Surgical Microscope Counterweight for Hinge Balance Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical microscopes face issues with balance and manoeuvrability due to misalignment of the centre of gravity, leading to unwanted rotation and complicating surgical operations, and existing solutions are cumbersome, expensive, and difficult to use.
Innovation Solution
A surgical microscope with a balancing device featuring a support and counterweight system that allows for easy adjustment and balance maintenance, even with additional accessories, using a support with an annular portion and a 'ball head' connection, enabling fine balancing during operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the optical body is equipped with Cartesian micrometric slides that can be adjusted by special knobs, then the centre of gravity position can be varied to cancel the acting moment, but the operation execution is delayed and the risk of making mistakes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a counterweight element that can be positioned on the articulated arm to compensate for the moment generated by the optical body's centre of gravity. This counterweight system allows for quick balance adjustment without requiring complex micrometric slides, thereby reducing operation time while maintaining balance stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing device is designed to be dynamically adjustable during the surgical procedure. The counterweight position can be easily modified along the articulated arm to adapt to different optical body configurations and accessory arrangements, enabling rapid balance restoration without delaying the operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If compensation systems such as springs or other elastic means are installed to oppose the moment generated on the centre of gravity, then the moment can be counterbalanced, but the device becomes encumbered and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using springs or elastic compensation systems, the patent employs a simple counterweight mechanism that slides along the articulated arm. This mechanical counterweight system achieves moment compensation without requiring complex elastic components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining balance stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential balancing function from complex compensation systems and implements it through a simplified counterweight mechanism. By removing unnecessary elastic components and focusing on the core counterbalancing principle, the device complexity is reduced while effectiveness is maintained.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the microscope is calibrated at the end of the production process to be balanced, then the initial balance is achieved, but additional accessories cannot be installed as they would alter the distribution of masses and cause rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing device is designed to be dynamically adjustable after the microscope leaves the factory. When accessories are added, the counterweight position can be modified along the articulated arm to compensate for the changed mass distribution, maintaining balance stability while enabling accessory installation and enhancing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a preliminary balancing mechanism that can be quickly adjusted before each surgical procedure or after accessory installation. This allows the operator to restore balance in advance, ensuring stable operation while maintaining the flexibility to install various accessories.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the centre of gravity is not aligned with the connection point to the frame, then a moment is created that induces unwanted rotation, but aligning them would require complex adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the counterweight on the articulated arm at a specific distance from the hinge point to generate a counter-moment that opposes the rotational moment caused by the misaligned centre of gravity. This simple counterweight approach achieves rotational stability without requiring complex alignment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing device exploits the asymmetric position of the centre of gravity relative to the connection point by placing the counterweight at a corresponding asymmetric position on the articulated arm. This asymmetric counterbalancing arrangement effectively neutralizes the unwanted rotation while keeping the mechanism simple.
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 stable operation without continuous adjustments, maintaining balance and improving manoeuvrability, allowing seamless surgical procedures with ease of use and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a counterweight 203 connected to it... capable of opposing the moment generated on the centre of gravity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
This invention relates to a surgical microscope comprising an optical body (100) connected to a holder (110) by a hinge (50), and a balancing device, characterized in that it comprises a counterweight (203), connected in at least one connection point (204) to the optical body (100) of the surgical microscope through a support (201 ) which allows the free rotation of said counterweight (203) around said connection point (204), so as to balance the weight distribution of the optical body (100) with respect to said hinge (50) and prevent unwanted rotations of said optical body (100).