POSITIONING DEVICE FOR A MEDICAL FIELD GENERATOR

• US 20150297303A1
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Original Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Inventors: HEINDL, Nadja, MLADENOVIC, Patra, GONZALEZ, Marta, BARTA, Gerd
• Granted Patent: US 10,258,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/704 Tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/04 Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like operating tables A61G13/00; operating chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms

Abstract

The present invention relates to a positioning device (1) for a medical field generator (2), comprising:—a base member (3) which comprises at least one contacting section (3a) and is configured to contact the upper surface of an operating table;—an adaptor (4) which is connected to the base member (3) and configured to support the field generator (2); and—fixing means (5) which allow the positioning device (1) to be fixed to an operating table, wherein the adaptor (4) is configured to prevent the field generator (2) from being positioned at less than a predetermined distance from the operating table. The present invention also relates to a method for positioning a medical field generator (2), comprising the following steps:—providing a medical field generator (2) and a positioning device (1) as described above;—attaching the field generator (2) to the positioning device (1);—positioning a base member (3) of the positioning device (1), with the field generator (2) attached to it, on the upper surface of an operating table and beneath a part of a patient'"'"'s body, in particular the head of a patient lying on the operating table;—fixing the positioning device (1) to the operating table.

Claims

1. A positioning device for a medical field generator, comprising:

a base member which comprises at least one contacting section and contacts the upper surface of an operating table;

an adaptor which is connected to the base member, and supports the field generator, and prevents the field generator from being positioned at less than a predetermined distance from the operating table; and

a fixing element which allows the positioning device to be fixed to an operating table,

wherein the base member is configured to be ergonomically placed between an upper surface of an operating table and a part of a patient'"'"'s body lying on the operating table.

2. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor unmodifiably maintains the position of the field generator relative to the base member.

3. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor and the base member form an integral unit.

4. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor allows the field generator to be positionally adjusted with respect to the base member.

5. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor is detachably and reproducibly mounted on the base member and/or field generator, by one or more screw connections.

6. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor is connected with the field generator by a positive fit.

7. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the base member is configured to be able to be ergonomically placed between the upper surface of an operating table and a part of the body, such as a patient'"'"'s head lying on the operating table.

8. The positioning device according to claim 7, wherein the base member comprises a headrest area, provided on the upper surface of the base member, and an adaptor area which is positioned adjacent to the headrest area on the upper surface of the base member, wherein the adaptor is formed or mounted on the base member.

9. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device comprises at least one positioning aid which is configured to help properly position the positioning device on an operating table.

10. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the base member is formed to be symmetrical.

11. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element comprises at least one interface that allows the fixing element to engage with the positioning device.

12. The positioning device according to claim 11, wherein at least one through-hole in the base member forms the at least one interface.

13. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device comprises a medical head-holder or a mounting interface for a medical head-holder that fixes a patient'"'"'s head to the positioning device and operating table, respectively.

14. A method for positioning a medical field generator, comprising the following steps:

providing a medical field generator and a positioning device comprising;

a base member which comprises at least one contacting section and contacts the upper surface of an operating table;

an adaptor which is connected to the base member, and supports the field generator, and prevents the field generator from being positioned at less than a predetermined distance from the operating table; and

a fixing element which allows the positioning device to be fixed to an operating table;

attaching the field generator to the positioning device;

positioning a base member of the positioning device, with the field generator attached to it, between an upper surface of an operating table and a part of a patient'"'"'s body, such as the head of a patient lying on the operating table;

fixing the positioning device to the operating table.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising at least one of the following steps:

obtaining information about a proper, positional placement of the field generator with respect to the part of the patient'"'"'s body and/or the operating table;

adjusting the adaptor such that the distance between the operating table and the field generator fulfils the requirements for a properly placed field generator;

positioning the base member on the upper surface of the operating table, such that the positional arrangement of the part of the patient'"'"'s body and the field generator fulfils the requirements for a properly placed field generator;

positioning and fixing the positioning device to the operating table in a position which differs from a preceding position.