SURGICAL ARM SUPPORT LOCKING MECHANISM AND APPARATUS
An apparatus for supporting a patient's arm in a desired position during surgery includes a patient support, such as an surgical table or chair, an arm support for supporting the patient's arm, an arm support locking mechanism for securing the arm support in a desired position during surgery, and a bracket for attaching the arm support and the arm support locking mechanism to the patient support.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/566,427 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/741,636, filed Dec. 2, 2005.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates generally to surgical tables and chairs having an arm support or armboard attached thereto for supporting a patient's arm during surgery; and more particularly to a surgical table or chair having an arm support locking mechanism for use with an arm support for supporting a patient's arm in a desired position during surgery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany different surgical table designs with and without attached arm and leg supports are known. Most surgical tables that have arm and leg supports rely on geared or ratchet type locking mechanisms to hold the support in a desired position. Although the surgical table, arm support and locking mechanism provide many of the needs of the surgeon during surgery, the locking mechanism remains difficult to utilize and prone to damage caused by accidental bumping. These shortcomings may hinder the efficiency of the surgeon in the surgical arena and increase the operational costs associated with replacing damaged parts.
Thus, as demonstrated by the limitations and disadvantages of the prior art surgical tables or chairs with attached supports, there is a need identified for an improved apparatus designed to provide all of the benefits associated with ease of movement of the arm support with minimal risk of damage caused by inadvertent bumping of the arm support.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention meets these needs by providing an improved apparatus for supporting a patient's arm in a desired position during surgery. The apparatus includes a support for a patient, such as a surgical table or chair, an arm support for supporting the patient's arm, an arm support locking mechanism attached to the arm support, and a bracket for attaching the arm support and the arm support locking mechanism to the support for a patient.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the arm support locking mechanism includes a first plate having at least one notch and a second plate having at least one projection adapted to seat in the at least one notch of the first plate in a locked position. One of the first and second plates further has an angled recess region, and one or both plates could have a combination of notches and projections. A wedge-shaped member is positioned between the first and second plates and engages the angled recess region in the locked position. A retention plate is biased against one of the first and second plates by any type of known biasing means or mechanism, such as a spring or clip, and a fastener extends at least partially through the retention plate, the first and second plates, and the wedge-shaped member to hold the arm support locking mechanism together. Movement of the wedge-shaped member moves one of the first and second plates against a force of the biasing mechanism to unseat the at least one projection from the at least one notch in an unlocked position allowing the arm support to rotate.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the arm support may be at least partially curved so as to cradle the patient's arm during surgery. Preferably, the curved arm support provides support for the patient's arm and protection from pressure-related injuries. Since only gravity is required to hold the patient's arm to the arm support regardless of the angle of the surgical table or chair, the need for tapes or straps is eliminated. In addition, the arm support may also be rotatable about an axis substantially coaxial with the patient's arm when the patient's arm is resting on the arm support. Accordingly, the patient may rest supine, semi-erect, or fully erect in a sitting or tilted position while the patient's arm rests comfortably in the curved arm support. Of course, supplemental straps or the like attached to the arm support may be used to help secure the patient's arm while minimizing contact with the arm.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, the arm support further includes a base extending longitudinally at least partially along and supporting the arm support, and a release member for moving the wedge-shaped member to unseat the at least one projection from the at least one notch in the unlocked position. Preferably, the base has a channel formed therein for slidably receiving the wedge-shaped member.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a distal end of the at least one projection may be tapered and the at least one aperture may be tapered to receive the tapered distal end of the at least one projection. This allows the at least one projection to unseat from the at least one aperture when a substantial force is applied to the arm support. Advantageously, this prevents damage to the at least one projection when the arm support is accidentally bumped or another substantial force is applied thereto.
Additional advantages, and other novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTWith reference to the exploded view of
The present preferred arm support locking mechanism 14 shown in
The second plate 22 is similarly generally circular in shape in the present preferred embodiment. As shown in
Forming the angled recess region 31 and substantially flat recess region 32 in the second plate 22 leaves two extended surfaces 36 which support the radial projections 23. In the present embodiment, the projections 23 are positioned adjacent the perimeter on a second side 37 of the plate 22. A center aperture 38 is also provided for receiving the fastener 27 that secures the arm support locking mechanism 14 together as shown in
In a further attempt to minimize inadvertent damage to the arm support apparatus 10, distal ends 39 of the projections 23 are at least partially tapered and the notches 21 are shaped to receive the tapered distal ends of the projections in the preferred embodiment. In this manner, the projections 23 are more easily able to unseat from the notches 21 when a substantial force is applied to the arm support 12. Advantageously, this prevents the shearing off of one or more of the projections 23 when the arm support 12 is accidentally bumped or another substantial force is applied thereto.
