Head-holder Support for Robotic Arm Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical head-holder systems for immobilizing patients during procedures are either cumbersome to handle and limit the working area for robotic support structures or require a large footprint in the operating theater, obstructing medical personnel.
Innovation Solution
A head-holder support with a rigid base body and adjustable, lockable interface for secure coupling of both the head-holder and robotic arm to a patient table, providing three degrees of freedom and minimizing intermediate components for a stable and flexible setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a U-shaped head-holder-frame with robotic support structure is used, then secure fixation of patient's head is achieved, but the working area for robotic support structure is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate components: a head-holder support unit that attaches to the patient table, and a robotic arm that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the robotic arm to operate in a larger working area without being constrained by the U-shaped frame structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic support structure is extracted from the head-holder frame and mounted separately on the patient table via the head-holder support. This extraction removes the spatial constraints imposed by the U-shaped frame, enabling greater robotic arm mobility and working area.
2Reliability
If ground-supported setups with head-holder and robotic arm secured to ground are used, then secure fixation is achieved, but large footprint in operating theater is required
Solution Approach 1:
The head-holder support combines multiple functions into a single compact unit: it provides attachment to the patient table, supports the head-holder, and accommodates the robotic arm mounting. This merging eliminates the need for separate ground-supported structures, reducing the footprint in the operating theater.
Solution Approach 2:
The head-holder support serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a patient table attachment mechanism, a head-holder mounting structure, and a robotic arm support base. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate ground-supported systems, minimizing space requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple intermediate structural components are used between head-holder and robotic arm, then adaptability is improved, but connection rigidity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The head-holder support base body serves as an intermediary structure that directly couples the head-holder and robotic arm to the patient table. This single intermediary component provides both the necessary adaptability through adjustable interfaces and maintains connection rigidity by minimizing the number of intermediate elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A head-holder support for attaching a medical head-holder to a patient table is provided that has a rigid base body, an adjustable and lockable head-holder interface at the base body, which is adapted to adjustably couple the head-holder to the base body by providing at least three degrees of freedom for the spatial relative position between the head-holder and the base body, wherein the at least three degrees of freedom are lockable so as to establish a rigid coupling between the head-holder and the base body, and at least one robotic arm interface at the base body, which is adapted to provide a rigid coupling between a robotic arm and the base body.