U.S. patent application number 09/747883 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-13 for pivoting hand table.
Invention is credited to Harris, David P., Heimbrock, Richard H., Simpkins, R. Kelly, Simpkins, Terry J. JR., Simpkins, Terry J. SR..
Application Number | 20010050033 09/747883 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23249574 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010050033 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heimbrock, Richard H. ; et
al. |
December 13, 2001 |
Pivoting hand table
Abstract
A hand table assembly includes a platform having a longitudinal
central axis and a platform attachment apparatus for coupling the
platform to a patient support deck generally in a horizontal plane
and at a 90.degree. angle, a platform support leg, and a platform
support leg attachment mechanism. The platform support leg
attachment mechanism includes a leg-receiving receptacle coupled to
the underside of the platform, a lower bracket coupled to a head
end of the support leg, the lower bracket having an
outwardly-extending portion at one end thereof, an upper bracket
supported on the lower bracket and having an outwardly-extending
portion at one end thereof which is pivotably coupled to the
outwardly-extending portion of the lower bracket about a first axis
disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal central axis of
the platform, a lower latch coupled to the lower bracket at the
other end thereof configured to releasably secure the other end of
the upper bracket to the other end of the lower bracket, and an
upper latch coupled to the upper bracket configured to releasably
secure the upper bracket to the leg-receiving receptacle.
Inventors: |
Heimbrock, Richard H.;
(Cincinnati, OH) ; Simpkins, Terry J. SR.;
(Carlsbad, CA) ; Simpkins, Terry J. JR.;
(Carlsbad, CA) ; Simpkins, R. Kelly; (Mammoth
Lakes, CA) ; Harris, David P.; (Chicago, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Barnes & Thornburg
11 South Merician Street
Indianapolis
IN
46204
US
|
Family ID: |
23249574 |
Appl. No.: |
09/747883 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09747883 |
Dec 22, 2000 |
|
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09321188 |
May 27, 1999 |
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6195820 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
108/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G 13/124 20130101;
A61G 13/12 20130101; A61G 13/0045 20161101; Y10T 403/32131
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/42 |
International
Class: |
A47B 023/00 |
Claims
1. A hand table assembly for attachment to a patient support deck
located on a floor, the patient support deck having an
articulatable back section, the hand table assembly comprising: a
generally planar platform having a longitudinal central axis
extending generally parallel to a length dimension thereof, a
platform attachment mechanism for coupling an end of the platform
to a side of the patient support deck, a platform support leg, and
a platform support leg attachment mechanism comprising: a
leg-receiving receptacle coupled to the underside of the platform,
a lower bracket coupled to a head end of the support leg, the lower
bracket having an outwardly-extending portion at one end thereof,
an upper bracket supported on the lower bracket and having an
outwardly-extending portion at one end thereof which is pivotably
coupled to the outwardly-extending portion of the lower bracket
about a first axis disposed generally transversely to the
longitudinal central axis of the platform, a lower latch coupled to
the lower bracket at the other end thereof configured to releasably
secure the other end of the upper bracket to the other end of the
lower bracket, and an upper latch coupled to the upper bracket
configured to releasably secure the upper bracket to the
leg-receiving receptacle.
2. The hand table assembly of claim 1, wherein the leg-receiving
receptacle is coupled to the underside of the platform at one end
thereof.
3. The hand table assembly of claim 2, wherein the platform support
leg is extendable.
4. The hand table assembly of claim 3, further including a support
leg storage latch comprising a retaining pin secured to the
underside of the platform at 30 the other end thereof, wherein the
support leg can be folded and locked in a storage position under
the platform by pivoting the support leg about the first axis so
that it extends generally parallel to the length dimension of the
platform on the underside thereof and extending the support leg to
cause the retaining pin to enter a retaining pin-receiving
receptacle disposed in a foot end of the support leg to lock it in
place.
5. The hand table assembly of claim 4, wherein the extendable
support leg includes at least two telescopic sections and a latch
for locking the telescopic sections in place.
6. The hand table assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower latch has
a generally upwardly-extending first portion having an
inwardly-turned lip portion adapted for engagement with the other
end of the upper bracket for releasably securing the other end of
the upper bracket to the other end of the lower bracket.
