U.S. patent application number 10/428517 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-11 for surgical instrument support.
Invention is credited to Keating, Kathleen, Kohnen, Gregory, Pollard, Martha.
Application Number | 20040222175 10/428517 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33415967 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040222175 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Keating, Kathleen ; et
al. |
November 11, 2004 |
Surgical instrument support
Abstract
A surgical instrument support is provided having an elongated
body portion and a series of slots located in the upper portion of
the support adapted to receive a series of surgical instruments.
The support may be made of hard plastic, resilient plastic or metal
such as stainlees steel, aluminum or aluminum alloy. In one
embodiment the slots are sized to receive the surgical instruments
with an easily removable interference fit. In another embodiment
elastomeric inserts are provided in the slots to provide a
yieldable interference fit for instrument removal.
Inventors: |
Keating, Kathleen; (Fenton,
MO) ; Kohnen, Gregory; (Florissant, MO) ;
Pollard, Martha; (Manchester, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Henry W. Cummings
3313 W. Adams St.
St. Charles
MO
63301
US
|
Family ID: |
33415967 |
Appl. No.: |
10/428517 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/85.13 ;
211/70.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 50/20 20160201;
A61B 50/22 20160201; A61B 2090/0804 20160201 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/085.13 ;
211/070.6 |
International
Class: |
A47F 007/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A surgical instrument support comprising: an elongated body
portion having a series of slots located in the upper portion of
the support adapted to receive a series of surgical
instruments.
2. A surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein said
support is made of material selected from hard plastic, resilient
plastic and metal.
3. A surgical instrument support according to claim 2 wherein said
metal is selected from stainlees steel, aluminum and aluminum
alloy.
4. A surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein said
slots are sized to receive the surgical instruments with an easily
removable interference fit.
5. A surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein
elastomeric inserts are provided in said slots to provide a
yieldable interference fit.
6. A surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein a
variety of sizes of slots are provided in said body portion to
accomodate various sizes of surgical instruments.
7. A surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein said
support has a bottom surface which is provided with means to hold
said support in place on a separate support.
8. A surgical instrument support according to claim 7 wherein said
separate support is a medical table.
9. A surgical instrument support comprising: an elongated body
portion having a series of slots located in the upper portion of
the support adapted to receive a series of surgical instruments and
wherein said body portion has at least one arcuate surface to
facilitate holding medical instruments in place when not in
use.
10. A surgical tool support according to claim 9 wherein said
support has a pair of arcuate surfaces to facilitate holding said
surgical instruments in place when not in use.
11. A surgical instrument support comprising: an elongated body
portion having a series of slots located in the upper portion of
the support adapted to receive a series of surgical instruments and
wherein said support has at least one tapered external surface to
assist in maintaining said surgical instruments tools in place on
said body portion.
12. A surgical instrument support according to claim 11 wherein
said support has a pair of tapered external surfaces to facilitate
holding surgical instruments in place when not in use.
13. A surgical instrument support according to claim 11 wherein
said support has at least one arcuate surface to facilitate holding
surgical instruments in place when not in use.
14. A surgical tool support according to claim 13 wherein said
support has a pair of arcuate surfaces to facilitate holding
surgical instruments in place when not in use.
15. A surgical tool support according to claim 13 wherein said
arcuate surface is located below said tapered surface.
16. A surgical instrument support according to claim 14 wherein
said pair of arcuate surfaces are located respectively below said
pair of arcuate surfaces to facilitate holding tools in place when
not in use.
17. A surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein at
least a pair of said supports are removably attached.
18. A surgical instrument support according to claim 17 wherein a
pair of said supports are connected with a removable quick-connect
latch.
19. A surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein said
support is provided with adhesive material to hold it in place on a
separate support.
20. A surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein said
support is provided with a flat surface to hold it in place on a
separate support.
21. A surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein said
support is provided with elongated slots which extend only part way
across said upper surface, leaving a horizontal portion which
supports the surgical instruments.
22. A surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein said
support includes an elongated slot which receives an elastomeric
insert having transverse slots to provide a yieldable interference
fit for said surgical instruments.
23. A surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein said
support includes means to indicate the number of surgical
instruments which have been removed for use in an operation.
24. A surgical instrument support according to claim 23 wherein
said means to indicate the number of surgical instruments which
have been removed for use in an operation includes numbers located
on said body portion corresponding to the number of surgical
instruments which have been removed for use in an operation.
