Patient positioning support structure with trunk translator

• US 9,504,622 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Roger P. Jackson
• Inventors: Jackson, Roger P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sosnowski, David E
• Assistant Examiner(s): KURILLA, ERIC J
• Application Number:
  US14/033,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20140020181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 5607-614, 561/6, 561/8, 562/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/0054 specially adapted for back or spinal surgeries
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/04 tiltable around transverse or longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/08 the table being divided into different adjustable sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/122 Upper body, e.g. chest
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/1225 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/1235 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/1295 having alignment devices for the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination

Abstract

A patient support structure includes a pair of independently height-adjustable supports, each connected to a patient support. The supports may be independently raised, lowered, rolled or tilted about a longitudinal axis, laterally shifted and angled upwardly or downwardly. Position sensors are provided to sense all of the foregoing movements. The sensors communicate data to a computer for coordinated adjustment and maintenance of the inboard ends of the patient supports in an approximated position during such movements. A longitudinal translator provides for compensation in the length of the structure when the supports are angled upwardly or downwardly. A patient trunk translator provides coordinated translational movement of the patient'"'"'s upper body along the respective patient support in a caudad or cephalad direction as the patient supports are angled upwardly or downwardly for maintaining proper spinal biomechanics and avoiding undue spinal traction or compression.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a patient above a floor during a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising:

a) an elongate patient support frame structure having a head end portion and a foot end portion and a joint disposed inwardly along the elongate patient support frame structure, each frame structure end portion including spaced elongate side frame members joined at one end by an end frame member and being pivotally attached at the joint at an opposite end of the frame members, the frame structure head and foot end portions alignable in a first plane; and

b) first and second opposed spaced end supports attached to an elongate base with outer ends supported by the floor, the first end support being pivotally attached to the frame structure head end portion by a first pivot assembly with an angulation actuator operable to pivot the frame structure relative to the first end support and being located near the head end portion end frame member;

the second end support being pivotally attached to the frame structure foot end portion by a second pivot assembly with an angulation actuator operable to pivot the frame structure relative to the second end support and being located near the foot end portion end frame member, the elongate patient support frame structure extending between the first and second end supports and held by the supports in spaced relation with respect to the floor;

wherein

c) an actuator causing at least one pivot assembly to actively translate inwardly so as to get closer to the other pivot assembly in cooperation with a change in alignment of the frame structure head and foot end portions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the joint comprises:

a) a pair of spaced hinges located between the head end portion and foot end portion of the patient support frame structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a) the patient support frame structure is suspended between the first and second end supports; and

the apparatus further comprises;

b) a horizontal translation mechanism including the actuator to move the second pivot assembly closer to the first pivot assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

a) the second pivot assembly moves closer to the first pivot assembly without the base outer ends moving along the floor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a) one of the end supports is vertically adjustable.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the end support pivot assemblies further comprises:

a) a motorized rotation mechanism.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a) an elongate patient support second structure;

wherein

b) the second structure is an imaging table.

8. An apparatus for supporting a patient during a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising:

a) first and second opposed end supports; and

b) a patient support frame structure connected to and bridging substantially between the first and second end supports;

wherein

c) the support frame structure has a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions being selectively lockable in a first substantially planar orientation along a longitudinal axis of the support frame structure, the first and second portions being operably pivotable at one outer end thereof with respect to respective end supports and articulatable at an inward joint located between the first and second portions; and

including

d) a first motorized mechanism for selectively pivoting the support frame structure first portion and a second motorized mechanism for selectively positioning the support frame structure second portion relative to each other such that the support frame structure first and second portions are positionable and lockable in a plurality of angles with respect to one another and with respect to respective end supports, with each portion movable to a position on either side of the first planar orientation; and

further wherein

e) an actuator causing at least one of the first or the second motorized mechanisms to actively translate closer to an oppositely positioned one of the respective second or first ether motorized mechanism.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

a) the joint located between the first and second portions is a pair of spaced hinges.