FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a medical treatment device, a medical treatment system, and a method for operating such a device or system. Further, the invention relates to a related computer program element and a medium for storing it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a subject’s body, i.e. a human or animal body, some biological processes are known to be linked to electricity. For example, the functional basis of sensory, nerve and muscle cells is based on the generation, transmission and processing of electrical impulses containing information. By way of example, the beating of the heart is triggered by electrical impulses, the control of muscles occurs through electrical signals, and when thinking, brain currents flow more, etc. Thereby, e.g. a bloodvessel may act as a transmission line to conduct electricity.

Further, it has been found that electrical models can also be formed to tissue, bone, nerve, proteins, etc. Thereby, for example, proteins may act as a semi-conductor, tissues and bones may act as crystalline arrays, nerves and muscles may conduct electromagnetically signals, etc. Also at cell level, due to given permeability and transport properties of a cell membrane, an uneven ion distribution and thus charge distribution between a cell interior and surrounding media is maintained, resulting in a membrane potential. In this regard, it has been found that the cell membrane may be described by an electrical model, in which the cell

membrane model includes various ionic conductance and electromotive forces in parallel with a capacitor.

Further, diseases, particularly if they are triggered by pathogens, such as bacteria, parasites, fungi, viruses, etc., in the human or animal body are based at least in part on the above structures, such as proteins, DNA, cells, etc., and/or electrical mechanisms, such as model able electrical behavior, so that it is likely that these can also be influenced by electrical processes.

However, the above findings are quite individual from subject to subject, and it may be at least difficult to provide individual treatment with a single device, as medical treatment devices tend to be tailored to specific use cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There may, therefore, be a need for providing means for improving configuring a medical treatment device in terms of a wide range of applications. The object of the present invention is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims, wherein further embodiments are incorporated in the dependent claims.

In a first aspect, there is provided a medical treatment device for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject. The device comprises: a number of channels, each of which is configured to connect an individual of a number of electrical drivers, configurable according to desired treatment; at least one control unit, connectable or connected to at least one of the number of channels, and configured to determine a channel-driver mapping indicating which of the number of electrical drivers is actually connected to which of the number of channels, and configured to control at least one system control module based on the channel-driver mapping; and a console, connectable or connected to the control unit to generate, based on at least the channel-driver mapping, a user interface comprising at least a graphical representative of the channel-driver mapping including a number of graphical control elements, arranged and functionally linked to the corresponding at least one system control module, in a channel and/or electrical driver specific manner.

In this way, the medical treatment device is provided with an universal connections means, namely the number of channels, allowing the number of electrical drivers to be freely configured and/or selected, e.g. in the total number of electrical drivers, the combination of one or more types of electrical driver, etc. Thereby, the channel-driver mapping is determined for each configuration selected, reflecting the selected configuration in a computer- processable manner. Further, the user interface is generated to be adapted to the selected configuration of the number of electrical drivers, allowing the medical treatment device to be controlled according to the selected configuration of the number of electrical drivers actually connected to the number of channels. Furthermore, the console allows to control system functions, i.e. functions on system level of the medical treatment device, e.g. meaning advanced user control of the system functions, such as an administrator or operator control of a system, compared to an end-user of the device who is only allowed to perform functions at the application level.

As used herein, a channel may be broadly understood as an interface, e.g. connection interface, between internal hardware on device side, e.g. the at least one control unit and/or other hardware, such as backplane optionally interconnecting e.g. the number of channels and the at least one control unit, external hardware, e.g. the number of electrical drivers. A system resource used and/or provided by the channel may comprise a physical part, i.e. hardware part, and/or a virtual part, such as an address, system function, etc. For example, the channel may comprise a physical connector, or the like, configured to connect the number of electrical drivers.

For example, the number of channels may be n, wherein n is a positive integer equal to or greater than 1. In at least some embodiments, the medical treatment device may comprise a plurality of channels. The number of electrical drivers may be m, wherein m is a positive integer equal to or greater than 1. Optionally, the number of channels may be in an one-by- one correspondence with the number of electrical drivers. Optionally, an individual one of the number of electrical drivers may comprise multiple outputs, wherein each of the multiple outputs may be assigned to a corresponding one of the number of channels. That is, optionally, the number of channels may be higher than the number of electrical drivers, thereby forming an one-by-one correspondence with the total number of outputs over all electrical drivers. The individual connection of the number of electrical drivers to or via the number of channels may be releasable.

Optionally, the number of channels may comprise, may be part of, or may form a compartment for accommodating the at least one individual of the number of electrical drivers. Further optionally, the compartment may be formed as a slot or the like.

For example, the channel-driver mapping may be determined by the at least one control unit, based on a channel connection status, received for or from each channel, at least indicating whether or not an electrical driver is connected to a channel, and preferably which electrical driver is connected to which channel. For example, the channel connection status may be provided by the console, in response to e.g. a user command received via the user interface. Alternatively, the channel connection status may be determined by monitoring, e.g. by the at least one control unit, the number of channels for an indicator that a connection exists on that channel, the indicator being, for example, a signal, a message, or the like, optionally according to a communication or network protocol, etc., and e.g. sent and/or received in a predetermined manner, such as periodically, etc. Further, the channel connection status may be determined by detecting the number of channels and/or the number of electrical drivers, e.g. by means of a status request message indicating the respective channel, optionally also the respective connection interface thereof, and/or the respective electrical driver thereto. The channel-driver mapping may be handled as e.g. a software variable, a table, a data set, etc.