7. The hand table assembly of claim 6, wherein the lower latch has
a second generally downwardly-extending portion providing a leg
storage release handle and a middle portion pivotally coupled to
the lower bracket for pivoting movement about a second axis
disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal central axis of
the platform between (I) a first orientation in which the
inwardly-turned lip portion of the generally upwardly-extending
first portion of the lower latch engages the other end of the upper
bracket for releasably securing the lower bracket to the upper
bracket, and (ii) a second orientation in which the inwardly-turned
lip portion of the generally upwardly-extending first portion of
the lower latch disengages from the other end of the upper bracket
to free the support leg to pivot about the first axis.
8. The hand table assembly of claim 7, wherein the lower latch
further includes a spring for biasing the lower latch toward the
first orientation thereof in which the inwardly-turned lip portion
of the generally upwardly-extending first portion of the lower
latch engages the other end of the upper bracket for releasably
securing the lower bracket to the upper bracket, wherein the
inwardly-turned lip portion of the generally upwardly-extending
first portion of the lower latch disengages from the other end of
the upper bracket to free the support leg to pivot about the first
axis in response to movement of the leg storage release handle.
9. The hand table assembly of claim 1, wherein the leg-receiving
receptacle has a downwardly-facing inverted U-shaped channel
comprising first and second downwardly-extending portions extending
generally transversely to the longitudinal central axis of the
platform, the first and second downwardly-extending portions having
inwardly-turned lip portions, wherein the upper bracket has an
upwardly-extending portion adjacent the other end thereof having an
outwardly-turned lip portion adapted for engagement with one of the
inwardly-turned lip portions of the leg-receiving receptacle,
wherein the upper latch is coupled to the upper bracket adjacent
the one end of thereof and is provided with a generally
upwardly-extending first portion having an outwardly-turned lip
portion adapted for engagement with the other of the
inwardly-turned lip portions of leg-receiving receptacle for
releasably securing the upper bracket to the leg-receiving
receptacle.
10. The hand table assembly of claim 9, wherein the upper latch has
a second outwardly-extending portion providing a leg release handle
and a middle portion pivotally coupled to the upper bracket for
pivoting movement about a third axis disposed generally
transversely to the longitudinal central axis of the platform
between a first orientation in which the outwardly-turned lip
portion of the generally upwardly-extending first portion of the
upper latch engages the other of the inwardly-turned lip portions
of receptacle to releasably secure the upper bracket to the
receptacle and a second orientation in which the outwardly-turned
lip portion of the generally upwardly-extending first portion of
the upper latch disengages from the other of the inwardly-turned
lip portions of the leg-receiving receptacle.
11. The hand table assembly of claim 10, wherein the upper latch
further includes a spring for biasing the upper latch toward the
first orientation thereof in which the outwardly-turned lip portion
of the generally upwardly-extending first portion of the upper
latch engages the other of the inwardly-turned lip portions of
receptacle to releasably secure the upper bracket to the
receptacle, wherein the outwardly-turned lip portion of the
generally upwardly-extending first portion of the upper latch
disengages from the other of the inwardly-turned lip portions of
the leg-receiving receptacle in response to the movement of the
release handle to free the support leg from the leg-receiving
receptacle.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This is a divisional of a copending U.S. patent application,
Ser. No. 09/321,188, filed on May 27, 1999, and entitled "Pivoting
Hand Table".
[0002] The present invention generally relates to patient support
decks such as hospital stretchers, surgical operating tables and
hospital beds, and particularly to hand table or armboard
assemblies for such patient support decks. More particularly, the
present invention relates to hand table assemblies suitable for
hand or arm surgeries.
[0003] Various surgical tables having articulated table tops have
been developed to meet the growing demand of surgical tables which
may be used for a wide variety of different surgical procedures.
Among the functions desirable for a surgical table is the ability
to articulate the back section with respect to the seat section
about a transverse axis.
[0004] For hand or arm surgeries, a hand table or armboard is
attached to a surgical rail of an operating room table or a
hospital stretcher at a 90.degree. angle to the longitudinal axis
of the patient support surface. It is known to pivot the hand
tables about a vertical axis in the plane of the patient support
surface as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,972,505.
[0005] Another arrangement for supporting a hand table or armboard
is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,210. As shown therein, the armboard
52 is mounted to a novel adapter 100, which includes a horizontal
shaft 102 disposed generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the
patient support surface. The generally horizontal shaft 102 is, in
turn, mounted to a conventional surgical accessory socket 18 that
is commonly used for attaching various accessories to a surgical
operating table. This configuration allows two additional degrees
of freedom to the armboard 52. The armboard 52 can pivot about the
axis of a horizontal shaft 102 disposed generally parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the patient support surface as shown in FIG.
