Fixture for spatial positioning of a device

• US 7,871,047 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AST GmbH (Jena Med Tech GmbH)
• Original Assignee: AST GmbH (Jena Med Tech GmbH)
• Inventors: Martin, Andreas, Schwarze, Werner, Stephan, Hugo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez; Ramon O
• Application Number:
  US11/924,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20090014607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 248/176.1, 248/274.1, 248/278.1, 384/445
• US Class Current: 248/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2255 Means for positioning patient, shock wave apparatus or locating means, e.g. mechanical aspects, patient beds, support arms, aiming means positioning of patients for radiation diagnosis A61B6/04; positioning of locating means inside shock wave apparatus A61B17/2256
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0069 with universal joint, cardan joint
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/508 with releasable brake mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms

Abstract

In a fixture for spatial positioning of a device, in particular a device for a medical application, that is supported in a pivoting arrangement on a holding device or the like by means of an arm, quick and easy alignment of the device in relation to a person'"'"'s treatment area is provided. This alignment is achieved in that a ring-shaped holding body is attached to the free end of the arm, that a spherical outer jacket surface is provided on the device with the surface enclosed wholly or in part by the holding body, and that the outer jacket surface of the device is held in the holding body and can be pivoted relative to the holding body.

Claims

1. A system for spatial positioning of a medical device that is supported in a pivoting arrangement on a holding device, the system comprising:

an arm comprising a free end;

a holding body coupled to the free end of the arm, the holding body being at least partially ring-shaped;

a spherical outer jacket surface coupled to the device; and

a brake disposed on an inside of the holding body such that the brake contacts the spherical outer jacket surface, wherein the brake is operable external to the holding body and has a holding effect on the spherical outer jacket surface,

wherein the surface of the spherical outer jacket is enclosed at least in part by the holding body and held in the holding body, and

wherein the spherical outer jacket is movable and can be swiveled relative to the holding body.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein an inside surface of the holding body is arranged at a distance from the spherical outer jacket surface, such that the inside surface of the holding body and the spherical outer jacket surface are disposed concentrically with one another.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one bearing is disposed between the holding body and the spherical outer jacket surface, the at least one bearing being supported against the holding body and acting against the spherical outer jacket surface.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one bearing comprises:

two rings coupled to the inside of the holding body and aligned such that a space exists between the two rings, the two rings being disposed parallel to one another and perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the device; and

a plurality of roller bodies disposed in the two rings, the plurality of roller bodies projecting from the two rings, contacting the spherical outer jacket surface of the device, and mounted in a rotating arrangement in the two rings.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the roller bodies comprise a spherical shape.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the two rings are disposed near ends of the holding body, and

wherein the curvature of the two rings runs concentrically with the spherical outer jacket surface.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the roller bodies contact the spherical outer jacket surface of the device vertically.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the spherical outer jacket surface is configured to allow the roller bodies to roll along the spherical outer jacket surface with a minimal amount of friction.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a swivel joint disposed between the holding body and the arm, such that the device is movable along an axis perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the arm.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the swivel joint comprises two guide elements disposed one inside the other in a rotatable arrangement.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the two guide elements are coupled together in the form of a dovetail guide, the dovetail guide comprising a plurality of openings.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of openings in the dovetail guide is closed by a cover, the cover aligned along the lengthwise axis of the arm.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the brake comprises:

a two-part ring that surrounds at least a portion of the spherical outer jacket surface; and

an actuator that presses ends of the two-part ring apart when activated; and

a spring that presses the ends of the two-part ring together.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the brake is disposed in a central plane of the holding body.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm comprises two support struts telescopically arranged such that one of the struts can move inside the other one of the struts.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one apparatus coupled to the device such that an open operation of the apparatus moves the device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein a surface of the device runs parallel to a lengthwise axis of the device in an area of the spherical outer jacket surface and limits freedom of movement of the device.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is movable in a first plane and a second plane.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first plane runs perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the device and has an adjusting angle ranging from −

26 degrees to +26 degrees.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the second plane runs perpendicular to the first plane and has an adjusting angle ranging from −

45 degrees to +45 degrees, and

wherein the adjusting angle is divided into two different adjustment sections.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle coupled to the device such that movement of the handles moves the device.

23. The system of claim 2, wherein the roller bodies comprise a spherical shape.

22. A system for spatial positioning of a medical device that is supported in a pivoting arrangement on a holding device, the system comprising:

an arm comprising a free end;

a holding body coupled to the free end of the arm, the holding body being at least partially ring-shaped; and

a spherical outer jacket surface coupled to the device,

wherein the surface of the spherical outer jacket is enclosed at least in part by the holding body and held in the holding body, and an inside surface of the holding body is arranged at a distance from the spherical outer jacket surface, such that the inside surface of the holding body and the spherical outer jacket surface are disposed concentrically with one another,

wherein the spherical outer jacket is movable and can be swiveled relative to the holding body, and

wherein at least one bearing is disposed between the holding body and the spherical outer jacket surface, the at least one bearing being supported against the holding body and acting against the spherical outer jacket surface, the at least one bearing comprising;

two rings coupled to the inside of the holding body and aligned such that a space exists between the two rings, the two rings being disposed parallel to one another and perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the device; and

a plurality of roller bodies disposed in the two rings, the plurality of roller bodies projecting from the two rings, contacting the spherical outer jacket surface of the device, and mounted in a rotating arrangement in the two rings.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the two rings are disposed near ends of the holding body, and

wherein the curvature of the two rings runs concentrically with the spherical outer jacket surface.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the roller bodies contact the spherical outer jacket surface of the device vertically.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the spherical outer jacket surface is configured to allow the roller bodies to roll along the spherical outer jacket surface with a minimal amount of friction.

27. A system for spatial positioning of a medical device that is supported in a pivoting arrangement on a holding device, the system comprising:

an arm comprising a free end;

a holding body coupled to the free end of the arm, the holding body being at least partially ring-shaped;

a spherical outer jacket surface coupled to the device; and

a swivel joint disposed between the holding body and the arm such that the device is movable along an axis perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the arm,

wherein the surface of the spherical outer jacket is enclosed at least in part by the holding body and held in the holding body,

wherein the spherical outer jacket is movable and can be swiveled relative to the holding body.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the swivel joint comprises two guide elements disposed one inside the other in a rotatable arrangement.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the two guide elements are coupled together in the form of a dovetail guide, the dovetail guide comprising a plurality of openings.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the plurality of openings in the dovetail guide is closed by a cover, the cover aligned along the lengthwise axis of the arm.

31. A system for spatial positioning of a medical device that is supported in a pivoting arrangement on a holding device, the system comprising:

an arm comprising a free end;

a holding body coupled to the free end of the arm, the holding body being at least partially ring-shaped; and

a spherical outer jacket surface coupled to the device,

wherein the surface of the spherical outer jacket is enclosed at least in part by the holding body and held in the holding body,

wherein the spherical outer jacket is movable and can be swiveled relative to the holding body, and

wherein the device is movable in a first plane and a second plane, the second plane running perpendicular to the first plane and having an adjusting angle ranging from −

45 degrees to +45 degrees, the adjusting angle divided into two different adjustment sections.