As used herein, the console may be broadly understood as a type of computer application, e.g. a type of software, configured to allow a user of the device advanced and/or privileged use of the device’s system. It may be connected to or may be part of the at least one control unit, e.g. it may be run on the at least one control unit. It may also be referred to as a system console, as it may be configured to control one or more functions of the medical treatment device’s system level, e.g. on kernel level, FPGA level, or the like. For example, the console may be configured to handle user commands entered via its user interface and to display system messages, e.g. system administration messages, system operation messages, or the like, particularly in response to the user’s command. Further, it may be configured to control the medical treatment device’s hardware, such as the number of channels, the number of electrical drivers, and other system hardware of the device, to set them e.g. in a test operation mode, calibration operation mode, or the like. Furthermore, it may establish communication to a remote computing device, such as a central-site computing device according to the third aspect. Optionally, the console may comprise or may be connected to physical input hardware such as a keyboard, mouse, a touchscreen, etc., and output hardware such as a computer monitor, a speaker, a printer, etc. configured to manage one or more system resources of the medical treatment device. It may also be configured to provide a platform for running a control program, e.g. comprising information about the treatment to be provided to the subject. The console may further be configured to perform one or more controlling and/or monitoring tasks or functions, e.g. one or more system control functions, of the medical treatment device, preferably one or more of analyzing, configuring, calibrating, optimizing, maintaining, servicing, etc., the medical treatment device or individual components thereof.

The user interface provided by the console may comprise or may interact with means to provide a human-machine interface, such as input hardware, such as a keyboard, mouse, input pen, touchscreen, or the like, and output hardware, such as a display, a computer monitor, a speaker, or the like. Further, the user interface may comprise a graphical user interface including one or more, i.e. a number of, graphical control elements, e.g. icons, configured to display data and/or be manipulated to generate one or more corresponding instructions for controlling the medical treatment device for e.g. general operation, system level operations, etc. Accordingly, the at least one user command operation as used herein may be understood as any manipulation of or via the user interface by utilizing the input hardware, a remote access to the medical treatment device, etc.

As used herein, the at least one control unit may be broadly understood as a data processing means, which may be centrally located or distributed across the medical treatment device or its system to several data processing means. Optionally, the at least one control unit, or a part of it, may be connected to the number of channels, preferably in an individual manner, so as to control them individually. Further optionally, the at least one control unit, or a part of it, may be configured to be accommodated in a compartment, slot, or the like, of the medical treatment device and/or the number of channels. Further, the at least one control unit may also be understood as being distributed in two or more control units, such as a backplane, a slot-inserted control unit, a main control unit, etc.

Further, as used herein, the graphical representative of the channel-driver mapping may be broadly understood as a screen display which preferably enables user interaction by means of the one or more graphical control elements and which, for example, mimics the external appearance of one or more of the number of electrical drivers and/or the number of channels. For example, the number of channels, which number may be e.g. one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, ... fifteen, ... eighteen, etc., may be graphically represented in different areas of the screen display, may be labeled with a channel identifier, such as “Channel X”, “Slot X”, etc. The user interface, e.g. graphical user interface (GUI), may comprise one or more screens, windows, tabs, etc., and the graphical representative may be displayed in one or more of these.

As used herein, the at least one system control module may be broadly understood as a functionally closed functional unit of the medical treatment device, implemented in hardware and/or software and configured to provide a specific functionality, service, or the like, for the system, e.g. for the at least one control unit, the console, the number of channels, the number of electrical drivers, a communication interface, a communication network within the medical treatment device and/or for external communication, e.g. by controlling one or more resources or system resources, e.g. of the computer system, of the medical treatment device. In at least some embodiments, the at least one system control module may utilize one or more system calls or a similar technique to request a service from the computer system of the medical treatment device.

Further, as used herein, the number of graphical control elements may be broadly understood as a GUI element at least configured to provide only display function or configured as an interaction element. For example, the number of graphical control elements may be selected from: a window, a tab, a pop-up window, a box, a text terminal, a menu bar, a menu, a context menu, a tooltip, e.g. balloon, etc., an icon, a widget, or the like. GUI implementation techniques are known in the art, and the above selection of GUI elements is not limited here. Further, the graphical control elements may be generated in different type, form, color, etc., based on e.g. its functional link to the number of channels, number of electrical drivers, and/or system control module, wherein the functional link may also be established to other resources or system resources of the medical treatment device, and this is not limited herein.

Herein, any connection, link, etc., between two components or entities and any functional link, mapping, etc., may be implemented in hardware, by circuitry, data processing means, etc., and/or software.

According to an embodiment, at least one of the number of channels may comprise a connection interface configured to selectively connect to at least two different types of electrical driver. For example, the connection interface may be configured to selectively connect to a first type of electrical driver, e.g. an electric current driver, and to a second type of electrical driver different to the first type, e.g. to a magnetic field driver, or another type. In this way, the configuration of the device can be adapted even more flexibly to a desired treatment without having to make significant changes to the device's hardware.

In an embodiment, the connection interface may comprise a physical connector. In other words, the connection interface may be a kind of plug-in interface, such as known from e.g. an expansion card, a board, a card, or the like, of a computer. The connector may be an electrical connector, or slot, on a medical treatment device’s main board, backplane, or the like. Further, the connector may be configured to connect to a bus or the like of the medical treatment device for internal communication between its components, such as the number of electrical drivers, a backplane, the at least one control unit, etc. In this way, the number of electrical drivers can be easily and selectively inserted, removed, replaced, etc.

According to an embodiment, a type of electrical driver may be selected from: electric current driver, current-controlled magnetic field driver, voltage-controlled magnetic field driver, led light driver, halogen light driver, and ultrasonic driver, and wherein the at least one control unit may be configured to determine the channel-driver mapping to include, for each of the number of channels and/or the number of electrical drivers connected, the corresponding type of electrical driver selected and connected. In other words, each of the number of electrical drivers may be freely selected depending on the desired treatment to be provided to the subject. Optionally, two or more of same type of electrical driver may be combined with one or more of at least another type or one or more other different types of electrical driver. In this way, the type of electrical driver can be freely selected, also in terms of the number of different types of electrical driver, allowing the medical treatment device to be freely configured according to desired treatment.

