Surgical theater system having light, monitors, and cameras

• US 20020015296A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Howell, Charles A., Turner, Jonathan D., Heimbrock, Richard H., Gray, Gary A., Manlove, Scott, Reed, Howard
• Granted Patent: US 6,471,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/308 Lamp handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 using light, e.g. by using optical scanners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/5025 with a counter-balancing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/506 using a parallelogram linkage, e.g. panthograph
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/004 mounted on the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/006 with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/027 Ceiling supports
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/063 Parallelogram arms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/14 Adjustable mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/26 Pivoted arms
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/205 for operating theatres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/804 : Surgical or dental spotlight

Abstract

A surgical theater apparatus for suspending from a ceiling structural member of a hospital includes a central hub mountable to the ceiling structural member to rotate about a rotation axis. The hub has a pivot axis spaced apart from the rotation axis. First and second devices, such as surgical lights, a cameras, and monitors, are mounted to a first end of a first device arm and a first end of a second device arm, respectively. A second end of the first device arm is mounted to the hub for movement about the rotation axis and about the pivot axis. A second end of the second device arm is mounted to the hub for movement about the rotation axis. The pivot axis and the rotation axis are parallel.

Claims

1. A surgical theater apparatus for suspending from a ceiling structural member of a hospital, the surgical theater apparatus comprising:

a central hub mountable to the ceiling structural member to rotate about a rotation axis, the hub having a pivot axis spaced apart from the rotation axis,

a first device selected from the group of a surgical light, a camera, and a monitor,

a second device selected from the group of a surgical light, a camera, and a monitor,

a first device arm coupled at a first end to the first device and mounted at a second end to the hub for movement about the rotation axis and about the pivot axis,

a second device arm coupled at a first end to the second device and mounted at a second end to the hub for movement about the rotation axis, and

wherein the pivot axis and the rotation axis are parallel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first device is a monitor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second device is a camera.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hub includes a second pivot axis spaced apart from and parallel to the rotation axis and the first pivot axis and further comprising a third device selected from the group of a surgical light, a camera, and a monitor and a third device arm coupled at a first end to the third device and mounted at a second end to the hub for movement about the rotation axis and about the second pivot axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the third device is a monitor and the third device arm is a monitor arm.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first device is a monitor and the first device arm is a monitor arm.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second device is a camera and the second device arm is a camera arm.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first and second pivot axes and the rotation axis are coplanar.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first device arm includes a first segment and a second segment pivotally mounted to the first segment about a third pivot axis which is perpendicular to the first pivot axis.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, and further comprising a surgical light arm attached at a distal end to a surgical light and mounted at a proximate end to the hub for movement about the rotation axis.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, and further comprising:

a slip ring assembly mounted to the hub and the shaft,

a first cable extending through the hub and the first monitor arm to carry power, a C₁ video signal, and a Y₁ video signal from the slip ring to the first monitor,

a second cable extending through the hub and the second monitor arm to carry power, a C₂ video signal, and a Y₂ video signal from the slip ring to the second monitor,

a third cable carrying the power, the C₁, Y₁, C₂, and Y₂ video signals to the slip ring assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the C₁, Y₁, C₂, and Y₂ video signals are carried by shielded wire having a shield coupled to a shield ground.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the slip ring assembly includes seven slip rings for distributing a ground potential, a voltage above ground potential, the C₁ video signal, the Y₁ video signal, the C₂ video signal, the Y₂ video signal, and a shield ground potential.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central hub includes a plurality of hub portions each of which is independently movable about the rotation axis, and the hub portion coupled to the first device arm carrying a laterally outwardly spaced pivot joint defining the pivot axis, said hub portion comprising a hub brake controlling the movement of the hub portion about the rotation axis, said pivot joint comprising a pivot brake controlling the pivotal movement of the first device arm relative to the hub portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, in which the hub brake and pivot brake are selectively adjustable such that the first device arm can pivot relative to the hub without pivoting the hub relative to the rotation axis.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the pivot joint includes stops limiting pivotal movement of the first device arm relative to the hub, the hub brake being adjusted such that the hub portion will not move relative to the rotation axis until the first device arm moves against the limiting stops.

