least one console or at least one console transporter, wherein the console transporter is adapted to transport and transfer at least a patient support surface of the console, the console or the console transporter comprising a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate with a central tracking unit and to receive wireless signals from a plurality of auxiliary devices. The communication module is further configured to: i. identity information identifying the sending auxiliary device is received from each wireless signal, Determining distance data from each wireless signal, the distance data including information indicative of a distance between the transmission assistance device and the console or the console conveyor, and Transmitting identification information and di