In an embodiment, the console and/or the at least one control unit may be configured to program or re-program the number of electrical drivers with an embedded software in a targeted manner. In other words, when connected to the medical treatment device, one or more of the number of electrical drivers may be selectively, or in a targeted manner, provided with the embedded software, e.g. a firmware or the like. The embedded software may be provided as a data set, and may be locally stored, remotely retrieved from external, etc. It may be transferred to the number of electrical drivers, via the corresponding channel of the number of channels. The programming or re-programming may be controlled via the console, e.g. its user interface, where one or more programming parameter, such as the target address of the electrical driver, the specific data set comprising the embedded software, or the like, may be adjusted. In this way, the console and/or the at least one control unit may control the version etc. of the embedded software in a targeted manner. According to an embodiment, the console may be configured to generate the graphical representative of the channel-driver mapping to have a number of distinct areas graphically representing the number of electrical drivers and/or the number of channels in accordance with the channel-driver mapping, and wherein the number of graphical control elements may be arranged in the corresponding distinct area. For example, the graphical representative may be divided into columns or the like, which is formed by or includes the number of distinct areas. Further, alternatively or additionally to be arranged in the corresponding distinct area, the number of graphical control elements may be arranged in the corresponding distinct area based on a functional link between an individual of the number of graphical control elements and the number of electrical drivers and/or the number of channels, wherein the functional link may comprise control of the corresponding at least one system control module. In this way, the operating options of the device are adapted in the user interface depending on the respective configuration of the medical treatment device contained in the channel-driver mapping, and the corresponding system functions, performed by the at least one system control module, may be functionally linked to the number of graphical control elements.

In an embodiment, the number of graphical control elements may be configured to adjust and/or control, when operated by a corresponding user command, the at least one system control module in accordance with the received user command, via the at least one control unit. In this way, the freely configured medical treatment device can be controlled via a user interface that is generated in accordance with the configuration of the medical treatment device.

According to an embodiment, the console may be configured to link data, received from at least one connected of the number of channels and/or the number of electrical drivers connected via the at least one control unit, to the number of graphical control elements, thereby allowing the linked data to be displayed and/or modified via the number of graphical control elements. The linked data may comprise input data, received by the console, and/or output data, provided by the console, e.g. after modifying the received input data. In this way, the user interface can be adapted to any configuration of the medical treatment device. In an embodiment, the console may be configured to generate, based on the channel- driver mapping, the user interface to graphically reflect a type of electrical driver by type- specific rendering. In other words, the user interface may be adapted to make a first type visually distinguishable from a second type of electrical driver, etc. For example, the product design of each type of electrical driver may be graphically imitated by the type-specific rendering. In this way, the risk of operating errors is minimized, as the configuration of the medical treatment device is more clearly indicated.

According to an embodiment, the number of graphical control elements is arranged within the graphical representative of the channel-driver mapping to represent at least one corresponding resource of a corresponding type of electrical driver, and wherein the number of graphical control elements is functionally linked to the at least one corresponding resource for controlling it. In other words, one or more resources of each type of electrical driver may be represented within the graphical represented by the number of graphical control elements which, in turn, are configured to control the corresponding one or more resources. For example, the one or more resources may be physical or virtual, and may be selected from a signal input, e.g. a socket, etc., a signal output, e.g. a socket, etc., an indicator light, a power off/on function or switch, or the like. In this way, each electrical driver connected is displayed with the one or more graphical control elements functionally linked to the one or more corresponding resources of the electrical driver, so that the one or more corresponding resources can be controlled via the user interface.

In an embodiment, at least one control unit may be configured to allocate one or more system resources, associated with the at least one system control module, and to provide corresponding system resource allocation information to the console for functionally linking the graphical representative of the channel-driver mapping and/or the number of graphical elements to the one or more system resources. In other words, the one or more system resources associated with the at least one system control module may be called, requested, received, processed, etc. via the at least one control unit. For example, the one or more system resources may comprise at least one physical part, such as circuitry, etc., and/or at least one virtual part, such as a software implemented system function, etc. The at least one control unit may control the one or more system resources to e.g. receive control data, measurement data, sensor data, system data, configuration data, operating data, etc., or to control the one or more system resources to perform a system function, or the like.

According to an embodiment, the at least one control unit may be configured to receive, from at least one corresponding system resource, preferably a network resource, a connection status for each of the number of channels, and to determine on this basis the channel-driver mapping. For example, the network resource may send a signal that may be received and processed for determining the connection status. Further means for determining the channel-driver mapping are described above. In this way, configuration detection, i.e. detecting which electrical driver is actually connected to which channel, can be performed in an automatic manner.

In an embodiment, the medical treatment device may comprise a plurality of system control modules each configured to perform at least one corresponding system control function, selected from: system monitoring, system calibration, system communication, system configuration and/or parametrization, system maintenance, system administration, system service, system simulation, system test, file management, application software run, and system operation, and wherein the console may be configured to generate the user interface to functionally link one or more of the number of graphical control elements to one or more corresponding system control modules. The number of graphical control elements may also be referred to as software components that a device or system user interacts with through direct manipulation to read or edit information about the corresponding system control function and/or system control module. By way of example, the user interface may utilize a user interface library, as known in the art, which may contain a collection of different types of graphical control elements, and a rendering logic that renders the graphical control elements.

