Ceiling Rail Roller Chassis for Medical Rooms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical treatment room carrying systems face challenges in ergonomics, sterility, cleanliness, stability, and flexibility, with conventional systems experiencing play and abrasion issues, and limitations in handling heavier payloads and flexible positioning.

Innovation Solution

A ceiling-mounted rail system with a roller chassis featuring a unique arrangement of rollers and running surfaces that provide a low-backlash roller guide, enhanced stability, and flexible movement in three dimensions, along with optional features like cambered surfaces, biocompatible materials, adhesive mats, and air filtration to minimize contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional roller chassis systems are used, then device carrying function is provided, but play and abrasion occur reducing ergonomics and cleanliness

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidabrasion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The roller chassis is divided into multiple independent rollers (first roller, second roller, third roller, fourth roller) arranged on different running surfaces. Each roller operates independently to reduce play and abrasion, improving stability while minimizing harmful factors like wear and contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from conventional single-plane roller arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration with rollers positioned on multiple running surfaces (first, second, third, fourth running surfaces) at different locations. This spatial distribution reduces play and abrasion by distributing loads across multiple dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If ceiling rail systems with turntables are used, then flexible positioning is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidcomplexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rail device with multiple running surfaces serves multiple functions: it guides rollers for movement, provides structural support, and enables flexible positioning without requiring complex turntable mechanisms. The same rail structure handles both guidance and positioning flexibility, reducing overall system complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic repositioning of roller chassis along the rail while maintaining stability. The multiple running surfaces allow the roller chassis to adapt its position dynamically without complex mechanical interventions, achieving flexibility through simplified means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Weight of moving object

If heavier payloads are transported, then payload capacity increases, but stability decreases due to increased play

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayload capacityVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The roller chassis segments the load-bearing function across multiple rollers (first, second, third, fourth rollers) positioned on different running surfaces. This segmentation distributes the weight of heavier payloads evenly, maintaining stability by preventing concentration of force that would cause play.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs composite structural arrangements combining multiple rollers with the rail device to create a unified support system. This composite configuration enhances load-bearing capacity while maintaining stability through the distributed geometric arrangement of rollers and running surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 improves ergonomics and sterility, reduces abrasion and contamination, and enables stable and flexible positioning of medical devices, accommodating heavier payloads while maintaining low wear and play, thus enhancing the operational efficiency and cleanliness of medical treatment rooms.

Implementation Method 1

The roller chassis has a plurality of rollers. The rail device has a rail with running surfaces for the rollers of the roller carriage. The roller carriage can be moved in the longitudinal direction along the rail by means of the rollers.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP3792204B1Holder system for a medical treatment room
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 KARL STORZ SE & CO KG
  • EP3792204B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3792204B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3792204B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a support system (200) for a medical treatment room (202), wherein the support system (200) comprises a rail assembly (206) to be attached to a ceiling (204) of the medical treatment room (202) and a roller carriage (209) for carrying a medical device, wherein the rail assembly (206) comprises one or more longitudinal rails (210) and one or more transverse rails (212), wherein the roller carriage (209) is movable along each longitudinal rail (210) in a longitudinal direction of movement (214) and along each transverse rail (212) in a transverse direction of movement (216), wherein the rail assembly (206) has a turntable (218) at each common intersection point of the longitudinal rails (210) and the transverse rails (212), wherein the roller carriage (209) is used for transfer between one of the longitudinal rails (210) and one of the transverse rails (212) on the corresponding turntable (218) can be ordered,and wherein the roller carriage (209) is designed to rotate the turntable (218) about a pivot axis (220).