Surgical table
A support apparatus includes a base, a frame coupled to the base, and a mattress supported by the frame. The apparatus also includes a coupler for coupling a power pack to one of the base, the frame and the mattress. The mattress includes a plurality of bladder pairs each having a first bladder and a second bladder positioned below the first bladder.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/299,895 filed Nov. 19, 2002 which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/592,692, filed on Jun. 13, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,334, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/188,785, filed on Nov. 6, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,284, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/064,709 filed Nov. 7, 1997 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/101,585 filed Sep. 24, 1998, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to an operating room or surgical table. More particularly, the present invention relates to a surgical table including a mattress having a plurality of inflatable bladders for supporting a patient and a power pack configured to supply air to the bladders.
Operating room tables are long known in the health care industry for supporting patients during surgical procedures. In recent years, surgical tables have been made even more useful and convenient for doctors and nurses by adding various features and options, such as powered articulation of head, torso, and leg sections of the surgical table, height adjustment, tilt adjustment, trend adjustment, etc. While these features and options give doctors great flexibility for supporting patients in a variety of positions that are best suited for a given surgical procedure, they also may become more difficult and frustrating to use. In addition, surgical tables having numerous control features often require separate power packs for supplying the necessary power for moving the table to different positions. Furthermore, mattress surface systems have likewise become more technically sophisticated which frequently makes them more cumbersome and frustrating to use.
According to one illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a surgical table includes a base, a vertical support member extending vertically upwardly from the base, a frame extending outwardly from the support member, and a mattress supported by the frame and positioned to lie above the frame. The mattress is configured to support a patient and has at least one bladder configured to receive a medium. The surgical table also includes a power pack positioned to lie within the base and configured to supply the medium to the mattress to change the shape of the mattress.
In one illustrated embodiment, the medium supplied by the power pack to the mattress is air. In another illustrated embodiment, the medium supplied by the power pack to the mattress is a liquid. The power pack is further configured to supply heat to the mattress to change the temperature of the mattress. Illustratively, a flexible hose extends from the power pack to the mattress for delivery of the medium from the power pack to the mattress. The hose is concealed within the base and the vertical support member of the frame.
According to another illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a surgical table includes a base, a frame positioned in spaced-apart relation to the base, and a vertical support member interconnecting the frame and the base. The support member is configured to telescope vertically to position the frame at a variety of different heights relative to the base. The surgical table also includes a mattress positioned to lie above the frame and configured to support a patient. The mattress includes a cover having an upwardly-facing patient-support surface and defining an interior region of the mattress and a plurality of bladders received in the interior region of the cover and configured to be inflatable to position the patient in a predefined surgical position on the mattress. The surgical table further includes a blower positioned to lie within the base of the frame and configured to supply air to the bladders to inflate the bladders.
According to yet another illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a surgical table includes a frame having a patient-support platform and a mattress positioned to lie on the patient-support platform. The mattress is configured to support a patient during a surgical procedure. The mattress includes a cover having an upwardly-facing patient-support surface and defining an interior region of the mattress and a plurality of bladder pairs received in the interior region of the cover and extending laterally across the mattress. The bladder pairs are positioned to lie adjacent to one another and each bladder pair has a bottom bladder and a top bladder positioned to lie above the bottom bladder. Each bladder within each bladder pair is individually inflatable to position the patient in a predefined surgical position on the mattress.
According to a further illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a surgical table includes a mattress, a patient-support platform positioned below the mattress and configured to support the mattress, a base positioned in spaced-apart relation to the patient-support platform, and a vertical support member interconnecting the base and the patient-support platform. The support member is configured to support the patient-support platform at a variety of different heights relative to the base. The surgical table also includes a power pack positioned to lie within the base and configured to supply a medium to the mattress to change the shape of the mattress to position a patient in a predefined surgical position, and a hose interconnecting the power pack and the mattress. The hose is configured to transfer the medium from the power pack to the mattress. The surgical table further includes a controller positioned in close proximity to the power pack. The controller is configured to control the distribution of the medium from the power pack to the mattress to control the shape of the mattress.
Also according to the present invention, a patient support apparatus includes a base, a frame coupled to the base, and a mattress supported by the frame and positioned to lie above the frame to support a patient. The mattress has at least one bladder configured to receive a medium. The apparatus also includes a power pack pivotably coupled to one of the base, the frame and the mattress and configured to supply the medium to the at least one bladder of the mattress.
In one illustrated embodiment, the power pack is pivotably coupled to the frame by a pivot connector. The power pack is configured to supply the medium to the at least one bladder of the mattress through the pivot connector. The illustrated pivot connector includes a receptacle configured to receive an air coupling of the air mattress to supply air from the power pack through the air coupling to the at least one bladder. The power pack is pivotable from a first position in which the power pack is located substantially under the frame to a second position in which the power pack is located substantially outside the frame.
In another illustrated embodiment, the power pack is pivotably coupled to the base. The power pack is pivotable from a first position in which the power pack is located above a top surface of the base and substantially within a footprint of the base to the second position in which the power pack is located substantially outside the footprint of the base.