According to an embodiment, a first subset of the one or more system control modules may be functionally linked to a first screen, tab or window, of the user interface comprising the graphical representative of the channel-driver mapping, and wherein one or more further subsets of the one or more further system control modules are functionally linked to at least one further, second screen or window configured to be activated via the user interface. In other words, the user interface may have two or more screens, tabs, windows, pop-up screens, or the like.

In an embodiment, the at least one system control module may comprise a system monitor configured to monitor at least one corresponding system resource of the medical treatment device, wherein the console is configured to functionally link the monitoring data to the corresponding one or more of the number of graphical control elements. For example, the at least one corresponding system resource may be configured or selected to obtain and/or perform one or more measurements on one or more corresponding components of the medical treatment device. The one or more corresponding components may comprise any system component, hardware in general, periphery, etc., and may comprise one or more of a circuitry, an FPGA, a processor, microcontroller unit, communication network etc. Alternatively or additionally, the one or more corresponding components may comprise the number of channels, which may comprise a connection interface, e.g. a slot, the number of electrical drivers, which may comprise a board, e.g. a printed circuit board, a backplane, a file handling module, operating system, or the like. The one or more measurements and/or the detection may comprise one or more of electrical measurement, e.g. of voltage, current, etc., temperature measurement, fan operation, etc., with respect to the above one or more components, communication link measurement, or the like. For performing measurement, the medical treatment device and/or the one or more corresponding components may comprise one or more onboard temperature sensors, one or more electrical measurement units, or the like. The resulting measurement and/or detection data may then be displayed and/or may be subject for modification through the number of graphical control elements. In this way, the system, particularly the system resources, can be monitored, regardless of the concrete configuration of the medical treatment device selected. According to an embodiment, the at least one system control module may comprise a system test module configured to control at least one system resource in a targeted manner, and wherein the console is configured to generate the user interface to comprise a graphical representative of the at least one system resource to be targeted and/or one or more of the graphical elements functionally linked to the at least one system resource to be targeted. For example, the at least one system resource may be selected from a communication medium, for example, connecting the at least one control unit to one or more further components or entities and comprising, for example, a communication line, such as an optic fiber or the like, a connection port, for example from the number of electrical drivers for e.g. application coil testing, a current driver, from example from the number of electrical drivers for e.g. application coil testing, an automatic gain control module, e.g. a software module which is configured to, during normal operation of the medical treatment device, maintain a suitable signal amplitude at an output site despite variation of the signal amplitude at the input, etc.

For example, the system test module, may establish a test environment configured to emulate and/or simulate system operation without actually operating the medical treatment device to induce treatment. In this way, the system configuration can be tested before actual operation in a safe testing environment.

In an embodiment, the system test module may be associated with system resource specific parametrization, and wherein the console is configured to generate the user interface to functionally link the corresponding number of graphical control elements to the system resource specific parametrization. For example, parametrization of the above connection port, current driver, application coil, automatic gain control module, may be displayed and subject to modification of one or more parameters. In this way, system testing can be carried out with desired parametrization.

According to an embodiment, the at least one system control module may comprise a system calibration module configured to program or re-program at least one system resource in a targeted manner, and wherein the console is configured to generate the user interface to comprise a graphical representative of the at least one system resource to be targeted and/or one or more of the number of graphical elements functionally linked to the at least one system resource to be targeted. For example, the system calibration module may utilize one or more compensation tables associated with an applicator coil to be connected or connected to an output side of the number of electrical drivers, particularly of a magnetic field driver utilizing one or more applicator coils for providing treatment. The compensation may comprise e.g. compensation value of a frequency, amplitude, offset, duty cycle, etc., of a current used to drive the applicator coil. In this way, the system may be calibrated before actual operation.

In an embodiment, the system calibration module may be associated with system resource specific parametrization, and wherein the console is configured to generate the user interface to functionally link the corresponding one or more of the number of graphical control elements to the system resource specific parametrization. For example, the system resource may be parametrized to generate desired output, such as a desired electrical current, or the like.

According to an embodiment, the at least one system control module may comprise a system access module configured to obtain, from a user command received via the user interface, user-bound data and/or subject-bound data; and control, based on a correlation between the obtained user-bound data and/or the subject-bound data and an access permission rule received from a central-site computing device, access to one or more other of the at least one the at least one system control module. For example, the access permission rule may restrict or allow access to the system control, operation control, etc., of the medical treatment device. Access permission or restriction may depend on one or more of a specific geographical location of the medical treatment device, on treatment prescription, a specific subject to be treated, license and/or service subscription, number of device operation, number of logins, etc. In this way, access of a user or operator to the medical treatment can be controlled from remote.

In a second aspect, there is provided a console for a medical treatment device comprising a number of channels to connect a number of electrical drivers for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject, configurable according to desired treatment. The console comprises: at least one data interface, configured to be connected to at least one control unit of the medical treatment device connected to the number of channels; wherein the console is configured to receive, from the at least one control unit via the at least one data interface, a channel-driver mapping, indicating which of the number of electrical drivers is actually connected to which of the number of channels, and information associated with at least one system control module configured based on the channel-driver mapping; wherein the console is configured to generate, based on at least the channel-driver mapping, a user interface comprising at least a graphical representative of the channel-driver mapping including a number of graphical control elements, arranged and functionally linked to the corresponding at least one system control module, in a channel and/or electrical driver specific manner.

The console and/or the medical treatment device of this aspect may be configured in accordance with one or more of the embodiments of the first aspect. The console may be a software application, and may be provided as a computer program element, configured to be run on a processor, a FPGA, or the like, e.g. of the at least one control unit etc., The computer program element may be stored on a computer-readable medium to be provided.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a system for medical treatment, comprising: a medical treatment device according to the first aspect; and a central-site computing device, comprising at least one access permission rule bound to a user of the medical treatment device and/or to a subject to be treated; wherein the medical treatment device is configured to obtain, from a user command received via the user interface, user-bound data and/or subject-bound data; and control, based on a correlation between the obtained user-bound data and/or the subject-bound data and the access permission rule of the central-site computing device. For example, the central-site computing device may be formed or may comprise a server, computing cloud, or the like, remotely connectable or connected to the medical treatment device, via e.g. a communications network, such as the Internet.

