US 12,049,248 B2 · Cart stabilization devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

Devices, assemblies, systems, and methods are disclosed for stabilizing a cart. An example cart is a surgical cart having a robotic arm thereon. A stabilizer system may be part of or used with the cart to stabilize the cart at a location. The stabilizer system may include a stabilizer and an actuator. The stabilizer may have a foot and a biaser configured to bias the foot to a retracted position and contribute to an amount of force applied to a floor supporting the cart when the foot is in a deployed position. The actuator acts on the stabilizer to overcome a bias force biasing the stabilizer to the retracted position and cause feet of the stabilizer to contact the floor. Once the feet of the stabilizer contact the floor, a spring of the biaser causes the foot to apply a predetermined force amount to the floor.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An assembly comprising:

a surgical cart having locking caster wheels configured to contact a floor;
a stabilizer comprising:
a foot configured to resist movement of the surgical cart when the foot is in a deployed position contacting the floor;
and
a biaser configured to bias the foot in a retracted position and contribute to a predetermined amount of force applied to the floor when the foot is in the deployed position;
an actuator configured to drive the stabilizer toward the deployed position;
and
wherein actuation of the actuator causes the stabilizer to:
adjust to the deployed position and apply the predetermined amount of force to the floor
a first spring biasing the stabilizer to the retracted position;
and
a second spring biasing the stabilizer to the deployed position,
a housing, wherein the first spring extends along an exterior of the housing and the second spring extends along an interior of the housing.

10 more elements

A system comprising:

a first stabilizer and a second stabilizer for stabilizing a surgical cart on wheels;
a force applicator extending between the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer;
and
a linear actuator configured to pull down on the force applicator to cause the first and second stabilizers to move from a retracted position to a deployed position
a force sensor in communication with the linear actuator, the force sensor is configured to sense a force indicative of a force the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer apply to a floor contacting the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer when the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer are in the deployed position;
and
a controller configured to classify the deployment of the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer as being successful or unsuccessful based on an amount of force detected by the force sensor.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cart stabilization devices, systems, and methods

Life of this patent

Cart stabilization devices, systems, and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15