U.S. patent application number 10/369343 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-19 for overhead support apparatus for a multi-purpose operating room.
Invention is credited to Lipsky, William.
Application Number | 20040159761 10/369343 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32850318 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040159761 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lipsky, William |
August 19, 2004 |
Overhead support apparatus for a multi-purpose operating room
Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed for supporting two or more overhead
medical instruments in a single operating room such that each
medical instrument can be moved between an operating position in
proximity of the patient table and a stored position out of
proximity of the patient table so as not to hamper access to the
patient. The apparatus includes a set of primary rails connected to
the ceiling and at least two support carriages engaging the primary
rails such that the support carriages can be moved in a
longitudinal direction across the length of the operating room.
Each support carriage includes an overhead medical instrument
mounted to a trolley which can be moved along the support carriage
in a lateral direction across the width of the operating room.
Inventors: |
Lipsky, William; (Houston,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JACKSON WALKER, L.L.P.
SUITE 2100
112 EAST PECAN ST.
SAN ANTONIO
TX
78205
US
|
Family ID: |
32850318 |
Appl. No.: |
10/369343 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/323 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 90/50 20160201 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/323 |
International
Class: |
A47H 001/10 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for use in an operating room with a structural ceiling
and having an operating table located therein, said apparatus for
supporting a plurality of overhead medical instruments and moving
each of said medical instruments between a first position in
proximity of the operating table and a second position out of
proximity of the operating table, said apparatus comprising: a set
of primary rails connected to the operating room at a location
above the operating table; and a plurality of support carriages
engaging the set of primary rails, said support carriages being
moveable in a horizontal direction parallel to the set of primary
rails, each support carriage comprising: (i) a set of secondary
rails arranged perpendicular to the set of primary rails; and (ii)
a trolley engaging the set of secondary rails, said trolley for
supporting a medical instrument and being moveable in a horizontal
direction parallel to the set of secondary rails.
2. Apparatus for use in an operating room having a structural
ceiling and an operating table located therein, said apparatus
comprising: a set of primary rails connected to the ceiling of the
operating room and spanning approximately the longitudinal length
of the operating room, said primary support rails arranged
substantially parallel to one another; and a plurality of support
carriages engaging the set of primary rails, each support carriage
comprising: (i) a set of secondary rails spanning approximately the
longitudinal length of the operating room and arranged
substantially parallel to one another and substantially
perpendicular to the set of primary rails; (ii) a first set of
wheels for engaging the set of primary rails, said first set of
wheels allowing the support carriage to translate longitudinally
along the set of primary rails; (iii) a trolley having a second set
of wheels for engaging the set of secondary rails, said second set
of wheels allowing the trolley to translate laterally along the set
of secondary rails; and (iv) a medical instrument mounted to and
suspended from the trolley, said medical instrument being moveable
between a first position in proximity of the operating table and a
second position out of proximity of the operating table.
3. Apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a means for locking the
trolley to prevent the trolley from being moveable in a horizontal
direction parallel to the set of secondary rails.
4. Apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a means for locking
each support carriage to prevent each support carriage from being
moveable in a horizontal direction parallel to the set of primary
rails.
5. Apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a means for locking
each support carriage to prevent each support carriage from being
moveable in a horizontal direction parallel to the set of primary
rails.
6. Apparatus of claim 2, wherein the set of primary rails includes
exactly two rails and the of secondary rails includes exactly 2
rails, said apparatus comprising a first support carriage and a
second support carriage.
7. Apparatus of claim 6, wherein the medical instrument of the
first support carriage is a surgical lamp for facilitating plastic
surgery operations.
8. Apparatus of claim 7, wherein the medical instrument of the
second support carriage is a microscope device for performing
microscopic surgical procedures.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for managing
the useable space in a medical operating room. More particularly,
the present invention relates to a support carriage apparatus for
suspending and mobilizing a plurality of overhead medical
instruments in an operating room to increase footprint floor space
efficiency and to facilitate different surgical procedures in a
single operating room.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In the surgical medicine field, floor space is a critical
parameter in the overall design of an balance of utility and
versatility. Particularly, the placement of medical tools and
instruments in proximity of the patient must be done with
consideration given to keeping the immediate area around the
patient free from obstructing the surgeon's access to the
patient.
