Patent Grant
6886200
The present invention relates to surgical tables that employ actuators. More particularly, the present invention relates to hydraulic actuators used to raise and lower surgical table tops.
According to a first embodiment a patient support is provided comprising a support surface, a base, and a lift assembly positioned to support the support surface above the base. The lift assembly includes an actuator configured to adjust the height of the support surface and the actuator includes a housing. The housing is formed to include first and second cylinders, a first piston positioned in the first cylinder, and a second piston positioned in the second cylinder. The first piston includes a first piston head and a first piston rod coupled to the first piston head. The first piston rod includes a first fluid passage therein. The second piston includes a second piston head and a second piston rod coupled to the second piston head. The second piston rod includes a second fluid passage therein.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a patient support is provided comprising a base, a support surface, and a lift assembly. The lift assembly includes a plurality of telescoping support tubes defining an interior region, and an actuator located in the interior region of the plurality of telescoping support tubes. The actuator includes a plurality of pistons, the pistons having fluid lines positioned therein.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a patient support is provided comprising a base, a support surface, and a lift assembly. The lift assembly includes a plurality of telescoping support tubes and an actuator positioned in the plurality of telescoping support tubes. The support tubes and the actuator define an interior region therebetween. The interior region is devoid of fluid lines.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a patient support is provided comprising a support surface, a base, a lift assembly positioned between the support surface and the base to raise and lower the support surface relative to the base, and a plurality of telescoping support tubes. The support tubes include support members and shock absorbers configured to dampen impact between the telescoping support members.
According to another embodiment of the present invention an actuator is provided comprising a housing formed to include first and second cylinders, a first piston positioned in the first cylinder, and a second piston positioned in the second cylinder. The first piston includes a first piston head and a first piston rod coupled to the first piston head, the first piston rod being formed to include a first fluid passage therein. The second piston includes a second piston head and a second piston rod coupled to the second piston head, the second piston rod being formed to include a second fluid passage therein.
According to another embodiment of the present invention an actuator is provided comprising a housing, a first piston positioned in the housing, a second piston positioned in the housing, and a fluid system coupled to the first and second pistons to supply pressurized fluid to the housing.
According to another embodiment of the present invention an actuator is provided comprising a housing, a first piston positioned in the housing, a second piston positioned in the housing, and means for providing pressurized fluid to the housing, the pressurized fluid providing means including fluid passages in the pistons.
According to another embodiment of the present invention an actuator is provided comprising a housing, a first piston positioned in the housing, a second piston positioned in the housing, a first fluid passage positioned in the first piston, a second fluid passage positioned in the second piston, and a fluid system coupled to the first and second passages to provide pressurized fluid thereto to retract and extend the first and second pistons.
Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
A detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
A surgical table or patient support 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. Table 10 includes a base 12, a telescoping lift assembly 14 positioned on base 12, and a surgical table top 16 supported by telescoping lift assembly 14 and defining a patient rest surface 17. Telescoping lift assembly 14 is configured to raise and lower table top 16 so that a surgeon or other care provider can raise or lower a patient positioned on table top 16 to a desired level for performing a surgical or other medical procedure. Additional disclosure of a suitable table top is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/187,990 to Richard L. Borders, titled Surgical Table Apparatus, filed Nov. 6, 1998, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/064,709, filed Nov. 7, 1997, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/083,673, filed Apr. 30, 1998, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/300,625, filed Jun. 6, 2001, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/326,866, filed Oct. 3, 2001 the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
In
Fluid power actuator system 18 includes a fluid system 20 and an actuator apparatus 22 coupled to a load 24, such as table top 16, a component of a piece of manufacturing equipment, a linkage, or any other item that requires movement. Actuator apparatus 22 includes a housing 26, a first actuation rod 28 extending from a lower end 30 of housing 26 and a second actuation rod 32 extending from an upper end 34 of housing 26. A lower end 36 of first actuation rod 28 is coupled to fluid system 20 and an upper end (not shown) is positioned within housing 26. Lower end 36 is also coupled to ground or base 38 to provide support to the remainder of actuator apparatus 22. An upper end 40 of second actuation rod 32 is coupled to fluid system 20 and a lower end (not shown) is positioned within housing 26. Upper end 40 is also coupled to load 24 to provide support thereto.
First and second actuation rods 28, 32 are configured to move relative to housing 26 between extended and retracted positions so that an overall length 42 of actuator apparatus 22 can be adjusted to raise and lower load 24. For example, to raise load 24, first and second actuation rods 28, 32 are moved in respective directions 44, 46 away from housing 26 so that more of rods 28, 32 are exposed and less of rods 28, 32 are positioned in housing 26. To lower load 24, first and second actuation rods 28, 32 are moved in respective directions 48, 50 toward housing 26 so that less of rods 28, 32 are exposed and more of rods 28, 32 are positioned in housing 26.
