Surgical Microscope Stand Touchscreen Control and Motor Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical microscope stands face challenges with imprecise manual balancing due to pressure exertion, hygiene issues with toggle switches, and a space-intensive, movement-restricting structure, which can lead to motor overheating and reduced service life.

Innovation Solution

A surgical microscope stand with a compact operating area featuring a touchscreen for centralized control of all drive units, a position sensor for precise carriage positioning, and a control unit that limits adjustments to prevent motor overload, ensuring efficient and hygienic manual balancing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If toggle switches are used for manual balancing, then control functionality is provided, but precise balancing becomes difficult due to pressure exertion and hygiene issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual balancing precisionVSAvoidbalancing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical toggle switches with a touchscreen interface that detects touch positions and sends electronic control signals. This substitution eliminates the need for physical pressure on switches, allowing precise control without mechanical contact, thereby solving both the precision and hygiene problems associated with traditional toggle switches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If separate control units are provided for each carriage, then individual control is enabled, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol accessibilityVSAvoidcontrol unit quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines control units for multiple carriages into a single integrated control panel. The touchscreen displays and processes control inputs for the first, second, and third carriages together, reducing the number of separate control units while maintaining individual control capability for each carriage through software management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If motors can operate in any position of support arms, then flexibility is provided, but motor overheating occurs due to overloading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor operating rangeVSAvoidmotor lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit receives position information from sensors detecting the support arm positions. Based on this feedback, the control unit determines whether the current position allows safe motor operation and either permits or restricts motor activation accordingly, preventing overloading and overheating while maintaining flexibility within safe operating parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3120178B1Surgical-microscope stand

Publication Date: 2023.08.23 LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SCHWEIZ) AG

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AI summary

The invention relates to a surgical-microscope stand (100), comprising a first slide (16) arranged on a first support arm (14), which first slide can be driven by a first drive unit, and a second slide (18) arranged on a second support arm (22), which second slide can be driven by a second drive unit. The surgical-microscope stand (100) also comprises an operating region (34), within which at least one operating unit for manually controlling the first and second drive units is provided.