Beds – Invalid bed or surgical support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-05
2001-10-02
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Invalid bed or surgical support
C005S620000, C005S621000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295671
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to surgical tables and, more particularly, to a surgical table having detachable sections which facilitate orthopedic surgery and X-ray scanning.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An increasing number of surgical tables are available for performing various surgical procedures wherein each surgical procedure may require a different configuration for the table. For example, several tables are available having articulated sections wherein the sections may be pivoted relative to each other in order to position a patient in a particular orientation for facilitating surgery. In addition, it is known to provide removable sections for such tables in order to further accommodate the patient positioning requirements of different procedures.
In relation to orthopedic procedures, it is desirable to provide adequate access to the side of a patient's leg, in addition to providing articulated support for positioning the legs of a patient at different angles. Further, there is a recognized ongoing need to provide an orthopedic support capable of providing different configurations to accommodate procedures performed on either the left or right leg of a patient without interfering with a surgeon's access to the leg. Such orthopedic supports typically comprise articulated elongated support struts or spars, extending from an end of a table for supporting the patient. The spars are adapted to mount various accessories for supporting a patient's legs, such as footpiece traction assemblies and leg support plates.
In addition to the procedures which are facilitated by the articulated spars of conventional orthopedic accessories, there is a need to accommodate further procedures without being limited by the adaptability of the surgical table. Specifically, typical orthopedic tables are generally constructed as single purpose tables without provision for additional procedures. In particular, it is desirable to provide a surgical table with the capability to reconfigure the table from an orthopedic configuration to a configuration including an extended patient support surface defined on an X-ray transparent structure. Further, it is desirable to provide such a structure wherein it is possible to X-ray a patient from all angles including oblique angles without interference from non X-ray transparent accessories on the table. While many prior art tables provide X-ray transparent sections, such X-ray transparent sections generally only provide X-ray transparency at certain angles and include portions which will obstruct passage of X-rays at other angles. Further, it is desirable during certain orthopedic procedures to provide a fully transparent table for supporting a patient's legs in order to properly facilitate reorientation of bone sections while monitoring the relative positions of the sections.
In addition to the above described attributes for a surgical table, it is also desirable to provide these attributes in an articulated surgical table adapted for conventional surgical procedures. Such procedures including those which position a patient in various supine positions, as well as positioning a patient in an upright sitting position.
Accordingly, there is a need for a surgical table which is capable of being reconfigured to accommodate different surgical procedures. In particular, there is a need for a surgical table capable of being configured for both orthopedic and X-ray scanning procedures, and which further provides a versatile orthopedic attachment for improved patient support and operator access.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an articulated surgical table capable of being configured for conventional surgical procedures, and further capable of being alternately configured for orthopedic surgical procedures and configured as a scanning table for unobstructed X-ray scanning.
In the configuration of the surgical table for performing orthopedic operations, an orthopedic attachment is attached to a mounting point located at one end of the surgical table. The orthopedic attachment includes a support frame detachably mounting a pair of spar members for supporting various conventional leg supporting accessories. The spar members may be selectively mounted on or removed from the support frame depending on the requirements of the particular procedure, and the degree of access required by the operator. Further, the support frame preferably provides a plurality of spar mounting points, including a mounting point at the central longitudinal axis of the frame.
The orthopedic attachment further includes a pelvic support plate removably mounted across the top of the support frame. The pelvic support plate is formed with an asymmetrical shape, and preferably includes a cutout forward corner portion. The cutout portion is provided on the affected or broken leg side of the patient to primarily improve X-ray access as well as provide additional surgical access to upper leg areas, while a larger support area is provided on the unaffected or well leg side in order to provide optimal support and leg positioning for the patient. The pelvic support plate may be removed from the support frame and flipped over to position the cutout portion on the opposite side of the table whereby the pelvic support plate may be oriented to provide appropriate support for the patient depending on the particular leg to be operated upon. The pelvic support plate may be provided in various shapes to accommodate differing surgical access and patient support needs.
The orthopedic attachment may be detached from the attachment point on the surgical table and replaced by an elongated scanning table. The scanning table is formed entirely of an X-ray transparent material and is sufficiently long to support a substantial portion of a patient's body, for example, the scanning table is adapted to support at least approximately 48 inches of the length of a patient. The scanning table is further configured to removably support side rails or side mounted accessories wherein the side rails or accessories may be removably clamped to the edges of the table at locations where they will not interfere with X-ray imaging at various orientations or angles including anterior/posterior, posterior/anterior, lateral or oblique, including longitudinal and lateral obliques.
In addition to the above-described functions, the surgical table is also adapted to provide a conventional surgical table support surface for supporting a supine patient. Further, the table may also be configured to support a patient in an upright sitting position, such that the present table provides a variety of conventional patient support orientations in addition to the specialized orthopedic and scanning configurations.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an articulated surgical table capable of conventional surgical configuration, and adapted to receive an orthopedic attachment.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a surgical table wherein the orthopedic attachment may be replaced with an X-ray transparent scanning table.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a surgical table including an orthopedic attachment having selectively positionable and removable spar members for supporting the legs of a patient.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide an orthopedic attachment including a pelvic support plate capable of being oriented to support either side of a patient.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 243285 (1977-02-01), Langren
patent: 2872259 (1959-02-01), Thorpe
patent: 3065344 (1962-11-01), Chervenka
patent: 3745996 (1973-07-01), Rush
patent: 3947686 (1976-03-01), Cooper et al.
patent: 4054282 (1977-10-01), Hammer
patent: 4148472 (1979-04-01), Rais et al.
patent: 4501414 (1985-02-01), Mason et al.
patent: 4552346 (1985-11-01), Schnelle et al.
patent: 463
Reesby Cyril F.
Schaefer James A.
Browne Lynne H.
Conley Fredrick
Ohio Medical Instrument Company, Inc.
Wood Herron & Evans L.L.P.
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