Computerised controllers for safety critical medical applications

Area of Science:

• Computer Engineering
• Medical Device Technology
• Safety Systems

Background:

• Safety-critical applications, particularly in medical environments, demand highly reliable computer control systems.
• Existing systems often face challenges in software verification and ensuring a seamless transition from programming to machine execution.
• Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) offer a strictly cyclic operating mode, beneficial for predictable system behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel computer control system design for safety-critical applications.
• To address the challenges of software verification in environments where system failures can lead to severe hazards.
• To enable simplified yet rigorous safety licensing of application software.

Main Methods:

• Introduction of a low-complexity, fault-detecting hardware architecture.
• Implementation of a strictly cyclic operating mode, inspired by programmable logic controllers.
• Utilization of a specification-level graphical programming technique using interconnected, application-oriented standard software function modules.
• Ensuring no semantic gap between programming and machine execution levels.

Main Results:

• The system architecture inherently supports fault detection and a strictly cyclic operation.
• The graphical programming technique simplifies software development and maintenance.
• The elimination of the semantic gap between programming and execution levels is achieved by design.
• A simplified and rigorous method for safety licensing of application software is enabled.

Conclusions:

• The novel computer control system design effectively addresses the need for high reliability in safety-critical medical applications.
• The integrated hardware and software approach simplifies the complex problem of software verification.
• This design provides a robust solution for environments where human safety and lives are at risk due to system failures.