29. The apparatus of claim 17 including a selectively adjustable hub brake controlling the movement of the monitor hub about the shaft, each pivot joint including a selectively adjustable pivot joint brake controlling movement of its associated first and second monitor arm on the monitor hub, the hub brake and pivot joint brakes being adjustable such that the monitor arms can move about their respective pivot joints without moving the hub about the shaft.

17. A surgical light apparatus for mounting to a support in a ceiling, the surgical light apparatus comprising:

a shaft mountable to the support, the shaft having a longitudinal axis extending downwardly from the support,

a surgical light head,

a first monitor,

a second monitor,

a camera,

a light hub mounted to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the light head being coupled to the light hub by a light arm extending laterally away from the light hub,

a camera hub mounted to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the camera being coupled to the camera hub by a camera arm extending laterally away from the camera hub,

a monitor hub having first and second pivot joints pivoting about first and second pivot axes respectively, the monitor hub being mounted to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the first monitor being coupled to the first pivot joint by a first monitor arm, the second monitor being coupled to the second pivot joint by a second monitor arm, and

wherein the first pivot axis is spaced apart laterally from, and is substantially parallel to, the longitudinal axis.

18. The apparatus of 17, wherein the second pivot axis is spaced apart laterally from, and is substantially parallel to, the longitudinal axis.

19. The apparatus of 18, wherein the first and second monitor arms pivot at least 180 degrees about the first and second pivot axes respectively.

20. The apparatus of 17, and further comprising:

a slip ring assembly mounted to the monitor hub and the shaft,

a first cable extending through the monitor hub and the first monitor arm to carry power, a C₁ video signal, and a Y₁ video signal from the slip ring to the first monitor,

a second cable extending through the monitor hub and the second monitor arm to carry power, a C₂ video signal, and a Y₂ video signal from the slip ring to the second monitor,

a third cable carrying the power, the C₁, Y₁, C₂, and Y₂ video signals to the slip ring assembly.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the C₁, Y₁, C₂, and Y₂ video signals are carried by shielded wire having a shield coupled to a shield ground.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the slip ring assembly includes seven slip rings for distributing a ground potential, a voltage above ground potential, the C₁ video signal , the Y₁ video signal, the C₂ video signal, the Y₂ video signal, and a shield ground potential.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the C₁, Y₁, C₂, and Y₂ video signals are carried by shielded wire having a shield coupled to a shield ground.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the slip ring assembly includes seven slip rings for distributing a ground potential, a voltage above ground potential, the C₁ video signal, the Y₁ video signal, the C₂ video signal, the Y₂ video signal, and a shield ground potential.

23. The apparatus of 17, and further comprising a second surgical light head and a second light hub mounted to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the second surgical light head being coupled to the second light hub by a second light arm extending laterally away from the second light hub,

24. The apparatus of 23, wherein the second pivot axis is spaced apart laterally from, and is substantially parallel to, the longitudinal axis.

25. The apparatus of 24 wherein the first and second monitor arms pivot at least 180 degrees about the first and second pivot axes respectively.

26. The apparatus of 23, and further comprising:

a slip ring assembly mounted to the monitor hub and the shaft,

a first cable extending through the monitor hub and the first monitor arm to carry power, a C₁ video signal, and a Y₁ video signal from the slip ring to the first monitor,

a second cable extending through the monitor hub and the second monitor arm to carry power, a C₂ video signal, and a Y₂ video signal from the slip ring to the second monitor,

a third cable carrying the power, the C₁, Y₁, C₂, and Y₂ video signals to the slip ring assembly.

30. A surgical light apparatus for mounting to a support in a ceiling, the surgical light apparatus comprising:

a shaft mountable to the support, the shaft including a longitudinal axis extending downwardly from the support,

a surgical light head,

a monitor,

a monitor hub mounted to rotate about the longitudinal axis,

a monitor arm assembly comprising;

a bent arm coupled to the monitor hub at a proximal end, the bent arm extending laterally away and then downwardly from the monitor hub to a distal end;

an extension arm rotatably mounted at a first end to the distal end of the bent arm to rotate about a first rotation axis, the extension arm having a second end;

a laterally-extending arm having a first end and a second end, the laterally-extending arm being mounted at the first end to the second end of the extension arm; and

,

a downwardly extending arm having an upper section and a lower section, the upper section having a first end and a second end and being mounted at the first end to the laterally-extending arm, the lower section having an upper end and a lower end, the lower section being rotatably mounted at the upper end to the second end of the upper section to rotate about a second rotation axis, the lower section being mounted at the lower end to the monitor; and

,

a light hub mounted to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the light head being coupled to the light hub by a light arm extending laterally away from the light hub.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the longitudinal axis, first rotation axis and second rotation axis are generally parallel.

