Articulating Boom Stabilizer with Cable Tensioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instrument stabilizers lack the ability to securely and adjustably stabilize instruments during various surgical procedures, particularly in laparoscopic surgeries, where instruments need to be positioned and oriented precisely with variable resistance and ease of repositioning.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument stabilizer system featuring an articulating boom with a flexible arm, a cable tensioning mechanism, and a preload tensioning mechanism, allowing for secure attachment to a surgical table, adjustable resistance, and single-handed or voice-activated repositioning and locking of instruments in multiple directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid stabilizer structure is used, then stability is improved, but adaptability and ease of repositioning deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer employs a flexible arm with multiple articulating segments that can dynamically adjust their configuration. Each segment can be independently positioned and locked, allowing the arm to transition between stable fixed positions and adaptable reconfigurable states, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The arm is divided into multiple separable segments that can be independently positioned and locked. This segmentation allows each segment to contribute to stability when locked while maintaining overall adaptability through the ability to reconfigure the entire arm structure for different surgical instrument positions
2Measurement precision
If a complex tensioning mechanism is used, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex mechanical tensioning system is replaced with an actuator that uses electrical or pneumatic/hydraulic actuation to control cable tension. This substitution achieves precise positioning control while reducing mechanical complexity and improving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
Cables serve as intermediaries between the actuator and the arm segments, transmitting force efficiently to achieve precise positioning. The cables allow the actuator to control multiple arm segments with a single actuation point, simplifying the overall control mechanism while maintaining positioning precision
3Ease of operation
If manual repositioning is used, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Manual repositioning operations are augmented or replaced with automated actuators that can reposition the arm and stabilize surgical instruments quickly and precisely. This substitution maintains ease of operation through simple control interfaces while dramatically improving productivity by reducing repositioning time
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables rapid periodic repositioning of surgical instruments through actuator control. The arm can be quickly reconfigured between different positions as needed during surgery, allowing multiple instrument changes and adjustments without the time-consuming manual repositioning of traditional stabilizers
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides secure, adjustable, and versatile stabilization of surgical instruments, minimizing hand piece drift and allowing precise positioning and orientation, suitable for various surgical procedures with reduced power requirements and increased stability.
Implementation Method 1
a cable extending through the flexible arm. The cable has one end region connected to the actuator and another end region connected to a preload tensioning mechanism. The actuator is operable to tighten and loosen the cable
Implementation Method 2
The actuator is operable to tighten and loosen the cable, and the preload tensioning mechanism maintains an amount of tension in the cable when the actuator loosens the cable
Implementation Method 3
contact between the inner and outer walls, respectively, of adjacent nesting links limits rotations of the adjacent nesting links relative to one another
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument stabilizer system that includes an articulating boom that is releasably connectable to a surgical table side rail. The articulating boom includes an actuator, a multi-directional flexible arm having a first end region attached to the actuator, and a cable extending through the flexible arm. The cable has one end region connected to the actuator and another end region connected to a preload tensioning mechanism. The actuator is operable to tighten and loosen the cable, and the preload tensioning mechanism maintains an amount of tension in the cable when the actuator loosens the cable. The system further includes a surgical instrument-supporting member that is attached to a second end region of the flexible arm and is configured to releasably retain a surgical instrument.