Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Via monitoring a plurality of physiological data – e.g.,...
Reexamination Certificate
1995-04-25
2001-02-27
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Via monitoring a plurality of physiological data, e.g.,...
C600S481000, C128S897000, C439S638000, C439S909000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193655
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a consolidated cable arrangement, and in particular, to an arrangement which replaces multiple cables connecting multiple devices at each of two locations into a single detachable cable connectable to a bar placed at one location or at both locations.
In operating rooms and intensive care units multiple monitoring equipment cables may extend between probes secured to a patient on a surgical gurney or bed and the respective display devices supported on a peripheral stand or trolley. If anaesthesia is being administered to the patient, the cables may drape across the anaesthetic equipment and make simple manoeuvring around the gurney difficult for the anaesthetist. Doctors and nurses treating the patient may have their mobility curtailed by the cables, and that could present a serious problem during an emergency. There must also be considered the further problems of untangling multiple cables, and the high cost of replacing cables that are damaged. As specialized items manufactured in limited numbers, such cables can be very expensive to replace.
Ideally one might wish to remove all of the various forms of connecting cables between a gurney and the peripheral stand that holds monitoring display equipment. That is, however, difficult to achieve. An alternate way of alleviating the problem is to consolidate all of the separate cables into a single cable that can then be strategically positioned between the gurney and the peripheral stand so as not to interfere with the movement of persons around the gurney. The subject invention is directed to the use of such a consolidated cable in association with a ‘satellite bar’ on the gurney. The cable may be quickly connected to, or detached from, the satellite bar which also has a series of second connection points to each of which a respective monitoring probe is connectable.
Besides the previously-mentioned advantages flowing from use of a single consolidated cable, another advantage is the ease in identifying which probes are connected to the satellite bar; that results from each connection point on the bar being labelled. An associated advantage is that cables intended to extend between the normal probe points on patients and the respective connection points on the bar may be manufactured with uniform lengths; this differs from conventional cables, which have to be sufficiently long to extend between a gurney and an associated peripheral stand. If a patient is carried on the gurney between an operating theatre and a recovery room, monitoring cables can remain connected to the patient; the satellite bar is simply connected to another peripheral stand at the new location.
In one form, the cable arrangement comprises a satellite unit adapted to be positioned on a patient support platform, a base unit adapted to be positioned on a stand peripheral to the platform, and a detachable cable adapted to connect the two units. The base unit has a series of first connection points each connectable to a respective monitoring display, and that unit also has one or more second connection points. Each one of a series of input lines of each first connection point is internally connected to one of a series of input lines of the one or more second connection points. The satellite unit has a series of third connection points each connectable to a respective monitoring probe, and that unit also has one or more fourth connection points. Each one of a series of input lines of each third connection point is internally connected to one of a series of input lines of the one or more fourth connection points. The detachable cable is adapted to connect each input line of the one or more second connection points on the base unit to a respective input line of the one or more fourth connection points on the satellite unit. With this arrangement, all of the probes are connectable to the respective displays by the cable. The region between the platform and the peripheral stand is thereby maintained in a less cluttered state than if each probe was independently connectable to the respective display.
The base unit may have only a single second connection point, and the satellite unit may have only a single fourth connection point. The patient support platform may be a surgical gurney. The cable may be detachable only from the satellite unit, or from both the base unit and the satellite unit. Each of the input lines may be adapted to carry electrical signals. The satellite unit may be secured by fastening means to the surgical gurney, and may have a series of hook members extending from it; each of those hook members is adapted to support a probe cable extending between a probe and a respective one of the third connection points on the satellite unit. The probes may involve monitoring of temperature, blood pressure, oxygen level, heart electrical activity, or other vital signs.
In another form, the cable arrangement may comprise a connection box securable by fastening means to a surgical gurney, and a detachable cable connectable to the connection box. In this arrangement, the box has a series of first plug receptacles and one or more second plug receptacles. Each of a series of input lines of each first plug receptacle is internally connected to one of a series of input lines of the one or more second plug receptacles. Each of the first plug receptacles is adapted to receive a plug from a respective patient monitoring probe. The cable has a plug on its one end adapted to connect with the one or more second plug receptacles of the connection box. The other end of the cable terminates in a series of plugs each connectable to a respective monitoring display on a peripheral stand.
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Dvorak Linda C. M.
Ridout & Maybee
Ruddy David M.
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