Surgery Table Attachment Apparatus Ratchet Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical table adjustment systems are cumbersome, hazardous, and difficult to manipulate, often leading to uncontrolled movements and inadequate positioning for surgical procedures, posing risks to patient safety and surgeon convenience.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable support apparatus featuring a crossbar, carriage, and tower assembly with a ratchet mechanism and bayonet-type connection, which allows for safe and easy independent adjustment of the patient platform's head and foot portions, incorporating audible indicators and a stable design to prevent drift and comply with lift standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual adjustment mechanisms with rods and parallel bars are used, then the surgical table can be adjusted, but the system requires great care to prevent accidental patient lowering and is difficult to manipulate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual rod-and-bar mechanical system with an electric motor-driven system featuring controlled movement and audible locking indicators, eliminating the need for manual manipulation while maintaining safety through automated control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates audible indicators that provide feedback to confirm when the platform has reached and locked into the correct position, ensuring safety through clear operational confirmation while maintaining ease of use through simple control input
2Reliability
If simple rod insertion between parallel bars is used, then adjustments can be made, but the system lacks stable design and allows uncontrolled movements
Solution Approach 1:
The uncontrolled manual rod insertion system is replaced with an electric motor-driven mechanism featuring controlled movement and audible locking indicators, providing stable and precise positioning without requiring complex manual manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically locks into position with audible confirmation, providing self-verifying stable positioning without requiring the surgical team to manually ensure proper engagement of components
3Ease of operation
If manual adjustment mechanisms are used, then the surgical table can be repositioned, but the system requires great care and is hazardous
Solution Approach 1:
The hazardous manual adjustment system is replaced with an electric motor-driven system that eliminates the need for manual manipulation of mechanical components, removing the source of safety hazards while maintaining adjustment convenience
Solution Approach 2:
Audible locking indicators provide immediate feedback to confirm safe and correct positioning, eliminating the need for the surgical team to exercise great care while ensuring patient safety through automated confirmation
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
Facilitates safe, convenient, and precise positioning of the patient platform, reducing hazards and maintenance needs while ensuring stability and compliance with safety standards, enhancing surgical access and patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
A controller associated with the carriage moves at least one pawl into and out of engagement with any of the gear racks, thus, allowing the end portions of the patient platform and the carriage to move upwardly and downwardly relative to a tower through a ratchet mechanism.
Implementation Method 2
A locking mechanism audibly actuates and holds the second protuberance in the second opening of the crossbar, achieving a bayonet type of connection.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable support apparatus for a surgery table utilizing a platform having first and second end portions. First and second end supports are used to mount the platform which is adjusted by a carriage having a pawl operator. The carriage includes studs having support surfaces for the platform. A tower utilizing a gear rack interacts with the carriage pawl operator to position the platform relative to the first and second end support of the surgery table.