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impaginato corretto fullone_Layout 1 13/10/15 12.10 Pagina 85 Department of Engineering, ICT and Technologies for Energy and Transport Patent Title Title A device for supporting and for adjusting the A device for supporting and for adjusting the position of a patient's head during surgeries. position of a patient's head during surgeries. Ref. CNR 10232 Ref. CNR 10232 Assignee(s): CNR CNR Institute: ITIA Main Inventor: Lorenzo Molinari Tosatti Countries: IT, FR, DE, CH, ES, SE, UK Priority date: 03/08/2012 Abstract Abstract The present invention relates to a device for supporting and adjusting the position of a patient's head The present invention relates to a device for supporting and adjusting the position of a patient's head during surgeries or diagnostics; it allows a fine positioning and regulation and permits also rotation only during surgeries or diagnostics; it allows a fine positioning and regulation and permits also rotation only or translation only adjustment without simultaneously modifying the position and orientation relative to or translation only adjustment without simultaneously modifying the position and orientation relative to the remaining translation and rotation axes. Such device regulate and adjust the patient's head in the remaining translation and rotation axes. Such device regulate and adjust the patient's head in accordance with the natural mobility of the neck’s joint and muscles, with high speed and precision, as accordance with the natural mobility of the neck’s joint and muscles, with high speed and precision, as well as with high support rigidity both during and after the adjustment. Beside, the device allows to well as with high support rigidity both during and after the adjustment. Beside, the device allows to respond in real time to stress or sudden voluntary or involuntary movements of the patient, as in "awake respond in real time to stress or sudden voluntary or involuntary movements of the patient, as in "awake surgery", avoiding stress and severe pain in the patient. surgery", avoiding stress and severe pain in the patient. Background Background Prior art devices for supporting patient’s head ensure high stiffness but they do not allow an easy and Prior art devices for supporting patient’s head ensure high stiffness but they do not allow an easy and precise adjustment of its position during the whole surgical operation. Manual adjustment of known precise adjustment of its position during the whole surgical operation. Manual adjustment of known devices is allowed unlocking mechanical constraints but is not assisted in any way and cannot easily devices is allowed unlocking mechanical constraints but is not assisted in any way and cannot easily performed during the surgical operation by a single surgeon. Moreover, their passive nature does not allow performed during the surgical operation by a single surgeon. Moreover, their passive nature does not allow a quick, precise, easy and autonomous real-time repositioning and control of the head position. a quick, precise, easy and autonomous real time repositioning and control of the head position Technology Technology The invention refers to a hybrid kinematics adjustment mechanism, characterized by a peculiar partially- The invention refers to a hybrid kinematics adjustment mechanism, characterized by a peculiar partially decoupled five-degrees-of-freedom parallel kinematics and one serial, properly controlled according to decoupled five degrees of freedom parallel kinematics and one serial, properly controlled according to signals generated by external sensors or manual commands, able to control in real-time the patient’s signals generated by external sensors or manual commands, able to control in real time the patient’s head position during surgical operations. head position during surgical operations. Advantages and Applicatons Advantages and Applications This device permits a precise positioning and adjustment of the patient’s head during surgical operations; This device permits a precise positioning and adjustment of the patient’s head during surgical operations; furthermore it guarantees natural movements of neck’s muscles and joints. It has free side and top access furthermore it guarantees natural movements of neck’s muscles and joints. It has free side and top access above the patient's head to allow accessibility by surgeons and medical personnel. above the patient's head to allow accessibility by surgeons and medical personnel. Development stage Development stage Executive drawings of the supporting device and adjusting mechanism are available, as well as a very first Executive drawings of the supporting device and adjusting mechanism are available, as well as a very first prototype developed during the FP7 Active European Project FP7-ICT-2009-6270460. Experiments prototype developed during the FP7 Active European Project FP7 ICT 2009 6270460. Experiments conducted with such prototype have assessed the respect of functional and application requirements and conducted with such prototype have assessed the respect of functional and application requirements and 85 proper control algorithms are currently being developed. proper control algorithms are currently being developed.