Surgical Table Actuation System with Three-Actuator Guide Plate
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical and examination table actuation systems face challenges in achieving a wide range of movement while minimizing the lowest position and maximizing the highest position, with Cardan hinges not providing a constant-velocity joint, leading to inefficiencies in load distribution and movement control.
Innovation Solution
A three-actuator system with a lifting column and guide plate mechanism that allows for independent vertical, longitudinal, and lateral movements, using universal joints to create a torsion-stiff connection and minimize rotation, enabling precise control and increased load capacity without a Cardan hinge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a Cardan hinge is used with two actuators, then the table can achieve tilting movements in longitudinal and lateral directions, but the load distribution is inefficient and the movement control is imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the tilting movement control into three separate actuators, each responsible for a specific degree of freedom (longitudinal tilt, lateral tilt, and vertical position). This segmentation allows each actuator to handle a portion of the load independently, improving load distribution efficiency while maintaining precise control through individual actuator positioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the movement range is increased for all directions, then the table provides greater positioning flexibility, but the lowest position cannot be minimized and the highest position cannot be maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds a vertical positioning degree of freedom independent of the tilting movements. By separating the vertical position control from the tilt control, the table can achieve full vertical range (minimizing lowest position and maximizing highest position) while simultaneously providing extensive tilting flexibility in longitudinal and lateral directions through the three-actuator configuration.
3Ease of operation
If a universal joint is used without guidance, then the joint can rotate freely in multiple directions, but it rotates around the vertical plane causing imprecise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plate acts as an intermediary between the universal joint and the table. It permits the universal joint to rotate freely in longitudinal and lateral directions while constraining rotation around the vertical plane through guided tracks. This intermediary structure preserves the rotational freedom needed for tilting movements while eliminating unwanted vertical rotation, thereby achieving precise positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuation system having a table, a lifting column for raising and lowering the table, first and second actuators pivotally mounted to a top section of the lifting column. The first and second actuators are coupled to a first end of the table. A guide plate having a top portion and at least one track is provided. The at least one track is slidingly engaged with at least one guide, the at least one guide is vertically mounted to a third side of the lifting column. The top portion of the guide plate is vertically driven by the third actuator and is universally coupled to a second end of the table. A controller for controls the movement of the lifting column in the vertical plane, and of the table in the longitudinal and lateral planes by varying the position of the three actuators relative to each other.