Medical Support Arm Linkage for Higher Load Balancing Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load balancing arms in medical device support systems have insufficient capacity to adequately balance loads, often due to insufficient spring counterbalancing effect or unstable handling, and increasing spring force requires larger arm sizes, which is impractical in healthcare settings.
Innovation Solution
A load balancing arm configuration where a link connects to a link bearing element at one end and to the distal end of a first spring and the proximal end of a second spring at the other end, both springs being within the arm's cavity and contributing to counterbalancing biasing forces, improving force transmission and load balancing capacity without increasing arm size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the spring force is increased to improve load balancing capacity, then the counterbalancing effect is enhanced, but the cross sectional area of the spring and load balancing arm must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The single spring system is segmented into two separate springs (first spring and second spring) that work together to provide the counterbalancing force. This segmentation allows the load balancing arm to achieve higher counterbalancing capacity without increasing its cross-sectional area, as each spring can be optimized independently and positioned within the existing arm structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Both springs are nested within the cavity of the load balancing arm, with the first spring positioned between the proximal hub and the link, and the second spring positioned between the link and the distal end of the support arm. This nesting arrangement allows the springs to be accommodated within the existing arm structure without increasing its external dimensions.
2Power
If the spring constant is increased to improve force transmission, then the load bearing capacity is enhanced, but the size of the load balancing arm must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The force transmission function is segmented between two springs with different characteristics. The first spring (with higher spring constant) handles the proximal portion of force transmission from the hub to the link, while the second spring handles the distal portion from the link to the support arm. This segmentation enables enhanced overall force transmission capacity without requiring either spring to be excessively large.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the spring system are assigned different local qualities - the first spring is designed with a higher spring constant for stiff force transmission near the hub, while the second spring can be optimized for its specific function. This local optimization allows the system to achieve high overall power transmission without uniformly increasing the size of all components.
3Device complexity
If a single spring is used to simplify the structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the load balancing capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The spring system is segmented into two springs arranged in series, where the first spring connects the proximal hub to the link and the second spring connects the link to the distal end of the support arm. This segmentation multiplies the counterbalancing effect while maintaining relatively simple individual spring designs, achieving high load balancing capacity without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The link serves as an intermediary element between the two springs, connecting the distal end of the first spring to the proximal end of the second spring. This intermediary arrangement allows the two springs to work together in series to generate enhanced counterbalancing force while maintaining a clear and manageable structural organization.
4Strength
If the cross sectional area of the load balancing arm is increased to accommodate larger springs, then the spring force capacity is improved, but the available space for healthcare personnel is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Both springs are nested within the cavity of the load balancing arm,充分利用 the internal space without increasing the external cross-sectional area of the arm. This nesting arrangement allows the springs to be accommodated within the existing arm structure, maintaining high spring force capacity while preserving available space for healthcare personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring system transitions from a single large-dimension spring to two smaller springs arranged in series along the length of the arm. This dimensional reorganization allows the springs to fit within the existing arm volume while collectively providing enhanced force capacity, effectively moving the solution from a cross-sectional dimension problem to a longitudinal arrangement.
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
The described configuration enhances force transmission and increases the load bearing capacity of the load balancing arm with minimal or no increase in size, providing improved stability and handling for medical devices in healthcare settings.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring extending within a cavity of the support arm and mounted to exert a biasing force between the main pivot axis and a distal end of the first spring; a second spring extending within the cavity of the support arm and mounted to exert a biasing force between a proximal end of the second spring and a wall at the distal end of the support arm
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A load balancing arm for a medical device support system includes a proximal hub, a support arm, first and second springs, and a link. The link has a proximal end pivotably mounted to a link bearing element for pivotable movement about a link pivot axis, and a distal end pivotably mounted to a distal end of the first spring and a proximal end of the second spring. The link and first and second springs are configured such that the biasing forces exerted by the first and second springs are transmitted through the link to the link bearing element thereby to generate a moment about a main pivot axis of a proximal hub that counters a moment generated by a medical device load at a distal end of the support arm.