Plastic surgery table

Abstract

A surgery table is provided in which a patient support portion may be tilted about a longitudinal and a lateral axis and in which torso and leg supporting portions of the table may be pivoted relative to a trunk supporting portion. A new headrest locking mechanism is disclosed whereby supporting ball and socket connections for the headrest may be locked in position with a minimum of applied torque force. In addition, a lift mechanism incorporating telescoping members is provided whereby a large variation in table height may be obtained.

Patent number: 5208928
Filing date: Sep 20, 1991
Issue date: May 11, 1993
Inventors: Jay L. Kuck, Keith A. Stickley, Terry J. Simpkins, Sr., Terry J. Simpkins, Jr.
Assignee: Midmark Corporation

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What is claimed is:

1. A surgery table for supporting a patient in a plurality of positions, said table comprising:

a patient support defining a longitudinal axis extending along an elongated dimension of said table and a lateral axis extending along a width dimension of said table, said patient support including at least a central portion longitudinally spaced from opposing longitudinal ends of said patient support for supporting a trunk portion of a patient,

a pedestal structure located at said central portion for supporting said patient support,

a support base including an arcuate track cooperating with bearings to form a support connection between said patient support and said pedestal structure, said arcuate track defining a longitudinal pivot axis parallel to said longitudinal axis and located above said patient support,

a support base pivot forming a connection between said support base and said pedestal located between said ends of said patient support under said central portion, said support base pivot defining a lateral pivot axis parallel to said lateral axis whereby said patient support is guided in pivotal movement about said lateral pivot axis.

2. The table of claim 1, wherein said patient support includes a first section forming said central portion for supporting a trunk portion of a patient, a second section for supporting a torso portion of a patient, first pivot means mounting said second section to a longitudinal end of said first section for pivotal movement of said second section relative to said first section, a third section for supporting a leg portion of a patient, and second pivot means mounting said third section to a longitudinal end of said first section for pivotal movement of said third section relative to said first section.

3. The table of claim 2, including first and second linear actuators driven by motors for moving said second and third sections relative to said first section.

4. The table of claim 2, wherein said support base is located between said first and second pivot means such that said first section of said patient support overlies said support connection and said support base pivot.

5. The table of claim 1, wherein said arcuate track includes inner and outer track portions, said inner track portion including tooth means and said outer track portion being smooth, said bearings including rollers for engaging said outer track portion, and gear means operatively connected to a motor, said gear means engaging said tooth means for moving said track relative to said pedestal structure.

6. The table of claim 5, wherein said track includes first and second inner and outer track portions located in longitudinally spaced relation to each other and said gear means includes first and second gears connected by a shaft extending parallel to said longitudinal axis.

7. The table of claim 1, wherein said pedestal includes height adjusting means for varying the height of said patient support relative to the floor.

8. The table of claim 7, wherein said height adjusting means includes first, second and third post members positioned in telescoping relation to each other, said first post member being located within and movable relative to said second post member, said second post member being located within and movable relative to said third post member and said patient support being mounted to and movable with said first post member.

9. The table of claim 8, wherein said pedestal includes a platform and said third post member is mounted to said platform, and a motor driven linear actuator is provided connected between said third post member and said second post member wherein operation of said actuator simultaneously causes movement of said second post member relative to said third post member and movement of said first post member relative to said second post member.

10. The table of claim 1, including side pads and pivot knobs mounted for rotation on lateral sides of said patient support, and including locking means, each locking means having a pawl portion and said pivot knobs including means defining a plurality of indent portions for receiving said pawl portion whereby said pivot knobs may be locked in a plurality of predetermined positions.

11. The table of claim 10, including accessory support rails supported at lateral sides of said patient support, said support rails being mounted for movement parallel to said lateral axis of said table toward and away from said patient support whereby said rails are movable to a position beneath said side pads.

12. The table of claim 1, including a headrest attached to a longitudinal end of said patient support, said headrest including a mounting shaft mounted at a rear side of said patient support and movable along said longitudinal axis.

13. The table of claim 12, including a headrest pivot for mounting said headrest to said mounting shaft and permitting said headrest to be pivoted relative to said mounting shaft to be positioned in a plurality of planes oriented transversely to each other.

