Surgical theater system having light, monitors, and cameras

• US 20030021107A1
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles A. Howell, Gary A. Gray, Howard Reed, Jonathan D. Turner, Richard H. Heimbrock, Scott Manlove
• Original Assignee: Charles A. Howell, Gary A. Gray, Howard Reed, Jonathan D. Turner, Richard H. Heimbrock, Scott Manlove
• Inventors: Howell, Charles A., Turner, Jonathan D., Heimbrock, Richard H., Gray, Gary A., Manlove, Scott, Reed, Howard
• Granted Patent: US 6,899,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/147
• 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. Surgical theater apparatus for suspending from a ceiling structural member of a hospital, the apparatus comprising:

a central hub mountable to the ceiling structural member,

a device arm having a first end and a second end, the device arm first end being coupled to the central hub and the device arm second end being configured to be coupled to a device,

an electric communications terminal positioned near the second end of the device arm, the electric communications terminal being configured to couple to the device, and

the device being one selected from the group comprising a camera, a surgical light, and a monitor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic communications terminal is configured to be interchangeably coupled to the camera, surgical light, and monitor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device arm includes cables extending therethrough, the cables carrying electrical power, a C1 video signal, a C2 video signal, a Y1 video signal, and a Y2 video signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central hub defines a rotation axis about which it rotates.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the central hub further includes a first pivot axis spaced apart from and parallel to the rotation axis, the device arm being configured to move about the rotation axis and the first pivot axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the device arm includes a first segment and a second segment pivotably mounted to the first segment about a second pivot axis which is perpendicular to the first pivot axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, 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 device arm carries 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, and said pivot joint comprising a pivot brake controlling the pivotable movement of the first device arm relative to the hub portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pivot joint includes stops limiting pivotable movement of the device arm relative to the central hub, the hub brake being adjusted such that the hub portion will not move relative to the rotation axis until the device arm moves against the limiting stops.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the device arm is configured to pivot at least 180 degrees relative to the central hub about the pivot axis.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable brake controlling movement of the device arm.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central hub is formed to include a slot and a stop formed to be received by the slot, the slot and stop cooperating to permit 180 degree rotation of the device arm relative to the central hub.

12. A method of communicating a surgical procedure to a remote audience, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting a central hub to a ceiling structure for movement about a rotation axis, the central hub having a pivot axis spaced apart from the rotation axis;

mounting a device arm on the central hub so that the device arm is pivotable relative to the ceiling structure about both the pivot axis and the rotation axis;

selecting a device to be mounted on the device arm, the device being one selected from the group comprising a camera, a surgical light, and a monitor;

electrically coupling the device to cables extending through the device arm via an electrical connector, the electrical connector providing connections for a camera, a surgical light, and a monitor; and

using the selected device to communicate with the audience during the surgical procedure.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the cables carry electrical power, a C1 video signal, a C2 video signal, a Y1 video signal, and a Y2 video signal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrical connector is configured to be interchangeably coupled to the camera, surgical light, and monitor.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the device arm includes a first segment and a second segment pivotably mounted to the first segment about a second pivot axis which is perpendicular to the first pivot axis.

16. The method of claim 12, 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 device arm carries 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, and said pivot joint comprising a pivot brake controlling the pivotable movement of the first device arm relative to the hub portion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the pivot joint includes stops limiting pivotable movement of the device arm relative to the central hub, the hub brake being adjusted such that the hub portion will not move relative to the rotation axis until the device arm moves against the limiting stops.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the device arm is configured to pivot at least 180 degrees relative to the central hub about the pivot axis.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the central hub further comprises an adjustable brake controlling movement of the device arm.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the central hub is formed to include a slot and a stop formed to be received by the slot, the slot and stop cooperating to permit 180 degree rotation of the device arm relative to the central hub.