Motorized Head Positioning Arm for Sterile Cervical Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient positioning systems for cervical surgery are inefficient, requiring multiple personnel to reposition patients, compromising sterility, and causing strain due to abrupt and jerky movements, with limited adjustability and ergonomic issues.
Innovation Solution
A modular, multi-component system with a ball joint mechanism and motorized arm assembly that allows single-operator, precise, and continuous movement of the patient's head and neck, maintaining sterility and reducing operator fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple personnel manually reposition the patient using prior art positioning devices, then the patient can be positioned, but the procedure time increases and sterility is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical manipulation with an automated motorized system. The motorized arm assembly with ball joint mechanism automatically positions and repositions the patient's head without requiring manual intervention, thereby reducing procedure time and maintaining sterility by eliminating the need for personnel to access areas behind the surgical drape.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning system is designed to reposition the patient autonomously without requiring external assistance. The motorized system can independently adjust the patient's head position, eliminating the need for multiple personnel to manually support and reposition the patient during the procedure.
2Ease of operation
If multiple personnel manually reposition the patient, then the patient can be repositioned, but sterility is compromised requiring resterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized positioning system eliminates the need for manual intervention in patient repositioning. The automated system adjusts patient position through motorized actuation of the arm assembly and ball joint mechanism, preventing contamination of the sterile field and eliminating the need for resterilization procedures.
3Measurement precision
If prior art positioning devices with multiple knobs are used, then the patient can be positioned, but operator fatigue increases due to tedious manual adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual knob adjustments with motorized actuation. The motorized arm assembly automatically achieves precise patient positioning without requiring operators to manually tighten and loosen multiple knobs, thereby eliminating operator fatigue while maintaining positioning precision through controlled motor actuation.
4Ease of operation
If the ball joint mechanism allows continuous rotation when unlocked, then smooth positioning is achieved, but control over movement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The ball joint mechanism is designed with dynamic control characteristics - when unlocked, it permits smooth continuous rotation for ergonomic positioning, while the motorized system provides controlled actuation to prevent uncontrolled movement. The system transitions between locked and unlocked states based on operational requirements, achieving both smoothness and control.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for positioning a patient before, during or after a medical procedure can include an arm assembly having a proximal end, an opposing distal end, and at least one joint therebetween. The joint can be configured to permit the distal end of the arm assembly to move with respect to the proximal end of the arm assembly. The proximal end of the arm assembly can be configured to be fixed with respect to a surgical table. The system can also include a ball joint mechanism attached to the distal end of the arm assembly and to a head support configured to support a patient's head. The ball joint mechanism can include a ball joint and a motor. Activation of the motor can permit or prevent movement of the ball joint.