Powered Support Arm Locking for One-Handed Surgical Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional repositionable support arms used in surgery are cumbersome, require two hands for operation, and lack sufficient joint locking force, leading to instrument instability and increased risk during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A lockable, repositionable support assembly with a powered locking mechanism that simultaneously engages multiple joints, allowing for one-handed operation and high joint locking forces, while maintaining a compact profile and ease of sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional manual locking knobs or levers are used, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation deteriorates because two hands are required and the process is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical locking knobs or levers with a powered locking mechanism that uses a motor to automatically lock and unlock the arm joints. This substitution eliminates the need for two-handed manual operation, allowing the surgeon to reposition instruments with one hand while the motor handles the locking action automatically.
2Ease of operation
If powered locking mechanisms are used to improve ease of operation, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity worsens due to bulky components and difficulty in sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power source from the arm assembly itself and places it in a separate base unit. The arm contains only the locking mechanism without integrated batteries or motors, making it compact, sterilizable, and simple. The base unit houses the motor and power supply, connected to the arm through a flexible conduit that delivers power and control signals.
3Force
If conventional manual locking is used, then the device complexity is low, but the joint locking force deteriorates leading to instrument drift and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical locking with an automated motor-driven locking mechanism that applies consistent, sufficient force to lock the arm joints securely. The motor provides adequate locking force to prevent instrument drift while maintaining a simple overall system design through the separation of the power source into the base unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A repositionable, lockable support arm assembly for surgical and other tools includes a base arm having a lower end and an upper end, a distal arm having a proximal end and a distal end, and a central joint, typically a rotational joint, directly or indirectly linking the upper end of the base arm to the proximal end of the distal arm. A lower joint, typically a spherical joint, is positioned at the lower end of the base arm, and an upper joint, also typically a spherical joint, is located at the distal end of the distal arm. A locking mechanism is coupled to the base arm at a location above the lower joint and is configured to simultaneously deliver locking forces to the lower joint, to the rotational joint, and to the upper joint. The kicking mechanism usually includes a powered, bilateral force generator for actuating the locking mechanism.