[0005] In the past, mounting medical instruments to mobile floor
stands has been common practice in the operating room. However,
floor stand instruments tend to clutter the operating room and take
up valuable space thereby limiting patient access and even becoming
an obstacle to the surgeon. Accordingly, overhead supported
instruments--such as the ceiling-mounted microscope described in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,566,872, assigned on its face to J. D. Moller
Optische Werke GmbH--have become a useful means to address spatial
concerns in an operating theatre.
[0006] However, while ceiling-mounted tools help to maximize
spatial efficiency, operating room versatility is necessarily
sacrificed. For example, the ceiling-mounted microscope disclosed
by the '872 patent is fixed in place above the patient table
thereby strictly limiting the use of the operating room to
microsurgery procedures. Therefore, medical procedures which
require a different overhead tool--such as a lighting system for
plastic surgery procedures--must be performed in another operating
theatre.
[0007] Besides the ceiling-mounted instrument disclosed by the '872
patent, other systems have been devised which provide a somewhat
mobile ceiling support from which a single medical instrument is
suspended. U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,854, to Geza J. Jako, discloses a
surgical laser system comprising a laser delivery device and a
microscope. The laser system is suspended from a set of X rails and
Y rails which allow the operator to adjust the position of the
laser beams in the horizontal plane above a patient on an operating
table.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,817, assigned on its face to Schroer
Manufacturing Company, discloses a locking carriage mechanism to
support a surgical lamp on a track mounted to the ceiling of an
operating room. The track provides a path on which the lamp can be
moved along a single axis to provide lighting to areas as dictated
by the positioning of the surgeon and the patient.
[0009] While the laser beam positioning device of the '854 patent
and the lamp track of the '817 patent may facilitate adapting a
single medical instrument or tool to the particular needs of a
single surgical procedure, these devices fail to address the
operating room versatility problem created by employing
ceiling-mounted overhead devices. Particularly, these devices fail
to provide: (1) means for supporting a plurality of overhead
medical instruments in a single operating room, and (2) means for
moving each instrument between a position near the patient to
facilitate a particular surgical procedure and a position away from
the patient such that another instrument can be brought near the
patient to facilitate a completely different surgical
procedure.
[0010] Accordingly, the surgical medicine field would find
desirable a support apparatus for suspending at least two overhead
medical instruments in an operating room and which allows a first
instrument to be moved between an operating position located near
the target patient during a particular surgical procedure and a
stored position located away from the patient such that a second
instrument can be brought into position near the patient during a
different surgical procedure. This novel and useful result has been
achieved by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention is directed toward a support apparatus
for facilitating the operation, mobilization, and storage of a
plurality of overhead medical instruments in a single operating
room. Particularly, the support apparatus provides a means by which
at least two overhead medical instruments can be suspended from the
ceiling of an operating room such that each instrument is moveable
between an operating position where the instrument is in proximity
of the patient table to facilitate a particular surgical procedure
and a stored position where the instrument is out of proximity of
the patient table so that a second overhead medial instrument can
be moved into the operating position.
[0012] An embodiment of the support apparatus of the present
invention includes a set of primary rails connected to the ceiling
and spanning approximately the longitudinal length of the operating
room. The set of primary rails facilitates longitudinal translation
of at least two support carriages. Each support carriage carries an
overhead medical instrument and engages the set of primary rails
such that the carriage may be moved longitudinally along the
primary rails. Each support carriage includes a set of secondary
rails spanning approximately the lateral width of the operating
room. The set of secondary rail facilitates lateral translation of
an overhead medical instrument. The medical instrument is mounted
to a trolley which engages the set of secondary rails such that the
instrument may be moved laterally along the secondary rails.
[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, each support
carriage includes a set of wheels which engage the set of primary
rails to facilitate longitudinal translation of the support
carriage and thus the overhead medical instrument. Moreover, each
trolley holding the medical instrument includes a set of wheels
which engage the set of secondary rails of the support carriage to
facilitate longitudinal translation of the trolley and thus the
overhead medical instrument.
[0014] In still another embodiment of the present invention, each
support carriage may be locked by the operator to prevent
longitudinal translation of the overhead medical instrument, and
each trolley may be locked by the operator to prevent lateral
translation of the overhead medical instrument.
