With Suction Means Patents (Class 5/913)
  • Patent number: 8732878
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a method for securing a patient for a medical procedure and specifically for an innovative headrest system for securing a patient for an ocular imaging procedure. The approach avoids the need for linkages and sliding rods and such. Instead, it relies on three independently movable face rests (two for the forehead or temples and one for the chin) each with a deformable cushion that is urged into conformity with the patient's head and chin during an adjustment phase of operation. Once a comfortable position and suitable conforming shape is achieved, the positions of the face rests are rigidly fixed and the shape of the cushions are rendered rigid and non-deformable, by application of a light vacuum, for the procedural or imaging phase of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: ArcScan, Inc.
    Inventors: George J. Eilers, J. David Stienmier, Wes Weber
  • Patent number: 8510883
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a method for securing a patient for a medical procedure and specifically for an innovative headrest system for securing a patient for an ocular imaging procedure. The approach avoids the need for linkages and sliding rods and such. Instead, it relies on three independently movable face rests (two for the forehead or temples and one for the chin) each with a deformable cushion that is urged into conformity with the patient's head and chin during an adjustment phase of operation. Once a comfortable position and suitable conforming shape is achieved, the positions of the face rests are rigidly fixed and the shape of the cushions are rendered rigid and non-deformable, by application of a light vacuum, for the procedural or imaging phase of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Arcscan, Inc.
    Inventors: George J. Eilers, J. David Stienmier, Wes Weber
  • Patent number: 8166589
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention discloses a mattress including an underlayer, an air chamber layer arranged above the underlayer, granular material incorporated in the air chamber layer, and adjusting devices for adjusting the amount of air in the air chamber layer between a rest position, wherein the granular material at least almost fills the whole air chamber layer, and an adjusting position wherein the air chamber layer is only partially filled with granular material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: B.V. Pijnloos
    Inventor: Bernardus Ludgerus Lubertus Hijlkema
  • Patent number: 7168116
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for supporting a patient during a medical procedure includes a bead bag (18) that is filled with compressible beads (20) and that forms a lower layer of the apparatus (10). The apparatus (10) also includes a layer of foam material (30) that is located above the bead bag and an air cell grid (36) that has a plurality of inflatable air cells (38). The air cell grid (36) forms an upper layer of the apparatus (10) and provides a soft surface upon which the patient lies. The bead bag (18), when subjected to a vacuum, becomes rigid for supporting the air cell grid (36) against the patient for helping to maximize a surface area of contact between the patient and the apparatus (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: Steven I. Reger, Richard R. Navarro
  • Publication number: 20040226103
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for supporting a patient during a medical procedure includes a bead bag (18) that is filled with compressible beads (20) and that forms a lower layer of the apparatus (10). The apparatus (10) also includes a layer of foam material (30) that is located above the bead bag and an air cell grid (36) that has a plurality of inflatable air cells (38). The air cell grid (36) forms an upper layer of the apparatus (10) and provides a soft surface upon which the patient lies. The bead bag (18), when subjected to a vacuum, becomes rigid for supporting the air cell grid (36) against the patient for helping to maximize a surface area of contact between the patient and the apparatus (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: Steven I. Reger, Richard R. Navarro
  • Patent number: 6374439
    Abstract: A vacuum pad suitable for use with a head rest of a stretcher is configured to support the head of a patient supported on the stretcher. The vacuum pad has a non-rigid state wherein the vacuum pad is formable and a rigid state wherein the vacuum pad is non-formable. The vacuum pad includes side walls with top edges positioned to lie at an elevation above the head rest. The top edges of the vacuum pad provide a wrist rest surface that is formable when the pad is in the non-rigid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Heimbrock, Patrick J. Minnelli, James L. Walke
  • Patent number: 6226820
    Abstract: A gel pad assembly includes a flexible gel pad and an adjustable shape retainer integral with the gel pad. A flexible first outer wall cooperates with a flexible inner wall to form a first chamber. A gel is located within the first chamber. A flexible second outer wall cooperates with the inner wall to form a second chamber coextensive with the first chamber. The integral shape retainer is located within the second chamber and is selectively adjustable between a flexible condition wherein the flexible walls are conformable to a variety of desired shapes and a rigid condition wherein the flexible walls are retained in a selected one of the desired shapes. Preferred embodiments of the shape retainer include a vacuum activated bean bag, a plurality of pressurizable chambers, a thermally deformable plastic sheet, and an array of pivot elements which are mechanically clamped together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Polymer Concepts, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Navarro
  • Patent number: 6131214
    Abstract: A medical table includes a base. The medical table also includes a number of rollers, supported by the base, which collectively define a bed surface for supporting a patient, wherein each roller of the number of rollers (1) defines a fluid impervious bag having a void therein, and (2) contains a plurality of beads within the void of the fluid impervious bag, and further wherein the number of rollers includes a prime roller having a shaft extending therefrom. The medical table further includes a motor mechanically coupled to the shaft of the prime roller. The medical table also includes a vacuum source in fluid communication with each void of the number of rollers. A method of moving a patient from a first position to a second position is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventors: Stephen P. Moenning, Donald M. Judy, Douglas B. Thatcher
  • Patent number: 5971006
    Abstract: A gasproof inflatable cushion with a hole which perforates it and whose edge is provided with an inner valve part on the inside and with an outer valve part on the outside such that the hole is enclosed and the construction is gasproof. The inner valve part is provided with a through-opening which ends in the cover hole and has such inner dimensions that the cover material can be pulled through the inner valve part and the outer valve part is provided with a through-part which ends in the cover hole at an inner opening and which ends outside at an outer opening. Gas pumped into the outer opening or extracted from the outer opening is pumped into or extracted from the inside of the cover through the through-part of the outer valve part and the through-opening of the inner valve part. The sealed edges of the covers forming the cushion are located on the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Helmut Seigerschmidt
  • Patent number: 5781943
    Abstract: A medical table includes a base. The medical table also includes a number of rollers, supported by the base, which collectively define a bed surface for supporting a patient, wherein each roller of the number of rollers (1) defines a fluid impervious bag having a void therein, and (2) contains a plurality of beads within the void of the fluid impervious bag, and further wherein the number of rollers includes a prime roller having a shaft extending therefrom. The medical table further includes a motor mechanically coupled to the shaft of the prime roller. The medical table also includes a vacuum source in fluid communication with each void of the number of rollers. A method of moving a patient from a first position to a second position is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventors: Stephen P. Moenning, Donald M. Judy, Douglas B. Thatcher
  • Patent number: 5618131
    Abstract: An artificial surface having at least one compartment with a filler therein has the filler held in position by a vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Inventor: Edward A. Weber
  • Patent number: 5556169
    Abstract: The multi-layer support system for conforming to and supporting an object comprises a first, compartmented, fluid-sealed layer containing a plurality of beads which are movable within the first layer when fluid is introduced and which are inhibited from motion when an amount of the fluid is evacuated from the first layer, the first layer is conformable to the surface contours of a body or object. A second compartmented, fluid-sealed layer is adjacent the first layer and moves when air is introduced therein, the first and second layers are coupled together and preferably co-extensive such that movement of a portion of the second layer causes movement of the portion of the first layer to further mold the first layer. Introducing fluid to the first and second layers conforms the first layer to the body and subsequently evacuating fluid from the first layer sets the first layer beads to provide a rigid, contoured surface which follows the contours of the body and supports the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Inventors: Milton E. Parrish, Ethan J. Mesmer