Referring back to
The present preferred arm support locking mechanism 14 further includes a retention plate 42 shown in
The arm support 12 further includes a base 45, shown in
As best seen in
The release member 53 is an elongated bar 54 with a hook 55 formed at one end 56 for grasping by an operator. An aperture 57 is formed in a second end 58. As best shown in
In operation, the operator pulls the hook 55 with his finger overcoming the locking pin 59, and moving the release member 53 toward the operator. Movement of the release member 53 necessarily moves the wedge-shaped member 35 and disengages locking pin 59. More specifically, movement of the wedge-shaped member 35 and an angled surface 62 of the wedge-shaped member 35 which partially engages the angled recess region 31 of the second plate 22 in the locked position forces the second plate upward. This upward movement of the second plate 22 serves to unseat the projections 23 from the notches 21. In this unlocked position, the arm support 12 may be rotated about the locking mechanism 14 up to three-hundred sixty degrees and/or about an axis substantially coaxial with the patient's arm when resting on the arm support. Of course, releasing the release member 52 allows the projections 23 of the second plate 22 to re-engage the notches 21 of the first plate 20, and the locking pin 59 to re-engage the protrusions 69, thus locking the arm support 14 in the new position.
In the present preferred embodiment, shown in
The present preferred arm support 12 further includes first and second recesses 66, 67 which allow the aim support to rotate about an axis substantially coaxial with the patient's arm when the patient's arm is resting thereon. Accordingly, the patient may rest supine, semi-erect, or fully erect in a sitting or tilted position while the patient's arm rests comfortably in the curved arm support 12. Of course, it may be desirable to use supplemental straps or the like attached to the arm support 12 to secure the patient's arm in some positions but the curvature of the arm support 12 allows the contact of the strap with the arm to be minimized.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
Claims
1. An apparatus for supporting a patient's arm in a desired position during surgery comprising:
- a support for a patient;
- a arm support for supporting the patient's arm;
- an arm support locking mechanism including a plate having at least one projection adapted to seat in at least one notch in a locked position and a biasing member positioned adjacent said plate for applying a force against said plate to a locked position wherein the at least one projection is seated in the at least one notch;
- a release member for moving said plate against the force of said biasing member to unseat the at least one projection from the at least one notch in an unlocked position; and
- a bracket for attaching said arm support and said arm support locking mechanism to said support for a patient.
2. The apparatus for supporting a patient's arm in a desired position during surgery in claim 1, wherein said arm support is at least partially curved so as to cradle the patient's arm.
3. The apparatus for supporting a patient's arm in a desired position during surgery in claim 1, wherein said arm support is further rotatable about an axis substantially coaxial with the patient's arm when the patient's arm is resting on said arm support in the unlocked position.
4. The apparatus for supporting a patient's arm in a desired position during surgery in claim 1, further comprising a base extending longitudinally at least partially along and supporting said aim support, said base having a channel formed therein for slidably receiving said release member.
5. An apparatus for supporting a patient's arm in a desired position during surgery comprising:
- a support for a patient;
- a substantially curved arm support for supporting the patient's arm, said arm support rotatable about an axis substantially coaxial with the patient's arm when the patient's arm is resting on said arm support;
- an arm support locking mechanism for securing said arm support in a locked position;
- a release member unlocking said arm support locking mechanism; and
- a bracket for attaching said aim support and said arm support locking mechanism to said support for a patient.
6. The apparatus for supporting a patient's arm in a desired position during surgery in claim 5, further comprising a base extending at least partially along and supporting said arm support.
7. The arm support locking mechanism for securing an arm support in a desired position during surgery in claim 5, wherein said arm support locking mechanism further comprises a first plate having at least one projection, a second plate having at least one notch adapted to receive said at least one projection of said first plate in the locked position, one of said first and second plates having an angled recess region, a wedge-shaped member positioned between said first and second plates and engaging the angled recess region in the locked position, a retention plate, a spring positioned between said retention plate and the one of said first and second plates having an angled recess region, and a fastener extending at least partially through said retention plate, said first and second plates, and said wedge-shaped member, wherein movement of said wedge-shaped member against a force of said spring unseats said at least one projection from the at least one notch in an unlocked position.
8. The apparatus for supporting a patient's arm in a desired position during surgery in claim 7, further comprising a base extending at least partially along and supporting said arm support.
9. The apparatus for supporting a patient's arm in a desired position during surgery in claim 5, wherein said arm support locking mechanism further includes a plate having at least one projection adapted to seat in at least one notch in a locked position and a biasing member positioned adjacent said plate for applying a force against said plate to a locked position wherein the at least one projection is seated in the at least one notch.
10. The apparatus for supporting a patient's arm in a desired position during surgery in claim 9, further comprising a base extending at least partially along and supporting said arm support.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 21, 2007
Publication Date: Jul 10, 2008
Inventor: David S. Kirn (Lexington, KY)
Application Number: 11/962,767