The medical treatment and/or the console of this aspect may be configured in accordance with one or more of the embodiments of the first and/or second aspect.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method for controlling a medical treatment device comprising a number of channels to connect a number of electrical drivers for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject, configurable according to desired treatment. The method comprises: determining, by at least one control unit connected to at least one of the number of channels, a channel-driver mapping, indicating which of the number of electrical drivers is actually connected to which of the number of channels, and configured to control at least one system control module based on the channel-driver mapping; and generating, by a console connected to the control unit, based on at least the channel- driver mapping, a user interface comprising at least a graphical representative of the channel- driver mapping including a number of graphical control elements, arranged and functionally linked to the corresponding at least one system control module, in a channel and/or electrical driver specific manner.

The method may be computer-implemented and may be carried out by utilizing the medical treatment device according to the first aspect. Therefore, for embodiments and their explanation, reference is made to the first aspect.

According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a computer program element, which when executed by a processor is configured to carry out the method of the fourth aspect, and/or to control a system according to the third aspect, and/or to provide and/or control a console according to the second aspect, and/or to control a device according to the first aspect.

According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage or transmission medium, which has stored or which carries the computer program element according to the fifth aspect. It is noted that the above embodiments may be combined with each other irrespective of the aspect involved. Accordingly, the device may be combined with structural features of the system and/or the method and, likewise, the system and/or method may also be combined with features described above with regard to the device. These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in the following with reference to the drawings.

Fig 1 shows in a perspective front view a medical treatment device for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject, according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary section of a user interface of a console according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary section of a user interface of a console according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 illustrates an exemplary section of a user interface of a console according to an embodiment.

Fig. 5 shows in a block diagram a medical treatment device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 6 shows in a block diagram a medical treatment system for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject, according to an embodiment.

Fig. 7 shows in a flow chart a method for operating a medical treatment device and/or a system for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows in a perspective front view a medical treatment device 100 for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject. The method of treatment applicable by the medical treatment device 100 is freely configurable by a user, as will be described below.

The medical treatment device 100 comprises a housing, a number of channels 110 at least one control unit 120, which may also be distributed in two or more control units, such as a backplane, a slot-inserted control unit, a main control unit, etc., as indicated in Fig. 1, a number of electrical drivers 130, a number of applicators 140, a memory and/or database (not shown), and a console 150.

The number of channels 110 may be assigned to the corresponding compartment of the housing for accommodating the at least one individual of the number of electrical drivers 130. Further, the compartment may be formed as a slot or the like. Furthermore, the number of channels 110 is configured to provide a connection interface, e.g. mechanical connection interface in slot- form or the like, to connect an individual of the number of electrical drivers 130. Preferably, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the number of channels 110 and the number of electrical drivers 130. It is noted that each of the number of channels 110 may be assigned to an address that can be controlled by the at least one control unit 120.

Thereby, an individual one of the number of electrical drivers 130 corresponds to at least one channel of the medical treatment device 100. It is noted that one individual of the number of electrical drivers 130 itself may comprise one or more channels, so that even with a single electrical driver 130 two or more separately controllable channels may be provided. That is, generally, the medical treatment device 100 may be configured to comprise the number of channels 110, each of which is operable in parallel or simultaneously with the other channels on the same subject.

The housing is, for example, formed as e.g. a rack and comprises a number of compartments, such as slot or the like. Optionally, some or all of the number of compartments is of same size, i.e. of a same dimension, and/or of a same shape, so as to provide a modular platform. Further, each of the compartments is configured to accommodate a computing board or card, i.e. an individual one of the number of electrical drivers 130. Further, the housing may accommodate the at least one control unit 120, at least partially, as indicated by the corresponding reference sign in Fig. 1.

Each of the number of electrical drivers 130 is provided as a computing board or card, which may be selectively inserted into one of the number of compartments. When inserted into the corresponding compartment, the respective electrical driver 130 is operatively connected to the control unit 120, i.e. the main control unit, so that the control unit has the overall control. Further, the number of electrical drivers 130 is configured to provide the electrically induced treatment, the method of which is provided in accordance with a type of the electrical driver 130. The type of electrical driver 130 may be selected from an electric current driver, a current-controlled magnetic field driver, a voltage-controlled magnetic field driver, a led light driver, a halogen light driver, and an ultrasonic driver. Accordingly, the medical treatment device 100 may be freely configured, by utilizing, i.e. operating, one or more of these types of electrical driver 130 within the same medical treatment device 100. For example, the number of channels comprises at least a first type of electrical driver 130 and a second type of electrical driver 130, wherein the first type and the second type of electrical driver 130 are different to each other. By way of example, the medical treatment device 100 may be configured to comprise a selection or combination of at least one electric current driver, at least one current-controlled magnetic field driver, at least one voltage-controlled magnetic field driver, at least one led light driver, at least one halogen light driver, and at least one ultrasonic driver, wherein the configuration of the electrical drivers 130 is not limited to this. Alternatively or additionally, the medical treatment device 100 may comprise at least two channels comprising a same type of electrical driver 130. For example, the medical treatment device 100 may be configured to comprise at least two electrical drivers 130 of the same type, e.g. at least two electric current drivers, at least two current-controlled magnetic field drivers, at least two voltage-controlled magnetic field drivers, at least two led light drivers, at least two halogen light drivers, and/or at least two ultrasonic drivers. It is noted that the medical treatment device 100 does not necessarily have to comprise different types of electrical drivers 130, but can be limited to one type, wherein two or more of the same type may be configured. The at least one control unit 120, which, is configured to control, via the corresponding channel, the number of electrical drivers 130 based on a control program. The control program comprises a number of channel-specific driver signal description modules. The control program and/or the channel-specific driver signal description module may comprise one or more signal parameters that comprise one or more of a signal shape or waveform, amplitude, frequency, and signal duration. These signal parameters may define a specific signal shape or waveform, which may also comprise one or more sequences of specific signal shapes or waveforms and/or one or more combinations of signal shapes or waveforms. For example, the specific signal shape or waveform may be sine, half sine, sawtooth, triangle, line, DC, square, pulse, sine-segment, trapezoidal segment, Gaussian distribution, ECG, an arbitrary waveform, or the like. Optionally, the medical device may be configured to vary one or more parameters of the specific signal shape or waveform, such as duration, frequency, phase, duty cycle, pulse and/or amplitude. It is noted that the driver signal description module of a first one of the number of channels may differ in some or all signal parameters from a second one of the number of channels, etc. Further, the control unit 120 is configured to align, in a periodic time, the channel-specific driver signal description modules of each of the number of channels with each other, as will be described in more detail below.