7. In addition, the armboard 52 can pivot about the axis of the
surgical accessory socket 18 extending perpendicularly to the
longitudinal axis of the patient support surface 36 as shown in
FIG. 8.
[0006] The prior art arrangements, however, do not allow the head
of a patient resting on the surgical stretcher to be raised prior
to, during or after a surgical procedure. The ability to raise a
patient's head is particularly important for patients with
respiratory problems. The present invention provides the ability to
raise a patient's head without tilting the hand table about its
longitudinal central axis. In accordance with this invention, the
hand table is mounted to pivot about its longitudinal central axis
so that it can remain parallel to the floor even when the back
section of the stretcher is elevated.
[0007] In an illustrated embodiment of the invention, the hand
table assembly includes a platform having a longitudinal central
axis and a platform attachment apparatus for coupling the platform
to a patient support deck generally in a horizontal plane and at a
90.degree. angle. The platform attachment apparatus illustratively
includes a first member configured to be mechanically coupled to an
inboard end of the platform and a second member configured to be
mechanically coupled to a side rail of an articulatable back
section of the patient support deck. The first member is pivoted
relative to the second member about the longitudinal central axis
of the platform such that the platform remains generally parallel
to the floor when the articulatable back section is
articulated.
[0008] According to another embodiment, the platform attachment
apparatus includes a generally planar supporting plate having first
and second oppositely-disposed sides. A first outwardly-projecting
member is pivotally coupled to the supporting plate on a first side
thereof for rotation about the longitudinal central axis of the
hand table. The first outwardly-projecting member includes a first
rail-receiving channel disposed generally perpendicularly to the
longitudinal central axis of the platform and sized for slidably
receiving an end rail secured to an inboard end of the platform. A
first clamp is mechanically coupled to the first
outwardly-projecting member for selectively clamping the platform
end rail upon its reception in the first rail-receiving channel. A
second outwardly-projecting member is mechanically coupled to the
supporting plate on the second side thereof. The second
outwardly-projecting member includes a second rail-receiving
channel facing away from the first rail-receiving channel and also
disposed generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central axis
of the platform for slidably receiving a side rail secured to the
articulatable back section. A second clamp is mechanically coupled
to the second outwardly-projecting member for selectively clamping
the side rail upon its reception in the second rail-receiving
channel.
[0009] In accordance with still another embodiment of the
invention, the first and second rail-receiving channels are offset
with respect to each other in a direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal central axis of the platform so that the top surface
of a cushion supported on the hand table assembly is generally
disposed at the same level as the top surface of a mattress
disposed on the patient support deck.
[0010] According to still further embodiment of the present
invention, the hand table assembly includes a platform support leg
and a platform support leg attachment mechanism. The platform
support leg attachment mechanism illustratively includes a
leg-receiving receptacle coupled to the underside of the platform,
an upper bracket configured to be coupled to the leg-receiving
receptacle and a lower bracket coupled to the platform support leg.
The lower bracket has an outwardly-extending portion at one end
thereof. The upper bracket also has an outwardly-extending portion
at one end thereof which is pivotably coupled to the
outwardly-extending portion of the lower bracket about a first axis
disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal central axis of
the platform. A lower latch coupled to the lower bracket at the
other end thereof is configured to releasably secure the other end
of the upper bracket to the other end of the lower bracket. An
upper latch coupled to the upper bracket is configured to
releasably secure the upper bracket to the leg-receiving
receptacle.
[0011] According to the present invention, the platform support leg
attachment mechanism includes a support leg storage latch
comprising a retaining pin secured to the underside of the platform
at one end thereof (e.g., inboard end). The support leg, mounted at
the other end of the platform (e.g., outboard end), can be folded
and locked in a storage position under the platform by pivoting the
platform support leg about the first axis so that it extends
generally parallel to the length dimension of the platform on the
underside thereof and extending the support leg to cause the
retaining pin to enter a retaining pin-receiving receptacle
disposed in a foot end of the support leg to lock it in place. The
platform support leg illustratively includes at least two
telescopic sections and a latch for locking the telescopic sections
in place.
