Surgery Table Coordinated Motion Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgery tables lack the necessary versatility and precision to accommodate various patient positions required for different medical procedures, such as spinal, lumbar, thoracic, and cervical imaging and surgery, while also ensuring compatibility with C-Arm or O-Arm fluoroscopes and allowing for Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg positions without height adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A surgery table with a hinged frame and positioning mechanisms that include axially rotatable arms linked to motors and cycloidal gears, allowing for multiple orientations, including Trendelenburg and lateral tilt, with a controller coordinating the movements to maintain a fixed surgical site and enabling single-button operation for precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If independent power driven mechanisms are used to adjust table sections, then positioning versatility is improved, but coordination between sections becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independent positioning mechanisms into a coordinated system controlled by a single controller. The controller synchronizes the movement of head section, foot section, and lateral tilt mechanisms, allowing versatile positioning while simplifying operation through unified control rather than requiring separate control for each mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the operator and multiple positioning mechanisms. It receives a single control input and distributes coordinated commands to various table sections, mediating between the simple operator interface and the complex multi-mechanism system to achieve synchronized movement.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple independent mechanisms are used for positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but maintaining fixed surgical site during movement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control where the controller monitors the positions of multiple table sections and adjusts their movement to maintain the surgical site at a fixed location. The controller receives position data from encoders on each mechanism and makes real-time adjustments to keep the surgical site stable during table repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves multiple functions simultaneously: it controls head section elevation, foot section elevation, lateral tilt, and surgical site stabilization. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve precise positioning of various sections while maintaining the fixed surgical site through coordinated control of all mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex positioning mechanisms are implemented, then positioning accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acts as an intermediary that translates simple operator commands into coordinated movements of complex positioning mechanisms. The operator only needs to input desired position parameters, and the controller automatically manages the complex coordination required by multiple mechanisms, maintaining both accuracy and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-coordination through the controller, which automatically calculates and executes the coordinated movement of multiple table sections. The complex mechanisms serve themselves through automated control, eliminating the need for manual coordination by the operator while maintaining positioning accuracy.
4Adaptability or versatility
If height adjustment is added for surgeon accommodation, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller provides universal control for multiple functions including head section positioning, foot section positioning, lateral tilt, and height adjustment. By consolidating control of all these functions into a single controller with coordinated movement capability, the system adds surgeon accommodation functionality without proportionally increasing operational complexity.
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 table provides precise and versatile positioning for various surgical procedures, maintaining a fixed surgical site during movements, ensuring compatibility with fluoroscopes, and allowing for efficient patient positioning in prone, supine, or lateral decubitus positions, enhancing surgical accessibility and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
positioning mechanisms that include axially rotatable arms linked to motors and cycloidal gears
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgery table utilizing first and second supports that are hingedly attached to one another to form a frame, having a platform intended to support a patient. First and second connectors hold the first and second members to first and second piers. Each pier is formed with a base and an upward extending structure having a positioning mechanism for each connector and support member being held. Each positioning mechanism utilizes a column and a first arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The first arm proximal portion is axially rotatable relative to the first column. The second arm possesses a proximal portion and a distal portion such that the second arm proximal portion is axially rotatable relative to the distal portion of the first arm. The second arm distal portion links to the frame via a connector. A controller determines the axial rotation of the proximal portions of the first and second arms to determine an overall configuration of the frame.