Apparatus for driving medical appliances

Abstract

A self-propelled wheelchair type artificial heart driving apparatus for giving freedom of movement to those patients who require an auxiliary artificial heart. Various safety devices are provided to avoid danger due to erroneous running of the wheelchair at the time when the patients board on or alight from the wheelchair and after alighting therefrom. For the purpose of enlarging a sphere of movement of the patients and preventing possible dangers, a motor-operated tube taking-up mechanism is provided and the wheelchair is permitted to run only when the tubes are in the orderly housed condition. A pressure compensating solenoid valve is provided in parallel to a pressure adjusting solenoid valve and a tank is dispensed with so as to make reduction in size of the artificial heart driving apparatus.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A mobile apparatus for transporting a patient connected to a medical appliance comprising: a wheelchair;   medical appliance driving means mounted on said wheelchair and comprising; a positive pressure source; a first solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said positive pressure source; first pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said first solenoid valve; a second solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said first solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance; a negative pressure source; a third solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to said negative pressure source; second pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said third solenoid valve; a fourth solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said third solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance; and first electronic control means adapted to control opening and closing of said first solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said first pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said third solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said second pressure detecting means, and to control opening and closing of said second and fourth solenoid valves at predetermined timings, respectively;   electric motor means for driving said wheelchair;   instruction means for controlling energization of said electric motor means;   state detecting means for detecting at least one state of at least one part moveable on said wheel chair, the state of a moveable part of said medical appliance driving means and the state of said instruction means and providing signals indicative of said states; and   second electronic control means connected to said state detecting means for energizing said electric motor means in response to operation of said instruction means, and for inhibiting energization of said electric motor means when said state detecting means detects a dangerous state.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said instruction means comprises a control lever and a lever supporting means for supporting said lever in a detachable manner, and said state detecting means provides a signal indicative of the state of attachment of said control lever with respect to said lever supporting means. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 1, wherein said wheelchair comprises at least one armrest moveable on said wheelchair and lock means for locking said armrest in a predetermined position, and said state detecting means provides a signal indicative of the state of said lock means. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 3, wherein said armrest is constructed to be moveable horizontally about a support shaft, and said lock means includes engagement means engaged with said support shaft and an electromagnetic actuator for moving said engagement means out of engagement with said shaft. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 1, wherein said medical appliance driving means comprises; flexible tubes connected at one end to said second solenoid valve and said fourth solenoid valve respectively and adapted to be connected at the other ends thereof to said medical appliance; and tube taking-up means for retracting said flexible tubes and wherein said state detecting means provides a signal indicative of the state of retraction of said flexible tubes. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 5, wherein said tube taking-up means comprises; a first fixed member having a first bore axially penetrating through the central part thereof and a groove in a position of the outer periphery thereof; a second fixed member having first and second passages formed at positions opposite to said groove of said first fixed member, and fitted to said outer periphery of said first fixed member; a moveable member provided with a third passage formed at a position opposite to said first bore and with a fourth passage formed at a position opposite to said second passage, and fitted to the outer periphery of said second fixed member rotatably relative to the same; and a tube reel rotatable together with said moveable member, the pressure output terminals of said second and fourth solenoid valves being connected to at least one of said first bore and said first passage, and said flexible tubes being connected to at least one of said third and fourth passages. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 5, wherein said tube taking-up means includes electric motor means for rotating said tube reel and switch means for controlling energization of said motor. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 1, wherein, when energization of said electric motor is inhibited, said second electronic control means short circuits an armature of said electric motor means for braking movement of said wheelchair. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 1, wherein said medical appliance driving means includes a fifth solenoid valve connected in parallel to said first solenoid valve .Iadd.connected in parallel to said third solenoid valve .Iaddend.and a sixth solenoid valve, and said first electronic control means controls opening and closing or said fifth and sixth solenoid valves according to predetermined timing in synchronous relation with operation of said second and fourth solenoid valve. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 9, wherein said first electronic control means comprises means for setting said fifth solenoid valve in the opened state according to a predetermined timing during the time said second solenoid is closed, and means for setting said sixth solenoid valve in the opened state according to a predetermined timing during the time said fourth solenoid valve is closed. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 10, wherein said first electronic control means comprises means for setting said fifth solenoid valve in the opened state for a predetermined time shorter than the closing time of said second solenoid valve after the lapse of a predetermined time from closing of said second solenoid valve, and means for setting said sixth solenoid valve in the opened state for a predetermined time shorter than the closing time of said fourth solenoid valve after the lapse of a predetermined time from closing of said fourth solenoid valve. 
     
