# US 2014/0151522 A1 · Automatic balancing structure of medical balancing stand

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- Number: US 2014/0151522 A1
- Document ID: US20140151522A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/093,156
- Filed: 2013-11-29
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Assignees: Mitaka Kohki Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Mitaka Kohki Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Masao DOI; Toshio YAMAZAKI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151522A1

## CPC

- F16M 11/18: with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
- F16M 11/2021: {around a horizontal axis (F16M11/2035 takes precedence)}
- A61B 90/20: Surgical microscopes characterised by non-optical aspects
- A61B 2090/504: {with a counterweight}
- F16M 2200/044: for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
- F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An automatic balancing structure of a medical balancing stand includes an elastic member arranged in each clearance C. In a normal state, a lever and a turn plate turn together through the elastic members, to follow a rotative movement of a lateral arm. When an imbalance occurs on the lateral arm, the lateral arm produces torque with which a contact part of the lever presses and deforms one of the elastic members to activate a corresponding one of switches S1 and S2. The activated switch outputs an imbalance detected signal to an adjustment unit, which resolves the imbalance. The switches S1 and S2 are simple to downsize the automatic balancing structure and are effective to carry out balance adjustment.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automatic balancing structure of a medical balancing stand, the medical balancing stand having a first arm and a second arm, the second arm being turnable about a turn shaft that is horizontally fixed relative to the first arm, a first end of the second arm supporting a load, a second end of the second arm having an adjustment unit to balance the second aria on the turn shaft, the automatic balancing structure comprising:
a lever fixed through the turn shaft relative to the second arm and having a contact part at a front end thereof;
a turn plate rotatably fixed to the turn shaft and having a pair of stoppers arranged on each side of the contact part with a predetermined clearance from the contact part;
a contact detector arranged on the pair of stoppers and outputting a balance information signal to the adjustment unit according to a contact state with the contact part;
a clutch unit that is fixed to the first arm and engages with a part of the turn plate to lock the turn plate; and
an elastic member arranged in each of the clearances and having an elasticity to deform on receiving pressure caused by an imbalance occurring on the second arm, wherein
in a normal state, the turn plate turns with the lever through the elastic members,
in a balance adjusting state, the clutch unit locks the turn plate and the contact part deforms the elastic member to activate the contact detector so that the contact detector outputs the balance information signal to the adjustment unit and the adjustment unit balances the second arm according to the balance information signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The automatic balancing structure of the medical balancing stand of claim 1, wherein
the adjustment unit includes a counterweight that is arranged at the second end of the second arm and is moved according to the balance information signal for balancing the second arm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The automatic balancing structure of the medical balancing stand of claim 1, wherein
the contact detector detects one of a state that the contact part is closer to one of the pair of stoppers, a state that the contact part is closer to the other of the pair of stoppers, and a state that the contact part is closer to none of the pair of stoppers, and outputs the balance information signal according to the detected state.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The automatic balancing structure of the medical balancing stand of claim 3, wherein
the contact detector includes a pair of switches arranged on the pair of stoppers, respectively.