In yet another illustrated embodiment, the power pack is tethered to the mattress. The mattress includes a tether connector coupled to the mattress and the power pack. The tether connector extends between adjacent deck sections so that the power pack is positioned below the deck sections and the frame when the mattress is located on the deck sections. The power pack is movable relative to the frame and the deck sections to first and second spaced apart storage positions.
Additional features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the presently perceived best mode of carrying out the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
Referring now to the drawings, a surgical table 10 according to the present invention is shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Details of another suitable frame for use with base 32 and/or mattress system 38 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,230, entitled SURGICAL TABLE APPARATUS, which is incorporated herein by reference. Similarly, details of a controller for mattress system 38 and/or power pack 64 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,678, entitled MEDICAL EQUIPMENT CONTROLLER, which is also incorporated herein by reference.
As shown in
Pedestal (or vertical support column) 34 is similarly adjustable to position patient 24 in a predetermined position. Pedestal 34 includes a hi/low mechanism (not shown) for moving the telescoping pedestal 34 upwardly and downwardly to raise and lower the articulated frame 30 relative to the base 32 and the ground. Adjustment of vertical support pedestal 34 can also be controlled by control station 16 and/or controller 19 to position frame surgical table 10 at a predetermined height relative to the ground.
As shown in
Power pack 64 is configured to provide power and/or a medium (not shown) to mattress 38 through a delivery line 60, as shown diagrammatically in
Illustratively, power pack 64 includes a controller, a fluid pump, such as a blower, compressor, or liquid pump, and a heating unit for heating the air or fluid. Alternatively, mattress 38 may be supplied with a heating system powered by electricity from power pack 64. The power pack 64 may include battery power or it may be coupled to a wall outlet using a power cord 68, as shown in
Larger power packs may be required for certain types of mattress systems 38, as shown in
An even larger power pack 74 may be integrated with the base 32, as shown in
If an even larger power pack 78 is required, the power pack 78 may be located on a cart 80, as shown in
Mattress 38 for use with table 10 is shown in
As shown in
A variety of different surgical positions can be achieved by inflating or deflating certain portions of mattress 38. For example, as shown in
Mattress 38 is shown in more detail in
As shown in
Each portion of mattress 38 also includes a foam mattress structure 120, a plurality of air bladders 122, a bead bag position stabilizer 124, and a thermal pad 126 configured to lie within the interior region 112 of the respective section of mattress 38, as shown in
Air bladders 122 are illustratively positioned on top of foam mattress structure 120 and extend transversely across mattress 38, as shown in
Bead bag position stabilizer 124 is positioned above air bladders 122 and is configured to freeze the air bladders 122 in the desired surgical position. Details of a suitable bead bag position stabilizer and suitable air bladders for use with mattress system 38 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,763, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Thermal pad 126 is positioned above air bladders 122 so that thermal pad 126 is positioned adjacent to top surface 114 of outer cover 110. Thermal pad 126 is configured to provide heat to patient 24 lying on top of mattress 38. Thermal pad 126 can be any type of heating device that provides heat to patient 24. Illustratively, thermal pad 126 is made from a conductive thermal material (such as Gorix™) which provides uniform heat across the material when low-voltage electricity is supplied to the material.
As shown in
Air bladders 122 are shown in more detail in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In addition, as shown in
In operation, surgical positioning surface (or mattress) 38 is used as follows. First, the frame 30 and/or pedestal 34 of surgical table 10 is adjusted using control station 16, controller 19, and/or foot controller 219 to place patient 24 in the best possible position. Controller 16, 19, and/or 219 are then used to adjust mattress 38 to fine-tune the positioning of patient 24 on mattress 38. Illustratively, controllers 16, 19, 219 are configured to allow mattress 38 to be automatically adjusted so that air bladders 122 are filled with the medium to fill in the natural gaps between patient 24 and outer cover 110 of mattress 38. Controllers 16, 19, 219 are also configured to allow mattress 38 to be manually adjusted so that each individual bladder pair can be inflated or deflated to enhance the position of patient 24 to improve surgical exposure or access to a particular portion of patient 24.
The air bladders 122 are then stabilized by evacuating the air from air bladders 122 and using the bead bag position stabilizer 124 to stiffen (or “freeze”) the mattress 38 in the desired position. Finally, the temperature of mattress 38 can be adjusted using controller 16, 19, and/or 219 so that control apparatus 86 supplies the necessary signal to thermal pad 126 to change the temperature of thermal pad 126. For example, when thermal pad 126 is a conductive material (such as Gorix™), control apparatus 86 supplies a voltage signal to thermal pad 126 to change the temperature of thermal pad 126.
Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
A power pack 350 is pivotably mounted to back frame section 320 as best shown in
Illustratively, power pack 350 includes an air supply 360 such as a blower or compressor and a plurality of valves 362 for controlling flow of air or other fluid to various zones within the air mattress 338. It is understood that power pack 350 may further include sensors for measuring pressure within the various zones of air mattress 338 and also provide an electrical connection to the air mattress 338, if desired. Electrical connection to the power pack 350 is made by a cable which extends along the frame 316 and through pedestal 314 and base 312. In other embodiments, a power plug may extend directly away from power pack 350 or the power pack 350 may be operated by an internal battery power supply.
