Surgical table base with high stiffness and adjustable support members with force feedback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018147104-A1
Application number	US-201715822986-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 27, 2017
Priority date	Nov 28, 2016
Publication date	May 31, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for providing a surgical table base with sufficient stiffness and adjustable support members with force feedback are described herein. In some embodiments, a base for a surgical table includes a base body to which other components of a surgical table can be coupled. A surgical table, and optionally a patient supportable by the surgical table, and any equipment to be carried by the surgical table, collectively representing a table load to be carried by the base body to support the surgical table on a surface. The base further includes a support assembly coupled to the base body to support the base body on the surface. The support assembly includes at least four support members. Each support member has a surface-engaging end and can transmit a portion of a total load represented by the weight of the base and the table load through the surface-engaging end to the surface. The surface-engaging ends of any three of the four support members define a plane. One of the support members is adjustable to move the one support member relative to a plane defined by the three of the other support members and thereby to change the portion of the total load carried by one of the support members. The base further includes a load sensor operably coupled to the support assembly and disposed to detect the portion of the total load carried by one of the support members.

First claim

1 . A base for a surgical table, comprising:
a base body having a lower side and an upper side to which other components of a surgical table can be coupled,
the surgical table, and optionally a patient supportable by the surgical table, and any equipment to be carried by the surgical table, collectively representing a table load to be carried by the base body to support the surgical table on a surface;
a support assembly coupled to the base body to support the base body on the surface, the support assembly including at least four support members spaced about the base body,
each support member having surface-engaging end and configured to transmit a portion of a total load represented by the weight of the base and the table load through the surface-engaging end to the surface,
the surface-engaging ends of any three of the four support members defining a plane, one of the support members being adjustable to move the surface-engaging end of the one support member relative to a plane defined by the surface-engaging ends of three of the other support members and thereby to change the portion of the total load carried by one of the support members; and
a load sensor operably coupled to the support assembly and disposed to detect the portion of the total load carried by one of the support members.

2 . The base of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support members includes a wheel to support the base for movement on the surface.

3 . The base of claim 2 , wherein the adjustable one of the support members includes the wheel.

4 . The base of claim 1 , wherein the at least four support members includes five support members, four of the support members being non-adjustable relative to the base body or the other support members.

5 . The base of claim 1 , further comprising at least three wheels coupled to the base body to support the base for movement on the surface.

6 . The base of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the at least three wheels is movable upwardly relative to the surface-engaging ends of the support members to change the base from a first, movable configuration in which the base is supported only on the wheels and movable relative to the surface on the wheels, and a second, fixed configuration in which the base is supported at least in part by at least two of the support members and fixed relative the surface.

7 . The base of claim 6 , wherein all of the at least three wheels are moveable upwardly relative to the surface-engaging ends of the support members, and wherein in the fixed configuration the base is supported only by the support members.

8 . The base of claim 5 , wherein the surface-engaging ends of at least two of the support members are movable downwardly relative to the wheels to change the base from a first, movable configuration in which the base is supported only on the wheels and movable relative to the surface on the wheels, and a second, fixed configuration in which the base is supported at least in part by the at least two of the support members and fixed relative the surface.

9 . The base of claim 8 , wherein the surface engaging ends of at least four of the support members are movable downwardly relative to the wheels, and wherein in the fixed configuration the base is supported only by the support members.

10 . The base of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the at least three wheels is coupled to one of the support members and defines the surface-engaging end of the support member.

11 . The base of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator coupled to the adjustable support member and operable to move the surface engaging end of the adjustable support member.

12 . The base of claim 11 , wherein the actuator includes a motor.

13 . The base of claim 12 , further comprising a controller operable to:
receive a signal from the load sensor indicative of the portion of the total load carried by the one of the support members; determine whether the portion of the total load is not within an acceptable range; and if the portion of the total load is not within the acceptable range, send a signal to the motor to cause the motor to move the surface-engaging end of the adjustable support member to change the portion of the total load carried by the one of the support members.

14 . The base of claim 13 , wherein the signal from the load sensor is a first load sensor signal and the signal to the motor is a first motor signal, the controller being further operable to:
receive a second signal from the load sensor indicative of the portion of the total load carried by the one of the support members; determine whether the portion of the total load is not outside of the acceptable range; and if the portion of the total load is not outside of the acceptable range, send a second signal to the motor to cause the motor to stop moving the surface-engaging end of the adjustable support.

15 . A method of stabilizing a surgical table on a surface, the surgical table having a base, the surgical table and optionally a patient supported by the surgical table, and any equipment carried by the surgical table collectively representing a total load supported on the surface, the base including a support assembly having at least four support members spaced about the base, each support member having surface-engaging end and configured to transmit a portion of the total load through the surface engaging end to the surface, one of the support members being adjustable to move the surface-engaging end of the one support member, the base having a load sensor disposed to detect the portion of the total load carried by one of the support members, the method comprising:
receiving a signal from the load sensor indicative of the portion of the total load carried by the one of the support members; determining whether the portion of the total load is not within an acceptable range; and if the portion of the total load is not within the acceptable range, causing the surface-engaging end of the adjustable support member to move relative to a plane defined by the surface-engaging ends of three of the other support members and thereby to change the portion of the total load carried by one of the support members.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the surgical table includes a motor coupled to the adjustable support member and operable to move the surface-engaging end of the adjustable support member, wherein the causing the surface-engaging end of the adjustable member to move includes sending a signal to the motor to move the surface-engaging end.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the signal from the load sensor is a first load sensor signal and the signal to the motor is a first motor signal, further comprising:
receiving a second signal from the load sensor indicative of the portion of the total load carried by the one of the support members; determining whether the portion of the total load is not outside of the acceptable range; and if the portion of the total load is not outside of the acceptable range, sending a second signal to the motor to cause the motor to stop moving the surface-engaging end of the adjustable support.

18 . A base for a surgical table, comprising:
a base body having a lower side and an upper side to which other components of a surgical table can be coupled,
the surgical table, and optionally a patient supportable by the surgical table, and any equipment to be carried by the surgical table, collectively representing a table load to be carried by the base body to support the surgical table on a surface;
a support asse

Assignees

• Verb Surgical Inc

Inventors

• Timm Richard William
• SOUNDARARAJAN Vijay

Classifications

• A61B34/30 Primary

  Surgical robots · CPC title

• A61G13/02 Primary

  Adjustable operating tables; Controls therefor · CPC title

• A61B2090/571

  for clamping a support arm to a bed or other supports · CPC title

• B25J9/1679

  characterised by the tasks executed · CPC title

• A61G13/04

  tiltable around transverse or longitudinal axis · CPC title