Cantilever Support Joint with Adjustable Payload Lever Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical device support systems struggle to accommodate a wide range of payloads without requiring structural changes or multiple spring force settings, limiting their versatility and increasing production complexity.

Innovation Solution

A support system with a support arm joint device that features a pivot axis and a support axis with adjustable distance between them, allowing for a large adjustment range independent of the pivot axis position, enabling the use of a single type of spring for various payloads and eliminating the need for specific spring force settings for different payload ranges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a support system is designed with fixed structural parameters, then manufacturing is simplified, but the ability to accommodate different payload ranges is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayload adjustment rangeVSAvoidstructural variants
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support axis is made adjustable relative to the pivot axis, allowing the lever arm length to be dynamically changed. This enables a single support system structure to accommodate different payload ranges by repositioning the support axis along the support arm, rather than requiring multiple fixed-configuration support systems for different payload categories.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support system is designed with universal functionality to handle both large and small payloads using the same basic structure. The adjustable support axis allows the same support arm to be configured for different payload ranges, eliminating the need for separate support systems designed for specific payload categories.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple spring force settings are used for different payload ranges, then payload adaptability is improved, but production complexity and inventory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayload range coverageVSAvoidproduction variants
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of changing the spring force characteristics (using different springs), the system changes the geometric parameter - the lever arm length formed by the distance between the pivot axis and support axis. This allows a single spring to be used across different payload ranges by adjusting the support axis position, rather than requiring multiple spring variants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the support axis position is fixed, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the adjustment range for payload compensation is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayload adjustment rangeVSAvoidsupport arm joint device
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support axis is divided into multiple discrete positioning locations along the support arm. This segmentation allows the support axis to be positioned at different locations to achieve different lever arm lengths and payload compensation ranges, while maintaining structural simplicity through discrete rather than continuous adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design allows for the adjustment of payloads over a broad range, simplifies production by reducing the number of variants, and enables easy reconfiguration from large to small payloads, ensuring stability and versatility in medical device support.

Implementation Method 1

The spring is arranged on one of the struts and serves as an energy store and as a force-generating component on the strut in order to absorb the force components or moments in the kinematics resulting from the mass/weight of the medical device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a support axle for supporting a lever set up to transmit forces, in particular tensile forces caused by a (tension or compression) spring, between the strut and the support arm joint device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever: Lever

Data Source

PatentEP3217939B1Support joint for a cantilever of a medical stand device
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 ONDAL MEDICAL SYST
  • EP3217939B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3217939B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3217939B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

The invention relates to a carrier arm joint device (10) for a carrier arm (20) of a stand (1) for arranging in the operating theatre and for locally moving a medical device (2) held on the carrier arm, wherein the carrier arm joint device (10) is designed for setting a payload corresponding to a weight of the medial device (2) to be taken up by the carrier arm, comprising: at least one pivot axle (17.1, 17.2), each for bearing at least one strut (21, 23) of the carrier arm; a support axle (X) for supporting a lever (13) designed to transmit forces holding the carrier arm between the strut (21) and the carrier arm joint device; wherein a distance (dz) between the axles is adjustable within an adjustment range (Vz) in order to set the payload; wherein the size and/or extent of the adjustment range (Vz) is independent of the position of the pivot axle (17.1). In this way, in a comparatively compact and structurally rigid joint, it is possible to maximize the adjustment range and therefore the payload spectrum. The invention further relates to a carrier system and a stand (1), each comprising at least one such carrier arm joint device (10).