Fluid system 20 provides the power and control for moving first and second actuation rods 28, 32 relative to housing 26. First and second actuation rods 28, 32 each include fluid passages (not shown) therein. The fluid passage of first actuation rod 28 extends from lower end 36, where first actuation rod 28 is coupled to fluid system 20, to a portion of first actuation rod 28 positioned in housing 26. The fluid passage of second actuation rod 32 extends from upper end 40, where it is coupled to fluid system 20, to a portion of second actuation rod 32 positioned in housing 26.
To raise load 24, fluid system 20 pumps fluid into housing 26 through first actuation rod 28 and withdraws fluid from housing 26 through second actuation rod 32. To lower load 24, fluid system 20 pumps fluid into housing 26 through second actuation rod 32 and withdraws fluid from housing 26 through first actuation rod 28. To maintain the height of load 24, fluid system 20 prevents fluid from entering or leaving housing 26. According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, each fluid passage is positioned in one of the actuation rods so that the fluid system is coupled to only one of the actuation rods. Thus, an apparatus is provided for moving an item with a pair of actuation rods having internal fluid passages in the actuation rod(s) so that fewer or no external fluid supply lines coupled to the housing are necessary.
First and second pistons 60, 62 are configured to move relative to housing 58 between extended and retracted positions so that an overall length 72 of actuator apparatus 56 can be adjusted to raised and lower table top 16. For example, to raise table top 16, first and second pistons 60, 62 are moved in respective directions 74, 76 away from housing 58 so that more of pistons 60, 62 are exposed and less of pistons 60, 62 are positioned in housing 58. To lower table top 16, first and second actuation rods 60, 62 are moved in respective directions 78, 80 toward housing 58 so that less of pistons 60, 62 are exposed and more of pistons 60, 62 are positioned in housing 58.
Housing 58 is formed to include first and second piston cylinders 82, 84 configured to receive first and second pistons 60, 62. First piston 60 includes a first piston head 86 positioned in first piston cylinder 82 and a first piston rod 88 having a lower end 90 coupled to fluid system 54 and an upper end 92 coupled to first piston head 86. First piston head 86 divides first piston cylinder 82 into a first forward chamber 94 in front of first piston head 86 and a first rear chamber 96 behind first piston head 86. Second piston 62 includes a second piston head 98 positioned in second piston cylinder 84 and a second piston rod 110 having an upper end 112 coupled to fluid system 54 and a lower end 114 coupled to second piston head 98. Second piston head 98 divides second piston cylinder 84 into a second forward chamber 116 in front of second piston head 98 and a second rear chamber 118 behind second piston head 98. A forward chamber fluid passage 120 is provided to communicate fluid between first and second forward chambers 94, 116 and a rear chamber fluid passage 122 is provided to communicate fluid between first and second rear chambers 96, 118. According to the presently preferred embodiment, forward and rear fluid passages 120, 122 are positioned in housing 58. According to alternative embodiments, either or both of the forward and rear fluid passages are external to the housing. The fluid passages may be drilled, cast, provided by tubing, or otherwise defined by techniques or devices known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Fluid system 54 provides the power and control for moving first and second pistons 60, 62 relative to housing 58. First and second pistons 60, 62 include respective first and second fluid passages 124, 126 extending from respective lower and upper ends 90, 112 of first and second pistons 60, 62 into respective first and second piston cylinders 82, 84 of housing 58. As shown in
As shown in
First and second three-position valves 68, 70 move through several positions to control the flow of fluid from pump 64 to actuator apparatus 56 and from actuator apparatus 56 to tank 66. Each three-position valve 68, 70 has a pump position permitting fluid to flow to actuator apparatus 56 from pump 64, a tank position permitting fluid to flow to tank 66 from actuator apparatus 56, and a block position, as shown in
To raise table top 16, fluid system 54 pumps fluid into housing 58 through first piston rod 88 and removes fluid from housing 58 through second piston rod 110. To lower table top 16, fluid system 54 pumps fluid into housing 58 through second piston rod 110 and removes fluid from housing 58 through first piston rod 88.
