Limb positioning apparatus and methods of use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10918552-B2
Application number	US-201916417850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2019
Priority date	May 21, 2019
Publication date	Feb 16, 2021
Grant date	Feb 16, 2021

Abstract

A limb positioning apparatus comprises a vertical post connected to the operating table near the shoulder of the patient and a boom member connected to the vertical post through a hinge. The hinge allows the angle between the vertical post and the boom member to be adjusted with assistance from a lockable gas spring attached to the hinge. The vertical post and the boom member house the internal cables for transferring the primary traction load to the operative limb.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A limb positioning apparatus comprising:
a support member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end configured to be attached to a table adjacent a shoulder of an arm of a patient;
a boom member extending above and moveable relative to the support member via a hinge assembly coupled between the distal end of the support member and a proximal end of the boom member, the boom member configured to extend along the arm of the patient;
a cable/traction system extending through the support member and the boom member, a distal end of the cable system configured to be attached to the arm of the patient and a proximal end of the cable system configured to be attached to a weight for providing traction to the arm of the patient; and
a gas spring operatively connected between the support member and the boom member, the gas spring configured to assist with the movement of the boom member relative to the support member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cable/traction system comprises:
a carriage disposed within the boom member and moveable along the boom member;
a first flexible member attached to a first side of the carriage, a free end of the first flexible member configured for attachment to the weight; and
a second flexible member attached to a second side of the carriage, the second flexible member configured for attachment to the arm of the patient.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the carriage is a wheeled carriage.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the support member is rotatable relative to the clamp.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first flexible member is attached to the first side of the carriage such that first flexible member can rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of the boom member.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second flexible member is attached to the second side of the carriage such that second flexible member cannot rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of the boom member.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second flexible member is routed through a plurality of pulleys such that the plurality of pulleys provides an anti-rotational resistance to the second flexible member.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the second flexible member is selected to be larger than a diameter of the first flexible member.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the proximal end of the support member is configured to be attached to the table by a clamp such that the first flexible member extends through the clamp.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a lift bar extending from the support member for supporting an underside of the arm of the patient.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a distal end of the lift bar comprises a padded member.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support member and the boom member is a square tube.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gas spring comprises a lever for locking and unlocking the gas spring.

14. A method of positioning a limb during surgery, comprising:
attaching an arm of a patient to a limb positioning apparatus, the limb positioning apparatus comprising:
a support member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end configured to be attached to a table adjacent a shoulder of the arm of the patient;
a boom member extending above and moveable relative to the support member via a hinge assembly coupled between the distal end of the support member and a proximal end of the boom member, the boom member configured to extend along the arm of the patient;
a cable/traction system extending through the support member and the boom member, a distal end of the cable system configured to be attached to the arm of the patient and a proximal end of the cable system configured to be attached to a weight for providing traction to the arm of the patient; and
a gas spring operatively connected between the support member and the boom member; and

moving the boom member relative to the support member such that the operative limb of the patient is placed in a pre-selected position.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising attaching the limb positioning apparatus to the table adjacent the shoulder of the patient with a clamp such that the proximal end of the cable system extends through the clamp.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising rotating the support member relative to the clamp.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising actuating a lever of the gas spring such that the boom member is moveable relative to the support member.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising locking the boom member relative to the support member by actuating a lever of the gas spring.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the cable/traction system is self-adjusting in length as the boom member is moved relative to the support member.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising supporting the arm of the patient with a lift bar extending from the support member toward the patient.

Assignees

• Smith & Nephew Inc
• Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Ag
• Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Zahynacz Daniel
• Obendorf William D

Classifications

• A61G13/1255

  Shoulders · CPC title

• A61G13/08

  the table being divided into different adjustable sections · CPC title

• A61G13/1295

  having alignment devices for the patient's body · CPC title

• A61G13/1235 Primary

  Arms · CPC title

• A61G13/0072 Primary

  specially adapted for shoulder surgeries · CPC title