Surgical Table with Patient Support Having Flexible Inner Frame Supported on Rigid Outer Frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016000626-A1
Application number	US-201514793050-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 7, 2015
Priority date	Jul 7, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A surgical table comprising a base and a patient support supported between opposed ends of the base, each opposed end including a pitch/roll assembly. The base is configured such that the patient support can be rolled and pitched relative to the opposed ends via the pitch/roll assemblies such that the roll axis of each pitch/roll assembly remains coaxial regardless of how the patient support is pitched or rolled relative to the base. The patient support includes an outer frame and an inner frame supported on, and displaceable relative to, the outer frame. The inner frame is further articulating about, and relative to, itself. The outer frame is rigid in that it does not change configurations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A surgical table for supporting and positioning a patient above a floor, the surgical table comprising:
a base supported on the floor and comprising a first end support and a second end support opposite the first end support; a patient support comprising a longitudinal axis, an outer frame, and an inner frame moveably coupled with the outer frame at a hinge having an axis of rotation that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, the outer frame comprising a first end operably coupled with the first end support and a second end operably coupled with the second end support, the axis of rotation is configured to displace in a direction of the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end when the inner frame articulates relative to the outer frame.

2 . The surgical table of claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises a hinge pin, the axis of rotation extending through the hinge pin.

3 . The surgical table of claim 2 , wherein the hinge pin is configured to pivot and translate when the inner frame articulates relative to the outer frame.

4 . The surgical table of claim 3 , wherein the hinge further comprises a slot configured to receive and guide the hinge pin as it pivots and translates.

5 . The surgical table of claim 4 , wherein the slot is defined in the outer frame and the hinge pin is coupled to the inner frame.

6 . The surgical table of claim 1 , wherein the inner frame comprises an upper leg member and a lower leg member coupled together at an articulating joint, the upper and lower leg members being articulable relative to each other at the articulating joint.

7 . The surgical table of claim 6 , further comprising a drive assembly configured to: displace the inner frame relative to the outer frame about the hinge, and articulate the upper leg member relative to the lower leg member about the articulating joint.

8 . The surgical table of claim 7 , wherein the drive assembly comprises at least one motor coupled to a link arm coupled to the inner frame, wherein the link arm is configured to transfer forces from the motor to the inner frame to bring about displacement of the inner frame relative to the outer frame and to bring about articulation of the upper leg member relative to the lower leg member about the articulating joint.

9 . The surgical table of claim 8 , wherein the at least one motor comprises a first motor and a second motor, the first motor coupled to the link arm and configured to rotate the link arm, the second motor operably coupled with the first motor and configured to translate the first motor along a linear path.

10 . A surgical table for supporting and positioning a patient above a floor, the surgical table comprising:
a base supported on the floor and comprising a first end support and a second end support opposite the first end support; a patient support comprising a longitudinal axis, an outer frame, an inner frame moveably coupled with the outer frame at a hinge having an axis of rotation that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a drive assembly, the outer frame comprising a first end operably coupled with the first end support and a second end operably coupled with the second end support, the inner frame comprising an upper leg member coupled with a lower leg member at an articulating joint, the drive assembly comprising at least one motor configured to displace the inner frame relative to the outer frame and articulate the upper leg member relative to the lower leg member.

11 . The surgical table of claim 10 , wherein the drive assembly further comprises a link arm operably coupled between the at least one motor and the inner frame member.

12 . The surgical table of claim 11 , wherein movement of the link arm causes the inner frame to displace relative to the outer frame and the upper leg member to articulate relative to the lower leg member.

13 . The surgical table of claim 11 , wherein the at least one motor comprises a first motor and a second motor, the first motor coupled to the link arm and configured to rotate the link arm, the second motor operably coupled to the first motor and configured to translate the first motor along a linear path.

14 . The surgical table of claim 10 , wherein, when the inner frame articulates relative to the outer frame, the axis of rotation of the hinge is configured to displace between the first end and the second end of the outer frame.

15 . The surgical table of claim 10 , wherein the hinge comprises a hinge pin configured to pivot and translate between the first end and the second end of the outer frame when the inner frame articulates relative to the outer frame.

16 . The surgical table of claim 15 , wherein the hinge further comprises a slot configured to receive and guide the hinge pin as the hinge pin pivots and translates.

17 . The surgical table of claim 15 , wherein the slot is defined within the outer frame and the inner frame comprises the hinge pin.

18 . The surgical table of claim 10 , wherein the drive assembly is coupled to the outer frame in between the first and second ends of the outer frame.

19 . The surgical table of claim 10 , wherein the lower leg member is guided by a portion of the outer frame when the upper and lower leg members articulate relative to each outer about the articulating joint.

20 . The surgical table of claim 19 , wherein the portion of the outer frame is a multi-tiered surface near the second end of the outer frame.

21 . A base for supporting a patient support structure of a surgical table, the base comprising:
a first end support and a second end support opposing the first end support, each of the first and second end supports configured to vertically extend and retract, the patient support structure coupled with the first end support via a first connection assembly including a first roll assembly and a first pitch assembly, the patient support structure coupled with the second end support via a second connection assembly including a second roll assembly and a second pitch assembly, the first and second roll assemblies configured to roll the patient support structure about a roll axis positioned above a longitudinal axis of the patient support structure, the first and second pitch assemblies configured to actively maintain coaxial alignment of the first and second roll assemblies by angling the first and second roll assemblies upward or downward when the first and second end supports change elevation relative to each other.

22 . The base of claim 21 , wherein each of the first and the second pitch assemblies include at least one linear drive to actively maintain the coaxial alignment.

Assignees

• Jackson Roger P

Inventors

• Jackson Roger P
• Guerra Lawrence E
• Waggoner Trevor A

Classifications

• A61G13/06

  raising or lowering of the whole table surface (A61G13/04 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61G13/02

  Adjustable operating tables; Controls therefor · CPC title

• A61B6/0407

  Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body · CPC title

• A61G2200/327

  supine · CPC title

• A61G13/04 Primary

  tiltable around transverse or longitudinal axis · CPC title