[0015] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
support apparatus includes a first support carriage for carrying a
surgical microscope and a second support carriage for carrying a
surgical lighting system.
[0016] It is an object and feature of the present invention to
provide a translating support apparatus for holding a plurality of
overhead medical instruments in a single operating room such that
the operating room may be utilized for a greater variety of
surgical procedures than if only one overhead medical instrument
was fixed in place over the patient table.
[0017] It is another object and feature of the present invention to
provide a translating support apparatus that may easily be
maneuvered by the operator to move the attached medical instruments
into proximity of the patient and when finished into a stored
position away from the patient.
[0018] It is still another object and feature of the present
invention to provide an overhead gantry system which provides the
surgeon with the flexibility to position the surgical bed in any
desired location or orientation within the confines of the
operating room without limitations normally imposed by bulky floor
standing equipment or fixed overhead equipment. Accordingly, the
surgeon may position the patient and the operating table in the
optimal location for himself or herself, the assistants, surgical
instrument tables, and ancillary equipment without restrictions.
Once the patient and table are positioned, the gantry system may be
employed to move the overhead equipment itself to achieve the
desired target location. The gantry system prevents an overhead
medical instrument from becoming an impediment or a determining
factor in setting up an operating room. Moreover, the gantry system
actually increases the flexibility of an operating room by allowing
a wide range of convenient arrangements to suit the individual
surgeon's needs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] In the accompanying drawings:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an operating room with an
embodiment of the multi-purpose support system installed in
accordance with the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view of the operating room
and multi-purpose support system of FIG. 1 depicting a lighting
system support carriage for use with plastic surgery
operations.
[0022] FIG. 2A is an enlarged elevation view of the structural
connection and rolling track for the lighting system support
carriage shown in FIG. 2.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view of the operating room
and multi-purpose support system of FIG. 1 depicting a microscope
support carriage for use with microsurgery operations.
[0024] FIG. 3A is an enlarged elevation view of the structural
connection and rolling track for the microscope support carriage
shown in FIG. 3.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a plan view of an operating room illustrating the
first medical instrument in the operating position and the second
medical instrument in the stored position.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a plan view of an operating room illustrating the
second medical instrument in the operating position and the first
medical instrument in the stored position.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
[0027] The following illustrative description of the present
invention is provided to facilitate an understanding of the
invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention to
any specific form. In the specification and appended claims: (1)
the terms "connect," "connecting," "connection," or "connected" are
used to mean "in direct connection with" or "in connection with via
another element"; and (2) the term "set" is used to mean "one" or
"more than one". Moreover, the term "medical instrument" is used to
mean any instrument, tool, device, or machinery used to facilitate
a medical operation or surgical procedure which may be suspended at
a location above the patient.
[0028] With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention includes a
support device 10 for suspending and transporting two overhead
medical instruments within a single operating room having an
operating table upon which a patient is placed for the purpose of
facilitating a surgical procedure. In a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the support device 10 comprises a set of two
primary rails 20, and a set of two support carriages 30, 40. The
set of primary rails 20 spans across approximately the entire
length of the room. The set of support carriages 30, 40 spans
across approximately the entire width of the room. While the
preferred embodiment of the support device is described and shown
as having two primary rails and two support carriages, it is
intended that any number of primary rails can be used to support a
plurality of carriages.
[0029] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, each of the primary rails 20 is
fabricated from a structural channel beam having a top flange 21
and a bottom flange 22. The top flange 21 is connected to
structural ceiling beams 23 which are designed to bear the weight
of the support device 10 and suspended medical instruments 50, 60.
Each primary rail 20 is attached to the ceiling beams 23 preferably
by a set of through-bolts connecting the top flange 21 of the
primary rail to bottom flange of the ceiling beam. The primary
rails 20 are preferably arranged substantially perpendicular to one
another. While the primary rails are described in the preferred
embodiment as being attached to the ceiling, it is intended that
the primary rails may be connected to the operating room at any
location above the operating table including, but not limited to,
the ceiling and the walls of the operating room. Furthermore, while
the connection in the preferred embodiment is made with
through-bolts, it is intended that the primary rails may be
attached to the ceiling beams or the walls of the operating room by
any conventional means including, but not limited to, welding,
rivets, bolts, screws, clasps, ties, snaps, hooks, and latches.