[0012] Additional features of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments
exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as
presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a hand table
assembly of the present invention coupled to an articulated back
section of a hospital stretcher, and further showing the hand table
disposed generally parallel to the floor while the articulated back
section is raised so that a patient's hand can comfortably rest on
the hand table,
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hand table of FIG. 1
showing an end rail secured to each end of the hand table and a
hand table platform attachment mechanism for securing a hand table
platform to a back section of a patient support deck at a
90.degree. angle, and further showing Velcro (trademark) pads for
securing a cushion supported on the hand table platform,
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hand table platform
attachment mechanism with portions broken away and showing a
supporting plate, a first outwardly-projecting member pivotally
coupled to the supporting plate on a first side thereof for
rotation about a longitudinal central axis of the platform, the
first outwardly-projecting member including a first rail-receiving
channel disposed generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal
central axis of the platform and sized for slidably receiving a
platform end rail, a second outwardly-projecting member
mechanically coupled to the supporting plate on a second side
thereof, the second outwardly-projecting member including a second
rail-receiving channel facing away from the first rail-receiving
channel and also disposed generally perpendicularly to the
longitudinal central axis of the platform for slidably receiving a
side rail secured to the back section, the second rail-receiving
channel having thickness greater than a conventional surgical
rail,
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the platform attachment
mechanism showing a thumb screw for clamping a side rail received
in the second rail-receiving channel, and further showing a
flip-over lever pivotally mounted to the second
outwardly-projecting member for movement between a deployed up
position and an out-of-the-way down position, the flip-over lever
having a first end extending into the second rail-receiving channel
when deployed, the detent portion when deployed reducing the
thickness of the second rail-receiving channel so that a
conventional surgical rail can be snugly received therein and
clamped.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the platform attachment
mechanism along a line 5-5 in FIG. 4, and further showing the first
end of the flip-over lever extending into the second rail-receiving
channel, a conventional surgical rail snugly received in the second
rail-receiving channel, a thumb screw for clamping the conventional
surgical rail received in the second rail-receiving channel, and a
hand table platform end rail snugly received in the first
rail-receiving channel and clamped,
[0019] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, except that a
wider-than-conventional surgical rail is snugly received in the
second rail-receiving channel and clamped, and further showing the
flip-over lever in the out-of-the-way down position, and a platform
end rail snugly received in the first rail-receiving channel and
clamped,
[0020] FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of a platform support leg
attachment mechanism with portions broken away, and showing a
leg-receiving receptacle coupled to the underside of the platform
and having a downwardly-facing U-shaped channel, a lower bracket
coupled to the platform support leg, and an upper bracket supported
on the lower bracket configured to couple the lower bracket to the
leg-receiving receptacle, the lower bracket having an
outwardly-extending portion at one end thereof, the upper bracket
also having an outwardly-extending portion at one end thereof which
is pivotably coupled to the outwardly-extending portion of the
lower bracket about a first axis disposed generally transversely to
the longitudinal central axis of the platform, a lower latch
coupled to the lower bracket at the other end thereof being
configured to releasably secure the other end of the upper bracket
to the other end of the lower bracket, and an upper latch coupled
to the upper bracket to releasably secure the upper bracket to the
leg-receiving receptacle, the upper latch being shown in a first
orientation in which an outwardly-turned lip portion of a generally
upwardly-extending portion of the upper latch engages an
inwardly-turned lip portion of the leg-receiving receptacle to
releasably secure the upper bracket to the receptacle,
[0021] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, except that the upper
latch is moved to a second orientation in which the
outwardly-turned lip portion of the generally upwardly-extending
portion of the upper latch disengages from the inwardly-turned lip
portion of the leg-receiving receptacle to free the platform
support leg,
[0022] FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, except that the platform
support leg is pivoted and pulled down to remove it from the hand
table assembly,
[0023] FIG. 10 is a sectional side view of the hand table assembly
coupled to a back section side rail secured to a back section of a
patient support deck (not shown) and showing a platform support leg
releasably secured to the hand table platform at an outboard end
thereof,
[0024] FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, except that the
platform support leg is folded and locked in a storage position
under the platform by pivoting it so that it extends generally
parallel to the length dimension of the platform on the underside
thereof and then extending the platform support leg to cause a
retaining pin secured to the underside of the platform at an
inboard end thereof to enter a retaining pin-receiving receptacle
disposed in a foot end of the platform support leg to lock it in
place,
[0025] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the hand table assembly with the
platform support leg folded and locked in a storage position under
the platform,
[0026] FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 10, except that the
platform support leg is secured to the hand table platform at the
inboard end thereof instead of the outboard end, and
[0027] FIG. 14 is a plan view of the patient support deck including
an articulated back section pivotally mounted to a seat section
about a transverse axis, and first and second side rails secured to
first and second sides of the back section respectively for
supporting various surgical accessories.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The present invention will be described primarily as a hand
table assembly to be attached to a surgical stretcher, but it will
be understood that the same may be used in conjunction with any
surgical operating table or a hospital bed.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a surgical stretcher 20 includes
a base frame 22 supported on a floor 24, an intermediate frame 26
coupled to the base frame, and an articulated patient support deck
28 mounted to the intermediate frame. The articulated patient
support deck 28 includes longitudinally spaced-apart back section
30, seat section 32, and leg and foot sections (not shown), which
are coupled to the intermediate frame 26 for movement relative to
one another and relative to the intermediate frame. A mattress 34,
disposed on the patient support deck 28, has an upwardly-facing
patient support surface 36 upon which a patient can rest.
