Surgery – Body rests – supports or positioners for therapeutic purpose
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-26
2001-02-06
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery
Body rests, supports or positioners for therapeutic purpose
C128S846000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182663
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally patient support equipment for the healthcare field, and more particularly to a patient positioning apparatus and method for facilitating a spinal tap procedure.
The difficult aspect of performing a spinal tap, is avoiding the spinous processes which protect the spinal canal. Various devices have been invented and patented in the past to facilitate the performance of a spinal tap. Examples of which I am aware are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,357,982; 5,289,603; 4,732,145; 4,660,552; 4,444,381; 4,223,670; 3,984,093; and 3,829,079. Many of these devices are arranged to provide patient positioning and restraint features to facilitate a spinal tap or surgical procedure on a patient lying on his or her side, and appear to be better suited to pediatric patients than to adult patients.
There is a need for apparatus facilitating the spinal tap procedure and wherein such apparatus is of simpler construction, easier for the physician to use, readily adaptable to positioning adult patients of various heights and builds, readily movable from place-to-place, and easy to store. The present invention addresses these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Described briefly, according to a typical embodiment of the present invention, a footrest and an abdomen locator are supported on a post mounted on a base which rests on a floor. The base is associated with a medical cart on which the patient is seated. The height of the cart seat relative to the footrest is established so that the patient is seated with knees at a level preferably above the pelvis. The abdomen locator is positioned to facilitate the bending forward of the patient to flex the back to reverse the normal curvature of the lumbar spine as the footrest tilts the pelvis. The extension of the post above the level of the abdominal locator makes it easy for the patient to curl around the locator and reverse the lumbar curve. Base support feet are provided for non-slip engagement with the floor during the procedure, and rollers are provided on the base and situated to facilitate tipping and rolling the base from one location to another after a procedure has been completed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3984093 (1976-10-01), Pretlow
patent: 4660552 (1987-04-01), Latham
patent: 4732145 (1988-03-01), Latham
patent: 5289603 (1994-03-01), Kumagai
patent: 5357982 (1994-10-01), Shaw
Brown Michael A.
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
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