Dual column surgical support system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9498397-B2
Application number	US-201313789037-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2013
Priority date	Apr 16, 2012
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

A surgical patient support includes a foundation frame, a support top, and a brake system. The foundation frame includes a first column and a second column. The support top is coupled to the first column and the second column for rotation about a top axis extending along the length of the support top.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A patient support apparatus comprising
a caster including a stem, a wheel coupled to the stem to rotate about a wheel axis relative to the stem, and a braking element movable from a disengaged position allowing rotation of the wheel relative to the stem to an engaged position blocking the wheel from rotation relative to the stem,
a brake drive including a mount and a linear actuator coupled to the mount, the linear actuator to move from a retracted position to an extended position relative to the mount, and
a linkage coupled to the braking element of the caster and to the linear actuator of the brake drive, the linkage configured to transfer motion of the linear actuator from the retracted position to the extended position to the braking element to move the braking element from the disengaged position to the engaged position, the linkage further configured to selectively move the braking element from the engaged position to the disengaged position while the linear actuator is in the extended position so that a user can free the wheel of the caster to rotate even if the actuator is stuck in the extended position,
wherein the linkage includes a shaft coupled to the mount to slide relative to the mount and a release assembly coupled to the linear actuator, the release assembly configured to couple the shaft to the linear actuator so that the shaft slides along a linear path relative to the mount in response to movement of the linear actuator from the retracted position to the extended position and to selectively release the shaft from the linear actuator when the linear actuator is in the extended position.

2. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes a spring coupled to the shaft and the mount, the spring configured to move the shaft when the shaft is released from the linear actuator by the release assembly.

3. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes a pivot connector coupled to the shaft for movement about a connector axis and coupled to the braking element of the caster to convert linear motion from the linear actuator into rotating motion applied to the braking element.

4. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the release assembly includes a plate and a handle coupled to the plate, the plate being movable from a first position in which the plate couples the shaft to the linear actuator for movement therewith to a second position in which the plate releases the shaft from the linear actuator for motion independent of the shaft, and the plate moves from the first position to the second position in response to a user moving the handle.

5. The patient support apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the plate is biased toward the first position.

6. The patient support apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the plate is coupled to the linear actuator to pivot about a plate axis relative to the linear actuator.

7. The patient support apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the plate is formed to include a slot that receives a pin coupled to the shaft.

8. A patient support apparatus comprising
a caster including a stem, a wheel coupled to the stem to rotate about a wheel axis relative to the stem, and a braking element movable from a disengaged position allowing rotation of the wheel relative to the stem to an engaged position blocking the wheel from rotation relative to the stem,
a brake drive including a mount and a linear actuator coupled to the mount, the linear actuator to move from a retracted position to an extended position relative to the mount, and
a linkage coupled to the braking element of the caster and to the linear actuator of the brake drive, the linkage configured to transfer motion of the linear actuator from the retracted position to the extended position to the braking element to move the braking element from the disengaged position to the engaged position, the linkage further configured to selectively move the braking element from the engaged position to the disengaged position while the linear actuator is in the extended position so that a user can free the wheel of the caster to rotate even if the actuator is stuck in the extended position,
wherein the linkage includes a shaft coupled to the mount to slide relative to the mount and a release assembly coupled to the linear actuator, the release assembly configured to couple the shaft to the linear actuator so that the shaft slides relative to the mount during movement of the linear actuator from the retracted position to the extended position and to selectively release the shaft from the linear actuator when the linear actuator is in the extended position,
wherein the release assembly includes a plate and a handle coupled to the plate, the plate being movable from a first position in which the plate couples the shaft to the linear actuator for movement therewith to a second position in which the plate releases the shaft from the linear actuator for motion independent of the shaft, and the plate moves from the first position to the second position in response to a user moving the handle,
wherein the plate is formed to include a hole through which the shaft extends, the hole having a first section sized to engage the shaft and a second section sized to allow the shaft to slide through the plate.

9. A patient support apparatus comprising
a pair of casters each including a stem, a wheel coupled to the stem to rotate about a wheel axis relative to the stem, and a braking element movable from a disengaged position allowing the wheel to rotate relative to the stem to an engaged position blocking the wheel from rotation relative to the stem,
a brake drive including a mount and an actuator coupled to the mount, the actuator to move from a first position to a second position relative to the mount, and
a linkage coupled to the braking element of each of the casters and to the actuator of the brake drive, the linkage configured to transfer motion of the actuator during motion from the first position to the second position to the braking elements, and the linkage further configured to selectively move the braking elements from the engaged position to the disengaged position while the linear actuator is in the second position,
wherein the linkage includes an actuation member coupled to the actuator for movement therewith, a rod assembly coupled to the braking elements of the casters, and a plate coupled to the actuation member and to the rod assembly, the plate is received in a slot formed in the actuation member, and the plate is configured to move relative to the actuation member between a first position transferring motion of the brake drive to the rod assembly and a second position releasing the brake drive from the rod assembly.

10. The patient support apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the rod assembly includes a shaft slidable along a shaft axis, a first pivot connector coupled to the shaft and to one of the braking elements included in one of the casters, and a second pivot connector coupled to the shaft and to the other of the braking elements included in the other of the casters.

11. The patient support apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the shaft extends through a hole formed in the plate.

12. The patient support apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the actuation member is a slider coupled to the shaft to slide along the shaft axis relative to the shaft.

13. A patient support apparatus comprising
a foundation frame including a first column and a second column spaced apart from the first column,
a patient support top suspended from the first column and the second column for rotation about a support-top axis extending from the firs

Assignees

• Allen Medical Systems Inc

Inventors

• Hight Joshua C
• Scott David P
• Skripps Thomas K
• Soto Orlando
• Keith-Lucas Darwin
• Mccarthy Justin I
• Sing Jack B
• Marrion Jeffrey C
• Dolliver Phillip B
• Moriarty Joshua J

Classifications

• A61G2210/10

  for orthopedics · CPC title

• A61G13/1295

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

• F16H21/06

  which can be made ineffective when desired · CPC title

• A61G13/06

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

• A61G2203/42

  for inclination · CPC title