     
       12. A mobile apparatus for transporting a patient connected to a medical appliance comprising: a wheelchair;   medical appliance driving means mounted on said wheelchair and comprising; a positive pressure source; a first solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said positive pressure source; first pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said first solenoid valve; a second solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said first solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance through a flexible tube; a negative pressure source; a third solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to said negative pressure source; a fourth solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said third solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance through a flexible tube; and first electronic control means adapted to control opening and closing of said first solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said first pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said third solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said second pressure detecting means, and to control opening and closing of said second and fourth solenoid valve at predetermined times, respectively;   electric motor means for driving said wheelchair;   instruction means for controlling energization of said electric motor means;   first state detecting means for detecting the state of at least one part moveable on said wheelchair;   second state detecting means for detecting the state of said flexible tube of said medical appliance driving means;   third state detecting means for detecting the state of said instruction means; and   second electronic control means connected to said state detecting means for energizing said electric motor in response to operation of said instruction means, and for inhibiting energization of said electric motor when at least one of said first, second and third state detecting means detects a dangerous state.   
     
     
       13. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 12, wherein said instruction means comprises a control lever and a lever supporting means for supporting said lever in a detachable manner, and said third state detecting means provides a signal indicative of the state of attachment of said control lever to said lever supporting means. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 12, wherein said wheelchair comprises at least one armrest moveable on said wheelchair and lock means for locking said armrest in a predetermined position, and said first state detecting means provides a signal indicative of the state of said lock means. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according claim 14, wherein said armrest is constructed to be moveable horizontally about a support shaft, and said lock means includes engagement means engaged with said support shaft and an electromagnetic actuator for moving said engagement means out of engagement with said shaft. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 12, wherein said medical appliance driving means comprises tube taking-up means for rolling up said flexible tubes, and said second state detecting means generates a signal in accordance with the rolled-up condition of said flexible tubes. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 16, wherein said tube taking-up means comprises; a first fixed member having a first bore axially penetrating through the central part thereof and a groove in a portion of the outer periphery thereof; a second fixed member having a first and second passage formed at positions opposite to said groove of said first fixed member, and fitted to said outer periphery of said first fixed member; a moveable member provided with a third passage formed at a position opposite to said first bore and with a fourth passage formed at a position opposite to said second passage, and fitted to the outer periphery of said second fixed member rotatably relative to the same; and a tube reel rotatable together with said moveable member, the pressure output terminals of said second and fourth solenoid valves being connected to at least one of said first bore and said first passage, and said flexible tubes being connected to at least one of said third and fourth passages. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 16, wherein said tube taking-up means includes electric motor means for rotating said tube reel and switch means for controlling energization of said motor. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 12 wherein said medical appliance driving means comprises tube taking-up means for rolling up said flexible tubes, and said second state detecting means generates a signal in accordance with the rolled-up condition of said flexible tubes. 
     
     
       20. A mobile apparatus for transporting a patient connected to a medical appliance comprising: a wheelchair;   medical appliance driving means mounted on said wheelchair and comprising; a positive pressure source; a first solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said positive pressure source; first pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said first solenoid valve.Iadd.; a second solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said first solenoid valve .Iaddend.and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance through a flexible tube, a negative pressure source; a third solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to said negative pressure source; a fourth solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said third solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance through a flexible tube; and first electronic control means adapted to control opening and closing of said first solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said first pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said third solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said second pressure detecting means, and to control opening and closing of said second and fourth solenoid valves at predetermined timings, respectively; and a tube taking-up means for rolling up said flexible tubes;   electric motor means for rotating said wheelchair;   instruction means for controlling energization of said electric motor means;   first state detecting means for detecting the state of at least one part moveable on said wheelchair;   second state detecting means for detecting the rolled up state of said flexible tubes of said medical appliance driving means;   third state detecting means for detecting the state of said instruction means; and   second electronic control means connected to said state detecting means for energizing said electric motor in response to operation of said instruction means, and for inhibiting energization of said electric motor when at least one of said first, second and third state detecting means detects a dangerous state.   
     
     
       21. A mobile apparatus for transporting a patient connected to a medical appliance comprising: a wheelchair;   medical appliance driving means mounted on said wheelchair and comprising; a positive pressure source; a first solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said positive pressure source; first pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said first solenoid valve; a second solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said first solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance through a flexible tube; a negative pressure source; a third solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to said negative pressure source; a fourth solenoid valve having an iput terminal connected to an output terminal of said third solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance through a flexible tube; a fifth solenoid valve connected in parallel to said first solenoid valve and a sixth solenoid valve connected in parallel to said third solenoid valve; and first electronic control means adapted to control opening and closing of said first solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said first pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said third solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said second pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said second and fourth solenoid valves at predetermined timings, respectively, and to control said fifth and sixth solenoid valves at the predetermined timing in synchronous relation with operation of said second and fourth solenoid valve;   electric motor means for driving said wheelchair;   instruction means for instructing energization of said electric motor;   first state detecting means for detecting the state of at least one part moveable on said wheelchair;   second state detecting means for detecting the state of said flexible tube of said medical appliance driving means;   third state detecting means for detecting the state of said running instruction means; and   second electronic control means connected to said state detecting means for energizing said electric motor in response to operation of said instruction means, and for inhibiting energization of said electric motor means when at least one of said first, second and third state detecting means detects a dangerous state. .Iadd.   
     