[0030] The base frame 22 is covered by a protective shroud 38 to
shield various mechanisms mounted to the base frame from view and
to prevent foreign objects from being inadvertently inserted
therein. Relatively large casters 40, mounted at each corner of the
base frame 22, extend downwardly therefrom to engage the floor 24.
The intermediate frame 26 is supported above the base frame 22 by a
pair of longitudinally spaced-apart elevation mechanisms 42,
well-known to those skilled in the art. The elevation mechanisms 42
are each covered by a protective boot to shield the elevation
mechanisms from view and to prevent foreign objects from being
inadvertently inserted into the elevation mechanisms. The stretcher
20 includes a plurality of foot pedals 44 coupled to the elevation
mechanisms 42. Different foot pedals can be depressed to activate
appropriate elevation mechanisms 42 to raise, lower or tilt the
intermediate frame 26 and the patient-support deck 28 with respect
to the floor 24.
[0031] The stretcher 20 includes a conventional brake and steer
mechanism (not shown). The brake and steer mechanism includes a
caster braking mechanism (not shown) which brakes the casters 40 to
prevent them from rotating and swivelling when a brake-steer shaft
is rotated to a braking position. The brake-steer mechanism further
includes a steering mechanism (not shown) which lowers a center
wheel (not shown) into engagement with the floor 24 when the
brake-steer shaft is rotated to a steering position to enable the
operator to steer the stretcher 20. Additional details of the many
of the above-referenced mechanisms can be found in the U.S. Pat.
No. 5,806,111, assigned to the same assignee as the present
invention, which is incorporated by reference herein.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 14, the patient support deck 28 has a
longitudinal axis 50 that extends parallel to its length dimension.
At least the back section 30 is pivotally mounted to the seat
section 32 about a generally horizontal transverse axis 52
extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the patient
support deck 28 for movement between a generally horizontal
lying-down position and a reclining sitting-up position. The leg
and foot sections may be also pivotally mounted to the seat section
32 for articulation. The back section 30 is lockable relative to
the seat section 32 in an infinite number of positions between the
lying-down and sitting-up positions. A head rest 54 is coupled to
the back section 30 adjacent to a head end 56 of the patient
support deck 28.
[0033] Again referring to FIG. 1, the stretcher 20 includes side
rail assemblies 60 movably mounted on each side of the stretcher by
means of conventional 4-bar linkage mechanisms well-known to those
skilled in the art. The side rail assemblies 60 are movable between
(I) a down-out-of-the-way position in which the side rail
assemblies are disposed below the patient support surface 36 to
provide maximum access to a patient resting on the patient support
surface, and (ii) a raised position in which the side rail
assemblies are elevated above the patient support surface to
prevent a patient resting on the patient support surface from
inadvertently falling off.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 14, the articulatable back section 30 of
the stretcher 20 is equipped with back section side rails 64 and 66
secured to first and second sides 68 and 70 of the back section for
the purpose of accepting various accessories which are attached to
the side rails by means of standard surgical accessory sockets in a
manner well-known to those skilled in the art. The back section
side rails 64 and 66 extend slightly below the patient support deck
28 and away from the sides 68 and 70 of the back section 30
creating a space between the side rails and the sides of the
patient support deck for attachment of the surgical accessory
sockets. The surgical accessory sockets are free to move along the
length of the back section side rails 64 and 66 so that the
accessories can be positioned at suitable locations. The side rails
64 and 66 generally have the same rectangular cross-section as a
standard surgical rail (i.e., 1" high and 5/8" wide). Likewise, as
shown in FIG. 14, the seat section 32 may also be equipped with
seat section side rails on both sides thereof. As mentioned above,
the U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,210 illustratively describes one
arrangement for attaching a hand table to a back section side rail
of a stretcher via a surgical accessory socket. U.S. Pat. No.
