EP2717826B1 - Patient positioning device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a patient lifting table, in particular in the form of a treatment couch or an operating table, comprising a lifting structure which can be raised and lowered by means of a lifting structure, wherein the lifting structure comprises a telescopic lifting column with a two mutually parallel spaced apart, a cylindrical surface having guide columns having fixed columnar structure, relative to this linearly displaceable movable column structure and acting between the fixed and the movable column structure lifting drive comprises.

Patient elevators are known in various designs and in use. Depending on their specific purpose and the regulations in force in the country concerned, such patient lifts must satisfy different requirements, not only with regard to the lifting capacity provided, but also, for example, with regard to different bending moments, which are different from those used Telescopic lifting column can be included without affecting their reliability.

A patient Hubliege of the generic type mentioned above, for example, in the EP 0 792 630 A2 disclosed. In this case, two cylindrical guide columns are fixedly connected to a base plate and extend from this parallel to each other upright, wherein the upper ends of the guide columns are connected to each other by means of a bar-shaped traverse. The movable column structure comprises a column jacket, with the inside of the guide columns enclosing stiffening tubes are rigidly connected. In the stiffening tubes the respective circumference of the associated guide column comprehensive, ie encompassing bush-like guide elements are added.

Other patient lifting chairs with a guide of the movable column structure on two a part of the fixed column structure forming guide columns are from the DE 10113807 C1 and the DE 102005050856 A1 known.

The present invention has set itself the task of providing a patient Hubliege of the generic type, which despite relatively low production costs not only complies with the applicable minimum requirements in various countries, but not significantly exceeded.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1. In a generic patient Hubliege the two guide columns over a substantially over the entire height between these extending spacer element at a distance from each other held and on the guide columns a part of the movable column structure forming, each equipped with at least one substantially having a half-shell mold sliding block slidingly guided.

The invention is thus characterized in particular by the fact that the fixed pillar structure has a spacer element extending substantially over its entire height between the guide pillars. Such a continuous spacer element keeps the two guide columns over the entire axial extent at the predetermined distance, so that the risk that the guide columns deform at high loads, is extremely limited. This allows, as the two guide pillars are stiffened by said continuous spacer element consistently to each other, the use of comparatively slender - possibly even tubular, ie hollow - guide columns, which allows an equally compact and inexpensive construction, in particular the use of standardized parts ( For example, piston rods) as a starting point for the guide columns contribute significantly to reduce costs. It is particularly advantageous if the spacer element is laterally grooved, so that the guide columns are received in the throat of the spacer element. This favors again substantially the above-explained stiffening of the two guide columns by the spacer element in the sense of providing a highly rigid fixed column structure with the least possible effort, ie at low cost.

Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that the sliding shells have a substantially half-shell shape. According to a corresponding arrangement of the sliding blocks, the sliding shells engage on both sides laterally on the unit consisting of the two guide columns and the at least one spacing element arranged therebetween. By the two guide columns with the spacer arranged between them in the sense described above form a structural unit on which attacks the movable column structure by means of the opposing shell-shaped sliding shells on the outside, it is also possible for a play-free storage and leadership of the movable column structure on the fixed pillar structure to some extent on the inherent elasticity of - the guide columns at a distance holding - distance element. Even with the use of components (eg guide columns and sliding shells), which are subject to less stringent tolerances than in the case of known generic patient lifting according to the prior art, thus an exact, play-free guidance of the movable column structure on the fixed column structure is possible. Due to the said statics, ie due to the over the half-shell-shaped, on both sides of the fixed column structure slidably guided Gleitschalen transferable forces also the guide columns can be pressed into the previously mentioned above throats of the spacer so that possibly further connection means are unnecessary.

The construction according to the invention thus makes it possible, as will become apparent from the following explanations, even in the case of the highest mechanical or static requirements (eg with regard to rigidity) in various respects to resort to comparatively inexpensive standardized components, without the functionally essential precision and load capacity of the Hub structure suffers, wherein the lifting structure of the patient Hubliege invention can continue to run very compact if required.