Further, the at least one control unit 120 is configured to determine a channel-driver mapping indicating which of the number of electrical drivers 130 is actually connected to which of the number of channels 110, and configured to control at least one system control module based on the channel-driver mapping. For example, the channel-driver mapping may be determined by the at least one control unit, based on a channel connection status, received for or from each channel, at least indicating whether or not an electrical driver is connected to a channel, and preferably which electrical driver is connected to which channel.

Furthermore, the at least one control unit 120 is configured to control at least one system control module based on the channel-driver mapping. For example, the at least one system control module, which may be associated with one or more system control functions, selected from: system monitoring, system calibration, system communication, system configuration and/or parametrization, system maintenance, system administration, system service, system simulation, system test, file management, application software run, and system operation. Thereby, the at least one system control module may be configured to control, e.g. to call, request, allocate, parametrize, adjust, etc., a number of system resources 160 (see e.g. Fig. 5), which may be or may comprise a physical and/or virtual resource, such as a hardware component, system function, etc. For example, the at least one system resource 160 may be any internal system component of the medical treatment device 100 and/or external device connected thereto, such as electrical power control, e.g. a power switch etc., data processing means, e.g. an FPGA, a microcontroller, etc., input/output operations, memory management, one or more sensors and/or detections, e.g. temperature sensor, etc., network and/or communications control, data handling and/or file management, or the like.

In at least some embodiments, the at least one control unit 120 and/or the console 150 is configured to program or re-program the number of electrical drivers 130 with an embedded software in a targeted manner, based on the channel-driver mapping, from which an address or the like for controlling the corresponding one or more of the number of electrical drivers 130 is derivable.

The number of applicators 140 is operatively connected to the number of electrical drivers 130, and configured to be brought into contact with the subject. The type of applicator 140 may be selected in accordance with the selected type of electric driver 130. For example, the number of applicators 140 may be provided as a skin electrode, a head electrode, which can optionally be arranged in a kind of helmet, a coil, a needle, which may be used on the skin and/or dermis, epidermis or hypodermis, a lighting device, and/or an ultrasonic probe. The number of applicators 140 may be configured to provide the method of treatment corresponding to the type of electrical driver 130 of the corresponding channel. For example, an electric current driver may be operated by using one or more electrodes, a magnetic field driver may be operated by using one or more coils, a led light driver, a halogen light driver, and an ultrasonic driver. The console 150 may be implemented as a software application and may be operatively connected to the control unit 120, optionally also to the number of electric drivers 130. The service console 150 comprises a user interface 151, which in turn comprises at least one graphical user interface (GUI) to be displayed to the user by utilizing e.g. a display, monitor, etc. This is illustrated in Fig. 1, where the user interface 151 and/or the GUI is displayed within an exemplary monitor of the medical treatment device 100. Further, the console 150 comprises input means, such as a keyboard, touchscreen, etc., configured to be operated by the user to control the console 150 and/or the control unit 120.

