Patient couch with a control system and method for controlling the patient couch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10290373-B2
Application number	US-201514705676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2015
Priority date	May 6, 2014
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

A patient couch with a control system and a method for controlling the patient couch are provided. The control system is based on a three-dimensional (3D) camera for recording first 3D images of a recording area. The 3D camera is attached to the patient couch. An image processing unit for identifying at least one control gesture in the first 3D images allows a safe and fast control of the x-ray device. In order to carry out the control, the control system includes a control unit with a motor for controlling a movement of the patient couch based on the first control gesture.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A patient couch comprising:
a control system comprising:
a first three-dimensional (3D) camera attached to the patient couch, the first 3D camera operable to record first 3D images of a recording area;
an image processing unit configured to determine an input element in the first 3D images and identify at least one first control gesture based on the input element in the first 3D images; and
a control unit comprising a motor, the motor operable to control a movement of the patient couch based on the at least one first control gesture,
wherein the control system further comprises a second 3D camera attached to the patient couch, the second 3D camera operable to record second 3D images of the recording area,

wherein the image processing unit is further configured to:
determine the input element in the second 3D images
identify at least one second control gesture based on the input element in the second 3D images, independent of the identification of the first control gesture in the first 3D images; and
compare the at least one identified first control gesture and the at least one identified second control gesture,

wherein the control unit is configured to control a movement of the patient couch based on a result of the comparison, and
wherein the first 3D camera is pivotably mounted to the patient couch and configured to automatically pivot to follow the input element, such that the recording area is modified.

2. The patient couch of claim 1 , wherein the patient couch further comprises wheels on a floor side, and
wherein the control unit is configured to control the movement of the patient couch using the wheels.

3. The patient couch of claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured to control a translation movement, a rotation movement, or the translation movement and the rotation movement of the patient couch.

4. A method for controlling a patient couch, the method comprising:
recording first three-dimensional (3D) images of a recording area using a first 3D camera, wherein the first 3D camera is pivotably mounted to the patient couch;
determining an input element in the first 3D images;
identifying at least one first control gesture based on the input element in the first 3D images;
controlling, by a controller, a movement of the patient couch based on the at least one first control gesture;
recording second 3D images of the recording area using a second 3D camera;
determining the input element in the second 3D images;
identifying at least one second control gesture based on the input element in the second 3D images, independent of the identification of the first control gesture in the first 3D images;
comparing the at least one identified first control gesture and the at least one second control gesture;
controlling, by the controller, a movement of the patient couch based on a result of the comparison; and
modifying the recording area, the modifying of the recording area comprising automatically pivoting the first 3D camera to follow the input element.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising controlling a translation movement, a rotation movement, or the translation movement and the rotation movement of the patient couch.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
reading-out an authorization signal in the immediate vicinity of the patient couch; and
controlling, by the controller, a movement of the patient couch based on the authorization signal.

Assignees

• Jaeger Anja
• Kagermeier Robert
• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Jäger Anja
• Kagermeier Robert

Classifications

• A61B5/0555

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• G06F19/00

  Physics · mapped topic

• A61B6/4441

  the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm · CPC title

• A61G2203/22

  for automatically guiding movable devices, e.g. stretchers or wheelchairs in a hospital · CPC title

• A61B6/0407

  Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body · CPC title