When the mattress 338 is located on the deck 327 as shown in
It is understood that a plurality of air couplers 356 may be provided to connect different zones of the air mattress 338 to the power pack 350. It is further understood that the power pack 350 may be coupled to other sections of frame 316 on either side of the surgical table 310.
Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
Illustratively, the power pack 372 is coupled to a head end of the base 312. It is understood that the power pack 372 may also be coupled to the foot end 386 of base 312 or to side portions of the base 312. Power pack 372 is, therefore, integrated with base 312 but pivotable to permit additional access between the base 312 and the frame 316. Air and electrical lines are illustratively routed through a flexible connector line 388 which extends between the power pack 372 and the base 312. In the illustrated embodiment, the air and electrical lines then run upwardly through pedestal 314 to connector 370. It is understood that air and electrical lines may also run outside the pedestal 314.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
A plurality of air lines pass through the tethered connector 408 to various zones of the mattress 338. In the illustrated embodiment, tethered connector 408 extends downwardly through a slot 410 formed between head deck section 328 and upper back deck section 330 as best shown in
The power pack 400 is pivotable upwardly to first and second positions illustrated by dotted line positions 418 and 420. In the dotted line position 418, the power pack 400 is coupled to upper back frame section 320 or deck section 330. In the dotted position 420, power pack 400 is coupled to head frame section 318 or head deck section 328. Power pack 400 is coupled to the frame 316 or deck 327 by suitable fasteners such as Velcro® fasteners, ties, straps, snaps, latches or the like.
In the tucked or upwardly pivoted positions shown in dotted lines 418 and 420, additional room is provided for manipulation of imaging equipment or other equipment below the frame 316. During normal operation, power pack 400 is left in the downwardly hanging position shown in
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain illustrated embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A surgical table comprising:
- a frame having a patient-support platform; and
- a mattress, located on the patient-support platform, configured to support a patient during a surgical procedure, the mattress including a cover, defining an interior region, and a plurality of bladder pairs extending laterally in the interior region, each of the plurality of bladder pairs having a first bladder and a second bladder positioned below the first bladder.
2. The surgical table of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bladder pairs are individually inflatable to position the patient in a surgical position on the mattress.
3. The surgical table of claim 2, wherein the mattress includes a foam mattress, positioned below the plurality of bladder pairs, to support the plurality of bladder pairs on the patient-support platform.
4. The surgical table of claim 3, wherein the mattress includes a position stabilizer, positioned above the bladder pairs within the interior region, to stabilize the bladder pairs in the surgical position.
5. The surgical table of claim 4, wherein the mattress includes a thermal pad positioned above the position stabilizer within the interior region, to regulate the temperature of the mattress.
6. The surgical table of claim 2, further comprising a base and a vertical support member extending upwardly from the base, the vertical support member being positioned between the base and the frame.
7. The surgical table of claim 6, wherein the vertical support member telescopes vertically to locate the frame at different heights relative to the base.
8. The surgical table of claim 1, wherein the patient-support platform includes a plurality of sections to articulate the patient in a predefined surgical position.
9. The surgical table of claim 6, further comprising a power pack positioned within the base, the power pack configured to inflate the plurality of bladder pairs to position the patient in the surgical position.
10. The surgical table of claim 1, wherein the mattress includes a head section, a torso section, and a leg section, each of the sections located to adjust the position of a different portion of the patient.
11. The surgical table of claim 10, wherein the head section includes an outer head section adjacent an inner head section, to adjust the position of the head of the patient.
12. The surgical table of claim 10, wherein the torso section includes a seat zone adjacent a lumbar zone and a back zone adjacent the lumbar zone, to adjust the position of the torso of the patient.
13. The surgical table of claim 12, wherein the lumbar zone includes a lower lumbar zone adjacent an upper lumbar zone, to adjust the position of the lumbar region of the patient.
14. The surgical table of claim 12, wherein the back zone includes a lower back zone adjacent an upper back zone, to adjust the position of the back of the patient.
15. The surgical table of claim 10, wherein the leg section includes a foot zone adjacent a calf zone and a knee zone adjacent the calf zone, to adjust the position of the leg of the patient.
16. The surgical table of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of lateral zones located on the patient support platform.
17. The surgical table of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of lateral zones is associated with at least one of the head section, the torso section, and the leg section.
18. The surgical table of claim 1, further comprising a control apparatus, coupled to the plurality of bladders, to control inflation of the plurality of bladders.
19. The surgical table of claim 18, wherein the control apparatus includes a foot controller operable by the foot of a surgeon, to control inflation of the plurality of bladders.
20. The surgical table of claim 18, wherein the control apparatus includes wireless controller, to control inflation of the plurality of bladders.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 20, 2004
Publication Date: May 12, 2005
Inventors: Richard Borders (Cincinnati, OH), David Newkirk (Lawrenceburg, IN)
Application Number: 11/017,094