Support for medical equipment

• US 6,896,233 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MAVIG GmbH
• Original Assignee: MAVIG GmbH
• Inventors: Kuhn, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US10/344,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20030183737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 240/323, 240/324, 240/325, 240/285.1, 240/279.1, 240/280.11, 240/298.1, 240/299.1
• US Class Current: 248/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/048 adapted to forward-backward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/027 Ceiling supports
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/068 being part of the undercarriage

Abstract

A support (1) for bearing at least one piece of equipment (2,3,4), in particular video display units and other medical equipment. The support includes a support arm (5), to which the equipment (2,3,4) can be at least indirectly fixed and a fixing device (6), which engages in a connecting section (7) of the support arm (5) for suspending the support (1). The point of engagement (12) can be changed, to displace the center of gravity (16) of the support arm (5) and its load for a predetermined angle of the support arm (5), so that it lies at least approximately below the suspension point, at which the support (1) is suspended by the fixing device (6).

Claims

1. A support for supporting at least one piece of equipment, comprising a visual display unit (VDU), said support including a support arm on which the equipment is at least indirectly fixable, a fixing device which engages with a connecting section of the support arm for suspending the connecting section of the support arm for suspending the support and having a changeable engagement point for shifting the center of gravity of the loaded support arm for a given inclination of the support arm so that said support arm lies at least approximately below a suspension point on which the support is suspended by said fixing device, said fixing device comprising a ball and socket joint for a torque less suspension of the support relative to a horizontal axis, at least the connecting section of the support arm having a hollow profile so as to form an internal space at least in the area of the connecting section, said connecting section having at least two recesses arranged opposite each other, and through which the fixing device engages with the internal space of the connecting section of the support arm, and wherein a locking device for the fixing device for locking the fixing device relating to the support arm is arranged at least substantially within the internal space of the connecting section of the support arm.

5. A support according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support arm is bow-shaped.

6. A support according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking device has at least one locking plate to which a locking force is applicable for locking a side of the internal space of the connecting section against a wall of the connecting section.

7. A support according to claim 6, wherein a further locking plate, which is arranged at least substantially opposite to the first said locking plate relative to the wall of the connecting section is associated with the locking plate to facilitate applying the locking force to both locking plates against each other, so as to thereby lock the fixing device relative to the support arm.

8. A support arm according to claim 7, wherein the locking device includes a locking bolt, which engages with a screwthread on said first locking plate and is supported at least indirectly on said further locking plate upon being tightened.

9. A support according to claim 8, wherein the engagement point at which the fixing device engages with the connecting section of the support arm is continuously changeable.

10. A support according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the engagement point is changed by operation of a spindle, which is carried in the support arm, and along which spindle the fixing device, is movable.

11. A support according to claim 1 or 2, wherein supplementary weights are attachable to the support arm, for shifting the center of gravity of the loaded support arm for a given inclination of the support arm at a fine adjustment below the suspension point.

2. A support for supporting at least one piece of equipment, comprising a visual display unit (VDU), said support including a support arm on which the equipment is at least indirectly fixable;

a fixing device which engages with a connecting section of the support arm for suspending the support and having a changeable engagement point for shifting the center of gravity of the loaded support arm for a given inclination of the support arm so that said support arm lies at least approximately below a suspension point on which the support is suspended by means of the fixing device, said fixing device comprising a ball and socket joint for a torque less suspension of the support relative to at least one axis, at least the connecting section of the support arm comprising an internal space, which is formed at least in the area of the connecting section, said fixing device engaging with the internal space of the connecting section for the support arm; and

wherein a locking device for the fixing device for locking the fixing device relative to the support arm is arranged at least substantially in the internal space of the connecting section of the support arm.

3. A support according to claim 2, wherein the internal space of the connecting section of the support arm is formed by a hollow profile of at least the connecting section of the support arm.

4. A support according to claim 3, wherein the connecting section has at least two recesses arranged opposite each other, and through recesses, which the fixing device engages to the inner space of the connecting section of the support arm.