14. A headrest for use in combination with a patient support, said headrest comprising:

a head support portion for supporting the head of a patient,

an adjustment housing including means defining an elongated aperture, said elongated aperture defining a central longitudinal axis of said adjustment housing,

ball and socket means located on said adjustment housing at an end of said elongated aperture and connecting said head support portion to said adjustment housing such that said head support portion is mounted for pivotal movement relative to said adjustment housing,

an elongated rod having opposing first and second ends, said first end of said rod engaging said ball and socket means,

a rod actuator located at an end of said elongated aperture opposite from said ball and socket means and mounted for movement relative to said adjustment housing, and

engagement means formed on said rod actuator for engaging said second end of said rod at a connection point, said connection point and said second rod end being movable together toward and away from said central longitudinal axis to lock said head support portion against movement and permit movement, respectively, of said head support portion relative to said adjustment housing.

15. The headrest of claim 14, wherein said rod defines a rod axis and an angle .beta. is defined between said central longitudinal axis and said rod axis with the apex of said angle .beta. located at said first rod end.

16. The headrest of claim 15, wherein movement of said rod actuator causes said angle .beta. to increase and decrease, and decreasing said angle .beta. results in said head support portion being locked against movement.

17. The headrest of claim 14, wherein said ball and socket means includes a socket portion attached to said adjustment housing and a ball portion attached to said head support portion, said socket portion including means defining an aperture therethrough, and said ball portion being retained within said socket portion and extending through said aperture in said socket portion.

18. The headrest of claim 14, wherein said rod actuator includes a shaft mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said central longitudinal axis.

19. The headrest of claim 18, wherein said engagement means includes means defining an indentation in said shaft receiving said second end of said rod such that rotation of said shaft causes said first end of said rod to move toward and away from said ball and socket means whereby said headrest is locked and unlocked for movement, respectively.

20. The headrest of claim 18, including a drive gear mounted for rotation with said shaft and a worm gear engaged with said drive gear such that rotation of said worm gear causes rotation of said shaft.

21. The headrest of claim 18, including means defining a second elongated aperture in said adjustment housing, second ball and socket means located at an end of said second elongated aperture, a second elongated rod engaging said second ball and socket means and said shaft, and means attached to said second ball and socket means for mounting said headrest to said patient support.

22. A surgery table for supporting a patient in a plurality of positions, said table comprising:

a support portion for supporting a patient lying in a substantially supine position,

a base portion including first, second and third post members positioned in telescoping relation to each other, said first post member being located within and movable relative to said second post member and said second post member being located within and movable relative to said third post member,

said support portion being mounted to and movable with said first post member such that movement of said first and second post members causes the vertical positions of said support portion relative to the floor to be varied, and wherein an actuator is provided attached to said third post member and to said second post member wherein operation of said actuator simultaneously causes vertical movement of said second post member relative to said third post member and vertical movement of said first post member relative to said second post member.

23. The table of claim 22, including a flexible elongated drive member having first and second ends, said first end being attached to said third post member and said second end being attached to said first post member, said second post member including a bearing portion located at an upper edge thereof engaging said drive member such that upward movement of said second post member draws said elongated member upwardly to exert an upward force on said first post member.

24. The table of claim 23, including a second elongated drive member having first and second ends, said first end of said second drive member being attached to said third post member and said second end of said second drive member being attached to said first post member, said second post member including a second bearing portion located at a lower edge thereof engaging said second drive member such that downward movement of said second post member draws said second drive member downwardly to exert a downward force on said first post member.

25. The table of claim 22, including means connecting said first and second post members such that said first and second post members move simultaneously and said first post member moves at a rate which is twice as great as the rate of movement of said second post member.

26. A surgery table for supporting a patient, said table comprising:

a support portion for supporting a patient lying in a substantially supine position, said support portion including lateral edges and defining a longitudinal axis along a length of said table and a lateral axis along a width of said table,

a side pad including a pad portion and support arm,

a pivot knob located below said support portion adjacent to a lateral edge and mounted for rotation about a pivot axis parallel to said longitudinal axis,

means defining an aperture through said pivot knob for receiving said support arm in sliding engagement in a direction substantially parallel to said lateral axis, and

a detent member located on said support arm for engaging with a surface of said pivot knob to prevent movement of said support arm laterally outwardly from said aperture.

27. The table of claim 26, wherein said detent member engages an outer surface of said pivot knob adjacent to said aperture.

28. The table of claim 26, wherein a downward movement of said side pad relative to said pivot knob causes said detent member to be positioned in engagement with said surface of said pivot knob and an upward movement of said pad portion relative to said pivot knob causes said detent to move out of engagement with said surface of said pivot knob such that said support arm is movable out of said aperture.

29. The table of claim 26, including locking means, said locking means including a pawl and said pivot knob including means defining a plurality of indent portions for receiving said pawl whereby said pivot knob is locked in a plurality of predetermined positions.