5,135,210 is incorporated herein by reference to establish the
nature of surgical armboards.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a surgical hand table or armboard
assembly 100, designed as a cantilevered structure, is coupled to
the surgical stretcher 20 generally in a horizontal plane and at a
90.degree. angle to the longitudinal axis 50 of the patient support
deck 28. The hand table assembly 100 includes a generally planar
platform 102 having a longitudinal central axis 104, a platform
attachment mechanism 106 for releasably coupling the hand table
assembly to the patient support deck 28, a vertically-extendible
platform support leg 108, and a platform support leg attachment
mechanism 110 for releasably coupling the platform support leg to
the platform.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 2, the generally planar platform 102 has
an hourglass shape with one end broader than the other. The
platform 102 includes first and second end rails 112 and 114
coupled to inboard and outboard ends 116 and 118 of the platform in
a direction generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central
axis 104 of the platform. The platform 102 is configured to be
coupled to the patient support deck 28 at either end 116 or 118 of
the platform. The ability to couple the platform 102 at either end
thereof provides more space at an end of the platform 102 where it
is most appropriate for the type of surgery, either close or away
from a patient resting on the patient support deck 28. The platform
end rails 112 and 114, like the back section side rails 64 and 66,
have generally the same rectangular cross-section as a standard
surgical rail (i.e., 1" high and 5/8" wide).
[0037] Likewise, the platform 102 is further configured to be
coupled to the patient support deck 28 on either side 68 or 70 of
the patient support deck. Thus, for a right arm surgery the
platform 102 can be coupled to the right side of the patient
support deck 28, and for a left arm surgery the platform can be
coupled to the left side of the patient support deck.
[0038] A cushion 130, having an upwardly-facing surface 132, is
attached to the platform 102 by Velcro (trademark) pads 134 to
provide a cushioned surface for a patient's arm. The peripheral
edge of the platform 102 is rounded, and covered with a protective
coating of soft material 136 with a tough outer layer to avoid
tearing.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the vertically-extendible platform
support leg 108 has a head end 140 coupled to the platform 102 and
a foot end 142 coupled to a foot plate 144 configured to be
supported by the floor 24. The support leg 108 comprises an inner
tube 146 that is telescopically received in an outer tube 148. A
thumb screw 150 engages a threaded opening in a sleeve 152 secured
to an upper end of the outer tube 148. The distal end of the thumb
screw 150 engages the inner tube 146 to lock it in any suitable
position to adjust the height of the platform support leg 108.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the platform attachment mechanism
106 includes a generally planar supporting plate 160 having first
and second oppositely-disposed sides 162 and 164. A first
outwardly-projecting member 166 is pivotally coupled to the
supporting plate 160 on the first side 162 thereof for rotation
about the longitudinal central axis 104 of the platform 102. The
first outwardly-projecting member 166 includes a first
rail-receiving channel 168 disposed generally perpendicularly to
the longitudinal central axis 104 of the platform 102 for slidably
receiving either of the two platform end rails 112 and 114. As can
be seen from FIG. 6, a first thumb screw 170 engages a threaded
opening in the first outwardly-projecting member 166. The distal
end of the thumb screw 170 engages a platform end rail 112 received
in the first rail-receiving channel 168 to clamp the platform
attachment mechanism 106 anywhere along the platform end rail. This
provides the ability to adjust the side-to-side position of the
platform 102 relative to a patient's arm when the back section 30
is elevated as shown in FIG. 3.
[0041] A second outwardly-projecting member 180 is mounted to the
supporting plate 160 on the second side 164 thereof. The second
outwardly-projecting member 180 includes a second rail-receiving
channel 182 facing away from the first rail-receiving channel 168
and disposed generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central
axis 104 of the platform 102 for slidably receiving either of the
two back section side rails 64 and 66 of the articulatable back
section 30. As can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, a second thumb screw
184 engages a threaded opening in the second outwardly-projecting
member 180. The distal end of the thumb screw 184 engages a back
section side rail received in the second rail-receiving channel 182
to clamp the platform attachment mechanism 106 anywhere along the
side rail. This provides the ability to adjust the height of the
platform 102 when the back section 30 is elevated as shown in FIG.
1.
[0042] The first and second rail-receiving channels 168 and 182 are
offset with respect to each other, as shown in FIG. 6, in a
direction perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis 104 of the
platform 102 so that the upwardly-facing surface 132 of the cushion
130 supported on the platform 102 is generally at the same level as
the upwardly-facing surface 36 of a mattress 34 supported on the
patient support deck 28.