     
       22.  An apparatus for driving a medical appliance comprising: a positive pressure source;   a first solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said positive pressure source;   a first pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said first solenoid valve;   a second solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said first solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance;   a negative pressure source;   a third solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of said negative pressure source;   a second pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure at an output terminal of said third solenoid valve;   a fourth solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said third solenoid valve and an output terminal adapted to be connected to said medical appliance;   a fifth solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to said positive pressure source and an output terminal connected to the output terminal of said first solenoid valve; and   first electronic control means adapted to control opening and closing of said first solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said first pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said third solenoid valve in response to an output signal from said second pressure detecting means, control opening and closing of said second and fourth solenoid valves at predetermined timings, respectively, and to control opening and closing of said fifth solenoid valve according to predetermined timing in synchronous relation with operation of said second solenoid valve. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       23.  An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 22, wherein said apparatus includes a sixth solenoid valve having an input terminal connected to said negative pressure source and an output terminal connected to the output terminal of said third solenoid valve and said medical appliance; and said first electronic control means controls opening and closing of said sixth solenoid valve according to predetermined timing in synchronous relation with operation of said fourth solenoid valve. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 23, wherein said first electronic control means comprises means for setting said fifth solenoid valve in the opened state according to a predetermined timing during the time said second solenoid is closed, and means for setting said sixth solenoid valve in the opened state according to a predetermined timing during the time said fourth solenoid valve is closed. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance according to claim 24, wherein said first electronic control means comprises means for setting said fifth solenoid valve in the opened state for a predetermined time shorter than the closing time of said second solenoid valve after the lapse of a predetermined time from closing of said second solenoid valve, and means for setting said sixth solenoid valve in the opened state for a predetermined time shorter than the closing time of said fourth solenoid valve after the lapse of a predetermined time from closing of said fourth solenoid valve. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. A driving method for a medical appliance which is driven by applying to a driving portion of a medical appliance positive and negative pressures alternatively from a positive pressure source connected through a positive pressure adjusting valve and s negative pressure source connected through a negative pressure adjusting valve, wherein when the positive pressure is applied to said driving portion, compensating pressure for pressure drop in said driving portion is applied to said driving portion of said medical appliance through circuit means parallel to said positive pressure adjusting valve in synchronous relation therewith and when the negative pressure is applied to said driving portion, compensating pressure for pressure rise in said driving portion is applied to said driving portion of said medical appliance through circuit means parallel to said negative pressure adjusting valve in synchronous relation therewith. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. An apparatus for driving a medical appliance comprising: a positive pressure source;   a positive pressure adjusting valve means connected to said positive pressure source for adjusting the pressure from said positive pressure source to a predetermined positive pressure;   a negative pressure source;   a negative pressure adjusting valve means connected to said negative pressure source for adjusting the pressure from said negative pressure source to a predetermined negative pressure;   a pressure changing valve means for applying said predetermined positive and negative pressure alternately to said medical appliance; and   a positive pressure branch having an inlet between said positive pressure source and said positive pressure adjusting valve means and an outlet between said positive pressure adjusting valve means and said pressure changing valve means for applying a pressure higher than that from the positive pressure adjusting valve means when the latter is being applied to said medical appliance; and   a negative pressure branch having an inlet between said negative pressure source and negative pressure adjusting valve means and an outlet between said negative pressure adjusting valve means and said pressure changing valve means for applying a pressure lower than that from the negative pressure adjusting valve means when the latter is applied upon said   
     
     
        medical appliance. .Iaddend..Iadd.28.  A driving method for a medical appliance which is driven by applying to a driving portion of a medical appliance positive and negative pressures alternatively from a positive pressure source connected through a positive pressure adjusting valve and a negative pressure source connected through a negative pressure adjusting valve, wherein when the positive pressure is applied to said driving portion, compensating pressure for pressure drop in said driving portion is applied to said driving portion of said medical appliance in synchronous relation with said positive pressure adjusting valve and when the negative pressure is applied to said driving portion, compensating pressure for pressure rise in said driving portion is applied to said driving portion of said medical appliance in synchronous relation with 
     
     
        said negative pressure adjusting valve. .Iaddend..Iadd.29.  An apparatus for driving a medical appliance comprising: a positive pressure source;   a positive pressure adjusting valve means connected to said positive pressure source for adjusting the pressure from said positive pressure source to a predetermined positive pressure;   a negative pressure source;   a negative pressure adjusting valve means connected to said negative pressure source for adjusting the pressure from the negative pressure source to a predetermined negative pressure;   a pressure changing valve means for applying said predetermined positive and negative pressure alternately to said medical appliance;   positive pressure compensating means including control valve means having an outlet connected between said positive pressure adjusting valve means and said medical appliance; and   negative pressure compensating means including control valve means having an outlet connected between said negative pressure adjusting valve means and said medical appliance. .Iaddend.