Contraves Ag

Carl-zeiss-stiftung

Sulzer Brothers Limited

Synthes Ag Chur

Rudolf Heller

Heiner Kern

Walter Schindler

Kurt Schattmaier

Iwan Khan

Urs Schneider

Alfred Michel

Pirmin Kuhne

Iwan Kahn

The invention is directed to a mechanical control unit for a supporting stand for a surgical microscope. The mechanical control unit constrains the surgical microscope to move along the surface of a sphere about the point at which surgery is performed when spatially moving the microscope. In this way, the focusing adjustment of the surgical microscope onto the point of surgery is maintained for each viewing direction. The mechanical control unit is connected via adaptation positions to the supporting stand which is translationally movable in three spatial directions and is rotationally movable about three axes.

Mechanical control unit for a surgical microscope connected to a stand

Disclosed is a spatially-adjustable supporting frame for a surgical microscope unit which can be selectively locked in any adjusted position. The frame includes a hinged parallelogram which can be pivoted about a bearing supported on a column. The hinged parallelogram carries a second structure in the form of a coupled-hinge parallelogram which, in turn, carries the surgical microscope. Two counterweights are independently adjustable along paths parallel with two adjacent sides of the hinged parallelogram to permit the continuous balancing of the weight of the surgical microscope.

Counterbalanced supporting frame for a surgical microscope

The disclosed pivoting device is used with a frame structure that supports optical units, such as surgical microscopes and the like, for viewing a predetermined observation point, the frame structure being adjustable in height and in relation to three coordinate axes. The pivoting device carries the optical unit and permits adjustment of the unit about three axes of rotation to any desired position over a spherical surface. The pivoting device includes counterbalancing apparatus that adjusts synchronously with the movement of the optical unit. With this apparatus, it is easy to move the optical unit, and minor adjustments in the position of the optical unit do not require an adjustment of the frame structure. In addition, since the pivoting device's three primary axes of rotation all intersect at the observation point, focus of the optical unit relative to the observation point is not changed by such minor spatial adjustments of the unit.

Pivoting device for supporting frames for optical observation equipment

An operating table comprises a patient rest or support structure which is mounted at a rolling bearing, i.e. a bearing associated with the rolling motion of the patient rest or support structure. The axis of this rolling bearing corresponds with a rolling or roll axis and defines a predetermined angle with the patient rest or support structure, so that the extension of the axis of the rolling bearing, subsequent to intersection thereof with the plane of the patient rest or support structure at a predetermined punctiform location, extends substantially through the center of an operating site defined in or at the head of a patient stretched out on the patient rest or support structure. In this manner, it is rendered possible that, when rolling movements or motions with the patient rest or support structure are accomplished by means of a suitable drive for such rolling motion, the center of the operating site remains essentially unchanged at the same location. By virture of this arrangement of the rolling or roll axis, the expenditure for adjusting means and mechanisms for the rolling or pivotal movement of the patient rest or support structure is considerably reduced.

Operating table

The wheel body of a tape wheel possesses two outer half shells which are fastened to the wheel hub. The two outer half shells are arranged in conically inclined relationship to one another with respect to a connecting plane and form a wheel rim by means of annular wall parts. Within the wheel body there may be located an inner stiffening shell which diagonally extends toward the exterior from one flange of the wheel hub to a free end of the other outer half shell. The inner stiffening shell abuts against the annular wall parts by means of an annular shell portion. The transverse or axial stiffness or rigidity of the wheel body and thus of the entire tape wheel is increased in a particularly advantageous manner.

Tape wheel for weft thread insertion at a weaving machine

The supporting device is constructed as a support stand and contains an upright, a first pivot system pivotably mounted at the upright, a second pivot system rotatably and pivotably mounted at the first pivot system, as well as adjustable counterweights and several pivotable and lockable pivot bearings permitting rotary and pivoting movements. The upright has a substantially U-shaped cross-section containing two side members between which there are arranged, in a space-saving manner, a pivot arm which is pivotably mounted about a substantially horizontal axis, and an L-shaped control lever mounted at the pivot arm and receiving a first counterweight. The second pivot system is arranged at the first pivot system using an L-shaped support arm and is constructed such that the extended horizontal axis of a top lockable pivot bearing intersects with the rotary and pivot axis of a front lockable pivot bearing.

Supporting device for an optical observation instrument

The support apparatus in the form of a stand possesses an arm component projecting transversely from a stand component. A surgical operating microscope is arranged at the end of the arm component. A guide linkage with a double scissors type carrier linkage whose movement is combined with an extension movement is provided for the displacement of the operating microscope in a direction transverse to the stand component. This extension movement is controlled by a control linkage in such a way that the upper end of the carrier linkage which carries the stand arm component moves along a straight line. There is thus no need for a counterweight for the transverse movement of the operating microscope over a surgical operating table. A first counterweight for the upwardly and downwardly directed swinging movement of the stand arm component is enclosed in a space saving manner within a housing of the stand component, conjointly with a substantial portion of the guide linkage. The connection between the arm component of the stand and the first counterweight is effected through linkages a predominant portion of which are likewise substantially accommodated within the housing.

Support apparatus for an optical observation device

The picking band wheel is made of a hub and two wheel discs. Each disc is provided with pocket-like spoke parts which have transverse walls at the bottom which abut the transverse walls of the other disc on a common connecting plane disposed substantially perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the wheel. The front disc has a conical end wall in which the pocket-like spoke parts are formed so that an alternating spoke pattern is formed. The back disc has a flat end wall.