[0030] Each of the support carriages 30,40 includes a set of
secondary rails 31,41. Each secondary rail 31, 41 is fabricated
from a structural channel beam 31, 41 having a top flange 32, 42
and a bottom flange 33,43. The top flange 32,42 is connected to a
set ofwheels 34,44 which engages the bottom flange 22 of a primary
support rail 20 such that each support carriage 30, 40 can
translate longitudinally across the length of the room. The
secondary rails of each support carriage are preferably arranged
substantially parallel to one another and substantially
perpendicular to the primary rails. While the preferred embodiment
of the support device is described as having primary rails and
secondary rails fabricated from structural channels, it is intended
that the primary rails can be fabricated from any structural beam
shapes including, but not limited to, wide flange, angle, and
tubular-beams.
[0031] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 2A, the first support carriage
30 is used to suspend a first overhead medical instrument 50 such
as a surgical lamp for facilitating plastic surgery operations. The
first medical instrument 50 is mounted to a trolley 51 which
includes a set of wheels 52. The wheels 52 of the trolley 51 engage
the lower flange 33 of a secondary rail 31 of the support carriage
30 such that the trolley can translate laterally across the width
of the room.
[0032] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 3A, the second support
carriage 40 is used to suspend a second overhead medical instrument
60 such as a microscope device for facilitating microscopic
ophthalmic procedures or other microscopic surgical procedures such
as hand surgery, otolaryngology, or neurosurgical procedures. Other
surgeries requiring a microscope device include, but are not
limited to, cataract extraction, corneal transplantation,
vitrectomy, and tympanoplasties. The first medical instrument 60 is
mounted to a trolley 61 which includes a set of wheels 62. The
wheels 62 of the trolley 61 engage the lower flange 43 of a
secondary rail 41 of the support carriage 40 such that the trolley
can translate laterally across the width of the room.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, to facilitate different surgical
procedures--each procedure requiring a unique overhead medical
instrument--the first medical instrument 50 can be moved into an
operating position while the second medical instrument is moved
into a stored position; or, alternatively, the second medical
instrument 50 can be moved into an operating position while the
first medical instrument is moved into a stored position. For
example, if a plastic surgery operation is to be performed, the
surgeon or technician can move an overhead surgical lamp 50 in an
operating position directly over the patient table 100 or otherwise
in proximity of the patient 101. The microscope device 60 can be
moved to a stored position in the corner of the operating room and
out of proximity of the patient table 100 such that the surgeon's
access to the patient 101 is not obstructed during the plastic
surgery procedure. This arrangement is shown in FIG. 4.
[0034] Moreover, if a microscopic ophthalmic operation or other
microscopic surgical procedure is to be performed, the surgeon or
technician can move the microscope device 60 in an operating
position directly over the patient table 100 or otherwise in
proximity of the patient 101. The surgical lamp 50 can be moved to
a stored position in the corner of the operating room and out of
proximity of the patient table 100 such that the surgeon's access
to the patient 101 is not obstructed during the plastic surgery
procedure. This arrangement is shown in FIG. 5.
[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the support device of the
present invention, the displacement of the overhead medical
instruments is performed manually by the surgeon or technician.
This may be accomplished simply by grasping the medical instrument
and maneuvering it to the target location--either in the operating
position or the stored position. However, while the preferred
embodiment of the support device is described as being operated
manually, it is intended that the support device can also be
operated by a conventional electric motor driving the wheels of
each trolley and each support carriage at the direction of the
surgeon or technician.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment of the support device of the
present invention, the primary rails and support carriages are
fabricated from metal components. However, it is intended that the
primary rails and support carriages can be fabricated from any
sturdy material designed to bear the its self-weight and the load
of the particular medical instrument suspended beneath including,
but not limited to, structural steel, light gage steel, aluminum,
high-strength plastic, polymer composite, or any structurally sound
combination thereof.
[0037] In another embodiment of the present invention, the support
device includes a conventional locking mechanism to prevent the
wheels of each trolley and the wheels of each support carriage from
rolling. Accordingly, when the overhead medical instrument is
successfully moved to the target position, the locking mechanism
can be engaged to prevent longitudinal translation, lateral
translation, or both longitudinal and lateral translation of the
overhead medical instrument.
* * * * *