Medical Optical Instrument Stand With Dual-Link Counterbalancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stands for medical optical instruments, such as microscopes, face challenges in easily adjusting counterbalancing according to the weight of the instrument, leading to instability in maintaining balance in both horizontal and vertical directions.
Innovation Solution
A stand with a carrier arm featuring a parallelogram shape and a counterbalancing unit that includes adjustable counterweights, allowing for easy compensation of torque generated by the instrument, ensuring stable counterbalancing regardless of the instrument's position. The counterbalancing unit includes first and second balancing links with replaceable counterweights that can be adjusted based on the instrument's weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single counterweight is used in conventional stands, then the structure is simple, but it is difficult to adjust balance in both horizontal and vertical directions simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The single counterweight is divided into two separate counterweights (first counterweight on first balancing link, second counterweight on second balancing link) that operate independently. This segmentation allows separate adjustment of horizontal and vertical balance, making it easier to achieve complete balance in both directions simultaneously without excessive structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The balance adjustment is extended from a single-dimensional (vertical) adjustment to two-dimensional adjustment by adding the second balancing link and counterweight system. The first balancing link handles vertical balance while the second balancing link handles horizontal balance, enabling complete balance adjustment in both directions
2Adaptability or versatility
If accessories are added to the surgical microscope, then the functionality is improved, but the balance adjustment becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweights are made adjustable and replaceable rather than fixed, allowing the balance to be dynamically adapted when accessories are added to the microscope. The counterweights can be moved to different positions or replaced with different weights to compensate for the additional weight from accessories, maintaining ease of operation despite increased versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The weight and position parameters of the counterweights can be changed to adapt to different microscope configurations. When accessories are added, the counterweight parameters (mass, position) are adjusted to maintain balance, allowing the system to accommodate various accessory configurations while keeping balance adjustment straightforward
3Ease of manufacture
If the stand structure is simplified, then the manufacturing is easier, but the stability in maintaining balance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Two counterweights are used to provide counterbalancing forces in two different directions (horizontal and vertical). This dual counterweight system ensures stable balance maintenance in all directions, improving reliability without significantly complicating the manufacturing process, as each counterweight system is relatively simple and modular
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
Enables easy adjustment and stable counterbalancing of medical optical instruments in both horizontal and vertical directions, maintaining balance regardless of the instrument's position, and allows for extension of the stand to desired lengths while maintaining counterbalancing.
Implementation Method 1
compensating a torque generated in the second turning joint by a medical optical instrument installed on the front link
Implementation Method 2
first and second counter weights installed on the first and second balancing links, respectively
Data Source
AI summary
A stand for medical optical instrument capable of easily extending, adjusting easily a counter balancing according to a change of a weight of medical optical instrument such as microscope, as well as, maintaining stably a counter balancing regardless of a position of medical optical instrument. The stand for medical optical instrument includes a first to fourth links having a first to fourth turning joins, wherein the first to fourth links are rotatably coupled to each other in a parallelogram shape and the second turning joint is rotatably coupled to a holding unit, a carrier arm extended from the fourth link; and a counter balancing unit coupled to the first and second links, wherein the counter balancing unit is rotated in connection with the first and second links on the second turning joint according to the rotation of the carrier arm, and capable of maintaining a counter balancing of the carrier arm by compensating a torque generated in the second turning joint according to a medical optical instrument installed on the front link.