Damper and surgical imaging device

Abstract

The invention relates to a damper for a surgical imaging device and the surgical imaging device. The damper includes a stacked layer including a first outer layer, a central layer, and a second outer layer. The layers are coupled to form a base member of the damper. The first outer layer also forms a first end of the damper, the first end being configured to be connected to a stent of a surgical imaging device, and the second outer layer also forms a second end of the damper, the second end being configured to be connected to a base of the surgical imaging device. The damper is configured to undergo elastic deformation in response to a thrust or tension presented on one of the ends such that the central layer rather than the outer layer undergoes elastic deformation. Applying a force to the first end causes a delay of the first outer layer relative to the second outer layer, thereby causing shear deformation of the central layer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a damper for a surgical imaging device and a surgical imaging device. Background Art

[0002] In the operating room, surgical imaging equipment such as surgical microscopes are subject to various shocks, especially during the time the equipment is in use during surgical procedures. In addition to chemical stress caused by fluid or chemical spills, surgical imaging equipment includes parts that cause slight vibrations of the surgical imaging equipment, such as fans for cooling electronic components or ventilation systems for drape aspiration. Typically, these vibrations can be overcome by image stabilization.

[0003] However, the user may also apply significant mechanical stress when operating the surgical imaging device, either intentionally or unintentionally. For example, the user may accidentally bump into components of the surgical imaging device while moving during a surgical procedure. These impacts may cause considerable or even severe shaking of the surgical imaging device. As a result, the user may not be able to obtain optimal imaging data from the surgical site until the surgical imaging device returns to a stable state. The user may even have to wait until the surgical imaging device returns to a stationary state before the user may use the surgical imaging device again for a predetermined surgical procedure.

[0004] Therefore, further efforts are needed to deal with the mechanical stresses imposed on surgical imaging devices. Summary of the invention

[0005] Improved concepts for damping mechanical shocks imparted on surgical imaging equipment may be desirable.

[0006] This object is achieved by the subject-matter of the independent claims.

[0007] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a damper for a surgical imaging device. The damper includes stacked layers, the stacked layers including: a first outer layer, a center layer, and a second outer layer. These layers are connected to form a base member of the damper. The first outer layer also forms a first end of the damper, the first end being configured to be connected to a support of the surgical imaging device, and the second outer layer also forms a second end of the damper, the second end being configured to be connected to a base of the surgical imaging device. The damper is configured to undergo elastic deformation in response to a thrust or pull force presented on one of the ends, so that the center layer, rather than the outer layer, undergoes elastic deformation. Applying a force to the first end causes a delay of the first outer layer relative to the second outer layer, thereby causing shear deformation of the center layer.

[0008] Since the damper is configured to be mounted inside the surgical imaging device so that the base and the bracket are connected to one of the ends of the damper, the movement of the bracket and / or the base acts on the damper, causing its shear deformation. The movement may be caused by a mechanical impact on the surgical imaging device. This may occur, for example, when a user accidentally hits a component of the surgical imaging device during a medical procedure. Such a component may be an arm of the surgical imaging device or an image acquisition device carrier, such as an optical carrier or a camera. When the various components, the bracket and the base are mechanically coupled, these impacts can be transmitted through the surgical imaging device. As a result, a movement of the bracket and / or the base can be formed, which generates a thrust or pull force acting on at least one of the ends of the damper. As a result, the damper undergoes a shear deformation, thereby changing the shape of the central layer, but not the shape of the outer layer. It should be understood that shear deformation includes shearing and de-shearing of the damper. In this case, de-shearing is the spontaneous return of the damper to its undeformed state after its deformation or shearing. By returning to its undeformed state, not only the deformation of the damper is reversed, but also the movement of the bracket and / or the base connected to the end of the damper is reversed. Thus, the damper helps the surgical imaging device to return to a stable state after an impact.This improves the usability of the surgical imaging device during a medical procedure, as the user can immediately or at least quickly operate the surgical imaging device after a collision has occurred.

