Mounting bracket for medical devices

Abstract

A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a holder for medical devices configured to: - to mechanically pick up a medical instrument; - to at least partially compensate for the weight and / or movement of the medical instrument during use by a human operator.

Description

Technical field

[0001] This disclosure relates to devices for holding a medical instrument. background

[0002] Medical device holders, such as laparoscopic holders, are devices used to stabilize and position medical instruments, for example, during minimally invasive surgery. They can help reduce the physical strain on surgeons by holding the instrument in place, allowing for greater precision and reducing the need for constant manual adjustments. However, during surgery, a medical device holder can restrict the surgeon's tactile feedback, making it more difficult to feel tissue resistance or detect subtle movements. Furthermore, some models are bulky or difficult to handle, which can complicate the procedure. Setup and adjustment time can also increase, potentially prolonging the surgery. Therefore, improvements in this area are desirable. Summary

[0003] One objective of this disclosure is to improve the medical device owner.

[0004] This objective is achieved by the disclosed embodiments, which are defined in particular by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims provide information for further embodiments. Various aspects and embodiments of these aspects are also disclosed in the summary and description below, which provide additional features and advantages.

[0005] A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a holder for medical devices configured to: - to mechanically pick up a medical instrument; - to at least partially compensate for the weight and / or movement of the medical instrument during use by a human operator.

[0006] The invention was developed to address challenges in minimally invasive surgery, where surgeons struggle to hold laparoscopes and instruments steady for extended periods, leading to fatigue and reduced precision. Manual holding causes tremors, which impair accuracy, while the weight of the instruments adds further strain. This mechanical arm was designed to counterbalance the weight, reduce hand tremors, and allow the surgeon to lock the instruments in place when needed, thereby improving precision, reducing fatigue, and enhancing surgical outcomes.

[0007] The disadvantages of existing laparoscope holder solutions can be divided into three groups: 1. Mechanical restraints (e.g., screw or pneumatic mechanisms): Advantages: Cost-effective, durable, and robust. Disadvantages: These solutions are often bulky and take up a lot of space in the operating room. They generally require both hands for operation, making adjustments during a procedure cumbersome for the surgeon. Furthermore, mechanical restraints cannot be quickly loosened or tightened, limiting their flexibility and speed of use. 2. Robot-controlled laparoscope holders: Advantages: They offer highly precise control and can be programmed for specific movements. Disadvantages: Robotic systems are often difficult for surgeons to operate because they have non-intuitive interfaces such as foot joysticks, head movement sensors, or voice controls, which can be distracting. These systems are generally expensive, require a long setup time, and take up valuable space in the operating room. Their complexity often increases the learning curve for surgeons. 3. Human Operators: Advantages: Flexible and adaptable to changing conditions during surgery. Disadvantages: Using a human assistant to hold the laparoscope incurs labor costs and introduces human factors such as training requirements, fatigue, and the potential for inconsistencies or errors. Many surgeons prefer to manually control the laparoscope for optimal positioning, but this requires one hand to be free, limiting their ability to use other surgical instruments. Consequently, a second arm to hold the instrument in position is invaluable to the surgeon's efficiency.

[0008] Each of these existing solutions has drawbacks, such as lack of adaptability, inefficiency, or increased costs, which underlines the need for a more intuitive, flexible, and ergonomic system like the proposed mechanical arm.

[0009] One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a holder for medical devices, the medical instrument includes an instrument holder that can be configured for a variety of instruments.

[0010] An instrument could be, for example, a laparoscope, a cutting device and / or a suturing device.

[0011] One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a holder for medical devices, which has a kinematic system with one or more, in particular six, joints and includes one or more arm elements; and wherein one or more springs are arranged in the serial kinematics such that a movement of the serial kinematics, in particular of one or more joints of the kinematics.

[0012] A kinematic system can also include fewer or more than six joints. In particular, the kinematic system can be redundant. The kinematic system can be serial and / or parallel.

[0013] One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a holder for medical devices, wherein the one or more springs are arranged in such a way as to at least partially counteract a force emanating from the gravity of at least one part of the medical instrument holder and / or from a medical instrument attached to the device, particularly when the medical instrument holder is moved.

[0014] This allows the surgeon to move the medical instrument freely when it is attached to the instrument holder.

[0015] One embodiment of the first aspect relates to a holder for medical devices, which is configured to: - to adjust a force exerted by one or more of the one or more springs; - to modify one or more of the springs; in particular, so that a force exerted by the springs on the medical instrument holder is adjustable.

[0016] In this way, the medical instrument holder can be adapted to different medical instruments that have different weights and / or can exert different torques on the medical instrument holder. Brief description of the characters

[0017] Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the figures. The figures do not always show the embodiments to scale. The dimensions of the various features may be enlarged or reduced, particularly to clarify the description. For this purpose, the figures are at least partially schematic. Fig. Figure 1 shows a laparoscope holder according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows a laparoscope holder according to one embodiment of the invention. Fig. Figure 3 shows a laparoscope holder according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0018] Although some aspects relating to a device (or system) have been described in the present disclosure, the description of these aspects also constitutes a description of the corresponding process, wherein a block or device corresponds to a process step or a feature of a process step.

[0019] Similarly, aspects described in connection with a process step also represent a description of a corresponding block, element or feature of a corresponding device or system, which may be distributed across different locations and is configured to exchange information between the different locations using appropriate means of communication.

