In modern medicine, success often depends on technologies that work in the background – silently, precisely and reliably. One of these technologies that is revolutionising our healthcare system is distributed systems. Whether in complex devices such as surgical robots or in large-scale information networks such as hospital information systems (HIS), distributed systems are the invisible force that optimise processes and enable patients to receive better care.
But what exactly makes them so indispensable? And how do they ensure that everything runs smoothly at critical moments? This article takes a look behind the scenes and shows how distributed systems are changing medical technology.
Distributed systems in medical technology: efficiency and security
Hospital information systems (HIS) and radiology information systems (RIS) are a typical example of distributed systems in medical technology.
Hospital information systems (HIS) comprise all IT systems that are used in a hospital to record, process and pass on medical and administrative data. These systems consist of servers, workstations and mobile devices that enable efficient data processing and provision.
Radiology information systems (RIS) are used in radiology to document and manage both medical and administrative data. They also control processes such as appointment allocation and resource management.’
CANopen: the centrepiece of smart medical devices
Less well known but just as important is the fact that complex devices also utilise distributed systems. In most cases, they contain several processor units that are connected to each other via bus systems.
A good example of this is the CAN bus (Controller Area Network), a standardised, serial bus system that was originally developed for the automotive industry. It offers decisive advantages such as high data security and the ability to operate several master systems simultaneously.
In medical technology, the CANopen standard is often used, a further development of the CAN bus which, in addition to the classic advantages, also enables short system response times at low data rates. Complex devices such as X-ray generators, injectors, patient tables, dialysis machines and surgical robots benefit from this technology.
Minimal latency times and maximum safety
One of the most important requirements for surgical robots is minimal latency – i.e. the time between the surgeon’s movement and the execution of this movement by the robotic instrument. An example of the application of this technology in practice can be found in our project: Operating theatre robot system – seleon GmbH, which successfully implements these principles in a real medical device.
The latency time should remain as short as possible to enable an operation ‘in real time’ and thus eliminate sources of error due to delays. Furthermore, the precision of the execution of the movements is of great importance. The use of a CANopen bus can fulfil both requirements. By using several processors, each movement can be recorded and controlled individually, independently and simultaneously by the operating doctor as well as by the robot arms and instruments.
There are various options for detecting failures of different components, such as the heartbeat or regular pinging of the components involved. Additional safety processors can monitor all processes in parallel and raise the alarm or intervene if errors occur in the system.
Conclusion
Distributed systems offer decisive advantages when it comes to fulfilling complex requirements for medical devices and systems. Which system architecture is most suitable depends on the task at hand. Together with the experts at seleon, we can develop the best possible solution for your requirements. Contact us today for a personalised consultation.
Please note that all details and lists do not claim to be complete, are without guarantee and are provided for information purposes only.