Fig. 2 shows an example of the user interface 151 as provided by the console 150. It comprises a graphical representative 151 A of the number of channels 110, wherein each of these here is designated as “Slot n”, e.g. “Slot 1”, “Slot 2”, etc., depending on the actual and/or total number of channels 110 provided by the medical treatment device 100. The graphical representative 151 A of the number of channels 110 may be displayed on a screen of the user interface 151, e.g. a window, tab, or the like, as shown in Fig. 2. Further, the first graphical representative 151 A comprises a number of distinct areas graphically representing the number of channels 110, wherein Fig. 2 indicates that each “Slot n” may be represented by a corresponding distinct area of the number of distinct areas. Furthermore, the user interface 151 according to Fig. 2 comprises an exemplary graphical control element 15 IB functionally linked to a corresponding system control module 121 (see e.g. Fig. 5) and/or a corresponding system resource 160 (see e.g. Fig.5). By way of example, the graphical control element 15 IB is functionally linked to a network resource to be controlled to establish a connection from the console 150 to one or more of the numbers of electrical drivers 130. It is noted that in the following a number of the graphical control elements 15 IB is, for the sake of clarity, designated by the same reference sign 15 IB and individuals of the graphical control elements 15 IB are not further differentiated in this respect. However, it is understood that the number of graphical control elements 15 IB may differ from each other in their type and/or their functional link, as described herein. Fig. 3 shows a further example of the user interface 151 as provided by the console 150. Again, the user interface 151 is displayed in a window, tab, etc., which may be the same as in Fig. 2. Further, in this example, a connection between the console 150 and the number of channels 110 and/or the number of electrical drivers 130 has already been established, so that one of the graphical control elements 15 IB indicates the connection to be established, e.g. by the designation “connected”, etc. Further, the user interface 151 comprises the graphical representative 151 A, which basically corresponds to that shown in Fig. 1, however, is now, after determining the channel-driver mapping, generated based on the channel-driver mapping. The graphical representative 151 A includes a number of the graphical control elements 15 IB, arranged and functionally linked to the corresponding at least one system control module 121 (see e.g. Fig. 5), in a channel and/or electrical driver specific manner. The graphical representative 151 A of the channel-driver mapping comprises a mimic of the type of electrical driver 130 in graphical form. For graphically generating this, a suitable rendering technique, a GUI library, or the like, may be utilized by the console 150. Merely by way of example, here, the graphical representative 151 A comprises the mimic of the at least one control unit 120 or a part of it, which is assigned to a corresponding one of the number of channels 110, here e.g. “Slot 2”, and the mimic of different types of electric driver assigned to a corresponding one of the number of channels, here e.g. “Slot 4”, “Slot 6” and “Slot 8”. Further, by way of example, the different types of electric driver comprise one magnetic field driver exemplary assigned to “Slot 4”, and two electric field drivers exemplary assigned to “Slot 6” and “Slot 8”, respectively. Thereby, one or more of the number of graphical control elements 15 IB is generated to be arranged within the graphical representative 151 A, wherein one or more of these may be arranged within the distinct areas. It is noted that the number, the type, the distribution, the functional link, etc., of the number of graphical control elements 15 IB is generated in accordance with the selected configuration of the number of channels 110 and number of electrical drivers 130 selected and connected to the number of channels 110. In other words, the user interface 150 is adapted to specific configuration and may therefore vary from configuration to configuration, thereby allowing the medical treatment device 100 to be freely configured according to desired treatment of the subject, e.g. based on prescription or the like.

It is noted that one or more of the number of graphical control elements 15 IB is configured to adjust and/or control, when operated by a corresponding user command, the at least one system control module 121 (see e.g. Fig. 5) in accordance with the received user command, via the console 150 and/or the at least one control unit 120.

Still referring to Fig. 3, the number of graphical control elements 15 IB may indicate, e.g. by means of displaying, whether or not the connection between the corresponding channel 110 and electrical driver 130 is established, functional without errors, etc. In the example shown, this is indicated by coloring, labeling, etc., the corresponding graphical control element 15 IB accordingly. Further, one or more of the number of graphical control elements 15 IB may be functionally linked to the corresponding at least one system control module 121 (see e.g. Fig. 5) and/or system resource 160 (see e.g. Fig. 5) to provide means for monitoring and/or displaying related data and/or for modifying them. Furthermore, by way of example, the graphical representative 151 A and/or one or more of the number of graphical control elements 15 IB may be configured to provide the functionally linked at least one system control module 121 (see e.g. Fig. 5) as a channel-and/or electrical driver specific context menu or the like, so that operating the same always addresses the correct system control module 121 (see e.g. Fig. 5) and/or function.

Fig. 4 shows a further example of the user interface 151 as provided by the console 150. Here, the user interface 151 provides another window, upon user command applied via the window of Fig. 2 or Fig. 3. According to Fig. 4, The user interface 151, comprises a number of tabs, wherein in this example the number of tabs corresponds to the number of channels 110 at which a corresponding one of the number of electrical drivers 130 is connected. Accordingly, in this example, each tab is associated with a corresponding one of the number of channels 110, i.e. with a corresponding one of the number of electrical drivers 130, so as to allow to display and/or modify corresponding data of the individual . Further, Fig. 4 shows, by way of example, that one or more of the number of graphical control elements 15 IB are functionally linked to data, e.g. provided via the at least one control unit 120 and associated with e.g. one or more of the system resources 160 (see e.g. Fig. 5) utilized, so that the data a displayed by the corresponding graphical control element 15 IB. Merely by way of example, in Fig. 4, the data displayed are associated with one or more parameters of an electric current driver, i.e. a selected type of the number of electrical drivers 130, wherein the association of data with the number of graphical control elements 15 IB is not limited herein. According to Fig. 4, the data displayed are channel- and/or electrical driver specific linked, e.g. to one or more corresponding system resources 160 (see e.g. Fig. 5), etc., depending on the tab selected.

In at least some embodiments, the at least one system control module 121 (see e.g.

Fig. 5) comprises a system monitor configured to monitor at least one corresponding system resource 160. For example, the above data displayed may be associated with the system monitor and may be linked to the data displayed, and may therefore also be referred to as monitoring data. And the at least one corresponding system resource 160 may comprise or may be associated with at least one hardware and/or software resource 160 configured to determine, measure, detect, etc., or inherently knows, the data to be displayed. According to Fig. 4, the monitoring data may, for example, be associated with the one or more parameters, e.g. with parameters of a driver signal, or the like, of the corresponding one of the number of electrical drivers 130. Further, by way of example, the monitoring data may also comprise one or more measurement and/or detection values of e.g. temperature, fan speed, current, voltage, power supply, etc., associated with the at least one corresponding system resource. Furthermore, depending on whether the data monitored, i.e. one or more parameters of the corresponding system resource 160 are modifiable, one or more of the number of graphical control elements 15 IB may be functionally linked to the at least one corresponding resource 160 for controlling it via a user command.