Picking band wheel for a weaving machine

An operating table, particularly for microsurgery of the neck or throat, the nose or the ear of a patient comprises a vertically adjustable standard, a supporting frame, a patient rest or support structure as well as a first adjusting mechanism for performing a pivotable movement of the patient rest or support oriented transversely of the operating table and a second adjusting mechanism for performing a pivotable movement of the patient rest or support structure which is oriented longitudinally of the operating table. Both adjusting mechanisms are structured and arranged at the operating table such that, during execution of the aforementioned pivotable movements of the patient rest or support structure, an operating site or location essentially disposed within the symmetry plane of the operating table will remain largely locally in position. Working or operating cylinders acting upon the two adjusting mechanisms are accommodated or coordinated to each other in respect of their function such that the patient rest or support structure may be simultaneously pivoted in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction of the operating table while retaining the essentially locally fixed operating site or location.

The method of mounting a radar reflector on an artillery shell contemplates providing a body constituted by a functional element and a sleeve element formed rotationally-symmetrical about a lengthwise axis of said body with at least one explosive device arranged at least at the neighborhood of an outer surface of said sleeve element near to one end of said sleeve element and remote from the functional element. The body is mounted on the artillery shell and the explosive device is detonated in order to establish a form-locking connection of the sleeve element with the shell. The detonation of the explosive device severs the sleeve element at the region of said one end of said sleeve element in order to provide a substantially straight-lined closure of the sleeve element about the artillery shell in order to avoid undesirably altering ballistic characteristics of the artillery shell.

Method for mounting a radar reflector on an artillery shell

A body which can be axially incorporated at an artillery shell comprises a functional or operational element constructed as a radar reflector. A sleeve element is arranged at such functional element. This sleeve element is rotationally symmetrical about a lengthwise axis and is intended to be attached to the artillery shell. The functional element and the sleeve element are constructed as one piece or integrally. At the inside surface of the sleeve element there are formed in a turnably symmetrical or rotationally symmetrical manner beads, fins or claws or the like. The inner surface of the sleeve element is provided with an adhesive layer formed, for instance, of corundum powder contained in a synthetic resin. At the outside surface of the sleeve element there is arranged a fuse cord, the detonation of which produces a form-locking or positive connection of the sleeve element with the ordnance projectile or shell.

Radar reflector for an artillery shell

An auxiliary apparatus at a stand for an optical observation device, such as a surgical microscope is disclosed, which contains a stand at which there is mounted the surgical microscope. The stand comprises a number of rotary and brake bearings, a support arm and a pivotal arm as well as a hinge parallelogram. The surgical microscope or other instrument can be freely adjustable, but fixed in position, throughout a predetermined spatial region as concerns its position and orientation. Arranged at the parallelogram is a web or strap for mounting a support element, at which there is laterally arranged a holder for the attachment of the housing of a brake bearing and a head element. In the head element there is movably mounted by means of a ball hinge element a coupling element structured for receiving and attaching the surgical microscope. In order to level the parallelogram there is arranged a levelling device at the brake bearing and in order to avoid a tilting movement of the parallelogram the suspended microscope is adjustable horizontally and vertically by means of adjustment elements, such as adjustment screws, arranged at the support element.

Auxiliary apparatus at a stand for an optical observation device

An arrangement at a stand for an optical observation device, especially for a surgical microscope, containing a stand which essentially comprises an upright column or stand at which there is pivotably mounted an arm member for pivotable movement about a horizontal axis. There are further provided a support arm, a number of rotary and brake bearings and a hinge parallelogram at which there is suspended the microscope or the like. At one end of the arm member or arm there is arranged a guide lever and at the other end a weighting disk as well as a brake bearing at which there is secured a rod carrying a counterweight. The guide lever and the rod are operatively connected with one another by means of a thrust rod extending parallel to the arm member. This arm member is arrestable and positionably fixable at the stand column by means of a bolt member insertable into the weighting disk and radially penetrating the column body. The support arm is arrestable and positionally fixable at the guide lever by means of an element insertable into the support arm and arranged at the guide lever.

Arrangement at a stand for an optical observation device

An apparatus for assisting carrying out exact hand movements, especially those performed by a surgeon during complex micro-surgical operations, comprising at least one support accommodated to the human arm or the hand. There is provided only a single upright column, one end of which is supported in a hinge joint equipped with a first brake device in order to obtain a free, braked mobility throughout a predetermined spatial region or zone with regard to the position and orientation thereof and at the other end such upright column carries the arm support. This arm support is mounted to be freely rotatable about the lengthwise axis of the upright column and is equipped with means located in the upright column for the continuous or infinite elevational adjustment of the upright column and thereby the arm support. There is also provided a second brake device for fixing the desired elevational position of the adjusted upright column and its arm support.

Support device

A solar radiation collector for generating useful heat in a liquid, comprising an essentially horizontal liquid infeed line and a liquid outfeed line. A heating device for heating the liquid incorporates radiation absorbing, mutually spaced tubes interconnecting the infeed line with the outfeed line, the lengthwise axes of the tubes each coinciding with a focusing axis of an associated mirror or reflector, all of the mirrors being rotatable about their focusing axis in order to focus the incident solar radiation upon the associated tube. The heating device is mounted as a unit in a completely closed hollow compartment. The infeed and outfeed lines are embedded as supporting reinforcement means in the longitudinal walls of the hollow compartment, and these longitudinal walls in conjunction with the transverse walls interconnecting such longitudinal walls form a self-supporting frame construction for the front window and the rear closure wall of the hollow compartment which contains the heating device.

Growing community of inventors

Zurich, Switzerland

Rudolf Heller