32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the laterally-extending arm is pivotally mounted to the extension arm and the downwardly extending arm to pivot about first and second generally parallel pivot axes respectively.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the longitudinal axis, first rotation axis and second rotation axis are generally parallel.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the first pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, and further comprising a first, second, and third slip ring assembly, and wherein the first slip ring assembly is mounted to the monitor hub and the shaft, the second slip ring assembly is mounted to the distal end of the bent arm and the first end of the extension arm, and the third slip ring assembly is mounted to the second end of the upper section and the upper end of the lower section of the downwardly extending arm.

36. The apparatus of claim 30 and further comprising a second monitor, wherein the monitor hub includes first and second pivot joints pivoting at least 90 degrees about a first and second pivot axis, the first monitor being coupled to the first pivot joint by the first monitor arm assembly, the second monitor being coupled to the second pivot joint by a second monitor arm assembly, and

wherein the first pivot axis is spaced apart laterally from, and is substantially parallel to, the longitudinal axis.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 and further comprising a camera and a camera hub mounted to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the camera being coupled to the camera hub by a camera arm extending laterally away from the camera hub.

38. The apparatus of claim 30, and further comprising a camera and a camera hub mounted to rotate about the longitudinal axis, the camera being coupled to the camera hub by a camera arm extending laterally away from the camera hub.

39. The apparatus of claim 30, comprising a monitor hub brake selectively adjustable to control movement of the monitor hub about the shaft.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 comprising a pivot joint supporting bent arm at its proximal end for movement about an axis laterally spaced apart from, and parallel to, the longitudinal axis, the pivot joint comprising a selectively adjustable brake and limit stops to control movement of the bent arm relative to the monitor hub between limits established by the stops, the hub brake being adjustable to provide for movement of the bent arm between the stops without movement of the monitor hub and movement of the monitor hub when the monitor arm reaches the stop limits.

41. A surgical video apparatus for suspending from a ceiling structural member of a hospital, the surgical video apparatus comprising:

a support mountable to the ceiling structural member,

a shaft having an upper end and a longitudinal axis and being coupled at the upper end to the support to extend downwardly,

a video monitor,

a camera,

a monitor arm coupled at a first end to the monitor and coupled at a second end to the shaft for movement about a pivot axis,

a camera arm coupled at a first end to the camera and coupled at a second end to the shaft for movement about a rotation axis, and

wherein the pivot axis is spaced apart laterally from the rotation axis, said pivot axis and rotation axis being generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the rotation axis is coaxial with the longitudinal axis.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the shaft includes an outer surface disposed to lie between the pivot axis and the rotation axis.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising a second monitor and a second monitor arm coupled at a first end to the second monitor and coupled at a second end to the shaft for movement about a second pivot axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the shaft includes an outside surface, the rotation axis is coaxial with the longitudinal axis, and the outside surface is disposed to lie between the longitudinal axis and one of the first and second pivot axes.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the outer surface is disposed between the longitudinal axis and both of the first and second pivot axes.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the first and second pivot axes extend through a hub to which the second ends of the first and second monitor arms are pivotally mounted and the hub is mounted to the shaft for rotation about the longitudinal axis.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first and second pivot axes and the rotation axis are coplanar.

49. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the monitor arm includes a first segment and a second segment pivotally mounted to the first segment about a third pivot axis which is perpendicular to the first pivot axis.

50. The apparatus of claim 43, and further comprising a surgical light attached to a distal end of a light arm and mounted at a proximal end to rotate about the longitudinal axis.