[0043] The platform attachment mechanism 106 is configured to
attach to either (I) a standard surgical side rail of a surgical
stretcher or a surgical operating table (i.e., 1" high and 5/8"
wide) or (ii) a one-inch square tube side rail of a conventional
stretcher (i.e., 1" high and 1" wide) so as to provide the ability
to attach the hand table assembly 100 to either a surgical side
rail or a conventional side rail. To this end, the second
rail-receiving channel 182 is oversized to fit a one-inch square
tube as shown in FIGS. 4-6. A flip-over lever 190 is movably
coupled to the second outwardly-projecting member 180. The
flip-over lever 190 has a first end 192 extending into the second
rail-receiving channel 182 when deployed, a second end 194
providing a handle portion, and a middle portion 196 coupled to the
second outwardly-projecting member 180 for pivoting movement
between (I) a deployed up position, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in
which a first end 192 of the flip-over lever extends into the
oversized second rail-receiving channel 182, and (ii) an
out-of-the-way down position, shown in FIG. 6, in which the first
end of the flip-over lever is outside the oversized second
rail-receiving channel. The first end 192 of the flip-over lever
190 reduces the thickness of the oversized second rail-receiving
channel 182 to closely fit a conventional surgical side rail when
the first end of the flip-over lever is positioned inside the
second rail-receiving channel as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A
not-illustrated spring, coupled to the flip-over lever 190, biases
the flip-over lever toward the deployed up position when the
flip-over lever is between an over-the-center position and the
deployed up position, and biases toward the out-of-the-way down
position when the flip-over lever is between the over-the-center
position and the out-of-the-way down position.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 5, each rail-receiving channel 168 and 182
has a C-shaped configuration comprising a base portion 200
extending generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central
axis 104 of the platform 102, first and second arm portions 202 and
204 extending generally perpendicularly to the base portion and at
least one lip portion 206 extending generally parallel to the base
portion and spaced therefrom. The base portion 200, the arm
portions 202 and 204 and the at least one lip portion 206 defining
a rail-receiving space so as to prevent a rail received therein
from moving transversely out of the rail-receiving channel.
[0045] Referring to FIGS. 7-13 generally and FIGS. 7-9
particularly, the platform support leg attachment mechanism 110
includes two identical leg-receiving receptacles 220 and 222
coupled to the underside of the platform 102 at its inboard and
outboard ends 116 and 118 respectively. As shown in FIG. 7, a
generally planar lower bracket 230 is coupled to the head end 140
of the platform support leg 108. The lower bracket 230 has an
outwardly-extending portion 232 at one end 234 thereof. A generally
planar upper bracket 240 is supported by the lower bracket 230 on
the top side thereof in a back-to-back arrangement as shown. The
upper bracket 240 has an outwardly-extending portion 242 at one end
244 thereof which is pivotably coupled to the outwardly-extending
portion 232 of the lower bracket 230 about a first axis 248 (see
FIG. 9) disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal central
axis 104 of the platform 102.
[0046] Again as shown in FIG. 7, a lower latch 260 is pivotally
coupled to the lower bracket 230 at the other end 236 thereof. The
lower latch 260 includes a generally upwardly-extending first
portion 262, which has an inwardly-turned lip portion 264 adapted
for engagement with the other end 246 of the upper bracket 240 for
releasably securing the other end 246 of the upper bracket 240 to
the other end 236 of the lower bracket 230. The lower latch 260
further includes a second generally downwardly-extending portion
266 providing a leg storage release handle, and a middle portion
268 pivotally coupled to the lower bracket 230 for pivoting
movement about a second axis 270 disposed generally transversely to
the longitudinal central axis 104 of the platform 102 between (i) a
first orientation shown in FIG. 10 in which the inwardly-turned lip
portion 264 of the generally upwardly-extending first portion 262
of the lower latch 230 engages the other end 246 of the upper
bracket 240 for releasably securing the lower bracket 230 to the
upper bracket 240, and (ii) a second orientation in which the
inwardly-turned lip portion 264 of the generally upwardly-extending
first portion 262 of the lower latch 230 disengages from the other
end 246 of the upper bracket 240 to free the platform support leg
108 to pivot about the first axis 248 as shown in FIG. 11.
[0047] The lower latch 260 further includes a spring 272 for
biasing the lower latch toward the first orientation thereof in
which the inwardly-turned lip portion 264 of the generally
upwardly-extending first portion 262 of the lower latch 260 engages
the other end 246 of the upper bracket 240 for releasably securing
the lower bracket 230 to the upper bracket 240. As mentioned above,
the lower latch 260 disengages from the other end 246 of the upper
bracket 240 to free the platform support leg 108 to pivot about the
first axis 248 for storage underneath the platform 102 in response
to movement of the leg storage release handle 266.