When raising table top 16, first-three-position valve 68 is moved to the pump position so that pressurized fluid flows from pump 64 into first pump line 132, first three-position valve 68, first supply line 140, first piston rod 88, and into housing 58. Second three-position valve 70 is moved to the tank position so that fluid flows from housing 58 through second piston rod 110, second supply line 144, second three-position valve 70, second tank line 138, and into tank 66. The fluid pumped into housing 58 through first piston rod 88 is dumped into first forward chamber 94 of first piston cylinder 82 causing an increase in fluid pressure therein. This pressure creates a downward force on first piston head 86 urging first piston 60 further out of housing 58. Forward chamber fluid passage 120 communicates this pressure to second forward chamber 116 of second piston cylinder 84 causing an increase in fluid pressure therein. This pressure creates an upward force on second piston head 98 urging second piston 62 further out of housing 58. The movement of first and second pistons 60, 62 further out of housing 58 causes overall length 72 of actuator apparatus 56 to increase and table top 16 to raise.
Movement of first and second piston heads 86, 98 during raising creates pressure in first and second rear chambers 96, 118. Pressure in second rear chamber 118 is vented through second fluid passage 126 formed in second piston rod 110 to tank 66. Pressure in first rear chamber 96 is vented through rear chamber fluid passage 122 into second rear chamber 118 that is then vented through second fluid passage 126 to tank 66. By permitting fluid to vent from first and second rear chambers 96, 118 to tank 66, first and second piston heads 86, 98 are permitted to move outwardly with little internal resistance.
When lowering table top 16, second three-position valve 70 is moved to the pump position so that pressurized fluid flows from pump 64 into second pump line 134, second three-position valve 70, second supply line 144, second piston rod 110, and into housing 58. First three-position valve 68 is moved to the tank position so that fluid flows from housing 58 through first piston rod 88, first supply line 140, first three-position valve 68, first tank line 136, and into tank 66. The fluid pumped into housing 58 through second piston rod 110 is dumped into rear chamber 118 of second piston cylinder 84 causing an increase in fluid pressure therein. This pressure creates a downward force on second piston head 98 urging second piston 62 further into housing 58. Rear chamber fluid passage 122 communicates this pressure to first rear chamber 96 of first piston cylinder 82 causing an increase in fluid pressure therein. This pressure creates an upward force on first piston head 86 urging first piston 60 further into housing 58. The movement of first and second pistons 60, 62 further into housing 58 causes overall length 72 of actuator apparatus 56 to decrease and table top 16 to lower.
Movement of first and second piston heads 86, 98 during lowering creates pressure in first and second forward chambers 94, 116. Pressure in first forward chamber 94 is vented through first fluid passage 124 formed in first piston head 86 and first piston rod 88 to tank 66. Pressure in second forward chamber 116 is vented through forward chamber fluid passage 120 into first forward chamber 94 that is then vented through first fluid passage 124 to tank 66. By permitting fluid to vent from first and second forward chambers 94, 116 to tank 66, first and second piston heads 86, 98 are permitted to move inwardly with little internal resistance.
To maintain the height of table top 16, fluid system 54 prevents fluid from entering or leaving housing 58. After raising or lowering table top 16 to a required height, first and second three-position valves 68, 70 are moved back to the block position shown in
Telescoping lift assembly 14 includes preferred embodiment fluid system 54 and preferred embodiment actuator apparatus 56 as shown in FIG. 3. Table 10 includes a telescoping shroud 148 and a base shroud 149 positioned to protect fluid system 54 as shown in FIG. 1. Telescoping lift assembly 14 further includes a support member set 150 having first, second, third, and fourth telescoping support members 152, 154, 156, 158, a base plate 160 rigidly coupled to base 12 and first telescoping support member 152, and a yoke 162 rigidly coupled to fourth telescoping support member 158. Table top 16 is pivotably coupled to yoke 162 to permit tilting of table top 16 relative telescoping lift assembly 14.
Support member set 150 provides lateral support for table top 16 during and after raising and lowering of table top 16 by actuator apparatus 56. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-6, first, second, third, and fourth telescoping support members 152, 154, 156, 158 increase in size relative to one another so that each respective support member 152, 154, 156 is telescopically received within the next respective support member 154, 156, 158. This configuration permits an overall length 163 of support member set 150 to increase or decrease as table top 16 is raised or lowered.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-6, first piston rod 88 is coupled to base 12 and second piston rod 110 is coupled to yoke 162. Thus, as actuator apparatus 56 expands, second piston rod 110 pushes yoke 162 upwardly. Yoke 162 pulls fourth telescoping support member 158 upwardly. Fourth telescoping support member 158 pulls third telescoping support member 156 upwardly which pulls second telescoping support member 154 upwardly. Because first telescoping support member 152 is rigidly coupled to base plate 160, first telescoping support member 152 remains stationary during raising and lower of table top 16.
