Spring-Balanced Medical Support Arm for Precise Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support arm systems for medical devices face challenges in maintaining precise positioning and balancing weight forces, particularly due to the need for large motors or prone-to-wear brakes, and lack cost-efficiency and intuitive adjustment mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A support arm articulation device with a spring arm mechanism that includes a supporting arm and a lever arm, mounted on a pivotable system with a spring device, allowing for self-balancing and adjustable pivot angles, enabling precise positioning with minimal force and a simple mechanism, and incorporating a self-locking adjustment device for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large and strong motor is used to pivot the support arm directly, then the support arm can be positioned accurately, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spring-loaded counterweight mechanism that automatically balances the support arm at any pivot angle. The spring force compensates for the gravitational torque, eliminating the need for large motors while maintaining precise positioning capability through minimal actuation force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spring mechanism as an intermediary between the gravitational force and the positioning system. This spring mediator stores and releases energy to balance the arm's weight, allowing small motors or manual operation to achieve precise positioning without requiring large driving forces.
2Stability of the object's composition
If brakes are used to keep the support arm in position, then positioning stability is achieved, but wear and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded counterweight mechanism provides continuous positional stability by balancing gravitational torque at any angle. Since the spring force actively counteracts gravity rather than relying on friction-based brakes, there is no wear from contact surfaces, eliminating maintenance requirements while maintaining stable positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is self-regulating and automatically maintains balance without external intervention. The spring continuously adjusts its force to match the gravitational torque at any pivot angle, providing self-service positioning stability without wear-prone braking components that would require maintenance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If spring balanced support arms are used to maintain positioning, then positioning stability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional arms and spring mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the spring-loaded counterweight mechanism with the existing support arm structure, integrating the balancing function into the arm itself rather than requiring separate balancing arms. This merging reduces the number of components while maintaining the position stability benefits of spring-balanced systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arm is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables pivoting movement, and incorporates the spring-loaded counterweight for automatic balancing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated balancing mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining positioning stability.
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 solution provides a cost-efficient, precise, and intuitive method for maintaining medical device positioning, reducing the need for large motors and minimizing wear, while ensuring stability and easy adjustment across varying loads and positions.
Implementation Method 1
The support arm articulation device (50) comprises a spring device (78) by means of which weight forces acting on the support arm articulation device (50) may be supported
Implementation Method 2
During a pivot movement of the spring arm (56), potential energy stored in the spring device (78) may be released, thus supporting the pivot movement
Implementation Method 3
The lever arm (60) may be mounted on the supporting arm (58) spaced from the second fastening element (54), by means of which intuitively pivotable support with little force may be achieved
Implementation Method 4
The two fastening elements (52, 54) are connected to one another by means of a spring arm (56) in order to be pivotable relative to one another
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a support arm articulation device (50) for movably holding a medical device, comprising a first and a second fastening element (52, 54), which are connected to each other in a pivotable way by means of a spring arm (56), wherein the spring arm (56) comprises a supporting arm (58) and a lever arm (60), which are mounted in a pivotable way on the first fastening element (52) with an associated supporting arm pivot axis (64) and lever arm pivot axis (66), wherein the two pivot axes (64, 66) are spaced apart from one another, wherein the supporting arm (58) is mounted on the second fastening element (44) in a pivotable way, and the lever arm (60) is mounted on the supporting arm (58) by means of a spring device (78) such that a weight of the held medical device is supported in different pivot positions, wherein the spring device (78) comprises an adjustment device, by means of which a position of the mounting (68, 70) of the lever arm (60) on the supporting arm (58) is adjustable along a longitudinal extension of the supporting arm (58). Further, the invention relates to a support arm system and a method for operating a support arm articulation device.