Load balancing arm for medical device support system

A medical device support system, comprising:

• a central shaft;
• an extension arm mounted to the central shaft for rotational movement about the shaft;
• and
• a load balancing arm mounted to the extension arm and including:
• a proximal hub including a main bearing element defining a main pivot axis;
• a counterbalancing bearing element defining a counterbalancing pivot axis;
• a support arm having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is configured to support a medical device load and the proximal end is pivotably mounted to the main bearing element for pivotable movement about the main pivot axis;
• a spring extending within a cavity of the support arm and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the spring is an end of the spring that is nearest the proximal end of the support arm and the distal end of the spring is an end of the spring that is farthest from the proximal end of the support arm, wherein the proximal end of the spring is coupled to the proximal end of the support arm, and wherein the spring is mounted to exert a biasing force between the main pivot axis and the distal end of the spring;
• at least one link having a proximal end pivotably mounted to the counterbalancing bearing element for pivotable movement about the counterbalancing pivot axis, and a distal end pivotably mounted to the distal end of the spring adjacent to the distal end of the spring such that the distal end of the link is pivotable with respect to the distal end of the spring about a link-spring pivot axis and such that the biasing force exerted by the spring is transmitted through the link to the counterbalancing bearing element thereby to generate a moment about the main pivot axis of the proximal hub that counters a moment generated by the medical device load at the distal end of the support arm,
• wherein the link is coupled to the support arm such that as the proximal end of the support arm is pivotably moved about the main pivot axis an angle between the link and the support arm changes.

A load balancing arm for a medical device support system, comprising:

• a proximal hub including a main bearing element defining a main pivot axis;
• an adjustable bearing element defining an adjustable pivot axis, wherein the adjustable pivot axis is adjustable relative to the main pivot axis;
• a support arm having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is configured to support a medical device load and the proximal end is pivotably mounted to the main bearing element for pivotable movement about the main pivot axis;
• a spring extending within a cavity of the support arm and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the spring is an end of the spring that is nearest the proximal end of the support arm and the distal end of the spring is an end of the spring that is farthest from the proximal end of the support arm, wherein the proximal end of the spring is coupled to the proximal end of the support arm, and wherein the spring is mounted to exert a biasing force between the main pivot axis of the proximal hub and the distal end of the spring;
• and,
• at least one link having a proximal end pivotably mounted to the adjustable bearing element for pivotable movement about the adjustable pivot axis, and a distal end pivotably mounted to the distal end of the spring adjacent to the distal end of the spring such that the distal end of the link is pivotable with respect to the distal end of the spring and such that the biasing force exerted by the spring is transmitted through the link to the adjustable bearing element thereby to generate a moment about the main pivot axis of the proximal hub that counters a moment generated by the medical device load at the distal end of the support arm;
• wherein the adjustable bearing element is configured such that the adjustable pivot axis remains fixed relative to the main pivot axis as the proximal end of the support arm is pivotably moved about the main pivot axis.