Each of first, second, third, and fourth telescoping support members 152, 154, 156, 158 have a hollow rectangular perimeter wall 164, 166, 168, 170. Second, third, and fourth telescoping support members 154, 156, 158 each include a plurality of contact pads 172 coupled to inner surfaces 173, 175, 177 of respective perimeter walls 166, 168, 170. As shown in
As shown in
Wear pads 176 of contact pads 172 are adjustable relative to perimeter walls 166, 168, 170 to permit adjustment of the contact force between first, second, third, and fourth telescoping members 152, 154, 156, 158. As shown in
Second, third, and fourth telescoping support members 154, 156, 158 include respective allen-headed adjustment screws 189 positioned in threaded apertures 191 formed in respective each respective perimeter wall 166, 168, 170 behind the respective wear pads 176 as shown in FIG. 16. To adjust the amount of contact force between wear pads 176 and the respective outer surface 193, 195, 197 of the adjacent perimeter walls 164, 166, 168, respective adjustment screws 189 are turned in threaded apertures 191. As the respective adjustment screws 189 are turned further into threaded apertures 191, respective wear pads 176 are pushed further into contact with outer surfaces 193, 195, 197. According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, other configurations of support member sets or other lateral supports are provided. For example, according to an alternative embodiment, a support member set having three octagonal support members is provided. According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, adjustment screws are provided behind each of the wear pads.
As shown in
As actuator apparatus 56 extends, fourth telescoping member 158 is pushed upwardly and moves relative to third telescoping member 156 until lower blocks 215 coupled to fourth telescoping member 158 contact upper blocks 217 coupled to third telescoping member 156. Lower blocks 215 then push upper blocks 217 and third telescoping member 156 upwardly. Similarly, as actuator apparatus 56 continues to extend, third telescoping member 156 moves relative to second telescoping member 154 until lower blocks 215 coupled to third telescoping member 156 contact upper blocks 217 coupled to second telescoping member 154. Lower blocks 215 then push upper blocks 217 and second telescoping member 156 upwardly. Second, third, and fourth telescoping members 154, 156, 158 continue to extend upwardly, until lower blocks 215 coupled to second telescoping member 154 contact upper blocks 217 coupled to first telescoping member 152 at which point overall length 163 of support member set 150 becomes fixed.
During retraction of actuator apparatus 56, upper and lower blocks 217, 215 separate as the respective first, second, third, and fourth telescoping members 152, 154, 156, 158 move downwardly relative to one another as shown in FIG. 14. During retraction, lower blocks 217 coupled to third perimeter wall 168 push down on blocks 223 so that second perimeter wall 166 is also pushed down.
An alternative pair of respective plate-like lower blocks 315 and plate-like upper blocks 317 are also provided as shown in
As the actuator apparatus extends, contact surfaces 330 at distal ends 331 of lower blocks 315 approach and push up on contact surfaces 332 at distal ends 333 of upper blocks 317 in a manner similar to lower and upper blocks 215, 217. When lower blocks 315 contact upper blocks 317, contact surfaces 330 of arms 322 push on contact surfaces 332 of arms 324 while bodies 318, 320 remain spaced apart as shown in FIG. 20. The contact causes arms 322, 324 to flex slightly to absorb the impact to provide a spring or shock absorber between the telescoping members during raising of the table top. According to the presently preferred embodiment, lower and upper blocks 315, 317 are made of steel. According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, the blocks are made of other materials such as other metals or plastics.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The additional valves are also coupled to fourth telescoping member 158 and in fluid communication with second pump and tank lines 134, 138 through fluid distributor 232. Thus, fluid distributor 232 provides a manifold in fluid communication with pump 64 and tank 66 that provides power to operate actuators 242, 244, 246, 248 so that pump and tank lines 134, 138 are the only external fluid passages or supply lines that extend along the remainder of telescoping lift assembly 14 and expand and retract during raising and lowering of table top 16. Therefore, the supply lines (not shown) extending from fluid distributor 232 to actuators 242, 244, 246, 248 do not expand or retract with movement of table top 16 between raised and lowered position. According to an alternative embodiment, the second three-position valve is coupled to the base of the table.
To control the position of table top 16 relative to base 12, a surgeon uses an electronic control (not shown) that controls movement of first and second three-position valves 68, 70 to the respective tank and pump positions as mentioned above. Additional electronic controls (not shown) are also provided to control the valves associated with first, second, third, and fourth actuators 242, 244, 246, 248.
Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/264,214, filed Jan. 25, 2001, titled Hydraulic Actuator Apparatus, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
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