Support cushion for surgery table

• US 5,754,997 A
• Filed: 01/04/1996
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schaerer Medical USA Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midmark Corporation
• Inventors: Lussi, Andre R., Pennington, Donald R., Reesby, Cyril F., Stickley, Keith A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grosz, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US08/583,194
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 5/481, 5/630, 5/601, 5/632, 5/420, 5/691, 5/740, 5/690, 5/652, 5/655.9, 5/701, 5/618, 5/613, 378/177, 378/209
• US Class Current: 5/618
• 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: A61G 13/02 Adjustable operating tables; Controls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/10 Parts, details or accessories surgical drape sheets A61B46/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/12 Rests specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of patient-supporting surfaces rests for the surgeon A61B90/60; restraining devices A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/129 having surface parts for adaptation of the size, e.g. for extension or reduction tables with different adjustable sections A61G13/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/726 for automatic deactivation, e.g. deactivation of actuators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/74 for anti-shear when adjusting furniture

Abstract

A covered cushion is provided for continuously supporting a patient over gaps which occur between adjacent sections of a surgical table. The cushion is formed with a soft foam upper layer and a flexible lower layer which is sufficiently rigid to form a support for continuously supporting the weight of a patient across a gap located between adjacent sections of the surgical table. The lower layer is formed from an x-ray transparent sheet of material such as polypropylene, with a thickness of approximately 2 mm such that the polypropylene layer is flexible while also sufficiently rigid to form a bridge supporting a patient across the gap in the surgical table. The upper layer and lower layer are surrounded by an outer cover formed of an upholstery material, such as vinyl.

Claims

1. A support cushion for use with a surgical table including at least a back section and a seat section wherein a gap for a kidney riser is defined between said back and seat sections, said support cushion comprising:

an upper layer defined by a foam cushion;

a lower layer defined by a flexible x-ray transparent sheet of material wherein said lower layer is sufficiently rigid to form a support for continuously supporting the weight of a patient across said gap from said back section to said seat section; and

including an outer cover surrounding said upper and lower layers such that said x-ray transparent sheet of material lies adjacent to a lower panel of said outer cover and said foam cushion lies adjacent to an upper panel of said outer cover.

2. The support cushion as recited in claim 1 wherein said lower layer is formed of polypropylene.

3. The support cushion as recited in claim 1 wherein said lower layer is 2 mm thick.

4. The support cushion as recited in claim 1 wherein said lower layer is adapted to provide a continuous bridge across said gap during a flex movement of said surgical table wherein a flexure point is defined between said back and seat sections.

5. A support cushion in combination with a surgical table including first and second articulated sections movable relative to each other wherein a gap is defined between said sections, said support cushion comprising:

an upper layer defined by a resilient material; and

a lower layer defined by a flexible x-ray transparent sheet of material wherein said lower layer is sufficiently rigid to form a support for continuously supporting the weight of a patient across said gap from said first section to said second section.

6. The support cushion as recited in claim 5 wherein said upper layer is formed of a soft foam material.

7. The support cushion as recited in claim 5 wherein said lower layer is formed of polypropylene.

8. The support cushion as recited in claim 5 wherein said lower layer is approximately 2 mm thick.

9. The support cushion as recited in claim 5 wherein said lower layer defines a continuous bridge across said gap during movement of said first and second sections relative to each other.

10. The support cushion as recited in claim 9 wherein said lower layer is formed of polypropylene.

11. The support cushion as recited in claim 5 including a outer cover surrounding said upper and lower layers such that said lower layer lies adjacent to a lower panel of said outer cover and said upper layer lies adjacent to an upper panel of said outer cover.

12. A support cushion for use with a surgery table including at least a back section and a seat section wherein a gap for a kidney riser is defined between said back and seat sections, said support cushion comprising:

an upper layer defined by a foam cushion;

a lower layer defined by an x-ray transparent sheet of polypropylene material wherein said lower layer is approximately 2 mm thick;

an outer cover surrounding said upper and lower layers, such that said lower layer lies adjacent to a lower panel of said outer cover and said upper layer lies adjacent to an upper panel of said outer cover; and

wherein said lower layer provides a continuous bridge across said gap during movement of said back section and seat section relative such that said lower layer is positioned to support the weight of a patient across said gap.