Still referring to Fig. 4, one or more of the number of graphical control elements 15 IB are arranged within the graphical representative 151 A to graphically reflect at least one corresponding resource 160 of a corresponding type of electrical driver, such as the components of the corresponding driver board as exemplarily indicated in Fig. 4. As can be seen, one or more of the number of graphical control elements 151 A are associated with the above measurement and/or detection values, one or more indicator lights, e.g. leds. It is noted that, basically, any component or resource, which can be controlled, read out and/or subjected to a measurement, or which provides such measurement and/or detection of to-be-monitored values itself, may be displayed and/or linked to one or more corresponding of the number of graphical control elements 15 IB. For example, an integrated circuit, or other electrical or electronic components known in the art, may provide such monitoring data itself without having to be subjected to further measurement and/or detection. Accordingly, these one or more values of the monitoring data may be obtained directly from such component or resource.

It is noted that in Fig. 4, for the sake of clarity, only an exemplary one of the number of graphical control elements 15 IB is designated with a reference sign, however, the others can be recognized in Fig. 4.

Still referring to Fig. 4, the at least one system control module 121 (see e.g. Fig. 5) may comprise a system test module configured to control the at least one system resource 160 (see e.g. Fig. 5) in a targeted manner. Again, when activating, e.g. calling the system test module, the console 150 may be configured to generate the user interface 151 to comprise the graphical representative 151 A of the at least one system resource 160 (see e.g. Fig. 5) to be targeted and/or one or more of the graphical elements 15 IB functionally linked to the at least one system resource to be targeted. Further, the system test module may be associated with system resource specific parametrization, which may be, via a functional link, modified via the number of graphical control elements 15 IB in the manner as explained above.

For example, the system test module may be configured to apply a specific test procedure depending on the type of electrical driver. Preferably, the system test module may provide the data, rules, etc. needed to perform the corresponding test procedure to one or more corresponding system resources 160 (see e.g. Fig. 5). Further, preferably, the system test module may be configured to establish a test environment within the system, in which test environment the test procedure can be performed in a controlled manner, e.g. without actual operation of the corresponding system function. By way of example, the test module may be configured to utilize a computational model and/or simulated data of a component, a corresponding system behavior, or the like, to input specific data and detect the resulting system output, e.g. system behavior.

Further, the at least one system control module may comprise a system calibration module configured to program or re-program at least one system resource in a targeted manner, wherein this is, again as explained above, displayed and/or functionally linked to the number of graphical control elements 15 IB. The at least one system resource may be programmed or- re-programmed with one or more calibration parameters, configured to adjust the system resource, and/or a resulting system behavior.

Furthermore, the least one system control module 160 (see e.g. Fig. 5) may comprise a system access module configured to obtain, from a user command received via the user interface 151, user-bound data and/or subject-bound data. Further, the system access module may be configured to control, based on a correlation between the obtained user-bound data and/or the subject-bound data and an access permission rule received from a central-site computing device, access to one or more other of the at least one the at least one system control module. For example, one or more system function, or startup and/or operation of the whole device, may be permitted or restricted based on the above correlation. In at least some embodiments, the access permission rule may be received from a server, a computing cloud, or the like, which may form the central-site computing device 200 (see e.g. Fig. 6). The central-site may be remote from the location where the medical treatment device 100 is operated, and these may be connected with each other via e.g. a communications network, such as the Internet. In at least some embodiments, the central-site computing device 200 may be configured to remotely program and/or re-program the medical treatment device 100, via the communications network or the like. Fig. 5 shows in a block diagram an exemplary structure of the medical treatment device 100. As explained above, the console 150 is configured to provide control of the at least one control unit 120, the one or more system control modules 121, the one or more system resources 160, and/or the number of electrical drivers 130. Exemplary connections between these components are indicated by the corresponding arrows in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 shows in a schematic block diagram a system 1000 for medical treatment. It comprises at least one medical treatment device 100 according to one or more of the embodiments as explained above, and the above-mentioned central-site computing device 200. Thereby, the central-site computing device 200 comprises at least one access permission rule bound to a user of the medical treatment device 100 and/or to a subject to be treated, wherein the medical treatment device 100 is configured to obtain, from a user command received via the user interface 151, user-bound data and/or subject-bound data; and control, based on a correlation between the obtained user-bound data and/or the subject-bound data and the access permission rule of the central-site computing device 100.

Fig. 7 shows in a flow chart a method for operating the medical treatment device 100 and/or the system 1000. It is noted that, optionally, the medical treatment device 100 and the central-site computing device 200 may be configured to provide, via the central-site computing device, remote control of the medical treatment device 100.

In a step SI, the method comprises determining, by the at least one control unit 120 connected to at least one of a number of channels 110, a channel-driver mapping, indicating which of the number of electrical drivers 130 is actually connected to which of the number of channels 110, and configured to control at least one system control module 121 based on the channel-driver mapping.

In a step S2, the method comprises generating, by the console 150, which is connected to the control unit 120, based on at least the channel-driver mapping, the user interface 151 comprising at least the graphical representative 151 A of the channel-driver mapping including a number of graphical control elements 15 IB, arranged and functionally linked to the corresponding at least one system control module 121, in a channel and/or electrical driver specific manner.

Optionally, the method may be adapted in accordance with the one or more embodiments of the medical treatment device 100 and/or system 1000 as explained above. In another exemplary embodiment, a computer program or computer program element is provided that is characterized by being configured to execute the method steps of the method according to one of the preceding embodiments, on an appropriate system.

The computer program element might therefore be stored on a data processing unit, which might also be part of an embodiment. This data processing unit may be configured to perform or induce performing of the steps of the method described above. Moreover, it may be configured to operate the components of the above described device and/or system. The computing unit can be configured to operate automatically and/or to execute the orders of a user. A computer program may be loaded into a working memory of a data processor. The data processor may thus be equipped to carry out the method according to one of the preceding embodiments.