Stabilizer wheel assembly and methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9771092-B2
Application number	US-201514881291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2015
Priority date	Oct 13, 2015
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

Included is a stabilizer wheel assembly that may assist in stabilizing a medical device during a medical procedure. A medical device may comprise a body; and a plurality of stabilizer wheel assemblies coupled to the body, wherein the stabilizer wheel assemblies each comprise a motor assembly and a stabilization leg, wherein the motor assembly is configured to drive the stabilization leg onto a contact surface to stabilize the body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medical device comprising:
a body; and
a plurality of stabilizer wheel assemblies coupled to the body, wherein the stabilizer wheel assemblies each comprise a motor assembly and a stabilization leg, wherein the motor assembly is configured to drive the stabilization leg onto a contact surface to stabilize the body,
wherein an end of the stabilizing leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies is attached to a lead screw of the corresponding motor assembly through a nut.

2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the medical device further comprises:
a base coupled to the stabilizer wheel assemblies, wherein the body is disposed on the base;
a display assembly coupled to the body; and
a tool assembly coupled to the base, wherein the tool assembly is configured to hold a surgical tool in a medical procedure.

3. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the medical device further comprises a computer processor configured to drive the stabilization leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies into the contact surface until each stabilization leg exerts a predetermined force on the contact surface.

4. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer wheel assemblies each further comprise a caster.

5. The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the stabilizer wheel assemblies each further comprise a stem, wherein the corresponding caster rotates three hundred and sixty degrees around the stem.

6. The medical device of claim 5 , wherein the motor assembly of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies is connected to a top of the corresponding stem.

7. The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the stabilization leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies is configured to extend through the corresponding caster to the contact surface.

8. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the motor assembly of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies comprises a motor, a motor cover that encloses the motor, a motor cap disposed on top of the motor, and a motor bracket that supports the motor.

9. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer wheel assemblies each comprise a foot attached to an end of the corresponding stabilization leg opposite the nut.

10. The medical device of claim 9 , wherein the foot of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies increases the friction between the corresponding stabilization leg and the contact surface.

11. The medical device of claim 10 , the stabilizer wheel assemblies each further comprise a caster and a set screw is disposed on a side of the caster.

12. The medical device of claim 11 , wherein the set screw of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies is secured into the corresponding channel to prevent the corresponding stabilization leg from rotating.

13. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer wheel assemblies each further comprise a bumper.

14. A method of stabilizing a medical device comprising:
positioning the medical device for a medical procedure;
activating a plurality of stabilizer wheel assemblies of the medical device to lower a stabilization leg from each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies; and
driving the stabilization leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies onto a contact surface,
wherein an end of the stabilizing leg of each of the plurality of stabilizer wheel assemblies is attached to a lead screw of the corresponding motor assembly through a nut.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising activating the stabilizer wheel assemblies to raise the stabilization leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies; and removing the stabilization leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies from the contact surface.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the stabilizer wheel assemblies are activated using a display assembly of the medical device.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the stabilization leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies is driven onto the contact surface until the stabilization leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies exerts a predetermined force on the contact surface.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of driving the stabilization leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies onto the contact surface comprises driving the stabilization leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies until a ground state is satisfied, and then driving the stabilization leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies until a lift state is satisfied.

19. A medical device comprising:
a body; and
a plurality of stabilizer wheel assemblies coupled to the body, wherein the stabilizer wheel assemblies each comprise a motor assembly and a stabilization leg, wherein the motor assembly is configured to drive the stabilization leg onto a contact surface to stabilize the body,
wherein an end of the stabilizing leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies is attached to a lead screw of the corresponding motor assembly through a nut, and
wherein the stabilization leg of each of the stabilizer wheel assemblies further comprises a channel that traverses the length of the stabilization leg and is disposed on one side of the stabilization leg.

Assignees

• Globus Medical Inc

Inventors

• Johnson Norbert
• Moulton Timothy
• Pelletier James
• Zhang Kevin
• Judson Jared
• Schmieta Gerd

Classifications

• B62B2301/0467

  combined with means for braking the wheel · CPC title

• B62B5/049

  locking against movement by contacting the floor or a wall · CPC title

• B62B5/0043

  One motor drives one wheel · CPC title

• B60B33/0092

  actuated remotely, e.g. by cable or electrically · CPC title

• B60B33/0089

  acting on the floor · CPC title