[0009] The embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a surgical imaging device, which includes a support, a base and a damper.

[0010] The surgical imaging device may be a surgical microscope placed in an operating room. The surgical imaging device may also include an arm and an image acquisition device carrier, such as an optical carrier or a camera. During a surgical procedure, medical personnel, such as a surgeon or a surgical assistant, move around the surgical imaging device and may accidentally bump into one of the above-mentioned components of the surgical imaging device, causing a mechanical shock. A thrust or pull force is thereby applied to the corresponding component. The force is then transmitted through the surgical imaging device. Ultimately, the thrust or pull force is transmitted to a damper, which is connected to a bracket and a base by its ends. By shearing of the damper in response to the force and subsequent spontaneous de-shearing, the damper helps the surgical imaging device return to a stable state after such an impact has occurred. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Some examples of apparatus and / or methods will be described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0012] Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a damper according to an embodiment;

[0013] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A schematic side view of a damper;

[0014] Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the damper of the preceding figures in a deformed state;

[0015] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 A schematic side view of a damper;

[0016] Figure 5 shows a schematic side view of a surgical imaging apparatus according to an embodiment;

[0017] Figure 6 Shows Figure 5 A schematic perspective view of a surgical imaging device having a damper of the aforementioned figures;

[0018] Figure 7 Shown is the installation Figure 5 A further schematic perspective view of the damper of the preceding figures within a surgical imaging apparatus;

[0019] Figure 8 Shows Figure 6 and Figure 7 A schematic cross-sectional view of a damper within a surgical imaging device;

[0020] Fig. 9 It shows that Figure 6 and Figure 7 Additional schematic cross-sectional views of a damper within a surgical imaging device in FIG.

[0021] Fig.10 A schematic cross-sectional view of a surgical imaging apparatus is shown with the damper of the previous figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Surgical imaging device 500 (eg Figure 5 As shown in the figure, a surgical imaging device 500, such as a surgical microscope, can be used in an operating room during a medical procedure. A user of the surgical imaging device 500, such as a surgeon or a surgical assistant, may accidentally bump into components of the surgical imaging device 500. These components of the surgical imaging device 500 may include an arm 502 and an image acquisition device carrier 504, such as an optical carrier or camera, a bracket 506 and a base 508. Due to the mechanical connection, hitting one of the above-mentioned components causes the applied force to be transmitted through the surgical imaging device 500. In order to suppress shaking or movement of the surgical imaging device 500 caused by the transmitted force, the surgical imaging device 500 may further include, as shown in Figure 1 The damper 100 is further described in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0023] Figures 1 to 4 A perspective view of a damper 100 according to an embodiment is shown. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The damper 100 is shown in an undeformed (rest or initial) state. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The damper 100 is shown in a deformed state.

[0024] The damper 100 includes stacked layers 102, 104, 106. The stack includes a first outer layer 102, a center layer 104, and a second outer layer 106. The layers 102, 104, 106 are coupled to form a base member 108 of the damper 100. The coupling of the layers 102, 104, 106 may be accomplished by material or form-fit connections known to those skilled in the art. The first outer layer 102 also forms a first end 110 of the damper 100, which is configured to be coupled to a bracket 506 (e.g., a bracket 506 of a surgical imaging device 500). Figure 5 The second outer layer 106 also forms a second end portion 112 of the damper 100, which is configured to be connected to the base 508 of the surgical imaging device 500 (as shown). Figure 5 106 ). Through this connection, when the thrust or pull force is transmitted via the ends 110, 112, the thrust or pull force applied to the bracket 506 and / or the base 508 acts on the damper 100. The damper 100 is configured to undergo elastic deformation in response to the thrust or pull force, so that the center layer 104, but not the outer layers 102, 106, undergoes elastic deformation.