25. A surgical instrument support according to claim 1 wherein said
means to indicate the number of surgical instruments which have
been removed for use in an operation includes includes elastomeric
buttons located on said body portion in longitudinally spaced slots
with an interference fit, corresponding to the number of slots in
said support, said buttons being deformable to indicate the number
of surgical instruments which have been removed for use in an
operation.
26. A surgical tool support according to claim 25 wherein said
elastomeric buttons are located on said body portion in
longitudinally spaced slots with an interference fit.
27. A surgical tool support according to claim 18 wherein said
elastomeric buttons are located on said body portion and said
buttons have been mechanically deformed.
28. A surgical tool support according to claim 18 wherein said
support is made in two or more sections, each section having a body
portion and instrument slots, and said removable quick-connect
latch includes a female latch member having a slot located onone of
said sections and the other of said section includes a male latch
member having a projection which in closed position telescopes
within a portion of said female latch member.
29. A surgical tool support according to claim 17 wherein said
support is made in two sections, male and female, each section
having a body portion and instrument slots, and said female section
includes a female latch member having a slot and the male section
includes a male member having a projection which in closed position
telescopes within a portion of said female latch member.
30. A surgical instrument support according to claim 6 wherein said
series of slots are spaced relatively far apart so that each slot
may receive a plurality of surgical instruments.
31. A surgical instrument support according to claim 30 wherein
said series of slots include vertical side supports and flat
sections to support extended portions of said surgical
instruments.
32. A surgical instrument support according to claim 31 wherein
said bottom surface of the support is made flat to facilitate its
remaining in place on a supporting surface.
33. A surgical instrument support according to claim 31 wherein
said series of slots include vertical side supports and curved
sections to support the sides of said surgical instruments.
35 A surgical instrument support comprising: an elongated body
portion located in the upper portion of the support to receive a
series of surgical instruments.
36. A surgical instrument support according to claim 35 wherein
said body portion has a curved surface to support said surgical
instruments.
37. A surgical instrument support according to claim 35 wherein
said bottom surface of the support is also made flat to facilitate
its remaining in place on a supporting surface.
Description
I FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a support for surgical instruments
to be used in medical operations.
II BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It has been reported in the Press and over radio and T.V.
that instruments and sponges have been left in patients after the
operation has been completed, causing serious damage to the
patient.
[0003] In one system presently in use 10 some of the instruments 12
to be used in the operation are located on a towel 14 with the
handles 16 of the instruments 12 resting on the towel 14. Other
instruments 20 are located on a stand or table 30 resting on a
cloth 32 which may be either disposable or sterilized between
operations. See FIG. 1 and Ex. 1.
[0004] In another system 50 presently in use for endoscopic surgery
shown in FIG. 2, in which instruments to be used in the operation
are inserted into the patient and viewed externally are located in
a tray 51 having vertical supports 52 having curved slots 54 of
varying size 58, 56 to support endoscopic instruments of varying
cross sections located longitudinally within the tray 51.
III SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A. Objects of the Invention
[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide a surgical
instrument support which maintains the surgical instruments
laterally spaced from each other.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
surgical instrument support which maintains the surgical tools in a
desired location relative to each other.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
surgical instrument support which supports the handle portion of
the surgical instruments.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
surgical instrument support which provides structure which
indicates whether or not a surgical instrument is missing and may
have been misplaced or left in the patient.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
surgical instrument support which is disposable.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
surgical instrument support which is sterilizable.
[0012] B. Summary
[0013] In accordance with the present invention a surgical
instrument support is provided having an elongated body portion and
a series of slots located in the upper portion of the support
adapted to receive a series of surgical instruments. The support
may be made of hard plastic, resilient plastic or metal such as
stainlees steel, aluminum or aluminum alloy. In one embodiment the
slots are sized to receive the surgical instruments with an easily
removable interference fit. In another embodiment elastomeric
inserts are provided in the slots to provide a yieldable
interference fit for instrument removal. In another embodiment a
variety of sizes of slots are provided to accomodate various sizes
of surgical instruments. In another embodiment the bottom surface
of the support is made flat and/or provided with material to hold
it in place on a separate support such as a table.
[0014] In another embodiment the lower surface of the slots in the
support include an arcuate lower portion to facilitate holding the
instruments in place while they are stored.
