Medical Holding Arm LED Joint Feedback for Precise Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing holding devices for medical purposes, such as surgical mechatronic assistance systems and instruments, face challenges with difficult positioning due to simultaneous opening of all joints, unclear joint status, and lack of clear feedback for operators, which affects safety and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A holding device with a proximal end for attachment to a base and a distal end for receiving an attachment, featuring at least a first and second arm segment with releasable and lockable joints, and display units on each joint to visually and acoustically indicate the status, including release, lock, and operational readiness, providing clear feedback to operators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If all joints are opened simultaneously by the operating device, then the holding device can be repositioned, but positioning becomes difficult and operator confusion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operating device is segmented to control individual joints independently rather than opening all joints simultaneously. Each joint has its own control element, allowing selective activation and precise positioning while maintaining clear status indication for each joint separately.
Solution Approach 2:
Display units provide visual feedback on the status of each joint (locked, unlocked, moving) to reduce operator confusion. The feedback mechanism shows which joints are active and their current state, enabling better control during repositioning operations.
2Loss of information
If display units are added to indicate joint status, then operator feedback is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Display units utilize color changes to indicate different joint statuses (e.g., green for locked, red for unlocked). This provides clear visual information without requiring complex display mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while effectively communicating system state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical status indication mechanisms with electronic display units that use light emission. This substitution provides clearer status information while actually reducing mechanical complexity by using electronic components with fewer moving parts.
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
Enhances safety and ease of use by providing clear visual and acoustic feedback on joint status and operational readiness, allowing for precise positioning and reducing operator confusion and fatigue during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
display units (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) on the joints (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23), which are configured to indicate whether a corresponding joint is released or locked
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a holding apparatus (1), in particular a holding arm and/or a tripod, for medical purposes, having a proximal end (2) for attaching the holding apparatus (1) to a base, and having a distal end (4) for receiving an add-on device (6); at least one first and one second arm segment (12, 14), wherein the first arm segment (12) is connected to a first joint (13) and the second arm segment (14) is connected to a second joint (15), wherein each joint (13, 15) is releasable and lockable; an operating means (50) for releasing and/or locking the corresponding joint (13, 15) for putting the holding apparatus (1) into a desired pose; and a first display unit (34, 100, 200, 250), which is arranged on the first joint (13), and a second display unit (36, 100, 200, 252), which is arranged on the second joint (15). According to the invention, the first and/or second display unit (34, 36, 100, 200, 250, 252) is configured to display at least one status of the holding apparatus (1) and/or an add-on device (6) that is different from the release and/or locking of the corresponding joint (13, 15). The invention further relates to a method.