[0025] In a static state (such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 104 ), the damper 100 and its center layer 104 remain unchanged because no or no significant force is applied to the ends 110, 112. However, in the event of a mechanical shock to the surgical imaging device 500, such as due to a user striking a component of the surgical imaging device 500, movement of the bracket 506 and / or base 508 may occur. Due to the connection between the damper 100 and the bracket 506 and base 508, a push or pull force is generated at the ends 110, 112. The application of such a force to the first end 110 causes a delay of the first outer layer 102 relative to the second outer layer 106, thereby causing a shear deformation of the center layer 104 (such as Figure 3 and Figure 4106). In order to maintain deformation, the outer layers 102, 106 can be made of metal sheets. The center layer 104 can be made of an elastomer, preferably a polyurethane, so as to be deformable. The deformation can occur in the direction of the force, so that the center layer 104 can undergo a shear deformation, which is coaxial with the displacement of the first end 110. In other embodiments, other materials for the center layer 104 and / or the outer layers 102, 106 can be selected. The outer layers 102, 106 can be configured to not undergo deformation, not significantly deform, or at least less deformation than the center layer 104 in response to the force.

[0026] Thus, the delay of the first outer layer 102 relative to the second outer layer 106 can be limited to 2 mm. This maximum delay of 2 mm can translate into a maximum movement of the components of the surgical imaging device in the direction of the force of approximately 20 mm. These components can be the arm 502 and / or the image acquisition device carrier 504 of the surgical imaging device 500, such as a camera, an optical carrier, etc. Therefore, in the event that the arm and / or the image acquisition device carrier 504 of the surgical imaging device 500 is (accidentally) hit by the user and experiences a typical displacement of 2 to 3 mm, the final displacement of the damper 100 will be in the range between 0.2 and 0.3 mm. However, it should be understood that the delay of the damper 100 and the related displacement of the components of the surgical imaging device 500 may not be limited to a ratio of 1:10, and other ratios may be included in additional embodiments by the present disclosure.

[0027] In addition, the center layer 104 is configured to undergo deshearing after shear deformation to return to an undeformed state from a deformed state, the deformed state being equal to the shear state of the damper 100 (see Figure 3 and Figure 4 ), the undeformed state is equal to the unsheared state of the damper 100 (see Figure 1 and Figure 2). In the unsheared or undeformed state, the delay of the outer layers 102, 106 can be or can be nearly 0 mm. In response to the reappearing push or pull force applied to the ends 110, 112, the center layer 104 can repeatedly experience shearing and deshearing. Due to the material properties of the center layer 104, deshearing may occur spontaneously after shearing of the center layer 104. Therefore, it may be preferred to use an elastic material, such as polyurethane or a material of similar properties, for the center layer 104. By returning to its desheared, undeformed state, the damper 100 can act on the support 506 and / or base 508 of the surgical imaging device 500 so that the surgical imaging device 500 can return to a stable state after the damper deformation impact has occurred. After the impact, returning to the stable state of the surgical imaging device 500 may take only one to a few seconds, and there is little or no additional cycle of the back and forth movement of the corresponding components 502, 504, the support 506 and / or the base 508 of the surgical imaging device 500. Thus, after an impact has occurred, surgical imaging device 500 becomes usable again immediately or quickly.

[0028] Figure 6 A perspective view of the damper 100 installed within a surgical imaging device 500 is shown. The surgical imaging device 500 may include a fixing element 510 for fixing a first end 110 of the damper 100 to a housing 512 of a bracket 506 of the surgical imaging device 500. The surgical imaging device 500 may also include an additional fixing element 514 for fixing a second end 112 of the damper 100 to a connector component 516 of a base 508 of the surgical imaging device 500, the connector component 516 being configured to connect the base 508 with the bracket 506. And the surgical imaging device 500 may include a shaft 518 configured to movably connect the first end 110 and the second end 112. Therefore, both ends 110, 112 extend from the same side 114 of the base 108 of the damper 100. The second end 112 is configured to be movably connected to the first end 110. The movement of the ends 110, 112 can occur along the axis 518 in the direction of the force. The fixing elements 510, 514 can be attached to the ends 110, 112 by mechanical means such as screws 520 or bolt connections 522, which can engage in corresponding openings 116 of the ends 110, 112 (see also Figure 1 and Figure 3 ). Thus, the damper 100 can be easily installed inside the surgical imaging device 500.