[0015] In another embodiment the external surface of the support
includes at least one arcuate portion to assist in maintaining the
instruments in place on the support. In another embodiment the
support includes a pair of arcuate surfaces to assist in
maintaining the instruments in place on the support. In one
embodiment the support includes at least one tapered surface to
assist in maintaing the tools in place on the support. In another
embodiment the support includes a pair of tapered surfaces to
assist in maintaining the instruments in place on the support. In
another embodiment the support is made in two or more sections and
one section telescopes within another section. In another
embodiment the sections are connected with a removable interlocking
fit.
IV THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a prior art surgical instrument
support system.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side view of a prior art endoscopic surgical
instrument support.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
surgical instrument support system of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3A is a sectional view looking in the direction of the
arrows along the line 3A-3A in FIG. 3B.
[0020] FIG. 3B is a front elevation view of the surgical instrument
support system shown in FIG. 3.
[0021] FIG. 3C is a plan view of the surgical instrument support
system shown in FIG. 3B.
[0022] FIG. 3D is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
surgical instrument support system of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 3E is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
surgical instrument support system of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 3F is a sectional view looking in the direction of the
arrows along the line 3F-3F in FIG. 3G.
[0025] FIG. 3H is a front elevation view of the surgical instrument
support system shown in FIG. 3G.
[0026] FIG. 3I is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
surgical instrument support system of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 3J is a perspective view of the surgical instrument
insert shown in FIG. 3I.
[0028] FIG. 3K is a perspective view of the surgical instrument
support shown in FIG. 3I without the insert in place.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
surgical instrument support system of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
surgical instrument support system of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 5A is a plan view of the embodiment of the surgical
instrument support system of the present invention shown in FIG.
5.
[0032] FIG. 5B is an end view of the embodiment of the surgical
instrument support system of the present invention shown in FIG.
5.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
surgical instrument support system of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
surgical instrument support system of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
surgical instrument support system of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 8A is a detail side view of the surgical instrument
support system shown in FIG. 8.
[0037] FIG. 8B is a detail side view of the surgical instrument
support system shown in FIG. 8.
[0038] FIG. 8B is a detail side view of the surgical instrument
support system shown in FIG. 8.
[0039] FIG. 8C is a detail side elevation view looking in the
direction of the arrows along the line 8C in FIG. 8E.
[0040] FIG. 8SD is a detail side view of the surgical instrument
support system shown in FIG. 8.
[0041] FIG. 8B is a detail plan view of the surgical instrument
support system shown in FIG. 8D.
[0042] FIG. 8C is a sectional view looking in the direction of the
arrows along the line 8C-8C in FIG. 8E.
[0043] FIG. 8D is a detail side view of the surgical instrument
support system shown in FIG. 8.
[0044] FIG. 8E is a front elevation view of the surgical instrument
support system shown in FIG. 8.
[0045] FIG. 8F is a plan view of the instrument support system
shown in FIG. 8.
[0046] FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view of another embodiment
of the surgical instrument support system showing instrument
supports removably connected together in accordance with the
invention.
[0047] FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the assembled connected
supports.
[0048] FIG. 9B is a detail perspective view of one of the the
surgical instrument connecting members shown in FIG. 9.
[0049] FIG. 9C is a detail perspective view of another one of the
the surgical instrument connecting members shown in FIG. 9.
[0050] FIG. 9D is a detail perspective view of the connected
surgical instrument connecting members shown in FIG. 9.
[0051] FIG. 9E is a side elevation view looking in the direction of
the arrows along the line 9E-9E in FIG. 9A.
[0052] FIGS. 10 and 10a are perspective views of another embodiment
of a surgical instrument support member.
[0053] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
surgical instrument support member.
[0054] FIGS. 12, 12A and 12B are perspective views of telescoping
surgical instrument support members.
[0055] FIGS. 13, 13A and 13B are respectively, perspective and plan
views of interconnected surgical instrument support members.
V DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0056] In accordance with one embodiment the present invention
shown in FIGS. 3-3C, a surgical support 70 may be made of hard
plastic, resilient plastic or metal such as stainlees steel,
aluminum or aluminum alloy, and may be disposable or sterilizable.
The surgical support includes an elongated body portion 71 and a
series of slots 72 located in the upper portion 73 of the support
adapted to receive a series of surgical instruments tools.
Preferably the support also includes end members 74 and 76.
[0057] In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the slots 72 are
sized to receive the surgical tools with a removable interference
fit.
