Adjustable Surgical Tool Support Legs for Image-Guided Procedures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical procedures lack effective external structural support systems for surgical tools in CT and MRI environments, limiting the precision and versatility of image-guided interventions.
Innovation Solution
A surgical tool support system comprising positionally adjustable elongate support legs and a support platform, with a trajectory guide that can be aligned in multiple directions, allowing for flexible positioning and orientation of surgical tools within the CT or MRI environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed support structure is used for surgical tools, then the structural stability is improved, but the adaptability to different surgical positions and angles is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The support legs incorporate telescopic mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of length, enabling the support structure to adapt to different surgical positions and angles while maintaining stability during the procedure. The legs can be extended or retracted to achieve optimal positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The support legs are divided into multiple telescopic segments that can independently adjust their length. This segmentation allows for fine-tuned positioning adjustments while maintaining overall structural integrity and stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustable components are added to achieve versatile positioning, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic support legs serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, enable height adjustment, and facilitate angular positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate adjustment mechanisms, thereby limiting device complexity while maintaining positioning versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure integrates the bracket, support legs, and positioning mechanisms into a unified system. The telescopic legs combine length adjustment with angular adjustment capabilities, merging multiple positioning functions into a single integrated component rather than requiring separate mechanisms.
3Strength
If the support legs are made rigid for stability, then the structural strength is improved, but the adjustability of length and angle is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The support legs transition from a fixed rigid state to an adjustable state during setup, then return to a stable rigid state during use. The telescopic mechanism allows the legs to be adjusted to the required configuration and then locked in place, providing both adjustability and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic support legs incorporate locking mechanisms that pre-establish stable locked positions during adjustment. Once adjusted to the desired length and angle, the locking mechanism secures the position, providing structural strength and stability before the surgical procedure begins.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and assemblies for use during image-guided medical procedures use surgical support systems with a plurality of elongate legs that have independently adjustable lengths and end portions that adjacently attach to a bracket to provide different lockable orientations accommodating both supine and occipital access for neurological procedures.