In terms of a first preferred embodiment of the invention is particularly advantageous if each slide block is equipped with two axially spaced sliding shells. This promotes a low-wear high-precision guidance of the movable column structure on the fixed column structure.

It is also particularly advantageous if the sliding shells are secured in the sliding blocks in the axial direction of the guide columns by embedding in deepened recordings of the sliding blocks, in which respect in particular by corresponding two-sided steps or paragraphs in the sliding blocks axial securing takes place in both directions. By such a purely mechanical security in the axial direction, the sliding shells in case of need - with removable movable column structure - easily replaceable. A fuse against twisting of the half-shell-shaped sliding shells in the associated, corresponding recordings of the slide blocks, if it is necessary, by simple measures possible, for example by the overlapping head of a locking pin. According to a very advantageous alternative, a fixing of the sliding shells in the sliding blocks by a - possibly combined - rivet and / or an adhesive connection.

The spacer element of the fixed pillar structure can be carried out in certain applications with particular advantage in the form of a solid spacer plate, in which case a fixation of the guide columns on the spacer plate can be done in particular by pinning. For other typical applications, however, is particularly advantageous if the spacer element of the fixed column structure, in the sense of another preferred embodiment of the present invention, designed as chambered and / or with inner stiffening rib extruded profile, for example made of aluminum. Such designed as an extruded spacer can be optimized in the sense described above in terms of its own elasticity and tuned to the requirements that the movable column structure backlash under a defined bias, ie with a desired contact force of the sliding shells on the guide columns on which the two guide columns and that arranged between them Distance element comprehensive unit is performed.

Furthermore, the design of the spacer element as an extruded profile makes it possible in a simple manner for it to have a cavity arranged between the guide columns, in which at least one linear actuator (for example hydraulic cylinder) assigned to the lifting drive is arranged. The lifting drive can act in this way in the plane defined by the two guide columns, which is favorable for static reasons. Also in static terms is favorable if the extruded profile has a substantially closed peripheral surface.

In particular, in the case of said execution of the spacer element as an extruded profile, the lateral grooves, already mentioned above, in which the guide columns are accommodated, have support ribs against which the guide columns abut locally, ie typically along a linear contact surface. Such support ribs (or support webs) can be reworked with little effort, especially in the context of a tolerance compensation, which relates to the dimensions of the extruded profile and / or the guide columns. In the case of a large-scale investment of the guide columns on the spacer element the like is possible only with a much higher technical complexity.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide columns on a circular cylindrical surface. They are preferably solid, rod-shaped (see below), but depending on the rest of the construction but also a tubular design of the guide columns is considered. It is particularly advantageous if the guide columns each have a hard chromium-plated surface. An outstanding sliding behavior of the movable column structure on the fixed pillar structure in terms of a long service life despite maintenance freedom can be achieved in particular by the fact that the Gleitblöcken associated sliding shells made of non-ferrous metal with a polymer sliding coating, in particular bronze with a POM sliding coating.

Also in the sense of providing a highly rigid fixed pillar structure with the least possible effort which consists of the two guide columns and the spacer element is preferably mounted on a base plate, which in the case of the execution of the spacer element as a spacer plate latter preferably stiffened by means of support plates relative to the base plate. Such support plates are particularly preferably arranged only on one side of the spacer plate in the interest of a telescopic lifting column as compact as possible.

While, as stated above, the two guide columns are preferably fixed at their lower ends via a base plate to which they are connected, the two guide columns can be connected to each other in the region of their upper ends by means of a cross member, in which case said cross member preferably engages in frontal recesses of the guide columns. However, in view of the stiffening of the two guide columns relative to one another by means of the spacer element extending substantially over the entire height thereof, such an end-side additional connection of the two guide columns is not absolutely necessary.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the movable column structure comprises a clamp on which the two slide blocks are mounted. It is particularly advantageous if at least one of the two sliding blocks is adjustably attached to the bracket, in which case in particular two axially, ie in the longitudinal direction of the guide columns spaced from each other screw-locking arrangements can be provided. By means of such an adjustment possibility, the game can be adjusted, in particular to compensate for possible tolerances of the guide columns and / or the sliding shells. Such a design is particularly useful if the spacer element in the form of a solid spacer plate, which does not have a clearance compensating and / or tolerances balancing inherent elasticity, is executed.