[0020] In general, the disclosure of a described method also applies to a corresponding device (or apparatus) for carrying out the method, or to a corresponding system comprising one or more devices, and vice versa. For example, if a particular method step is described, a corresponding device may include a feature for carrying out the described method step, even if this feature is not explicitly described or illustrated in the figure. Conversely, if, for example, a particular apparatus is described based on functional units, a corresponding method may include one or more steps for performing the described functionality, even if such steps are not explicitly described or illustrated in the figures.Similarly, a system can be provided with appropriate device features or features for performing a specific process step. The features of the various exemplary aspects and embodiments described above or below can be combined unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0021] As used herein, the term “and / or” encompasses all combinations of one or more of the related listed elements and may be abbreviated with “ / ”. Expressions such as “for example”, “e.g.” or “in particular” denote optional or facultative features that may be combined with any other (mandatory, optional or non-mandatory) features of the aspects or embodiments of this disclosure, unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0022] The following description refers to the accompanying figures, which are part of the revelation and illustrate certain aspects by which the present revelation can be understood ( ). Identical reference signs refer to identical or at least functionally or structurally similar features. Detailed description

[0023] One embodiment of the invention is a six-degree-of-freedom mechanical arm (structural feature) that passively counterbalances the weight of the laparoscope or surgical instrument by using springs located in the base of the arm (functional feature). The arm has electromagnetic brakes on selected axes that can be activated or deactivated by the surgeon via a button or foot switch, thus enabling precise control or locking of the instrument in space (functional feature). The arm also passively reduces vibration, thereby improving surgical accuracy (functional feature).

[0024] Embodiments of the invention may have various advantages, features and / or functions: a) Increased precision: The arm passively reduces hand tremors and ensures greater surgical accuracy by filtering out small, involuntary movements. b) Weight balancing: It balances the weight of the laparoscope or surgical instrument, thereby reducing the strain on the surgeon and allowing for more comfortable and longer use during the operation. c) Simple control and flexibility: With an intuitive control system (pushbutton or foot switch), the arm allows the surgeon to easily lock or release the position of the instrument, providing more flexibility during surgery. d) Improved workflow: By being able to “fix” instruments in place, the surgeon can use his hands for other tasks without the need for a human assistant, which streamlines the surgical procedure and improves efficiency. e) Space-saving and ergonomic: Unlike bulky mechanical or robot-controlled holders, the arm is light and slim, takes up little space in the operating room and offers ergonomic control. f) Compact and foldable design for transport: The arm can be designed with a compact and foldable structure, allowing it to be easily folded and transported within the operating room. This minimizes the system's footprint when not in use and ensures easy storage and handling, increasing its practicality in space-constrained environments. g) Minimal space requirement for operation: The arm can be designed to take up minimal space on the floor or bed in the operating room, reducing obstructions and allowing the surgical team to move freely. This compact, space-saving design ensures that the system integrates seamlessly into the operating environment without cluttering the workspace. h) Special adapter for quick release: A special adapter can be attached to the distal end of the arm, designed for the quick and easy attachment and release of the laparoscope or surgical instrument. This quick-release mechanism allows for rapid instrument changes during surgery and ensures a seamless transition without interrupting the procedure. i) Adjustable balancing mechanism: The weight balancing system can be adjusted so that it is suitable for different instruments or laparoscopes and the arm can be adapted to different surgical configurations. j) Additional degrees of freedom with brakes: The brakes can be extended to all six axes, enabling complete locking control and even more precise positioning of the instruments. k) Quick-release mechanism for emergency repositioning: The system could include a quick-release function to quickly release the brakes when immediate repositioning is required. l) Integrated instrument holder: An integrated system for the secure attachment of a variety of instruments ( ), making the arm versatile not only for the laparoscope but also for various other tools. m) Articulated wrist with multi-tool functions: The wrist at the distal end of the arm can be designed to accommodate multiple surgical instruments, increasing the versatility of the arm. n) Modular and removable design: The arm could be modular, allowing different components, such as arms or instrument holders, to be removed, reconfigured or replaced depending on the specific surgical requirements.

[0025] Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 refer to a system for positioning a surgical instrument and / or a laparoscopic camera with a quick-attachment system for instruments according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] The system may include a magnetic adapter 16, which allows for the rapid attachment and removal of surgical instruments and / or a laparoscopic camera during the laparoscopic procedure. The system comprises a mechanical arm consisting of a base 2, which may contain an adapter 1 for attaching the system to an operating table and / or an external column.

[0027] The system can comprise a brake 3 of the joint 17 and a segment 8, in which, in particular, two springs for compensating for gravity are located. The spring 4 can be responsible for compensating the segment 13. The spring 5 can be responsible for compensating the segment 10. In the joint 9, there can be a brake 7 that brakes the joint 9, and in particular, a further brake 6 that brakes the joint 11.

[0028] Segment 10 may contain a parallelism X that enables the transmission of forces from the springs in segment 8, thus providing a gravity compensation mechanism for the entire system. Joint 11 may contain a mechanism 12 that releases the compensating spring of segment 13, allowing segment 13 to be folded compactly by moving it closer to segment 10.

[0029] The arm can be crowned by a segment 13 with a curved end 14, to which a component 15 can be attached, on which a magnetic system for attaching instruments 16 is located, consisting of magnets that connect with magnets of adapters attached to the instruments.

[0030] As used here, the term “and / or” encompasses all combinations of one or more of the listed elements and can be abbreviated with “ / ”.

[0031] Although some aspects related to a device have been described, it is clear that these aspects also constitute a description of the corresponding process, where a block or device corresponds to a process step or a feature of a process step. Similarly, aspects described in connection with a process step also constitute a description of a corresponding block, element, or feature of a corresponding device.

Images