Patient positioning support structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9226865-B2
Application number	US-201314017838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2013
Priority date	Feb 22, 2005
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

A patient support structure includes a pair of independently height-adjustable supports, each connected to a patient support structure. The supports may be independently raised, lowered, rolled or tilted about a longitudinal axis, laterally shifted and angled upwardly or downwardly. Position sensors are provided to sense all of the foregoing movements. The sensors communicate data to a computer for coordinated adjustment and maintenance of the inboard ends of the patient support structures in an approximated position during such movements. Longitudinal translation structure provides for compensation in the length of the structure when the supports are angled upwardly or downwardly. Patient translation structure provides coordinated translational movement of the patient's upper body along the respective patient support in a caudad or cephalad direction as the support structures are angled upwardly or downwardly for maintaining proper spinal biomechanics and avoiding undue spinal traction or compression.

First claim

The following is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. An apparatus for supporting and positioning a patient during a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising:
a) first and second opposed end supports;
b) first and second patient supports, each having inboard ends and outboard ends and aligned to extend between the end supports;
c) said outboard ends of said patient support each having an outboard articulation with a respective one of said end supports;
d) said inboard portion of said patient support having an inboard articulation;
e) the first end support includes an angulation mechanism operable to selectively position the first patient support in a plurality of angular orientations with respect to the second patient support; and
f) the apparatus having a powered horizontal translation compensation mechanism to provide for length adjustment in coordination with operation of said angulation mechanism.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
a) said articulation of said outboard ends of said patient support with said end supports is by respective pivotal connections.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
a) said inboard portion of said patient support includes a pair of inboard ends; and
b) said inboard articulation includes a hinge joint between said inboard ends.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
a) said first and second end supports surmount respective first and second base members; and
b) one of said first and second base members is connected to said powered horizontal translation compensation mechanism.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end support further includes:
a) a base member having an upper portion and a lower portion;
b) a column member upstanding from said base upper portion and connected with one of said first and second patient support outer ends; and
c) a longitudinal shift mechanism operable to shift said base upper portion toward and away from the other of said end supports.

6. An apparatus for supporting and positioning a patient during a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising:
a) first and second opposed end supports;
b) a patient support extending between said first and second end supports, said patient support having a pair of outboard ends and an inboard portion;
c) said outboard ends of said patient support each having an outboard articulation with a respective one of said end supports;
d) said inboard portion of said patient support having an inboard articulation;
e) the first end support includes an angulation mechanism operable to selectively position said patient support in a plurality of angular orientations with respect to the other patient support structure;
f) a longitudinal translation compensation mechanism operable to selectively shift said first end support toward and away from said second end support in coordination with operation of said angulation mechanism, wherein said first and second end supports surmount respective first and second base members; and one of said first and second base members is connected to said longitudinal translation compensation mechanism;
g) a rail connecting said first and second end supports; and
h) said longitudinal translation compensation mechanism operating to shift a portion of one of said first and second base members relative to said rail to thereby vary a distance between said first and second end supports.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
a) said angulation mechanism including angle sensors sensing angular orientations of said patient supports;
b) a computer is interfaced with said angle sensors;
c) said angle sensors transmitting data regarding said angular orientations of said patient supports to said computer; and
d) said computer controlling actuation of said longitudinal translation compensation mechanism in coordination with said angular orientations sensed by said angle sensors.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first end support includes a lateral shifting mechanism connected with one of said patient support outer ends.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said end support further includes:
a) a vertical support column including a plurality of lift arm segments operable to selectively raise and lower said support column;
b) a horizontal support member shiftably mounted on said column;
c) said horizontal support member connected with said lateral shifting mechanism and said angulation mechanism; and
d) said horizontal support member including a secondary lift mechanism operable for selected shifting upwardly and downwardly on said column for maximum selective raising and lowering of said lateral shifting mechanism and said angulation mechanism.

10. An apparatus for supporting a patient during a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising:
a) first and second opposed end supports;
c) first and second patient supports, each having an outer end pivotally connected with a respective end support and an inner free end;
d) the first end support including an articulation mechanism for selectively raising, lowering, rotating, lateral shifting and angulation of a respective one of said patient supports;
e) a trunk translator slidably connected with one of said patient supports to enable movement of the upper body of a patient back and forth along a longitudinal axis of said patient supports when the free ends of said patient supports are angled upwardly and downwardly; and
f) a connector rail connecting said end supports, said connector rail having a first end connected with said first end support and a second end connected with said second end support, one of said rail ends having a translation compensation mechanism selectively moving said connected end support to maintain a preselected distance between said free ends of said patient supports as they move throughout various angular orientations thereof.

11. An apparatus for supporting, positioning, and articulating a patient during a surgical procedure, the apparatus comprising:
a) a base having spaced opposed first and second column support assemblies;
b) a breaking patient support;
c) a connection subassembly joining the first and second column support assemblies with the breaking patient support, whereby the breaking patient support is supported by the base;
d) an actuation subassembly operable to provide coordinated lift, angulation, and roll of the breaking patient support with respect to the base, whereby a portion of said breaking patient support is selectively positioned in a plurality of angular orientation with respect to the base;
e) a powered translation compensation mechanism to provide for length adjustment in cooperation with the breaking patient support;
f) a trunk translator engaged with an upper body support portion of the breaking patient support; and
g) a trunk actuator operable for selective coordinated positioning of the trunk translator along the upper body support portion in response to change in an angular orientation between the upper body support portion and a lower body support portion of the patient support.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
a) the actuation subassembly is further operable to provide translation compensation of the breaking patient support with respect to the base.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
a) one of the group of: the base, the breaking patient support, and the connection subassembly includes a portion of the actuation subassembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
a) the actuation subassembly includes:
i) a lift mechanism with a height sensor for sensing and transmitting a height of an end of the breaking pati

Assignees

• Jackson Roger P

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61G13/04 Primary

  tiltable around transverse or longitudinal axis · CPC title

• A61G2013/0054

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61G13/0036

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

• A61G2203/42

  for inclination · CPC title

• A61G2210/50

  for radiography · CPC title