Surgical Microscope Weight Balance Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical microscope weight balancing methods require multiple steps and can cause interference with support arm structures due to the need to turn the microscope by 90 degrees, making the process cumbersome and prone to imbalance.
Innovation Solution
An automatic weight balancing method using an electric driving unit with a clutch, allowing the surgical microscope to be adjusted to a horizontal state and then an oblique state, with sensors detecting imbalances and the slide mechanism correcting the center of gravity alignment along the rotary shaft in a single operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the surgical microscope is turned by 90 degrees into a vertical posture to establish front-back weight balance, then the center of gravity can be aligned with the rotary shaft, but the ancillary device may interfere with the support arm structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the balancing approach from vertical posture (90-degree rotation) to horizontal posture, utilizing a different spatial dimension. The electric slide mechanism moves the microscope along the rotary shaft axis in the horizontal plane, achieving center of gravity alignment without vertical rotation that causes interference with support arm structures
2Manufacturing precision
If the surgical microscope is turned by 90 degrees into vertical posture for weight balance adjustment, then the front-back weight balance can be reestablished, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of weight balance adjustment from the complex two-step process (horizontal positioning + 90-degree rotation) and implements it through a single horizontal adjustment operation. The electric slide mechanism independently moves the microscope along the rotary shaft axis to align the center of gravity, eliminating the time-consuming vertical rotation step while maintaining balancing accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures the microscope is initially positioned horizontally before weight balance adjustment begins. The electric slide mechanism then performs the complete center of gravity alignment in this predetermined horizontal orientation, avoiding the need for subsequent vertical rotation and reducing total adjustment time
3Manufacturing precision
If manual turning by 90 degrees is performed for weight balance, then the center of gravity can be aligned, but the process requires two separate adjustment steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the horizontal positioning function and the weight balance adjustment function into a single operational step. The electric slide mechanism simultaneously achieves both the horizontal orientation and the center of gravity alignment by moving the microscope along the rotary shaft axis, eliminating the need for separate vertical rotation and balancing operations
Data Source
AI summary
A weight balance method of a surgical microscope is able to automatically align, in response to a switching operation, a center of gravity G of the surgical microscope 5 with a rotary shaft S. A weight balance of the surgical microscope is easily attained only by slanting the surgical microscope, and therefore, no part of the surgical microscope protrudes upward to interfere with a supporting structure of the surgical microscope.