Method and Apparatus for Maintenance of Surgical Instruments

Abstract

A maintenance machine particularly well-suited for servicing tools such as surgical instruments includes a base, a plurality of stations, and an adjustable tool platform. The stations each include respective servicing wheels that can include any of a variety of known servicing wheels, such as polishing and sharpening wheels. The wheels are supported by the base, which houses motors for driving the wheels. The adjustable tool platform includes a plurality of guide rails, rollers, pivot points, and a rotating post that together provide for fine adjustment of a position of a tool being services relative to any of the servicing wheels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A maintenance machine comprising:
 a base defining an interior space;   a plurality of stations having respective ones of a plurality of removable wheels;   a first motor disposed within the interior space of the base for driving at least a first wheel of the plurality of wheels;   a second motor disposed within the interior space of the base for driving at least a second wheel of the plurality of wheels;   a control panel operably associated with the first and second motors, the control panel having user-operable controls for operating the plurality of wheels;   a base guide rail connected to a front surface of the base; and   an adjustable tool platform for selectively positioning a tool relative to any of the plurality of wheels, the adjustable tool platform having a plurality of wheels for engaging the base guide rail.   
     
     
         2 . The maintenance machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises an upper surface and opposing left and right side surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The maintenance machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of stations includes:
 a first station connected to the right side surface;   a second station connected to the upper surface;   a third station connected to the upper surface; and   a fourth station connected to the left side surface.   
     
     
         4 . The maintenance machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the control panel includes user-operable controls for at least one of:
 controlling whether at least one of the first and second motors is on or off;   selecting a rotational direction of at least one of the plurality of wheels; and   adjusting a speed of rotation of at least one of the plurality of wheels.   
     
     
         5 . The maintenance machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one light configured for illuminating at least one of the stations, wherein the control panel further comprises user-operable control for turning the light on and off. 
     
     
         6 . The maintenance machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the base guide rail comprises opposing first and second raceways. 
     
     
         7 . The maintenance machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the adjustable tool platform comprises a first guide roller engaging the first raceway and a second guide roller engaging the second raceway. 
     
     
         8 . A maintenance machine, comprising:
 a base defining an interior space;   a plurality of stations having respective ones of a plurality of removable wheels;   at least one motor disposed within the interior space of the base for driving at least one of the plurality of wheels;   a control panel operably associated with the first and second motors, the control panel having user-operable controls for operating the plurality of wheels;   a base guide rail connected to a front surface of the base, the base guide rail including a first base raceway and a second base raceway; and   an adjustable tool platform for selectively positioning a tool relative to any of the plurality of wheels, the adjustable tool platform comprising:
 a tool rest member including a first tool-receiving surface and a second tool receiving surface orthogonal to the first tool-receiving surface; 
 a post member for supporting the tool rest member; 
 a first support bracket for supporting the post member such that the post member is rotationally connected to the first support bracket about a longitudinal axis of the post member, the first support bracket including a bottom surface and a first plurality of guide rollers mounted to the bottom surface; 
 a first guide rail for supporting the first support bracket, the first guide rail including opposing first and second raceways, wherein the first plurality of guide rollers includes at least one guide roller engaging the first raceway and at least one guide roller engaging the second raceway; 
 a second support bracket for supporting the first guide rail, the second support bracket including a wall member and first and second support arms extending from the wall member, the first and second arms being pivotally connected to the first guide rail, and the wall member having a wall surface opposite the first and second support arms, the wall surface having a second plurality of guide rollers mounted thereto; 
 a second guide rail for supporting the second support bracket, the second guide rail including opposing third and fourth raceways, wherein the second plurality of guide rollers includes at least one guide roller engaging the third raceway and at least one guide roller engaging the fourth raceway; and 
 a carriage member attached to the second guide rail and having a carriage surface, the carriage surface having a third plurality of guide rollers mounted thereto, wherein the third plurality of guide rollers includes at least one guide roller engaging the first base raceway and at least one guide roller engaging the second base raceway. 
   
