One-Way Brake Slide Mechanism for Safe Medical Head Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maneuvering a medical system head relative to an anatomical site can result in unacceptable forces that may injure the site, particularly during downward movement, necessitating mechanisms to prevent such forces.
Innovation Solution
A medical system with a multistage slide mechanism and a one-way brake that allows movement away from the anatomical site while preventing movement towards it, triggered by a first event.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the surgical head is maneuvered manually relative to the eye, then the surgeon can position the head for coupling, but excessive force may be applied causing injury to the eye
Solution Approach 1:
The brake system is activated before the head contacts the eye to prevent excessive force. The system performs preliminary braking action when sensors detect approach within a safe distance, stopping the head before it can apply harmful force to the anatomical site.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors continuously monitor the position and movement of the surgical head relative to the eye, providing feedback to the controller. When the head approaches within a predetermined safe distance, the sensor signals trigger the brake system to activate, creating a feedback loop that prevents excessive force application.
2Reliability
If a brake system is added to prevent movement toward the anatomical site, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake system is segmented into multiple independent components: sensors for detection, a controller for decision-making, and brake mechanisms at different stages. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall system more manageable and easier to maintain despite increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the sensors and the brake mechanisms. It receives signals from sensors, processes the information, and activates the appropriate brake stage, thereby mediating the interaction between detection and actuation components while simplifying the overall control architecture.
3Force
If the one-way brake prevents movement toward the anatomical site, then force control is improved, but movement flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The brake system transitions from a static always-on brake to a dynamic system that activates and deactivates based on real-time conditions. The brake can be selectively applied in different stages (first stage brake before contact, second stage brake at contact) and released when appropriate, providing dynamic force control while maintaining movement flexibility when safety conditions are met.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical system includes a head having an end arranged to face a reference plane and a multistage slide mechanism coupled with the head. The multistage slide mechanism includes a coarse-float mechanism configured to enable movement of the head relative to the reference plane, and to prevent movement of the head toward the reference plane while allowing movement of the head away from the reference plane. A one-way brake associated with the coarse-float mechanism is configured to transition between a locked state and an unlocked state in response to a presence of or an absence of a first triggering event. In the locked state, the one-way brake prevents movement of the head toward the reference plane and simultaneously allows movement of the head away from the reference plane. In the unlocked state, the one-way brake allows movement of the head toward the reference plane and movement of the head away from the reference plane.