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 10-13, the hand table assembly 100
includes a support leg storage latch 274 comprising first and
second retaining pins 276 secured to the underside of the platform
102 at both inboard and outboard ends 116 and 118 thereof. The
platform support leg 108 can be folded and locked in a storage
position under the platform 102, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, by
pivoting the platform support leg about the first axis 248 so that
it extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 104 of the
platform on the underside thereof and extending the support leg to
cause a retaining pin to enter a retaining pin-receiving receptacle
278 disposed in the foot plate 144 of the platform support leg to
lock it in place.
[0049] As described above, the platform support leg attachment
mechanism 110 includes two identical leg-receiving receptacles 220
and 222 coupled to the underside of the platform 102. The
leg-receiving receptacle 220 is coupled to the underside of the
platform 102 at its inboard end 116, and the other leg-receiving
receptacle 222 is coupled to the underside of the platform at its
outboard end 118, as shown in FIGS. 10-13. Since the two
leg-receiving receptacles 220 and 222 are identical, only the
leg-receiving receptacle 222 secured to the outboard end 118 of the
platform 102 will be described. The description of the other
leg-receiving receptacle 220 is similar.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 8, the leg-receiving receptacle 222 forms a
downwardly-facing inverted U-shaped channel 280 including first and
second downwardly-extending portions 282 and 284 extending
generally transversely to the longitudinal central axis of the
platform 102. The open ends of the first and second
downwardly-extending portions 282 and 284 are configured to form
first and second inwardly-turned lip portions 286 and 288 as shown
in FIGS. 7-9. The upper bracket 240 includes an upwardly-extending
portion 290 adjacent the other end 246 thereof which forms an
outwardly-turned lip portion 292 adapted for engagement with the
inwardly-turned lip portion 288 of the leg-receiving receptacle
222.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 8, an upper latch 300 is pivotally coupled
to the upper bracket 240 adjacent the one end 244 thereof. The
upper latch 300 includes a first generally upwardly-extending
portion 302 having an outwardly-turned lip portion 304 adapted for
engagement with the other inwardly-turned lip portion 286 of the
leg-receiving receptacle 222 for releasably securing the upper
bracket 240 to the leg-receiving receptacle. The upper latch 300
includes a second outwardly-extending portion 306 providing a leg
release handle and a middle portion 308 pivotally coupled to the
upper bracket 240 for pivoting movement about a third axis 310
(shown in FIG. 9) disposed generally transversely to the
longitudinal central axis 104 of the platform 102 between (I) a
first orientation, shown in FIG. 7, in which the outwardly-turned
lip portion 304 of the first generally upwardly-extending portion
302 of the upper latch 300 engages the inwardly-turned lip portion
286 of the leg-receiving receptacle 222 to releasably secure the
upper bracket 240 to the leg-receiving receptacle, and (ii) a
second orientation, shown in FIG. 8, in which the outwardly-turned
lip portion 304 of the first generally upwardly-extending portion
302 of the upper latch 300 disengages from the inwardly-turned lip
portion 286 of the leg-receiving receptacle 222 to free the
platform support leg 108.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 7, the upper latch 300 further includes a
spring 312 for biasing the upper latch toward the first orientation
thereof in which the outwardly-turned lip portion 304 of the first
generally upwardly-extending portion 302 of the upper latch 300
engages the inwardly-turned lip portion 286 of the leg-receiving
receptacle 222 to releasably secure the upper bracket 240 to the
leg-receiving receptacle. The outwardly-turned lip portion 304 of
the generally upwardly-extending first portion 302 of the upper
latch 300 disengages from the other inwardly-turned lip portion 286
of the leg-receiving receptacle 222, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in
response to the movement of the leg release handle 306 to free the
platform support leg 108 from the leg-receiving receptacle, for
example, to move the platform support leg to the other end of the
platform 102.
[0053] The upper bracket 240 and the two leg-receiving receptacles
220 and 222 are illustratively formed from a high strength, light
weight plastic material by extrusion, but they may very well be
formed from any other suitable material--such as high strength,
light weight metal extrusion.
[0054] Although the invention has been described in detail with
reference to certain illustrated embodiments, variations and
modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the present
invention as described and defined in the following claims.
* * * * *