However, such a separate readjustability of the sliding blocks is less significant if a sufficient play and / or tolerance compensation is achieved in other ways, in particular via specific intrinsic elasticities of spacer and / or movable column structure or the aforementioned support ribs in the grooves of the spacer. In this case, the sliding blocks may even form an integral part of other components of the movable column structure, e.g. be integrally formed on a circumferentially substantially closed tubular structural element, which encloses the fixed pillar structure and receives in itself. The tubular structural element which is substantially closed in the circumferential direction can in particular be produced in one piece, for example by extrusion.

The aforementioned embodiment of the movable pillar structure such that it comprises a circumferentially substantially closed tubular structural element is not only favorable from a static point of view. This also favors the manufacturing flexibility in terms of a cost-effective modular design. This can also contribute if arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular structural element extending in the direction of displacement T-slots, in which in particular functionally relevant components (eg adjusting cylinder, valve blocks, hydraulic unit) can tie the patient Hubliege.

In this case, the tubular structural element preferably has an upper, preferably plate-shaped closure structure on which the lifting drive engages, wherein the upper closure structure particularly preferably has openings through which pass the upper ends of the guide columns in the fully lowered position of the movable column structure. In this way, the working stroke of the lifting structure can be optimized.

Yet another preferred development of the invention is characterized in that a hydraulic lifting drive is provided, which advantageously comprises a hydraulic unit arranged on the movable column structure. With skillful arrangement of the other components of the hydraulic lifting drive as well as other possible hydraulic drives - especially for adjusting the inclination of the deck structure along and / or transverse to its extension - no hydraulic lines are necessary in such a patient Hubliege, which compensate for the stroke of the telescopic lifting column have to; Rather, in this case all hydraulic lines can be laid on the movable column structure. If such a hydraulic lifting drive is provided with a lifting cylinder arrangement, then the latter, in a particularly preferred development of the invention, is encompassed by the movable column structure so that it is completely closed, at least over part of its axial height. In this way results with little effort an equally particularly rigid as compact movable column structure, which in particular is also suitable for accommodating the intended design loads (in particular bending moments) without any functional impairment.

For the sake of completeness, it should be pointed out that the present invention can be used both in patient lifting beds with a lifting structure having a single-stage telescopic lifting column and in patient lifting beds whose lifting structure has a multi-stage telescopic lifting column. It should also be pointed out that the advantages set forth above and / or in the following description of an exemplary embodiment, which are associated with the lifting structure according to the invention, can in any case be achieved to a considerable extent if the fixed column structure instead of an assembly assembled from the two guide columns and the spacer element a functionally identical one-piece, for example, emerged from an extruded unit comprises. Such a one-piece unit would consist of two edge profile cylinder profile sections respectively assuming a guiding function, each having a surface in the form of a cylindrical section and an intermediate profile section arranged between the two edge profile sections, which essentially has a supporting and stiffening function.

Fig. 1

die Hubstruktur eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Patenten-Hubliege in deren maximal ausgefahrener Konfiguration in perspektivischer Ansicht von einer ersten Seite,

Fig. 2

die in Fig. 1 gezeigte Hubstruktur in perspektivischer Ansicht von einer zweiten Seite,

Fig. 3

den Übergangsbereich von der feststehenden Säulenstruktur zu der bewegbaren Säulenstruktur der Hubstruktur nach den Fig. 1 und 2 als Detailansicht und

Fig. 4

den in Fig. 3 gezeigten Übergangsbereich aus einer anderen Perspektive in geschnittener Darstellung; weiterhin zeigen

Fig. 5

die Hubstruktur eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Patenten-Hubliege in deren maximal eingefahrener Konfiguration in perspektivischer Ansicht schräg von oben und

Fig. 6

einen Horizontalschnitt durch die in Fig. 5 gezeigte Hubstruktur unter Weglassung der außen an der bewegbaren Säulenstruktur angebauten Komponenten.

