U.S. patent number 3,566,872 [Application Number 04/777,797] was granted by the patent office on 1971-03-02 for microsurgical operating unit.
This patent grant is currently assigned to J. D. Moller Optische Werke GmbH. Invention is credited to Jorg A. Draeger, Friedrich J. Klein.
United States Patent |
3,566,872 |
Draeger , et al. |
March 2, 1971 |
MICROSURGICAL OPERATING UNIT
Abstract
A microsurgical operating unit which is mounted on the ceiling
of an operating theater. This unit serves to combine all of the
apparatus necessary for carrying out a microsurgical operation,
such as a microscope, the illuminating light sources, the
electrical and pneumatical operating instruments, the
anaesthetizing apparatus, and is provided with suitable fittings
and connectors for the operating instruments. All of the equipment
can be remote-controlled by the operating surgeon himself.
Inventors: |
Draeger; Jorg A. (Bremen,
DT), Klein; Friedrich J. (Wedel, Holstein,
DT) |
Assignee: |
J. D. Moller Optische Werke
GmbH (Wedel Holstein, DT)
|
Family
ID: |
25111306 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/777,797 |
Filed: |
November 21, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/897;
359/384 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
18/1206 (20130101); A61F 9/007 (20130101); A61B
18/12 (20130101); G02B 7/001 (20130101); A61B
90/50 (20160201); A61B 2018/0066 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
18/12 (20060101); A61B 19/00 (20060101); A61F
9/007 (20060101); A61b 017/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/303,303.1,172,1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Trapp; L. W.
Claims
We claim:
1. A microsurgical operating unit comprising, in combination, a
boxlike housing adapted to be mounted on the ceiling of an
operating theater, a support column mounted in said housing and
being vertically adjustable, said housing comprising a drive means
for said support column, a swivel arm mounted on said support
column and carrying a microscope, said swivel arm being adapted to
adjust the position of the microscope vertically and horizontally,
a motor-driven horizontal swivel arm mounted on one side of said
housing, a terminal box supported on the free end of said swivel
arm and said terminal box including fittings for various operating
apparatus and operating instruments such as a cautery, a mirror,
and suction apparatus, a vertically adjustable extension disposed
on said horizontal swivel arm, an instrument table mounted on said
vertically adjustable extension, a light source mounted on said
adjustable support column, a plurality of light sources adjustably
mounted on at least one of said housing and said horizontal swivel
arm, a supporting arm supported on said housing, and an
anaesthetizing apparatus mounted on said supporting arm, a
surgeon's chair, a foot control switch means connected to said
surgeon's chair, and a control line connected to said foot control
switch means and to said terminal box and serving to control the
various operating apparatus and movement of said swivel arms.
2. A microsurgical operating unit as defined in claim 1,
characterized in that said vertically adjustable extension of said
horizontal swivel arm on which said instrument table is mounted is
a telescopically movable supporting rod.
3. A microsurgical operating unit as defined in claim 1,
characterized in that electrical conductors are positioned within
said terminal box and extend within said swivel arm.
4. A microsurgical operating unit as defined in claim 1
characterized in that the seat of said surgeon's chair is
adjustable in the vertical direction by means of a drive motor
controlled by said foot control switch means.
5. A microsurgical operating unit as defined in claim 1
characterized in that said swivel arm for vertically and
horizontally adjusting said microscope consists of several arm
portions mutually interconnected by drive motors which are
controlled by means of said foot control switch means.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to surgical equipment and, more particularly
to a novel microsurgical operating unit.
For suspending the microscope which is used by the surgeon in
microsurgical operations, it is already known to attach the
microscope to a support in the form of a stand, and to set up this
stand by the side of the surgeon and the patient. The stands used
for this purpose are usually provided with lateral swivel arms, the
vertical extension of which may be adjusted to bring the microscope
into a position overlying the operation area.
It is further known to use a suspension device for microscopes
which is mounted on the ceiling of the operating theater and
includes a vertically adjustable supporting tube to which are
attached swivel arms adapted to vertically and horizontally adjust
the microscope position.
These conventional suspension means are adapted to support only a
microscope. The additional apparatus and equipment which are
required for a surgical operation such as high frequency diathermy
apparatus, cautery apparatus, low voltage appliances, thermocautery
apparatus and anaesthetizing apparatus are usually mounted on
mobile stands or on trolleys which will be grouped around the
operating surgeon and the patient. For controlling this equipment,
additional assistants are required. The various apparatus take up
much room and clutter the space around the operation area. The
various cables, hose lines and the like which extend along the
floor may even prove to be a serious handicap for the operating
surgeon and the assisting personnel.
Having the foregoing in mind, it is, therefore, a primary object of
the present invention to provide a new and novel microsurgical
operating unit.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
and novel microsurgical operating unit which allows the operating
surgeon to control in a clearly arranged manner, by remote control,
at least the most important functions of the various apparatus
employed in a surgical operation, thereby avoiding any
inconveniences during the operation.
By means of the new operating unit the operating surgeon will be
enabled to fully concentrate his attention onto the operation and
he will be more independent from his attendants or assistants.
