Segmented Holding Arm Struts for Medical Instrument Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical holding arms lack an optimal balance between stiffness and mass, which is crucial for maintaining medical instruments or devices in a stable position during medical interventions while allowing for easy movement with minimal force.
Innovation Solution
A holding arm segment design featuring node components and struts composed of flat components, where the struts are made from multiple flat components joined together to form T-shaped, I-shaped, or trapezoidal cross-sections, providing mechanical strength and rigidity, and the node components are designed for articulated connections and actuation, allowing for precise positioning and movement of medical instruments or devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the holding arm is made with solid segments to increase stiffness, then the rigidity is improved, but the mass increases making movement more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The holding arm is divided into multiple segments connected by joints, allowing each segment to be optimized independently. The struts are constructed from multiple flat components joined together, creating a segmented structure that achieves high rigidity through geometric arrangement rather than solid material, thereby reducing overall mass while maintaining stiffness.
Solution Approach 2:
The struts are formed by joining multiple flat components (at least two, preferably three) together to create composite structures with T-shaped, I-shaped, or trapezoidal cross-sections. This composite construction provides enhanced rigidity and strength-to-weight ratio compared to solid segments, as the distributed material arrangement optimizes structural efficiency.
2Strength
If the holding arm segments are made with complex 3D structures to maximize stiffness, then the rigidity is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The struts are constructed from multiple flat components that can be manufactured separately using standard sheet metal processes, then joined together. This segmentation allows each component to be produced efficiently using conventional manufacturing techniques rather than requiring complex 3D machining or molding, reducing manufacturing cost while achieving the desired rigidity through the assembled structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the structural parameters from solid 3D segments to planar components arranged in specific geometric configurations (T-shaped, I-shaped, or trapezoidal cross-sections). This parameter change allows the use of standard sheet metal manufacturing processes with high production efficiency, reducing both manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining structural rigidity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the node components are designed for articulated connections with multiple degrees of freedom, then the positioning flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The node components are designed as multi-functional elements that combine bearing surfaces for articulated connections, mounting interfaces for actuators, and structural connection points for multiple struts. This universal design allows a single component to fulfill multiple functions, reducing the overall number of parts and simplifying the device while maintaining positioning flexibility through the articulated joint design.
Solution Approach 2:
The node components merge multiple functions into single elements: they serve as bearing housings for rotational joints, mounting bases for actuators, and structural connectors for multiple struts. By combining these functions into integrated node components rather than separate elements, the device complexity is reduced while the articulated connection capabilities are preserved.
Data Source
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AI summary
A segment (40) of a holding arm (20) for positioning a medical instrument (14) or a medical device (16) comprises several node components (50) and a strut (60) that rigidly connects two of the node components (50). The strut (60) comprises planar components (61, 62, 63) that are joined together.