Support system for mounting a medical device

Abstract

A support system for mounting a medical-technical device, comprises a fixation unit, a support module that is attachable to fixation unit, a support arm that comprises a mounting end and an attachment end, wherein the mounting end is mountable to support module; and a joint member that is attachable to attachment end of support arm.

Claims

1. A support system for mounting a medical-technical device, comprising: a fixation unit for mounting the support system on a carrier structure, the fixation unit having a planar mounting surface with a plurality of bores defined therein, the bores each being perpendicular to the planar mounting surface; a support module attachable to the fixation unit in a plurality of orientations, each of the orientations being rotated with respect to an other of the orientations about an axis perpendicular to the planar mounting surface, the support module being attachable to the fixation unit in each of the orientations using at least two of the plurality of bores in the planar mounting surface; a support arm comprising a mounting end and an attachment end, the mounting end being mountable to the support module; and a joint member attachable to the attachment end of the support arm, the joint member configured to be attachable to the medical-technical device and to provide a pivotal connection between the support arm and the medical-technical device.

2. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the fixation unit is configured as a clamping unit for mounting the support system in a clampable manner.

3. The support system according to claim 2, wherein the clamping unit comprises: a clamp body; a first clamp arm and a second clamp arm protruding substantially parallel from the clamp body to form a C-shaped structure; a threaded bore passing through the second clamp arm; a clamp screw retained within the threaded bore; a clamping element that is movably arranged between the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm, connected to the clamp screw and configured to engage in a clamping manner with the first clamp arm when the clamp screw is screwed into the threaded bore.

4. The support system according to claim 3, wherein the first clamp arm and the clamping element each comprise a clamping surface having a recess.

5. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the support module comprises a location hole configured to receive the mounting end of the support arm.

6. The support system according to claim 5, wherein the location hole extends parallel to the planar mounting surface.

7. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the support arm comprises a region that comprises the mounting end of the support arm and a region that comprises the attachment end of the support arm, and wherein the region of the support arm comprising the attachment end is configured to be swivelable about an axis that essentially extends along the extension direction of the mounting end.

8. The support system according to claim 7, wherein the support arm comprises a hinge unit that pivotally connects the region of the support arm comprising the mounting end and the region of the support arm comprising the attachment end.

9. The support system according to claim 8, wherein the hinge unit comprises a spring mechanism configured to balance a torque exerted on the hinge unit by the weight of the region of the support arm comprising the attachment end and further components mounted thereon.

10. The support system according to claim 9, wherein the spring mechanism is connected to a first end of the region that comprises the attachment end of the support arm and to a second end of the region that comprises the mounting end of the support arm or to the support module, the second end of the spring mechanism being swivelably connected to the support module and the region of the support arm comprising the attachment end being swivelably connected to the support module, by a circumferential guiding groove or circumferential guiding ring of the support module.

11. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the joint member comprises a ball joint, wherein the joint member comprises a locking member configured to lock the joint member in a pivoted position.

12. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the axis about which the support module is rotated is substantially central to the planar mounting surface.

13. The support system according to claim 12, wherein the bores comprise four bores that are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis about which the support module is rotated such that the plurality of orientations are separated by about 90° and the support module is attachable to the fixation until in each of the orientations by the four bores.

14. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the bores are threaded bores.

15. A support system for mounting a medical-technical device, comprising: a fixation unit configured as a clamping unit for mounting the support system on a carrier structure, the fixation unit having a planar mounting surface with a plurality of bores defined therein, an axis being defined perpendicular to and substantially central to the planar mounting surface, the bores comprising four bores that are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis, each bore being perpendicular to the planar mounting surface; a support module attachable to the fixation unit in a plurality of orientations, each of the orientations being rotated with respect to an other of the orientations by 90° about an axis, the support module being attachable to the fixation unit in each of the orientations using the plurality of bores in the planar mounting surface, the support module further having a location hole defined therein, the location hole extending parallel to the planar mounting surface; a support arm comprising a mounting end and an attachment end, the mounting end being mountable to the support module; and a joint member attachable to the attachment end of the support arm, the joint member configured to be attachable to the medical-technical device and to provide a pivotal connection between the support arm and the medical-technical device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above and further features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs designate like features, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a partially assembled support system (A) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a fixation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3a-d are planar views of surfaces of the support module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) With reference to FIG. 1, a partially assembled support system (A) for mounting a medical-technical device in a clinical environment according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The support system shown in FIG. 1 has a modular design and is essentially composed of (a) a fixation unit 1, (b) a support module 2, (c) a support arm 3 and (d) a joint member 4. Fixation unit 1 is configured to mount the assembled support system onto a carrier structure, e.g. to a component in a clinical environment, such as a planar surface, like a tabletop or a component of a patient bed, such as a side rail. By the present embodiment, fixation unit 1 is configured as a clamping unit, which is designated by the same reference sign in the following. Clamping unit 1 as an embodiment of fixation unit 1 is described in more detail below.