     
     
         9 . The maintenance machine according to  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of instrument-mounting lugs, each configured to be removably attached to the tool rest member, wherein the plurality of instrument-mounting lugs comprises:
 a first instrument-mounting lug having a vertically adjustable member that is adjustable relative to the first tool-receiving surface when attached to the tool rest member; and   a second instrument-mounting lug having a horizontally adjustable member that is adjustable relative to the second tool-receiving surface when attached to the tool rest member.   
     
     
         10 . The maintenance machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the base further comprises an upper surface and opposing left and right side surfaces, and wherein the plurality of stations includes:
 a first station connected to the right side surface;   a second station connected to the upper surface;   a third station connected to the upper surface; and   a fourth station connected to the left side surface.   
     
     
         11 . The maintenance machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the wall member includes a guide bore extending therethrough, and wherein the adjustable tool platform further comprises:
 a guide post having a lower end that is connected to the second guide rail, the guide post extending from the lower end thereof parallel to the second guide rail and through the guide bore of the wall member of the second support bracket; and   a compression spring extending about the guide post between the lower end of the guide post and the second support bracket.   
     
     
         12 . The maintenance machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the adjustable tool platform further comprises a knob connected to the post member such that rotation of the knob causes rotation of the post member about the longitudinal axis of the post member, the knob including indicia for indicating a degree of rotation of the post member relative to the first support bracket. 
     
     
         13 . The maintenance machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the adjustable tool platform further comprises a limiter strap connected between the second support bracket and the first guide rail for limiting the pivotal range of between the second support bracket and the first guide rail. 
     
     
         14 . An adjustable tool platform for selectively positioning a tool relative to an abrading, surface, the tool platform comprising:
 a tool rest member including a first tool-receiving surface and a second tool receiving surface orthogonal to the first tool-receiving surface;   a post member for supporting the tool rest member;   a first support bracket for supporting the post member such that the post member is rotationally connected to the first support bracket about a longitudinal axis of the post member, the first support bracket including a bottom surface and a first plurality of guide rollers mounted to the bottom surface;   a first guide rail for supporting the first support bracket, the first guide rail including opposing first and second raceways, wherein the first plurality of guide rollers includes at least one guide roller engaging the first raceway and at least one guide roller engaging the second raceway;   a second support bracket for supporting the first guide rail, the second support bracket including a wall member and first and second support arms extending from the wall member, the first and second arms being pivotally connected to the first guide rail, and the wall member having a wall surface opposite the first and second support arms, the wall surface having a second plurality of guide rollers mounted thereto;   a second guide rail for supporting the second support bracket, the second guide rail including opposing third and fourth raceways, wherein the second plurality of guide rollers includes at least one guide roller engaging the third raceway and at least one guide roller engaging the fourth raceway; and   a carriage member attached to the second guide rail and having a carriage surface, the carriage surface having a third plurality of guide rollers mounted thereto.   
     
     
         15 . The adjustable tool platform according to  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of instrument-mounting lugs, each configured to be removably attached to the tool rest member, wherein the plurality of instrument-mounting lugs comprises a first instrument-mounting lug having a vertically adjustable member that is adjustable relative to the first tool-receiving surface when attached to the tool rest member. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable tool platform according to  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of instrument-mounting lugs, each configured to be removably attached to the tool rest member, wherein the plurality of instrument-mounting lugs comprises a second instrument-mounting lug having a horizontally adjustable member that is adjustable relative to the second tool-receiving surface when attached to the tool rest member. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable tool platform according to  claim 14 , wherein the wall member includes a guide bore extending therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable tool platform according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a guide post having a lower end that is connected to the second guide rail, the guide post extending from the lower end thereof parallel to the second guide rail and through the guide bore of the wall member of the second support bracket; and   a compression spring extending about the guide post between the lower end of the guide post and the second support bracket.   
     
     
         19 . The adjustable tool platform according to  claim 14 , further comprising a knob connected to the post member such that rotation of the knob causes rotation of the post member about the longitudinal axis of the post member, the knob including indicia for indicating a degree of rotation of the post member relative to the first support bracket. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable tool platform according to  claim 14 , further comprising a limiter strap connected between the second support bracket and the first guide rail for limiting the pivotal range of between the second support bracket and the first guide rail.