[0029] The surgical imaging device 500 may also include an image acquisition device carrier 504 (see Figure 5 ), such as a camera and / or an optical carrier, and an arm 502 (see Figure 5 ). The damper 100 is thereby configured to undergo an elastic deformation that is coaxial with a force exerted on the image acquisition device carrier 504 and / or the arm 502. The force may be caused by a mechanical impact, such as a user (accidentally) hitting the image acquisition device carrier 504 and / or the arm 502. The force is then transmitted through the surgical imaging device 500 when the image acquisition device carrier 504, the arm 502, the bracket 506 and the base 508 are mechanically coupled. Therefore, the impact on the image acquisition device carrier 504 and / or the arm 502 is ultimately transmitted to the damper 100, which is connected to the bracket 506 and the base 508 via its ends 110, 112.

[0030] Figure 7 Another perspective view of the damper 100 is shown in the context of a surgical imaging device 500. A fixing element 510 is located at the first end 110, a further fixing element 514 is located at the second end 112, and an axis 518 connects the two ends 110, 112. This allows movement of the ends 110, 112 along the axis 518 in the direction of the force.

[0031] Figure 8 and Fig. 9 A schematic cross-sectional view of a damper 100 is shown, wherein Figure 8 A top cross-sectional view is shown, Fig. 9 A side cross-sectional view is shown. The cross section is located at axis 518 (at Figure 8 and Fig. 9518. In the depicted embodiment, the first end 110 is configured to be fixed to the bracket 506 by a fixing element 510. The second end 112 is configured to be fixed to the base 508 by an additional fixing element 514. The second end 112 is also configured to be mounted on an axis 518, which is configured to engage with the fixing element 510 so that during deformation, the first end 110 is displaced along the axis 518, thereby delaying the first outer layer 102 in the direction of the force. The fixing element 510 is attached to the end 110 by two screws 520. The additional fixing element 514 is attached to the second end 112 along the axis 518 by a bolt connection 522. In further embodiments, the fixing elements 510, 514 can be attached to the ends 110, 112 using the same or different fixing means, which is known to those skilled in the art. The fixing element 510 may include a cavity 524. When the first end 110 is displaced along the axis 518 toward the second end 112, the cavity 524 can allow for at least partial accommodation of the additional fixing element 514 and / or component 526 of the bolt connection 522. Thus, a compact arrangement of the damper 100 inside the surgical imaging device 500 is achieved. The axis 518 can also include a mechanical stop 528. The mechanical stop 528 is positioned opposite the second end 112 and the fixing elements 510, 514. The mechanical stop 528 thus limits the displacement of the first end 110 along the axis 518. In the depicted embodiment, the displacement can be limited so that the delay of the outer layers 102, 106 is limited to a maximum of 2 mm. In other embodiments, other limitations of displacement and, in turn, other positions of the mechanical stop 528 on the axis 518 can be used. The use of the mechanical stop 528 can prevent excessive shearing of the center layer 104 and thereby prevent damage to the damper 100.

[0032] Fig.10 A cross-sectional view of a surgical imaging device 500 is shown. The cross section is centered at the axis 518 (similar to Figure 8 ). In an embodiment, a fixing element 510 fixes the first end 110 of the damper 100 to a housing 512 of the bracket 506. Thus, the housing 512 includes a compartment 530 for accommodating the damper 100. A further fixing element 514 fixes the second end 112 of the damper 100 to a connector component 516 of the base 508. The connector component 516 is configured to connect the base 508 with the bracket 506. Movement of the bracket 506 and / or the base 508 exerts a push or pull force on at least one of the ends 110, 112 of the damper 100, thus causing deformation thereof.

