Rotating Surgical Platform With Integrated Gas Lines for Ergonomic Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical procedures on small animals face challenges due to limited access, hindered by the need for peripheral items like lighting, heating, and anesthesia, which crowd the surgeon's space and restrict the surgeon's ability to adequately access the desired surgical sites.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable surgical platform with integrated anesthetic/O2 gas lines, electrical heating elements, and a magnetic leg positioning strap system, allowing for rotation and tilting of the platform while maintaining gas and power supply, enhancing ergonomic access and reducing fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If peripheral items (lighting, heating, anesthesia) are placed around the surgical site, then surgical support functions are provided, but the surgeon's access to the surgical site is crowded and restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple peripheral support functions (anesthesia gas delivery, heating, lighting, fluid management) directly into the surgical platform structure. The rotating platform combines the patient support surface with integrated heating elements, while gas lines for anesthesia are routed through the platform's central pillar, merging previously separate peripheral items into a unified surgical system that provides support functions without crowding the surgeon's workspace
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves support functions from the horizontal plane (peripheral items around the surgical site) to the vertical dimension (integrated into the platform's height and structure). The central pillar extends vertically to deliver gas lines, and heating elements are embedded within the platform's thickness, utilizing the vertical space to provide surgical support without occupying horizontal surgical access space
2Reliability
If the surgical platform is made stationary to maintain stable gas and power supply, then connection reliability is improved, but the surgeon's ergonomic access and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotating surgical platform that can be dynamically adjusted to different angular positions while maintaining continuous gas and power supply through the stationary central pillar. The platform's rotation capability allows it to adapt to various surgical approaches and surgeon positions, while the rotational joint in the gas line and flexible power cable maintain reliable connections throughout the range of motion
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical system is divided into a stationary base component (providing stable gas and power connections) and a rotating platform component (providing positioning flexibility). The central pillar acts as an intermediary that remains stationary while transmitting utilities to the rotating platform, segmenting the system into fixed and movable parts that each optimize their respective functions
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 improved access and ergonomic surgery on small animals by maintaining a sterile field and uninterrupted gas/O2 delivery, reducing surgeon fatigue and potentially decreasing negative surgery outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
A swivel may be deposited along the transport line, and in some aspects, the swivel is located within the body of the pillar
Implementation Method 2
integrated electrical heating elements
Implementation Method 3
magnetic leg positioning strap system
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure concerns a surgery platform with a rotating surgery surface on a stationary base with integrated transport lines for feeding power and gas to the surgical surface. In some aspects, the platform can be utilized for surgery on small animals, such as rodents. The system can include a lower stationary base which supports the rotating upper operating surface via a pillar. The integrated lines run through the base into the center pillar and up to a swivel mechanism that allows rotation without kinking/twisting of either.