Layered Shear Damper for Surgical Imaging Impact Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical imaging devices face mechanical stress during surgical procedures due to accidental impacts, leading to significant shaking and instability, which hinders optimal imaging data acquisition.
Innovation Solution
A damper comprising a stack of layers with a central elastomer layer and outer sheet metal layers, configured to undergo shearing deformation upon mechanical impact, allowing for spontaneous return to the original state, thereby stabilizing the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a surgical imaging device is subjected to mechanical impact during surgery, then the device experiences shaking and instability, but the time required to return to steady state increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by integrating a damper component into the surgical imaging device that is pre-configured to absorb mechanical impacts. The damper includes a compression element positioned to receive impact forces along the optical axis, and a damping element that dissipates the energy of these impacts. This pre-positioned cushioning system activates automatically upon impact, reducing the time required for the device to return to a steady state without requiring post-impact adjustments or interventions.
2Reliability
If image stabilization is used to overcome vibrations, then slight vibrations are mitigated, but significant mechanical impacts still cause considerable shaking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the impact mitigation function into two distinct components: a compression element that handles the initial impact force absorption along the optical axis, and a damping element that dissipates the remaining vibrational energy. This segmented approach allows the system to address both slight vibrations (through the damping element) and significant mechanical impacts (through the compression element's shock absorption), overcoming the limitation of image stabilization alone which cannot handle substantial impact forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanical damping system between the impact source and the sensitive imaging components. The damper acts as a mediator that physically intercepts and dissipates impact forces before they can transmit significant shaking to the imaging system. This intermediary mechanism works in conjunction with image stabilization to provide comprehensive vibration and impact mitigation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a damper for a surgical imaging device and a surgical imaging device. The damper is comprising a stack of layers comprising: a first outer layer, a central layer, and a second outer layer. The layers are linked to form a base piece of the damper. The first outer layer further forms a first end of the damper configured to be connected to a stand of the surgical imaging device and the second outer layer further forms a second end of the damper configured to be connected to a base of the surgical imaging device. The damper is configured to undergo elastic deformation in response to a pushing or pulling force exhibited on one of the ends such that the central layer, but not the outer layers, undergo elastic deformation. Application of the force to the first end causes a deferral of the first outer layer relative to the second outer layer, thereby inducing shearing deformation of the central layer.