In the following, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to two exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing. Show

Fig. 1

the lifting structure of a first embodiment of a patent Hubliege invention in its maximum extended configuration in perspective view from a first side,

Fig. 2

in the Fig. 1 shown lifting structure in perspective view from a second side,

Fig. 3

the transition region from the fixed column structure to the movable column structure of the lifting structure after the Fig. 1 and 2 as a detail view and

Fig. 4

the in Fig. 3 shown transition area from another perspective in a sectional view; continue to show

Fig. 5

the lifting structure of a second embodiment of a patent Hubliege invention in its maximum retracted configuration in a perspective view obliquely from above and

Fig. 6

a horizontal section through the in Fig. 5 shown lifting structure, omitting the externally attached to the movable column structure components.

The in the FIGS. 1 to 4 the drawing reproduced, for raising and lowering a (not shown) Lying structure of a patient Hubliege certain lifting structure 1 in a first embodiment comprises a - in this case single-stage - telescopic lifting column with a lower fixed pillar structure 2 and a relative to this linearly displaceable upper movable pillar structure. 3

The fixed column structure 2 comprises as main components a base plate 4, two vertically, parallel aligned guide columns 5, a spacer element 6 in the form of a arranged between the two guide columns 5 spacer plate 7 and a support structure 8. The two guide columns 5 are solid with a circular cylindrical, Hard chromed surface executed. They are bolted to the base plate 4 from below. The likewise solid running spacer plate 7, by means of which the two guide columns are kept at a predetermined distance from each other and stiffened against each other, extends substantially over the entire height of the guide columns 5. It is laterally grooved, so that - more pinned with the spacer plate - Guide pillars 5 engage in grooves 9 of the spacer plate 7 and are received in these. The thickness of the spacer plate 7, which is also screwed from below with the base plate 4, remains slightly behind the diameter of the guide columns 5 back. In the region of their upper ends, the guide columns 5 are furthermore connected by means of a cross-member 10, which may possibly engage in corresponding end-side recesses of the guide columns 5 and is fixed to these by means of screws 12, connected together. The cross member 10 covers the spacer plate 7 from above. The support structure 8 comprises two upright support plates 13, which are screwed to both the base plate 4 and the spacer plate 7, wherein the two support plates 13 are further connected to stiffen the support structure 8 via two connectors 14.

The movable column structure 3 in turn comprises a torsionally rigid support 15, which is essentially composed of a back plate 16 and two side plates 17 bolted thereto. Between the two side plates 17 extend - at different heights - two with them screwed traversal plates 18 and further, as the upper end of the movable column structure 3, a top plate 47. Further, at each of the two side plates 17 in the region of the lower end portion of the movable column structure a Support plate 19 attached. These support plates 19 are on one side over the side plates 17 to form a the column structure 2 laterally encompassing bracket 20.

At the respective supernatant 21, a sliding block 22 is attached to each of the support plates 19. The slide blocks 22 each have a substantially semi-cylindrical recess 23 adapted to the contour of the guide columns 5. In the recesses 23 are, with axial distance from each other, respectively two shots 24 incorporated. In this half-shell-shaped sliding cups 25 are embedded, which consist of bronze with a POM sliding coating. About pins that are inserted into the sliding blocks 22 and the heads 26 each detect the edge of the respective sliding shell 25, the sliding cups 25 are secured against rotation in the associated receptacle 24 in the circumferential direction. By sliding contact of the sliding cups 25, with which the sliding blocks 22 are provided, on the cylindrical surface of the guide columns 5, the movable column structure 3 is slidably guided on the fixed column structure 2 relative to this in the longitudinal direction of the guide columns 5.

The slide blocks 22 are attached to the respective associated support plate 19 adjustable. For this purpose, two screw-locking arrangements 27 are provided per sliding block. The screw 28, which engages in a thread 29 of the sliding block 22, passes through a counter-disc 30, which in turn is screwed into a thread 31 of the support plate 19. The adjustment provided by this allows a tolerance compensation by setting the optimal game.

