Bayonet Tower Connection for Surgical Table Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical table adjustment mechanisms are cumbersome, unsafe, and prone to uncontrolled movements, making it difficult for surgical staff to position patients effectively and efficiently, and may lead to hazards such as inadvertent unlocking or carriage drift under patient weight.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable support apparatus featuring a crossbar, carriage, and tower assembly with a ratchet mechanism and bayonet-type connection, which allows for safe and easy manipulation of the patient platform, providing audible indicators for locking and unlocking, and preventing carriage drift, while maintaining stability and compliance with lift limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual adjustment mechanisms with rods and parallel bars are used, then the surgical table can be adjusted to various positions, but the system requires great care to prevent accidental patient lowering and is difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual rod-and-bar mechanical system with an electric motor-driven lifting mechanism. The motor unit (220) with gear train (222, 224, 226) and rack (230) provides automated, controlled movement of the platform, eliminating the need for manual manipulation of rods through parallel bars. This substitution improves ease of operation while maintaining safety through controlled mechanical engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the safety function from the manual adjustment mechanism by introducing a separate locking mechanism (202, 204) that independently secures the platform at desired positions. The locking pin (204) engages with notches (206) in the rack to prevent accidental lowering, separating the adjustment function from the safety function and allowing each to be optimized independently.
2Reliability
If complex locking mechanisms are used to ensure safety, then patient safety is improved, but the device complexity increases and maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual locking mechanisms with an electric motor-driven system that provides controlled, repeatable positioning. The motor unit with gear train and rack eliminates the need for multiple manual locks, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining safety through electronic control and automated mechanical engagement of the locking pin with notches.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism operates automatically through the motor-driven system. When the platform reaches a desired position, the locking pin (204) automatically engages with the notches (206) in the rack without requiring manual intervention. This self-locking feature reduces the number of manual operations needed and simplifies the overall system while maintaining safety.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustment mechanisms are added to achieve independent head and foot positioning, then positioning versatility is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the platform into separate sections (head portion and foot portion) that can be independently adjusted. Each section has its own support structure and can be positioned independently through the motor-driven mechanism, allowing for Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg positions without adding complex manual adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses electric motor units to control the independent positioning of different platform sections. The motor-driven rack and pinion system provides precise, independent control of each section's position, replacing what would otherwise require multiple manual cranks or levers. This automation simplifies operation while maintaining the versatility of independent positioning.
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 apparatus enables convenient and safe positioning of patients, reduces hazards, and enhances maintenance efficiency by allowing multiple movements of the patient platform, ensuring stability and compliance with safety standards, thus improving surgical access and patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
A controller associated with the carriage moves at least one pawl into and out of engagement with any of the gear racks, thus, allowing the end portions of the patient platform and the carriage to move upwardly and downwardly relative to a tower through a ratchet mechanism.
Implementation Method 2
An adjustable support apparatus featuring a crossbar, carriage, and tower assembly with a ratchet mechanism and bayonet-type connection
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A mechanism 144 for removably fixing tower 42 to crossbar 40 of first end support 14. Tower 142 includes an end surface 146 into which protuberances 148 and 150 extend. Upper surface 148 of crossbar 40 is formed with a first opening 158 having a recess 160 with an undercut hollow 162 shown in phantom on FIG. 12. A second opening 164 is found on surface 148 of crossbar 40 and includes a spring loaded plunger 166. Plunger 166 is intended to engage a slot 152 of protuberance 148. Once protuberance 150 is placed in opening 158, boss 154 rides in undercut hollow 162 and tower 42 is swung into place such that protuberance 148 of tower 142 enters second opening 164 and is held in place by spring biased plunger 166. As such, tower 42 engages and fits into crossbar 40 in a bayonet connection fashion.