Devices and systems for stabilization of surgeon's arm during surgery
Described herein is an arm stabilization member for dampening inadvertent movement of the arm of a user during a surgical procedure, comprising an arm support and a movement mechanism coupled to the arm support. The arm support comprises an outer frame sized to support at least a portion of the user's arm and an inner pad lining an inner surface of the outer frame and configured to conform to the user's arm. The movement mechanism comprises a counterbalance system movably connected by joints and configured to compensate for the gravitational forces exerted by the arm of the user.
1. An arm stabilizing system for dampening inadvertent movement of an arm of a user during a surgical procedure, comprising:
an arm stabilization member arranged to support the arm of the user, the arm stabilization member comprising:
an arm support comprising an outer frame sized to support at least a portion of the user's arm and an inner pad lining an inner surface of the outer frame, the inner pad configured to conform to the user's arm, and
a movement mechanism coupled to the arm support, the movement mechanism comprising a plurality of links movably connected by joints, the movement mechanism configured to compensate for gravitational forces exerted by the arm of the user, wherein each joint is regulated by one or more motors and wherein the joints are universal joints to permit rotation and pivoting in more than one plane; and
a brake element configured to arrest movement between two or more of the plurality of links of the movement mechanism.
2. The arm stabilizing system of claim 1 , wherein the arm stabilization member is affixed to an operating table.
3. The arm stabilizing system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of links of the movement mechanism include an elongate shaft and a base coupled to the elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft is repositionable along a longitudinal axis of the base.
4. The arm stabilizing system of claim 1 , wherein the inner pad is formed of a viscoelastic material.
5. The arm stabilizing system of claim 4 , wherein the viscoelastic material comprises a viscoelastic foam.
6. The arm stabilizing system of claim 1 , further comprising a cover disposed around the inner pad, the cover including pockets configured to receive pad inserts.
7. The arm stabilizing system of claim 1 , wherein the movement mechanism is configured to provide near-neutral weight balance to the arm support through a range of operative motion of the arm support.
8. The arm stabilizing system of claim 1 , wherein the movement mechanism is configured to provide bi-stable weight balance to the arm support.
9. The arm stabilizing system of claim 1 , wherein the movement mechanism is powered.
10. The arm stabilizing system of claim 9 , further comprising a control system coupled to the movement mechanism, wherein the joints of the movement mechanism are mechanically responsive to command signals from the control system.
11. The arm stabilizing system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system coupled to the movement mechanism, wherein the joints of the movement mechanism are mechanically responsive to command signals from the control system.
12. An arm stabilization member for dampening inadvertent movement of an arm of a user during a surgical procedure, comprising:
an arm support comprising an outer frame sized to support at least a portion of the user's arm and an inner pad lining an inner surface of the outer frame, the inner pad configured to conform to the user's arm; and
a movement mechanism coupled to the arm support, the movement mechanism comprising a plurality of links movably connected by joints, the movement mechanism configured to compensate for gravitational forces exerted by the arm of the user, wherein each joint is regulated by one or more motors and wherein the joints are universal joints to permit rotation and pivoting in more than one plane.
13. The arm stabilization member of claim 12 , further comprising a connector, the connector configured to removably couple the arm stabilization member to an operating table.
14. The arm stabilization member system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of links include an elongate shaft and a base coupled to the elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft is repositionable along a longitudinal axis of the base.
15. The arm stabilization member system of claim 12 , wherein the inner pad is formed of a viscoelastic material.
16. The arm stabilization member system of claim 12 , wherein the movement mechanism is configured to provide near-neutral weight balance to the arm support through a range of operative motion of the arm support.