Fail-safe release mechanism for use with patient positioning support apparati

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016346148-A1
Application number	US-201615234209-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 11, 2016
Priority date	Feb 7, 2012
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fail-safe release mechanism for use with patient positioning support apparati having a base structure and a patient support structure, to prevent collapse of the patient support during disconnection of the patient support structure from the base structure.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A method of preventing inadvertent disconnecting of a patient support structure from a base structure, the patient support structure configured for supporting a patient above a floor during a medical procedure, the patient support structure including an end releasably coupled to a first end of a connection subassembly, the base structure including a rotator member releasably coupled to a second end of the connection subassembly, the method comprising:
a) uncoupling the first end of the connection subassembly and the end of the patient support structure; and b) uncoupling the second end of the connection subassembly and the rotator member, wherein uncoupling of the rotator member and the second end of the connection subassembly is prevented until: performing step a); and moving at least a portion of the connection subassembly relative to the rotator member.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the moving the at least a portion of the connection subassembly relative to the rotator member includes sliding movement.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the connection subassembly comprises a first arm and a first locking member slidingly attached to the first arm.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the moving the at least a portion of the connection subassembly relative to the rotator member includes sliding the first locking member towards the first end of the connection subassembly.

25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein uncoupling the second end of the connection subassembly and the rotator member comprises pulling a handle of a cylindrical member that extends at least partially through the rotator member.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein a pin comprises the handle and the cylindrical member.

27 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising moving at least a portion of the connection subassembly relative to the rotator member.

28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the at least a portion comprises a first locking member slidably attached to a first arm of the connection subassembly.

29 . A method of preventing inadvertent disconnecting of a patient support structure from a base structure, the patient support structure configured for supporting a patient above a floor during a medical procedure, the patient support structure including an end releasably coupled to a first end of a connection subassembly, the base structure including a rotator member releasably coupled to a second end of the connection subassembly, the method comprising:
decoupling the first end of the connection subassembly and the end of the patient support structure; and decoupling the second end of the connection subassembly and the rotator member by: moving a portion of the connection subassembly relative to a cylindrical member of the connection subassembly extending outward from a first side of the connection subassembly, the portion of the connection subassembly positioned on the first side of the connection subassembly, wherein moving the portion of the connection subassembly relative to the cylindrical member is prevented until decoupling the first end of the connection subassembly and the end of the patient support structure.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the movement of the portion of the connection subassembly relative to the cylindrical member is restrained to movement in a single degree of freedom.

31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the single degree of freedom is translation.

32 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the connection subassembly comprises a first and a second arm spaced apart from each other.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the connection subassembly further comprises a first and a second locking member, the first locking member being slidingly attached to the first arm, the second locking member being slidingly attached to the second arm.

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the portion of the connection subassembly comprises the first and second locking members.

35 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the step of decoupling the second end of the connection subassembly and the rotator member further comprises disengaging a lock pin from the rotator member, at least a portion of the lock pin extending through the rotator member.

36 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the cylindrical member comprises a bolt.

37 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the cylindrical member extends fully through an arm of the connection subassembly.

38 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the portion comprises a locking member.

39 . A method of preventing inadvertent disconnecting of a patient support structure from a base structure, the patient support structure configured for supporting a patient above a floor during a medical procedure, the patient support structure including an end releasably coupled to a first end of a connection subassembly, the base structure including a rotator member releasably coupled to a second end of the connection subassembly, the method comprising:
a) uncoupling the end of the patient support structure and the first end of the connection subassembly; and b) uncoupling the rotator member and the second end of the connection subassembly by moving a lock member of the connection subassembly away from an attachment portion of the rotator member and relative to a cylindrical member of the connection subassembly.

40 . The method of claim 39 , wherein step b) further comprises disengaging the lock member of the connection subassembly from engagement with a locking feature at an attachment portion of the rotator member.

41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the lock member comprises a U-shaped structure that matingly engages at least a part of the locking feature.

42 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the locking feature comprises a first portion of a first pin.

43 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the lock member is positioned on a first side of an arm member of the connection subassembly, the cylindrical member extending from the first side of the arm member.

44 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the cylindrical member comprises a bolt.

45 . The method of claim 39 , wherein movement of the lock member comprises translational movement.

46 . The method of claim 39 , wherein the cylindrical member constrains movement of the lock member to certain movements.

47 . The method of claim 46 , wherein the certain movements comprise translational movement.

Assignees

• Jackson Roger P

Inventors

• Jackson Roger P
• Guerra Lawrence E
• Herron Michael A

Classifications

• A61G13/0036 Primary

  Orthopaedic operating tables (devices for stretching fractured limbs A61F5/04) · CPC title

• A61G13/06

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

• A61G13/105 Primary

  Portable, foldable or collapsible tables, e.g. for surgery or treatment (portable, foldable or collapsible chairs for surgery or dental treatment A61G15/002) · CPC title

• A61G13/04

  tiltable around transverse or longitudinal axis · CPC title

• A61G2203/70

  with special adaptations, e.g. for safety or comfort · CPC title