Medical suspension system with two spindles

• US 6,817,585 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ondal Industrietechnik GmbH, Steris Corporation
• Inventors: Wagner, Jorg, Block, Roland D., Jesurun, David, Keselman, Yury, Steger, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US10/288,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20030141426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 362/147, 362/33, 362/572, 362/576, 362/286, 362/583, 362/386, 362/804, 359/384, 248/317, 248/320, 248/324, 248/325, 248/278.1, 248/282.1, 248/289.11
• US Class Current: 248/324
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/004 mounted on the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/068 being part of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/28 adjustable in more than one plane
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/205 for operating theatres

Abstract

A medical suspension system (10) includes a ceiling plate (30) configured for mounting to a support structure (16). The ceiling plate supports a device (12), such as a lighthead or video monitor, which is mounted to the ceiling plate via an articulated arm (50) and a spindle (40), which is centrally mounted to the ceiling plate. A second device (14) is mounted to the ceiling plate, not through the spindle (40), in the conventional manner, but via an adapter plate (62), which is mounted directly to the ceiling plate. This increases the number of devices which are readily carried by the support structure without extending the spindle length which conventionally occurs when additional hubs are added to the main spindle.

Claims

1. A suspension system for suspending a plurality of devices from an associated support structure comprising:

a ceiling plate configured for attachment to the associated support structure;

a first spindle, carried by the ceiling plate, the first spindle configured for supporting at least a first device thereon;

an adapter plate configured for mounting to the ceiling plate in a plurality of positions relative to the ceiling plate; and

a second spindle carried by the adapter plate, the second spindle configured for supporting at least a second device thereon.

2. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the first spindle is not carried by the adapter plate.

3. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the adapter plate includes a hollow portion which is shaped to receive the first spindle, the hollow portion defining an inner arcuate surface of less than about 180°

of an imaginary circle inscribing the inner arcuate surface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second devices is selected from the group consisting of video monitors, lightheads, vital sign monitors, and combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, further including:

a first adjustable arm assembly mounted to the first spindle and rotatable relative thereto, which carries the first device; and

a second adjustable arm assembly mounted to the second spindle and rotatable relative thereto, which carries the second device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second adjustable arm assembly is mounted to the second spindle by a hub, at least a portion of the hub being rotatable relative to the spindle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second spindle is generally parallel with the first spindle and radially spaced from the first spindle.

8. A suspension system for suspending a plurality of devices from a support structure comprising:

a ceiling plate configured for attachment to the support structure;

a first spindle, carried by the ceiling plate, the first spindle configured for supporting at least a first device thereon;

an adapter plate configured for mounting to the ceiling plate; and

,

a second spindle carried by the adapter plate, the second spindle configured for supporting at least a second device thereon, wherein the adapter plate and ceiling plate are configured for attachment of the adapter plate to the ceiling plate in a selected one of a plurality of arcuately spaced positions.

9. A suspension system for suspending a plurality of devices from a support structure comprising:

a ceiling plate configured for attachment to the support structure;

a first spindle, carried by the ceiling plate, the first spindle configured for supporting at least a first device thereon;

an adapter plate configured for mounting to the ceiling plate, the adapter plate including a hollow portion which is shaped to receive the first spindle therethrough, wherein the hollow portion defines an inner arcuate surface of less than about 180°

of an imaginary circle inscribing the inner arcuate surface; and

,

a second spindle carried by the adapter plate, the second spindle configured for supporting at least a second device thereon.

10. A suspension system for suspending a plurality of devices from a support structure comprising:

a ceiling plate configured for attachment to the support structure;

a first spindle, carried by the ceiling plate, the first spindle configured for supporting at least a first device thereon;

an adapter plate configured for mounting to the ceiling plate, wherein the adapter plate defines a sector of a circle having an inner arcuate surface and an outer arcuate surface, the outer arcuate surface being radially outward of the inner arcuate surface; and

,

a second spindle carried by the adapter plate, the second spindle configured for supporting at least a second device thereon.

11. The suspension system of claim 10, wherein the outer arcuate surface defines at least about 180°

of an imaginary circle inscribing the outer arcuate surface.

12. The suspension system of claim 10, wherein the outer arcuate surface defines less than about 270°

of an imaginary circle inscribing the outer arcuate surface.

13. A suspension system for suspending a plurality of devices from a support structure comprising:

a ceiling plate configured for attachment to the support structure;

a first spindle, carried by the ceiling plate, the first spindle configured for supporting at least a first device thereon;

a first adjustable arm assembly rotatably mounted to the first spindle and carrying the first device;

an adapter plate configured for mounting to the ceiling plate;

a second spindle carried by the adapter plate, the second spindle configured for supporting at least a second device thereon;

a second adjustable arm assembly mounted to the second spindle and rotatable relative thereto, which carries a second device; and

,

a telescoping transition piece mounted intermediate the second adjustable arm assembly and the second spindle.

14. A suspension system for suspending a plurality of devices from a support structure comprising:

a ceiling plate configured for attachment to the support structure;

a first spindle, carried by the ceiling plate, the first spindle configured for supporting at least a first device thereon;

an adapter plate configured for mounting to the ceiling plate, wherein the adapter plate includes a generally cylindrical collar and the spindle is mounted to the collar; and

,

a second spindle carried by the adapter plate, the second spindle configured for supporting at least a second device thereon.

15. An auxiliary assembly in combination with a primary suspension arm and first spindle, the auxiliary assembly comprising;

an adapter plate configured for selective attachment to a ceiling plate of the primary suspension arm, the primary suspension arm supporting a first device for use in a surgical procedure, the adapter plate including an inner surface which defines a hollow shape to receive said first spindle;

an adjustable arm operably connected with the adapter plate;

a second device mounted to the adjustable arm, such that when the adapter plate is attached to the ceiling plate, the second device is suspended therefrom.

16. The auxiliary assembly of claim 15, wherein the second device includes at least one of a lighthead and a video monitor.

17. The auxiliary assembly of claim 15, further including:

a generally cylindrical spindle mounted at a first end to the adapter plate, the adjustable arm being connected to a second end of the spindle and rotatable relative thereto.

18. In a suspension system including a ceiling plate which is anchored to an underlying building structure, the ceiling plate having a centrally mounted spindle configured for supporting a first device, an adapter assembly comprising:

an adapter plate configured to overlay a portion of the ceiling plate and partially circumscribe the central spindle, the adapter plate having at least another spindle mounted thereto; and

fasteners to connect the adapter plate to the ceiling plate with the central spindle and the another spindle adjacent to each other.

19. In a suspension system including a ceiling plate which is anchored to an underlying building structure, the ceiling plate having a centrally mounted spindle configured for supporting a first device, an adapter assembly comprising:

an adapter plate configured to overlay a portion of the ceiling plate in a plurality of selectable positions relative to the central spindle, the adapter plate having at least another spindle mounted thereto; and

means connecting the adapter plate with the ceiling plate, the central spindle and the another spindle being adjacent to each other.

20. A suspension system for suspending a plurality of devices from a support structure comprising:

a ceiling plate configured for attachment to the support structure;

a first spindle, carried by the ceiling plate, the first spindle configured for supporting at least a first device thereon;

an adapter plate configured to overlay a portion of the ceiling plate and being mountable to the ceiling plate in a plurality of positions relative to the ceiling plate; and

,

a second spindle carried by the adapter plate, the second spindle configured for supporting at least a second device thereon.