The lifting column also has a hydraulic lifting drive acting between the fixed column structure 2 and the movable column structure 3. This comprises a hydraulic unit 32 arranged on the movable column structure 3, a lifting valve accommodated in the valve arrangement 33 and a lifting cylinder arrangement 34 with a hydraulic cylinder-piston unit 35. Of the latter, the cylinder 36 is fixed to the movable pillar structure 3, namely the top plate 47, the piston rod 37, however, on the fixed pillar structure 2, namely at the foot plate 4. By the above-explained Structure of the movable pillar structure 3 with a back plate 16, two side plates 17 and a transversal plate 18, the upper pillar structure has a cavity in which the hydraulic cylinder-piston unit 35 is received, so that the lift cylinder assembly 34 from the movable pillar structure 3 at least a part of the axial height is fully enclosed.

It can be seen in the Fig. 1 and 2 Finally, the mounting frame 38, which at the upper end of the telescopic lifting column - via an intermediate frame 46 - gimbal articulated and on which the lounger structure of the patient Hubliege is to be mounted. To adjust the inclination of the deck structure in the longitudinal direction and transversely to this two pivot cylinder arrangements 39 and 40 are provided, of which the respective cylinder 41 and 42 is articulated via bearing blocks 43 on the movable support structure 3, the respective piston rod 44 and 45, however The two pivot cylinder assemblies 39 and 40 are fed by the hydraulic unit 32, wherein the Swivel cylinder assemblies 39 and 40 associated with valves in the valve assembly 33 are housed.

As far as the partial execution of the fixed as well as the movable column structure of plates bolted together is set out above, as a precaution, the possibility is pointed out to provide substantially functionally identical structures using cast parts. Depending on the specific circumstances, including, in addition to the individual requirements, for example, the lot size of the lifting structures according to the invention to be manufactured, the use of castings instead of structures built can bring not insignificant cost advantages. It should also be pointed out that the guide columns do not necessarily have to be separate components that are to be joined together with the spacer for the purpose of producing the fixed column structure. On the contrary, within the scope of the present invention, an integrated production of the fixed column structure comprising the two guide columns and the spacing element arranged between them can also be considered. Incidentally, it goes without saying that an embodiment has been explained above, from which no restrictions can be derived with respect to the invention specified in the claims.

That in the Fig. 5 and 6 illustrated second embodiment of a lifting structure of a running according to the present invention patient Hubliege discloses, in particular by the same or functionally identical parts are designated consistently and provided with the same reference numerals, from the above description of the first embodiment, taking into account the features and deviations explained in detail below.

The spacer element 6 of the stationary column structure 2 is embodied here as an extruded profile 50 of a substantially rectangular basic shape and with a substantially closed outer peripheral surface formed by longitudinal side walls 51 and transverse side walls 52. The extruded profile 50 is equipped with inner stiffening ribs 53, resulting in a plurality of chambers 54, including a disposed between the guide columns 5 cavity 55. In this, the hydraulic cylinder-piston unit 35 is received. In the area of the corners, the extruded profile 50 recesses 56, in which screws can be screwed, by means of which the extruded profile 50 is connected to the base plate 4.

The receiving of the guide columns 5 serving throats 9 are executed in the transverse side walls 52 of the extruded profile 50. The grooves 9 have support ribs 57, on which the guide columns 5 localized, in this case, in particular, lie along narrow line-shaped contact surfaces.

For the connection 58 of the cylinder-piston unit 35, recesses 59 are provided in the upper region of the extruded profile 50 in one of the stiffening ribs 53 and one of the longitudinal side walls 51, into which said connection 58 enters when the movable column structure 3 is completely lowered.

The movable pillar structure 3 comprises a circumferentially substantially closed tubular structural element 60 which also constitutes an extrusion and encloses and accommodates the fixed pillar structure 2. The sliding blocks 22, in the half-shell-shaped receptacles 24, the half-shell-shaped sliding shells 25 are accommodated here form an integral part of the movable column structure 3, by being integrally formed on the tubular structural element 60. The sliding cups 25 are fixed here in the sliding blocks 22 by a combined rivet and adhesive connection.

