Docking apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9770378-B2
Application number	US-201414273853-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2014
Priority date	May 10, 2013
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A transportation apparatus configured to dock with a device to which power is supplied is provided. The transportation apparatus includes a first contact element for establishing a first contact with the device and a second contact element for establishing a second contact with the device. An apparatus for assisting in establishing the contact between the second contact element and the device is further provided in the transportation apparatus. The apparatus is operated by a motor. The apparatus is configured to provide power to the motor by supplying power via the first contact.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transportation system configured to dock a transportation apparatus with a device from which power is supplied, the system comprising:
the transportation apparatus comprising:
a first contact element operable to establish a first contact with the device;
a second contact element operable to establish a second contact with the device; and
a first apparatus operated by a motor, the first apparatus operable to assist in establishing the second contact with the device; and

the device comprising:
an interface operable to dock the transportation apparatus, the interface comprising a third contact element and a fourth contact element,

wherein the device is configured to transmit power to the transportation apparatus via the third contact element,
wherein the device is a medical diagnosis or therapy device,
wherein the interface is operable to receive a linear guide from the transportation apparatus to assist in establishing a second contact with the second contact element,
wherein power is provideable to the motor via the first contact element,
wherein the first apparatus is configured to assist in establishing the second contact by movement of the second contact element in a direction of the device, and
wherein the first apparatus comprises a linear guide operable to move the second contact element in the direction of the device.

2. The transportation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second contact element is one second contact element of a plurality of second contact elements, the first apparatus operable to assist in establishing contact of the plurality of second contact elements with the device.

3. The transportation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the transportation apparatus is operable to assume a docking state in which the second contact element is extended in the direction of the device, and
wherein the transportation apparatus is operable to assume a movement state in which the second contact element is retracted.

4. The transportation apparatus of claim 3 , wherein in the movement state of the transportation apparatus, the first contact element is arranged such that the first contact element is offset in relation to the second contact element such that during a docking process, the first contact element makes contact with the device without contact being made between the second contact element and the device.

5. The transportation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transportation apparatus is operable to assume a docking state in which the second contact element is extended in the direction of the device, and
wherein the transportation apparatus is operable to assume a movement state in which the second contact element is retracted.

6. The transportation apparatus of claim 5 , wherein in the movement state of the transportation apparatus, the first contact element is arranged such that the first contact element is offset in relation to the second contact element such that during a docking process, the first contact element makes contact with the device without contact being made between the second contact element and the device.

7. The transportation apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the transportation apparatus is configured for a mechanical connection that is establishable in the movement state to the device.

8. The transportation apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the establishment of the mechanical connection is initiatable by the first contact being established.

9. A device comprising:
an interface operable to dock a transportation apparatus, the interface comprising a first contact element and a second contact element,
wherein the device is configured to transmit power to the transportation apparatus via the first contact element,
wherein the device is a medical diagnosis or therapy device, and
wherein the interface is operable to receive a linear guide from the transportation apparatus to assist in establishing a second contact with the second contact element.

10. A system comprising:
a transportation apparatus configured to dock with a device to which power is supplied, the transportation apparatus comprising:
a first contact element operable to establish a first contact with the device;
a second contact element operable to establish a second contact with the device; and
a first apparatus operated by a motor, the first apparatus operable to assist in establishing the second contact with the device, wherein the first apparatus is configured to provide power to the motor with power from the first contact; and

the device comprising:
an interface operable to dock the transportation apparatus, the interface comprising a first contact element and a second contact element,

wherein the device is configured to transmit power to the transportation apparatus via the first contact element,
wherein the device is a medical diagnosis or therapy device,
wherein the first apparatus is configured to assist in establishing the second contact by movement of the second contact element of the transportation apparatus in a direction of the device,
wherein the first apparatus comprises a linear guide operable to move the second contact element of the transportation apparatus in the direction of the device, and
wherein the interface is operable to receive the linear guide from the transportation apparatus to assist in establishing a second contact with the second contact element.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second contact element of the transportation apparatus is one second contact element of a plurality of second contact elements, the first apparatus operable to assist in establishing contact of the plurality of second contact elements with the device.

12. A method for establishing contact between a transportation apparatus and a device, the method comprising:
establishing a first contact by a first contact element of the transportation apparatus and a first contact element of the device;
supplying a motor of the transportation apparatus with power via the first contact; and
establishing a second contact between a second contact element of the transportation apparatus and a second contact element of the device, the establishing of the second contact being assisted by the motor,
wherein the second contact comprises a plurality of high-frequency lines for transmitting high-frequency signals from body coils electrically connected to the transportation apparatus.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising moving, by the motor, the second contact element of the transportation apparatus toward the device for the purpose of making contact.

Assignees

• Koerth Michael
• Müller Matthias
• Waldbach Kerstin
• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Koerth Michael
• Müller Matthias
• Waldbach Kerstin

Classifications

• A61G13/10

  Parts, details or accessories (surgical drape sheets A61B46/00) · CPC title

• A61B6/0407

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

• A61G1/02

  with wheels · CPC title

• A61B5/055

  involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging · CPC title

• A61G7/05 Primary

  Parts, details or accessories of beds (devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 {; mattresses A47C27/00}) · CPC title