Surgical Microscope Stand With Parallelogram Support Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical microscope stands face challenges in providing unobstructed movement and clear vision for operators due to bulky displacement units, which also increase weight and inertia, complicating balancing and setup procedures.
Innovation Solution
The stand incorporates a pivot support with a displaceable parallelogram support and a holding arm for X-direction displacement, eliminating the need for additional compensation weights by using a Y-Z displacement unit connected between the pivot and parallelogram supports to balance the optics carrier across multiple axes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an X-Y shifting unit is added to position the microscope in the X and Y directions, then positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity and volume increase, obstructing the operator's view and access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional X-Y shifting unit from the stand structure. Instead, the microscope is positioned using the surgical team's hands, extracting the complex mechanical positioning system and replacing it with a simple, manual approach that does not obstruct the operator's view or access
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is segmented from the stand structure itself. The stand provides only the vertical support, while the horizontal positioning is handled separately by the surgical team, dividing the system into independent functional components
2Measurement precision
If an X-Y shifting unit is added to position the microscope, then positioning capability is improved, but the weight on the horizontal extension arm increases, requiring larger compensation weights or bracing
Solution Approach 1:
The heavy X-Y shifting unit is extracted from the stand system. The horizontal extension arm only needs to support the microscope's weight, not the additional shifting mechanism, significantly reducing the load and eliminating the need for large compensation weights or extensive bracing
3Measurement precision
If the stand structure is enlarged to accommodate the X-Y displacement unit, then positioning function is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased size and reduced accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is extracted from the stand structure, allowing the stand to remain compact and easy to operate. The surgical team's hands serve as the positioning mechanism, eliminating the need for large mechanical structures that would reduce accessibility
4Stability of the object's composition
If additional weights are added to the stand for balancing, then balancing capability is improved, but the weight and inertia of the system increase, reducing ease of movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a counterweight mechanism where a weight is suspended from the horizontal extension arm to balance the microscope's weight. This creates a seesaw effect that allows easy positioning without adding significant inertia to the moving parts, as the counterweight remains stationary while providing balancing force
Data Source
AI summary
A stand for a surgical microscope is suggested, comprising a vertical support, at least one horizontal support, a first vertical articulation unit that is connected the horizontal support, a second articulation unit determining an oblique pivot axis, a displacement unit that is attached to the second articulation unit and has multiple degrees of freedom for displacement and balancing of an optics carrier carrying the surgical microscope, at least one pivot support encompassed by the displacement unit, and a displacer for displacing the optics carrier in an X direction extending horizontally and transversely to the oblique pivot axis. The pivot support comprises a pivotable parallelogram support and a holding arm that is attached to the pivotable parallelogram support and is configured such that it simultaneously serves as a displacer for displacing the optics carrier in the X direction.