The tubular structural element 60 has an upper terminating structure in the form of a top plate 47 on which the lifting drive engages. For this purpose, the cylinder of the cylinder-piston unit 35 is connected to the head plate by means of the screw 62. The top plate 47 is in turn connected to the tubular structural element 60 by means of four screws 64, which are screwed into corresponding recesses 63 of the tubular structural element 60. The top plate 47 has openings 65 through which in the complete lowered position of the movable column structure 3, the upper ends of the guide columns 5 pass through.

On the outer peripheral surface of the tubular structural member 60 extending in the direction of displacement T-slots 66 are arranged. These are used to attach the hydraulic unit 32, the two pivot cylinder assemblies 39 and 40 and the valve block 33rd

The above-described embodiment can be modified according to a preferred development to the effect that the arranged between the two guide columns cavity 55 of the extruded profile 50 does not receive a separate hydraulic cylinder-piston unit 35, but rather - circular cylindrical running, suitably closed at the end (with piston rod passage) and provided with a hydraulic connection - directly forms the cylinder of a lifting cylinder assembly. The piston of the lifting cylinder assembly would accordingly be performed sealingly in this development directly in the cavity 55 of the extruded profile 50. In a broader sense, because this development is not on the specific design of the lifting structure according to the Figures 5 and 6 limited, is thus considered as possible, the present invention further developing feature that the spacer member has at least one cylindrical cavity, in which a piston of the lifting drive sealing is guided, so that the spacer element and the lifting drive form an integrated assembly.

Claims (15)

1. An elevating patient bed, in particular in the form of a treatment bed or a surgical table, comprising a bed structure that can be raised and lowered by means of a lifting structure (1), wherein the lifting structure has a telescoping column with a stationary column structure (2) having two guide columns (5), both of which have a cylindrical surface, are kept a distance apart from one another and are aligned in parallel with one another, also having a movable column structure (3) that is linearly displaceable in relation to the former and having a lift drive that acts between the stationary column structure and the movable column structure,
   characterized in that
   the two guide columns (5) are kept a distance apart from one another by means of a spacer element (6) extending between the guide columns, essentially over the total height, forming a portion of the sliding blocks (22), each equipped with at least one sliding shell (25) having essentially a half-shell shape and being guided slidingly on the guide columns (5), forming a part of the column structure (3).
2. The elevating patient bed according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding blocks (22) have receptacles (24) for the sliding shells (25), these receptacles shaped essentially as half-shells.
3. The elevating patient bed according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each sliding block (22) is equipped with two sliding shells (25) spaced a distance apart from one another axially.
4. The elevating patient bed according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sliding shells (25) are secured axially in the sliding blocks (22), by being embedded in receptacles (24), which are recessed on both sides in the axial direction of the guide columns.
5. The elevating patient bed according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sliding shells (25) are secured in the sliding blocks (22) by a riveted connection and/or an adhesively bonded connection.
6. The elevating patient bed according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the guide columns (5) have a circular cylindrical surface and are preferably designed to be solid.
7. The elevating patient bed according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sliding shells (25) are made of nonferrous metal with a polymer coating, in particular bronze with a POM coating.
8. The elevating patient bed according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the spacer element (6) of the stationary column structure (2) is designed in the form of a solid spacer plate (7).
9. The elevating patient bed according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the spacer element (6) of the stationary column structure (2) is designed as an extruded profile (50) that is chambered and/or furnished with internal reinforcing ribs.
10. The elevating patient bed according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the spacer element (6) is grooved at the side, so that the guide columns (5) are accommodated in channels (9) in the spacer element.
11. The elevating patient bed according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the guide columns (5) are connected to one another in the region of their upper ends by means of a crossbar (10), which preferably engages in recesses on the face of the guide columns.
12. The elevating patient bed according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the stationary column structure (2) is accommodated in and surrounded by the movable column structure (3).
13. The elevating patient bed according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the movable column structure (3) encloses a clamp (20) on which the two sliding blocks (22) are supported.
14. The elevating patient bed according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a hydraulic lift drive, which comprises a hydraulic unit (32) arranged on the movable column structure (3).
15. The elevating patient bed according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the spacer element (6) has at least one cylindrical cavity in which a piston of the lift drive is guided with a seal.

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