Guidance system for a medical facility

Abstract

A guidance system for a medical facility includes at least one floor element that extends along a path of the medical facility and is arranged in a floor area of the path. The at least one floor element is configured for magnetic interaction such that through the magnetic interaction of the floor element with a magnetic guide element arranged on a mobile transport device, a magnetic attraction is generated. The mobile transport device is guided along the at least one floor element by the generated magnetic attraction during forward motion of the mobile transport device along the path through the medical facility.

1 . A guidance system for a medical facility, the guidance system comprising:
 a floor element that extends along a path through the medical facility and is arranged in a floor area of the path; and   a magnetic guide element arranged on a mobile transport device,   wherein the floor element is configured for magnetic interaction such that a magnetic attraction is generated through the magnetic interaction of the floor element with the magnetic guide element, and   wherein the magnetic guide element is operable to guide the mobile transport device along the floor element during forward motion of the mobile transport device along the path through the medical facility.   
     
     
         2 . The guidance system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the floor element comprises an elongated body made of a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         3 . The guidance system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the floor element tapers at a start, an end or the start and the end of the path. 
     
     
         4 . The guidance system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the floor element comprises a component that generates a magnetic field. 
     
     
         5 . The guidance system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the floor element is set into the floor area. 
     
     
         6 . A medical facility comprising:
 a patient transport corridor with a guidance system, the guidance system comprising:
 a floor element that extends along a path of the medical facility and is arranged in a floor area of the path; and 
 a magnetic guide element that is arranged on a mobile transport device, 
   wherein the floor element is configured for magnetic interaction such that a magnetic attraction is generated through the magnetic interaction of the floor element with the magnetic guide element, and   wherein the magnetic guide element is operable to guide the mobile transport device along the floor element during forward motion of the mobile transport device along the path through the medical facility.   
     
     
         7 . The medical facility as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a treatment or diagnostic room of a particle therapy system,
 wherein the path is at least partly in the treatment or diagnostic room.   
     
     
         8 . A mobile transport device comprising:
 a magnetic guide element that is configured to come into magnetic interaction with a floor element such that through the magnetic interaction a magnetic attraction is generated, the floor element being arranged in a floor area and extending along a path,   wherein the magnetic guide element is operable to guide the mobile transport device on the path during forward motion of the mobile transport device along the path.   
     
     
         9 . The mobile transport device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the magnetic guide element comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile transport device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the magnetic guide element comprises a plastic coating. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile transport device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the magnetic guide element is at a distance less than 10 cm from the floor area. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile transport device as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a front part located forwards relative to the direction of motion,
 wherein the magnetic guide element is arranged in the front part.   
     
     
         13 . The mobile transport device as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a rear part located backwards relative to the direction of motion; and   another magnetic guide element, the other guide element being arranged in the rear part.   
     
     
         14 . The mobile transport device as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a steering mechanism; and   a wheel that is connected to the magnetic guide element via the steering mechanism,   wherein the steering mechanism is operable to transfer the magnetic attraction exerted on the magnetic guide element to the wheel.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile transport device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the magnetic guide element comprises two oppositely poled permanent magnets arranged at a distance from each other. 
     
     
         16 . A method for steering a mobile transport device along a path in a medical facility, the method comprising:
 magnetically interacting a guidance system having a floor element arranged along the path with a magnetic guide element of the mobile transport device; and   guiding the mobile transport device along the path using a magnetic attraction between the magnetic guide element and the floor element when the mobile transport device is moved forward.   
     
     
         17 . The guidance system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the ferromagnetic material comprises ferrous metal sheet or ferromagnetic steel. 
     
     
         18 . The guidance system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the component that generates a magnetic field comprises a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         19 . The guidance system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the floor element forms a smooth surface with the floor area. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile transport device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the permanent magnet is a Neodymium Iron Boron magnet.