52. The apparatus of claim 44, comprising a monitor hub mounted on the shaft for movement about the longitudinal axis, the monitor hub carrying generally oppositely disposed pivot joints defining the first and second pivot axes, each of the monitor hub and the pivot joints including selectively adjustable brakes controlling the torque required for movement about its axis, each pivot joint including stops limiting movement of its associated monitor arm about its pivot axis, whereby the monitor arms can be moved about their pivot axes within their respective stop limits without moving the monitor hub about the shaft.

51. The apparatus of 41, comprising a selectively adjustable brake controlling movement of the monitor arm about the pivot axis.

53. A surgical light comprising:

a shaft mountable to a ceiling structure to extend downwardly and define a longitudinal axis,

a surgical light,

a hub and light arm for coupling the light to the shaft for movement about the longitudinal axis,

a monitor, and

a monitor arm assembly for coupling the monitor for movement about the longitudinal axis, the arm assembly comprising;

a first arm movable about the shaft and having, at its distal end, a portion extending downwardly to define a second axis;

a second arm movable about the second axis, the second arm having a proximal end coupled to the first arm downwardly extending portion and a distal end,

the monitor being coupled to the second arm distal end.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 in which the first arm downwardly extending portion comprises upper and lower portions with the lower portion being rotatable relative to the upper portion about the second axis.

55. The invention of claim 54 in which the second arm is coupled to the lower portion of the first arm for pivotal movement about a third axis perpendicular to the second axis.

56. The invention of claim 55 in which the monitor is coupled to the second arm distal end for pivotal movement about a fourth axis perpendicular to the second axis.

57. The invention of claim 56 in which the monitor is further coupled to the second arm for movement about a fifth axis generally parallel to the second axis.

58. The invention of claim 57 in which the monitor is further coupled to the second arm for movement about a sixth axis generally perpendicular to the fifth axis.

59. The invention of claim 56 in which the second arm includes a counter balance mechanism for controlling the pivotal movement to support the monitor.

60. The invention of claim 53 comprising a hub movable about the shaft and providing a laterally spaced pivot joint for supporting the first arm for movement about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis.

61. The invention of claim 53 wherein a hub is provided on the shaft to support a second monitor and second monitor arm assembly, the hub having generally opposed laterally spaced pivot joints for supporting the monitor arm assemblies respectively for movement about pivot axes spaced laterally outwardly from and parallel to the longitudinal axis.

62. The invention of claim 61, comprising a selectively adjustable hub brake for controlling the movement of the hub about the shaft and a selectively adjustable pivot joint brake for each pivot joint to control the torque required to move its associated monitor arm assembly about its axis, each pivot joint including stops limiting the movement of its associated monitor arm assembly, whereby the hub brake is adjustable such that the hub will not move until an arm assembly is moved against its pivot joint stop and movement of the arm assembly is continued.

63. A surgical apparatus comprising:

a hub assembly configured to be attached to a ceiling,

an arm having a proximate end coupled for pivotal movement about the hub assembly and a distal end including a mechanical connector and an electrical connector, the electrical connector being configured to couple to an electrical connector of a camera and a monitor,

a monitor mounted to a mechanical connector configured to attach to and detach from the mechanical connector of the arm, the monitor being coupled to an electrical connector configured to attach to and detach from the electrical connector of the arm, and

a camera mounted to a mechanical connector configured to attach to and detach from the mechanical connector of the arm, the monitor being coupled to an electrical connector configured to attach to and detach from the electrical connector of the arm.

64. The surgical apparatus of claim 63 and further comprising a second arm having a proximate end coupled for pivotal movement about the hub assembly and a distal end including a mechanical connector and an electrical connector, the electrical connector being configured to couple to an electrical connector of a camera and a monitor.

65. The surgical apparatus of claim 64 and further comprising a second monitor mounted to a mechanical connector configured to attach to and detach from the mechanical connector of either arm, the monitor being coupled to an electrical connector configured to attach to and detach from the electrical connector of the arm.

66. The surgical apparatus of claim 63 further comprising a second hub assembly configured to be attached to a ceiling, and a second arm having a proximate end coupled for pivotal movement about the second hub assembly and a distal end including a mechanical connector and an electrical connector, the electrical connector being configured to couple to an electrical connector of a camera and a monitor.

68. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 67, wherein the video device is a video monitor.

69. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 67, wherein the video device is a camera.

70. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 67, further comprising a second arm assembly coupled to a second hub segment of the plurality of hub segments and a surgical light coupled to the second arm assembly.

71. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 67, wherein the arm assembly includes an upper arm, a counterbalanced arm assembly coupled to the upper arm, and a lower arm assembly coupled to the counterbalanced arm assembly, the upper arm is coupled to the first hub segment for pivoting movement about the pivot axis, and the video device is coupled to the lower arm assembly.

72. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 71, wherein the upper arm is L-shaped having a first section extending perpendicular to the pivot axis and a second section extending parallel with the pivot axis.

73. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 71, wherein the upper arm is L-shaped and the lower arm assembly includes a lower arm that is L-shaped.

74. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 67, wherein the first hub segment includes a main hub section having a cylindrical outer wall and a first pivot joint portion appended to the main hub section and extending therefrom.

75. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 74, wherein the arm assembly includes an arm having a second pivot joint portion that is coupled to the first pivot joint portion.

76. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 75, wherein the second pivot joint portion is positioned to lie atop the first pivot joint portion.

77. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 75, further comprising a thrust bearing positioned to lie between the first pivot joint portion and the second pivot joint portion.

78. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 75, further comprising a pivot pin coupling the first pivot joint portion and the second pivot joint portion together.

79. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 78, further comprising a brake assembly including a brake element that engages the pivot pin and an adjuster that is movable to adjust the amount of pressure with which the brake element engages the pivot pin to adjust a torque required to pivot the second pivot joint portion relative to the first pivot joint portion.

80. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 75, wherein one of the first and second pivot joint portions is formed to include a slot and the other of the first and second pivot joint portions is formed to include a stop that is received by the slot, the stop engages ends of the slot to limit the amount by which the second pivot joint portion is able to pivot relative to the first pivot joint portion.

81. The surgical light apparatus of claim 74, wherein the first pivot joint portion is integrally formed with the main hub.

82. The surgical light apparatus of claim 67, wherein the plurality of hub segments are stacked vertically.

67. A surgical theater apparatus for use in a surgical suite having a ceiling, the surgical theater apparatus comprising

a hub assembly adapted to be coupled to the ceiling, the hub assembly including a plurality of hub segments at least one of which is pivotable about a main axis,

a video device,

an arm assembly coupled to a first hub segment of the plurality of hub segments for pivoting movement about a pivot axis that is spaced apart from and parallel with the main axis, the video device being coupled to the arm assembly.

83. A surgical theater apparatus for use in a surgical suite, the surgical theater apparatus comprising

a hub assembly including a plurality of hub segments at least one of which is pivotable about a main axis,

first and second video devices,

first and second arm assemblies coupled to a first hub segment of the plurality of hub segments for pivoting movement about respective pivot axes that are spaced apart from and parallel with the main axis, the first video device being coupled to the first arm assembly, and the second video device being coupled to the second arm assembly.

84. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 83 wherein the first video device is a monitor and the second video device is a camera.

85. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 83, wherein the first and second video devices are monitors.

86. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 83, further comprising a third arm assembly coupled to a second hub segment of the plurality of hub segments and a surgical light coupled to the third arm assembly.

87. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 83, wherein the plurality of hub segments are stacked vertically.

88. A surgical theater apparatus comprising

an arm assembly including a first arm, a first mechanical connector coupled to the first arm, and a first electrical connector adjacent the first mechanical connector,

a monitor assembly adapted to be mechanically coupled to the first mechanical connector and to be electrically coupled to the first electrical connector, and

a camera assembly adapted to be mechanically coupled to the first mechanical connector and to be electrically coupled to the first electrical connector so that each of the monitor assembly and the camera assembly are selectively and individually coupleable to and decoupleable from the arm assembly.

89. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 88, wherein the monitor assembly and the camera assembly each weigh substantially the same amount and the first arm includes components that counterbalance the weight of whichever of the monitor assembly and the camera assembly is coupled to the arm assembly.

90. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 88, wherein the monitor assembly includes a monitor that is pivotable about multiple pivot axes relative to the arm assembly when the monitor assembly is coupled to the arm assembly.

91. The surgical theater apparatus of claim 88, wherein the camera assembly includes a camera that is pivotable about multiple pivot axes relative to the arm assembly when the camera assembly is coupled to the arm assembly.