Operating Table Column Head Curved Guide Track
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operating tables face limitations in adjusting the bed's inclination and tilt due to the placement of pivot axes, which restricts movement and height adjustment, as the bed must be at a significant distance from its pivot axes to allow sufficient pivoting but this leads to collisions with the lift guide.
Innovation Solution
A curved guide track is integrated into the column head, allowing a saddle to adjust along it, eliminating the need for pivot axes through the column head, thus providing more space for height adjustment and enabling larger lift and inclination angles without collision, using a flexible saddle drive and pivoting mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pivot axes are arranged above the lift guide to achieve sufficient freedom for pivoting movements, then the tilt and inclination range is improved, but the lowering of the operating table to a low level is greatly restricted
Solution Approach 1:
A curved guide track is introduced as an intermediary element between the saddle and the column head. The guide track redirects the motion path of the saddle, allowing the bed to achieve large tilt and inclination angles while maintaining sufficient clearance from the column head, thus enabling both extensive pivoting range and full vertical adjustment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The guide track is designed with a curved geometry that guides the saddle along a specific path. This curvature allows the bed to pivot through large angles while the saddle remains constrained to a trajectory that prevents collision with the column head, resolving the conflict between pivoting range and vertical adjustment space
2Length of moving object
If the pivot axes are arranged to pass through the lift guide, then the vertical space is optimized, but the pivoting movements are severely restricted due to collision with the lift guide
Solution Approach 1:
The curved guide track serves as a mediator that decouples the pivot motion from direct collision with the lift guide. By guiding the saddle along a curved path, the system achieves pivoting movements without the saddle interfering with the lift guide structure, thus maintaining both vertical space efficiency and pivoting freedom
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bed is positioned at a relatively great distance from its pivot axes to allow sufficient pivoting movement, then the tilt and inclination range is improved, but the collision with the column head occurs more quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The curved guide track creates a motion path that naturally limits the saddle's approach to the column head during pivoting. The curvature of the guide track ensures that even when the bed achieves large tilt and inclination angles, the saddle follows a trajectory that maintains safe clearance from the column head, eliminating collision risk while preserving full pivoting range
Data Source
AI summary
In an operating table comprising a table column (10) with a column foot (14) and with a column head (16) and also a patient bed (12) which is connectable to the column head (16) and which is pivotable in relation to the table column (10) about at least one axis parallel to the bed plane, the column head (16) has provided on it a guide track (42) which is curved continuously about an axis of curvature and on which a saddle coupleable to the bed (12) is mounted such that it can be adjusted along the guide track (42) by means of a saddle drive.