[0033] As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as " / ".

[0034] Although some aspects have been described in the context of an apparatus, it is clear that these aspects also represent the description of the corresponding method, where the blocks or devices correspond to method steps or features of method steps. Similarly, the aspects described in the context of method steps also represent the description of the corresponding blocks or items or features of the corresponding apparatus.

[0035] Reference Mark

[0036] 100 Damper

[0037] 102 External Layer

[0038] 104 Central Floor

[0039] 106 External Layer

[0040] 108 base components

[0041] 110 first end

[0042] 112 Second end

[0043] 114 side

[0044] 116 openings

[0045] 500 surgical imaging equipment

[0046] 502 Arm

[0047] 504 Image acquisition device carrier

[0048] 506 bracket

[0049] 508 base

[0050] 510 fixed element

[0051] 512 housing

[0052] 514 fixed element

[0053] 516 Connector Parts

[0054] 518 axis

[0055] 520 screw

[0056] 522 bolt connection

[0057] 524 Cavity

[0058] 526 parts

[0059] 528 Mechanical Stop

[0060] 530 compartments

Claims

1. A damper for a surgical imaging device (500), the damper (100) comprising stacked layers (102, 104, 106), the stacked layers comprising: a first outer layer (102), a center layer (104), and a second outer layer (106); wherein the layers are coupled to form a base member (108) of the damper (100); wherein the first outer layer (102) also forms a first end portion (110) of the damper (100), the first end portion (110) being configured to be connected to a bracket (506) of the surgical imaging device (500), and the second outer layer 106 A second end (112) of the damper (100) is also formed, the second end (112) being configured to be connected to a base (508) of a surgical imaging device (500); wherein the damper (100) is configured to undergo elastic deformation in response to a push or pull force presented at one of the ends (110, 112) such that the center layer (104) but not the outer layers (102, 106) undergoes elastic deformation; wherein application of a force to the first end (110) causes a delay of the first outer layer (104) relative to the second outer layer (106), thereby causing shear deformation of the center layer (104).

2. The damper according to claim 1, wherein: The delay is limited to 2 mm.

3. The damper according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The ends (110, 112) extend from a common side (114) of a base member (108) of the damper (100), wherein the second end (112) is configured to be movably connected to the first end (110).

4. The damper according to claim 3, wherein: The first end (110) is configured to be fixed to the bracket (506) by a fixing element (510); wherein the second end (112) is configured to be fixed to the base (508) by at least one additional fixing element (514); wherein the second end (112) is also configured to be mounted on an axis (518), and the axis (518) is configured to engage with the fixing element (510) so that during deformation, the first end (110) is displaced along the axis (518), thereby delaying the first outer layer (102) in the direction of the force.

5. The damper according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: The central layer (104) undergoes a shear deformation coaxial with the displacement of the first end portion (110).

6. Damper according to one of the preceding claims, wherein The outer layers (102, 106) are made of metal sheets, wherein the central layer (104) is made of an elastomer, preferably polyurethane.

7. Damper according to one of the preceding claims, the central layer (104) being configured to undergo deshearing after shear deformation in order to return from a deformed state to a non-deformed state.

8. Surgical imaging device comprising a support (506), a base (508) and a damper (100) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. The surgical imaging device according to claim 8, the surgical imaging device (500) further comprising a fixing element (510) for fixing the first end (110) of the damper (100) to a housing (512) of the bracket (506); another fixing element (514) for fixing the second end (112) of the damper (100) to a connector component (516) of the base (508), wherein the connector component (516) is configured to connect the base (508) to the bracket (506); and a shaft (518) configured to movably connect the first end (110) and the second end (112).

10. The surgical imaging apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising an image acquisition device carrier (504) and an arm (502), wherein the damper (100) is configured to undergo an elastic deformation coaxial with a force applied to the image acquisition device carrier (504) and / or the arm (502).

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