(6) In FIG. 1, support module 2 is attached to fixation unit 1. Support module 2 comprises a location hole 2.1 that is configured to receive the proximal end of support arm 3. That proximal end serves as mounting end 3.1 for mounting the support arm 3 onto or into support module 2. The diameter of the location hole 2.1 typically corresponds to the diameter of the mounting end 3.1 allowing the support arm to be tightly fixed.

(7) The distal end of support arm 3 is provided as attachment end 3.2 that is configured to be connectable to joint member 4. Joint member 4 may be screwed to the attachment end 3.2. Alternatively, joint member 4 may comprise a sleeve-like connection piece that is fitted onto attachment end 3.2 and secured by a marman clamp or the like. Joint member 4 comprises connection means, in the present embodiment connection plate 4.3 with bores, to which a (not shown) technical-medical device, such as a patient terminal, or a monitor or the like is connected or mounted, e.g. by screws or the like.

(8) Joint member 4 further comprises a pivotable connection between connection plate 4.3 and its proximal portion that is connectable to support arm 3. In the present embodiment, the pivotable connection is provided as ball joint 4.1, which allows to freely adjust the orientation of the connection plate 4.3 and, thus, the orientation of a technical-medical device mounted thereto. In order to improve the stability of the pivotable connection, a bracket with a locking handle, is provided as locking means 4.2 to lock the orientation of ball joint 4.1.

(9) Support arm 3 provides two further degrees of freedom for alignment of joint member 4 relative to fixation unit 1 and support module 2. On the one hand, support arm 3 is configured such that its extended portion comprising distal attachment end 3.2 is swivelable around an axis that is defined by the extension direction of the mounting end 3.1. In other words, the extended section of support arm 3 comprising distal attachment end 3.2 can be swiveled in and out of the image plane of FIG. 1.

(10) On the other hand, support arm 3 comprises hinge unit 3.3 from which the extended distal and the shorter proximal portion of support arm 3 protrude. Thereby, the portion of support arm 3 comprising attachment end 3.2 can be pivoted relative to mounting end 3.1. Hinge unit 3.3 may comprise an internal spring mechanism (not shown) that exerts a torque on hinge unit 3.3 such that the extended portion of support arm 3 comprising distal attachment end 3.2 is forced in an upward direction in FIG. 1. The spring mechanism is adjustable so that the generated torque can be adjusted to allow counterbalancing a torque exerted by the weight of support arm 3, joint member 4 and devices mounted thereto. By such a weight compensation mechanism, position and orientation of support arm 3 can be readily altered even when using the inventive support system for mounting heavy devices.

(11) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of clamping unit 1 according to the present embodiment of the invention. Clamping unit 1 essentially forms a C-shape that is configured by a vertically extending clamp body 1.1 and two horizontal clamp arms. The first clamp arm 1.2 and the second clamp arm 1.3 protrude essentially parallel and essentially orthogonal from clamp body 1.1.

(12) Second clamp arm 1.3 comprises a threaded bore 1.4 with clamp screw 1.5 retained therein. Clamp screw 1.5 has a clamp screw grip at its upper end that is provided for convenient operation of clamping unit 1. At its lower end, clamp screw 1.5 is connected to clamping element 1.6 that is movably arranged between first clamp arm 1.2 and second clamp arm 1.3. The clamping element 1.6 opposes the first clamp arm 1.2 and provides the clamping function together with first clamp arm 1.2 when clamp screw 1.5 is screwed inwards.

(13) The clamping effect of clamping unit 1 is created between clamping surfaces of clamping element 1.6 and first clamp arm 1.2. The clamping surfaces are the surfaces of clamping element 1.6 and first clamp arm 1.2 opposing each other in FIG. 2. Both clamping surfaces comprise essentially flat areas, so that the clamping unit has a stable grip when attached to flat objects, such as tabletops.

