Device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical operation

1. A device for supporting at least one arm of an operating person during a surgical or medical operation, comprising:

a carrying structure carrying at least one supporting element for supporting said at least one arm of said operating person, said carrying structure being configured such that said at least one supporting element can be lowered or raised for adjusting the height of said operating person's arm,

a control mechanism for lowering or raising said at least one supporting element, wherein said control mechanism includes a force load switch for activating said lowering or raising of said at least one supporting element, wherein said force load switch activates said lowering or raising of said at least one supporting element upon detecting at least one of compressive forces, tensile forces and motions acting via said at least one supporting element on said force load switch.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism is designed such that said at least one supporting element remains in its height position when said force load switch detects a force exerted by said at least one supporting element in an unloaded condition of said supporting element or a compressive force exceeding said force in said unloaded condition.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism is designed such that said at least one supporting element is lowered or raised when said force load switch detects tensile forces.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism is designed such that said at least one supporting element remains in its height position when said force load switch detects a tensile force which is in a range of about 0 to about 5 N.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism is designed such that said at least one supporting element remains in its height position when said force load switch detects a tensile force which is in a range of about 0 to about 2 N.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein a maximum tensile force which does not activate said lowering or raising, is adjustable.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism is designed such that said at least one supporting element is lowered, when said force load switch detects a tensile force exceeding a first upper force limit at which said at least one supporting element still remains in its position, and said supporting element is raised, when said force exceeds a second upper force limit at which said supporting element is lowered.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein said control mechanism is designed such that said supporting element is raised only, when said force detected by said force load switch exceeds said second upper force limit by a predetermined amount.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism is designed such that said at least one supporting element is lowered when said force load switch detects a tensile force which is in a range of about 0 to about 10 N.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism is designed such that said at least one supporting element is lowered when said force load switch detects a tensile force which is in a range of about 0 to about 6 N.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism is designed such that said at least one supporting element is raised when said force load switch detects a tensile force which is at least about 3 N.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism is designed such that said at least one supporting element is raised when said force load switch detects a tensile force which is at least about 8 N.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein said control mechanism is designed such that said at least one supporting element is raised only when said force load switch detects a tensile force which is at least about 1 N larger than a maximum force responsive to which said force load switch activates said lowering of said at least one supporting element.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein said carrying structure comprises at least one carrying arm, which is pivotable about a substantially horizontal pivot axis in substantially vertical direction such that pivoting of said carrying arm about said pivot axis raises or lowers said at least one supporting element.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein said at least one carrying arm is pivotable about said substantially horizontal axis in a range of about +50° to −50° with respect to a horizontal line.

16. The device of claim 11 , wherein said at least one carrying arm is pivotable about a substantially vertical pivot axis.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein said at least one carrying arm is pivotable about said substantially vertical pivot axis by approximately 360°.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein said carrying structure comprises at least one carrying arm, and wherein said control mechanism further comprises a stop cooperating with said at least one carrying arm for controlling a pivotment of said carrying arm, said stop being arranged under said carrying arm for supporting same and being movable in substantially vertical direction.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein said stop is driven by an electrical motor which is activated by said force load switch.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein a power of said motor is small such that it is not sufficient to overcome frictional forces of said carrying structure to lower said stop, except a tensile force is exerted on said at least one supporting element.

21. The device of claim 1 , wherein a signalling device is provided generating a signal when said at least one supporting element is being lowered or raised.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein said signalling device generates different signals for upward and downward motion of said at least one supporting element.

23. The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one supporting element has a portion for supporting said arm of said operating person and at least one portion for said arm to exert tensile forces on said supporting element.

24. The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one supporting element has a lateral opening for withdrawing said operating person's arm from said supporting element.

25. The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one supporting element is attached at said carrying structure in a manner pivotable about a substantially horizontal pivot axis.

26. The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one supporting element is attached at said carrying structure in a manner pivotable about a substantially vertical pivot axis.

27. The device of claim 25 , wherein said at least one supporting element is pivotable about said substantially horizontal axis by an angle in a range of +90° to −90°.

28. The device of claim 26 , wherein said at least one supporting element is pivotable about said substantially vertical axis by about 360°.

29. The device of claim 1 , wherein said carrying structure comprises a mounting portion adapted for attaching said carrying structure at a side rail of an operating table.

30. The device of claim 1 , wherein said device comprises two supporting elements for independently supporting both arms of said operating person during a surgical or medical operation.