The microsurgical operating unit of the invention is characterized
by the combination of:
A. a boxlike housing mounted on the ceiling of the operating
theater, the housing comprising drive means for a support column
mounted in the housing and being vertically adjustable, a swivel
arm mounted on the support column and carrying a microscope, the
swivel arm being adapted to vertically and horizontally adjust the
position of the microscope;
B. a motor-driven horizontal swivel arm mounted on one side of the
housing and supporting, at its free end, a terminal box including
the fittings for various operating apparatus and operating
instruments such as a cautery, a mirror, a suction apparatus and
the like;
c. an instrument table mounted on a vertically adjustable extension
of the horizontal swivel arm;
d. a light source mounted on the adjustable support column,
e. a plurality of light sources mounted on the housing and/or the
horizontal swivel arm,
f. an anaesthetizing apparatus mounted on a supporting arm, the
supporting arm being supported by said housing;
g. a surgeon's chair having a foot control switch means attached,
the foot control switch means being connected by a control line to
the terminal box and serving to control the various operating
apparatus and the movement of the swivel arm.
A preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the
appended drawing will be discussed in details in the following.
As shown in the drawing, a microsurgical operating unit according
to the present invention comprises a boxlike housing 10 which may
be provided with fittings adapted to mount the housing on the
ceiling of an operating theater. Within the housing 10 are arranged
guide means and electrical and/or manual drive means for vertically
adjusting the position of a support column 11 slidingly mounted
within the housing 10. The support column 11 is adjustable in the
direction of the arrow X shown in the drawing. Horizontal upper and
lower swivel arms 12 and 13, respectively, are mounted on the free
lower end of the support column 11, the upper swivel arm 12 being
rotatably mounted on the support column 11 and carrying, at its
free end, an intermediate vertical arm 14, on the lower end of
which a lower swivel arm 13 is rotatably mounted in a spaced
relationship to the upper swivel arm 12. A conventional microscope
15 is attached to the free end of the lower horizontal swivel arm
13. An operating lamp 16 is likewise mounted on the support column
11.
The housing 10 mounts the support column 11 and further comprises
power supply means, together with the terminals thereof, as well as
an apparatus for high frequency diathermy, a low voltage power
supply, gas supply fittings for the anaesthetizing apparatus, means
for effecting washouts and for removing of fluids by suction and,
if desired, further apparatus used in connection with the surgical
treatment. A further horizontal swivel arm 17 is mounted on the
housing 10 in such a manner that the vertical pivot axis of the arm
17 which is indicated in the drawing by the reference numeral 18 is
disposed above the intermediate position of the horizontal range of
adjustment of the microscope 15, as may be seen in the drawing. The
horizontal swivel arm 17 is of tubular configuration and mounts, at
its free end, a terminal box 19 which comprises connectors 20 for
control lines and connectors 21 for hand-held operating instruments
such as a cautery, a mirror, a suction cup or another instrument.
The connecting hose lines and conductors for the terminal box 19
run along the interior of the tubular swivel arm 17. The terminal
box 19 is electrically coupled through the connectors 20 and the
control line 22 with a foot control switch 23. The foot control
switch 23 is mobile or may be attached to the likewise mobile
surgeon's chair 35. Instead of one foot control switch, several
foot switches 23 may be provided. The foot control switch 23 may be
adapted to control for example the vertical adjustment of the
microscope 15, the operation of a cautery, a diathermy apparatus,
an endoscope apparatus, a tape recorder and a microphone, a shutter
control means of a photographic camera, TV equipment and the
illuminating light sources. The height of the seat of the surgeon's
chair 35 may likewise be adjusted by means of the foot control
switch 23.
For monitoring, controlling and, if need be, rapidly altering the
most important settings of the various operating apparatus a
control panel 24 in the form of a desk is provided below the
housing 10, on the side facing the operating surgeon. This control
panel 24 houses a plurality of switches, control buttons and
indicating instruments, the former being arranged within easy reach
of the surgeon and the latter being easily observable. Preferably
the mounting of the control panel 24 may be adapted to rotate
jointly with the vertical support column 11 on a common vertical
pivot axis, thus enabling the surgeon to easily observe the control
panel 24 when the microscope 15 is swiveled sideways. The control
panel 24 is adapted to monitor various important settings such as
electrical currents, the vacuum of the suction apparatus as well as
other desired parameters. The control panel 24 may also serve to
control additional apparatus.
A still further swivel arm 25 is rotatably mounted adjacent to the
horizontal swivel arm 17 and is connected at its free end to a
vertical support rod 26 serving to support an instrument table 27.
The swivel arm 25 may also be designed as an articulated arm
comprising two arm portions. The support rod 26 includes several
rod portions which fit telescopically into each other.
Lamps 30, 31 and 32 for illuminating the operation area are
adjustably mounted on the housing 10 and on the horizontal swivel
arm 17, respectively. Furthermore, a supporting arm 33 for
supporting the anaesthetizing apparatus 34 is attached to the
housing 10.
As will have become apparent from the foregoing description, the
microsurgical operating unit of the present invention combines all
of the apparatus necessary for carrying out a microsurgical
operation, such as a microscope, the illuminating light sources,
the electrical, pneumatical and other operating instruments, the
connectors for the anaesthetizing apparatus and similar apparatus.
All of the equipment can be remote-controlled by the operating
surgeon himself by means of the foot control switch 23, thus
reducing the number of assistants required. Additionally, the
operating surgeon does not need to give instructions to the
assisting personnel, as compared to conventional arrangements which
for example necessitated that the surgeon gave commands for
switching on or switching off the various apparatus. These commands
may lead to misunderstandings or even cause inconveniences. With
the new operating unit the operating surgeon may control all of the
various operating apparatus himself in keeping with the immediate
requirements of the case. A further advantage will be gained in
that no space is taken up by the operating apparatus.
* * * * *