Articulated Urological Instrument Mount for Stable Flexible Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instrument holders with articulated arms lack a flexible yet stable platform for positioning cameras or instruments, limiting surgeons' ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A medical instrument mounting and positioning device featuring a platform with bilateral clamps attached to a spring-tensioned articulated arm, incorporating a flexible coil and multiple pivot screw joints, and a swivel ball joint for adjustable positioning on a surgical table.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid articulated arm with fixed joints is used to hold surgical instruments, then the instrument positioning is stable, but the flexibility and adjustability during surgery is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated arm incorporates multiple joints with different degrees of freedom (pivot joints for rotational movement, sliding joints for linear adjustment) that allow the arm to dynamically adapt its configuration during surgery while maintaining stable instrument holding capability at each positioned state
Solution Approach 2:
The arm is divided into multiple segmented sections connected by articulated joints, where each segment can be independently positioned and locked, providing both stability when locked and flexibility when adjusted, resolving the contradiction between rigid stability and flexible adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple surgical instruments and cameras are held by separate holders, then each instrument can be positioned independently, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated arm structure integrates multiple instrument holding capabilities into a single unified system, where the platform can accommodate various instruments and cameras while sharing common articulation mechanisms and control systems, reducing overall device complexity compared to multiple separate holders
Solution Approach 2:
The platform at the end of the articulated arm is designed with universal mounting capabilities that can accommodate different types of surgical instruments and cameras, allowing a single holder structure to perform multiple functions that would otherwise require separate specialized holders
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
Enhances instrument control and flexibility, allowing surgeons to perform multiple tasks efficiently, reducing procedural time and personnel requirements across various surgical and urological procedures.
Implementation Method 1
spring-tensioned articulated arm
Implementation Method 2
flexible coil
Implementation Method 3
pivot screw joints
Implementation Method 4
swivel ball-and-socket joint
Data Source
AI summary
A medical instrument mounting and positioning device is disclosed, comprising a platform with bilateral clamps to hold a camera or other instrument, said platform being movable via a swivel ball-and-socket joint and connected to a spring-tensioned articulated arm having a flexible coil and three longitudinal members connected by pivot screw joints. Another swivel ball joint is located at the non-instrument end of the articulated arm, to connect the arm to a support member that is anchorable to a surgical table or other surface.