Adjustable Medical Boom Head With Internal Conduit Slack Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical boom systems in operating and critical care areas lack a convenient and efficient method for providing vertically adjustable service heads with effective cable management, leading to difficulties in positioning and securing outlets for patient care.

Innovation Solution

A vertically adjustable service head assembly with a movable suspension arm, a vertically adjustable column, and conduit routing system that allows for horizontal and vertical conduit placement, anchoring, and adjustable lengths to facilitate easy extension and retraction of outlets, managing slack within the service head.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the service head is made vertically adjustable to improve positioning flexibility, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for adjustable columns and cable management mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical positioning flexibilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements nesting by placing the adjustable column inside the service head assembly, with the column containing internal conduit routing channels. The conduits are routed through the column structure itself, nesting the cable management system within the mechanical adjustment mechanism, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining vertical adjustability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary conduit routing system that mediates between the fixed service head outlets and the movable column. The conduits are routed through guide channels and tensioning mechanisms within the column, acting as intermediaries that allow vertical movement while maintaining secure electrical connections and managing cable slack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conduits are routed vertically within the service head to accommodate column extension, then the adaptability is improved, but conduit tangling and torque increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolumn extension capabilityVSAvoidconduit tangling and torque

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves conduit tangling by transitioning from purely vertical routing to three-dimensional routing. Conduits are routed through helical or spiral channels within the column, and slack is collected in a reservoir chamber located in the upper portion of the service head. This dimensional change allows the conduits to accommodate column extension without tangling or experiencing excessive torque.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs flexible conduit designs that can bend and flex within the column structure. The conduits are routed through flexible channels and supported by tensioning elements that allow them to extend and retract smoothly during column movement, preventing tangling and reducing torque by distributing stress along the conduit length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If the outlets are made vertically adjustable to improve positioning ease, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability decreases due to potential conduit damage from repeated movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutlet positioning easeVSAvoidconduit integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-routing conduits through protected channels within the column before assembly. The conduits are pre-tensioned and secured at multiple points along their length, and slack is pre-collected in reservoir chambers. This preliminary preparation ensures that during repeated vertical adjustments, the conduits remain protected from damage while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by incorporating slack reservoir chambers and buffer sections in the conduit routing. These cushioning elements absorb the mechanical stress and movement variations that occur during repeated column extension and retraction, protecting the conduits from damage and maintaining their integrity over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS11123249B2Vertically adjustable boom head and cable management therefor

Publication Date: 2021.09.21 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

A medical device assembly including a movable suspension arm, a vertically adjustable service head located at an end of the suspension arm, the vertically adjustable service head including a service head face with outlets thereon, and conduits routed by the suspension arm, into the vertically adjustable service head in a horizontal direction and vertically within the vertically adjustable service head to the outlets. The vertically adjustable service head includes a vertically adjustable column for raising and lowering the outlets.