(14) Furthermore, both clamping surfaces comprise a recess 1.7 and 1.8 that extend essentially parallel to each other and are provided to oppose each other. These recesses 1.7 and 1.8 facilitate the mounting of the support system to round stock elements, such as poles or rails. For this, one recess 1.7 is placed against one side of a round stock. The other recess 1.8 will engage with the other side of the round stock when clamp screw 1.5 is screwed into the clamping unit 1. Thus, clamping unit 1 can be secured to any support member with an outer round shape of whatever diameter, any curved surface or any flat surface edge.

(15) The clamping surfaces including recesses 1.7 and 1.8 may be coated with a nonslip material to further improve grip properties of clamping unit 1.

(16) Clamp body 1.1 has a mounting surface 1.9 on an outside face of clamping unit 1 that faces away from or is the opposite to the clamp mechanism described above. The mounting surface 1.9 has bores 1.10 that are provided to enable attachment of support module 2 to clamping unit 1. Support module 2 has correspondingly arranged bores 2.3 on one of its surfaces. For improved stability, a plurality of bores 1.10 is provided.

(17) In order to allow horizontal mounting as well as vertical mounting of the support system with respect to the orientation of whatever available support members (onto which the support system is mounted), the relative orientation of support module 2 to clamping unit 1 is adjustable. Therefore, the arrangement of bores 1.10 and the corresponding arrangement of the bores in the support module exhibits a fourfold rotational symmetry, so that the bore arrangement remains congruent with the original bore arrangement even after rotation by 90°.

(18) As can be taken from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the support module 2 can be attached to the clamping unit 1 with several orientations at the same mounting surface 1.9 while using the same bores 1.10. Accordingly, the number of bores 1.10 necessary is low and search for a different mounting surface for reorientation is unnecessary. In particular, this advantage may be provided by the bores 1.10 and the bores 2.3 each being provided with rotational symmetry to a virtual axis that is essentially central and essentially orthogonal to the mounting surfaces 1.9 of the clamping unit 1 and respectively to a corresponding mounting surface of the support module shown in FIG. 2. The virtual axis is indicated in FIG. 2 by crossing of the two dash-dotted that do not pass through the bores 2.3. The support module 2 can easily be re-oriented by unscrewing the screws connecting the support module 2 to the clamping unit 1 with the bores 1.10 and 2.3, rotating the support module 2 by 90° about the virtual axis and screwing the screw into the bores 1.10 and 2.3 again. As is apparent, it is not even necessary to completely remove the screws from either the clamping unit 1 or the support module 2 for this reorientation.

(19) An exemplary bore arrangement exhibiting such a property is shown in FIG. 3a. A side view of the support module 2 is shown viewed from the side that is connected to the fixation unit 1. Four bores 2.3 are arranged at the edges of a square. Symmetry axes are indicated by dash-dotted lines. If support module 2 is rotated by 90° in the image plane, the bore arrangement is not altered. Thus, support module 2 can be attached to fixation unit 1 in either of these orientations, such that location hole 2.1 and, thus, orientation of support arm 3 with respect to the fixation unit 1 may be rotated by 90° to allow for a mounting of the support system to horizontally and vertically extending support members.

(20) FIG. 3b shows a side view of support module 2 viewed from the same direction as in FIG. 1. Bores 2.3 for the attachment to fixation unit 1 are provided on the left side of support module 2. Location hole 2.1 extends through the center of support module 2. From the right side, threaded fixation bore 2.2 is shown that extends from the right side surface of the support module to location hole 2.1. A threaded fastener (not shown) can be accommodated in fixation bore 2.2 and be used to fixate proximal mounting end 3.1 of support arm 3 when it is received in location hole 2.1. FIG. 3c shows a top view of support module 2. Location hole 2.1 is shown, as well as the location of fixation bore 2.2 and bores 2.3. FIG. 3d is a planar view of the support module's side that is opposite to the side shown in FIG. 3a. On this side, only fixation bore 2.2 is shown.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

(21) A support system 1 fixation unit 1.1 clamp body 1.2 first clamp arm 1.3 second clamp arm 1.4 threaded bore 1.5 clamp screw 1.6 clamping element 1.7 recess 1.8 recess 1.9 mounting surface 1.10 bores 2 support module 2.1 location hole 2.2 fixation bore 2.3 bores 3 support arm 3.1 mounting end 3.2 attachment end 3.3 hinge unit 4 joint member 4.1 ball joint 4.2 locking means 4.3 connection plate