Beds – Support means for discrete portion of user – useable with bed... – Simultaneous support for multiple body portions
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-09
2001-10-30
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)
Beds
Support means for discrete portion of user, useable with bed...
Simultaneous support for multiple body portions
C005S644000, C005S640000, C005S645000, C005S655400, C005S911000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308353
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to positioners in general and, more particularly, to adjustable positioners for positioning patients for medical procedures.
Many medical procedures require that a patient's body or portion thereof, such as a limb, or limbs, be positioned in a particular manner. One common method for positioning a body part is to simply have an assistant hold the body part in a desired position, and change the position when requested by the physician or surgeon. As can be appreciated this method is tiring for the assistant. In addition, this method may not support the patient's body part in a sufficiently precise and rigid manner for the medical procedure. Moreover, if more than one body part needs to be positioned, several assistants have to be utilized, which is inefficient and crowds the work area around the patient.
Other methods for positioning a body part utilize adjustable mechanical positioners. One common adjustable positioner is a sling that is attached to a body part and is connected by cables and pulleys to a ceiling, a free-standing support, or a boom extending from an operating table. These types of positioners are difficult to set up and take down, clumsy to adjust, and often obstruct the work area around the patient.
In the field of obstetrics and gynecology, a chair or table with movable leg stirrups is typically used to adjustably position the lower portion of a patient. The stirrups, however, typically have a limited range of movement and, thus, can only support the legs of a patient in a limited number of positions. Moreover, such chairs or tables are specialized and have limited utility in other medical fields.
In the field of orthopedics, a limb positioner pivotally attached to a table or chair is often used to position the arm or leg of a patient. Such a limb positioner, however, has a limited range of movement and, thus, can only support the arm or leg of a patient in a limited number of positions. Moreover, only one such limb positioner can typically be used at a time, thereby preventing a plurality of limbs from being positioned at one time.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for an improved method and apparatus for positioning patients for medical procedures, wherein the apparatus is easy to set up and take down, can support a plurality of limbs in an infinite number of positions, is simple to adjust, does not obstruct the work area around the patient, and can be used in a variety of medical fields. The present invention is directed to such a method and apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It therefore would be desirable, and is an advantage of the present invention, to provide a positioning apparatus for positioning a patient for a medical procedure. The positioning apparatus includes an air-impervious casing having a plurality of sections with compartments formed therein. The compartments are sealed from each other to prevent air flow therebetween. A plurality of beads are disposed in the compartments. A plurality of connection ports are provided through which air may be evacuated from the compartments to form vacuums therein. When the compartments are not at a vacuum, the beads in the compartments are free to move relative to each other, and when the compartments are at a vacuum, the beads in the compartments are compacted together.
Also provided in accordance with the present invention is a positioning apparatus that includes an air-impervious casing having a pair of limb sections adapted to position a pair of limbs of the patient. A plurality of beads are disposed inside the casing. A connection port is provided through which air may be evacuated from inside the casing to form a vacuum therein. When a vacuum is not formed inside the casing, the beads are free to move relative to each other, thereby making the limb sections flexible and movable relative to each other, and when a vacuum is formed inside the casing, at least a portion of the beads are compacted together, thereby making at least one of the limb sections of the casing rigid.
Also provided in accordance with the present invention is a positioning apparatus that includes an air-impervious casing having a plurality of sections with compartments formed therein. A plurality of beads are disposed in the compartments. A plurality of connection ports are provided through which air may be evacuated from the compartments to form vacuums therein. A vacuum source is provided for evacuating air from the compartments, and a pressure source is provided for supplying air to the compartments. A plurality of valves are respectively connected to the connection ports. Each of the valves is operable to selectively close an associated one of the connection ports, connect the associated one of the connection ports to the vacuum source, and connect the associated one of the connection ports to the pressure source. When the compartments are not at a vacuum, the beads in the compartments are free to move relative to each other, thereby making the sections flexible, and when the compartments are at a vacuum, the beads in the compartments are compacted together, thereby making the sections rigid.
Also provided in accordance with the present invention is a positioning apparatus that includes an air-impervious casing having a torso section, and a limb section adapted to position a limb of the patient. A torso stiffener is secured to the torso section, and a limb stiffener is secured to the limb section and is movably connected to the torso stiffener. A plurality of beads are disposed inside the casing. A connection port is provided through which air may be evacuated from inside the casing to form a vacuum therein. When a vacuum is not formed inside the casing, the beads are free to move relative to each other, and when a vacuum is formed inside the casing, at least a portion of the beads are compacted together.
Also provided in accordance with the present invention is a method of positioning a patient for a medical procedure. The method includes providing a positioning apparatus including an air-impervious casing having at least first and second sections. The casing has a plurality of beads disposed therein. The first section of the casing is secured to a first portion of the patient, and the second section of the casing is secured to a second portion of the patient. The first and second sections are moved relative to each other. Air is then removed from inside the casing to form a vacuum therein. The vacuum causes at least a portion of the beads inside the casing to compact together, thereby making at least one of the first and second sections of the casing rigid.
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Conley Fredrick
Melius Terry Lee
Pearne & Gordon LLP
The OR Group, Inc.
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