[0058] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the bottom surface 80
of the support is provided with adhesive material 82 to hold it in
place on a separate support such as a medical table 84.
[0059] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 3D, the bottom surface
80 of the support is provided with a flat surface 83 to hold it in
place on a separate support such as a medical table 84.
[0060] In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3E-3H the support 70a
includes an elongated slot 71a which extends only part way across
the upper surface 71b, leaving a horizontal portion 71c which
supports the surgical instruments.
[0061] In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3I-3K the support 70d
includes an elongated slot 71e which receives an elastomeric insert
78 having slots 78a to provide a yieldable interference fit 78f for
the surgical tools.
[0062] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the external surface
92 of the support 90 is, for example 1.25 to 1.5 inches high and
1.25 to 1.75 inches wide at the base and includes at least one
arcuate portion 94 of, for example 1 to 1.4 inch radius to assist
in maintaining the instruments in place.
[0063] In another embodiment the support includes a pair of arcuate
surfaces 94 and 96 to assist in maintaining the instruments in
place on the support. Slots 98 of for example {fraction (3/16)} to
{fraction (1/4)} inches are located in upper surface 99 which is,
for example 0.25 to 0.50 inches wide.
[0064] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, support 100 of
basically the same size, includes at least one tapered surface 102
to assist in maintaing the tools in place on the support. In
another embodiment the support includes a pair of tapered surfaces
102 and 104 to assist in maintaining the tools in place on the
support. Slots 106 are located in upper surface 108.
[0065] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the support 110
includes at least one tapered surface 112 for example of 0.25 to
0.50 inch and one arcuate surface 113 for example of 0.25 to 0.50
inch radius of curvature to assist in maintaing the tools in place
on the support. In another embodiment the support includes a pair
of tapered surfaces 112 and 104 and a pair of arcuate surfaces 113,
115 to assist in maintaining the tools in place on the support.
Slots 106 are located in upper surface 108.
[0066] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the support 120
includes a first arcuate surface 121 for example of 0.25 to 0.50
inch and at least one one second arcuate surface 123 for example of
0.25 to 0.50 inch radius of curvature to aid in maintaing the
instruments in place on the support.
[0067] In another embodiment the support includes a pair of first
arcuate surfaces 121 and 124 and a second pair of arcuate surfaces
123, 125 to assist in maintaining the tools in place on the
support. Slots 126 are located in upper surface 128, which may be
flat or arcuate.
[0068] In accordance with another embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-8E, a
surgical support 170 made of hard plastic, resilient plastic or
metal such as stainlees steel, aluminum or aluminum alloy, and may
be disposable or sterilizable. The surgical support includes an
elongated body portion 171 and a series of slots 172 located in the
upper portion 173 of the support adapted to receive a series of
surgical instruments tools. Preferably the support also includes
numbers 175 located on the body portion for the specific surgical
instruments located in the respective slots so that the liklihood
of an instrument being left in a patient or otherwise misplaced is
reduced. Preferably the support also includes end members 174 and
176.
[0069] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 8A-8C, the slots 172 are
sized to receive the surgical tools with a removable interference
fit.
[0070] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the bottom surface
180 of the support is a flat surface 183 to hold it in place on a
separate support such as a medical table 184. In another embodiment
shown in FIG. 8, the bottom surface 180 of the support is also
provided with adhesive material 182 to hold it in place on a a
medical table 184.
[0071] In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 8B and 8D the support
170 includes elastomeric buttons 186 located in slots 188 with an
interference fit, corresponding to the number of slots 172 in the
support 170. When the nurse, physician or attendant takes out the
instruments, the button corresponding to the number of instruments
is depressed.
[0072] That button will remain depressed because of the
interference fit with the walls of the slot, or in another
embodiment by surface deformation of the buttons. When the
operation is over and the instruments are to be replaced, if the
number of instruments does not correspond with the button that is
depressed, the attendant will know that one or more instruments are
missing, and may have been left in the patient.
[0073] In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-9E the support 190 is
made in two sections 191 and 192, each having a body portion 193,
194 and instrument slots 195, 196. Section 191 includes a female
latch 197 having a slot 197a and section 192 includes a male latch
member 198 having a projection 198a which in closed position shown
in FIGS. 9A, 9D and 9E telescopes within a portion of latch member
197.
[0074] In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 12-12B the support 290
is made in two sections 291 and 292, each having a body portion
293, 294 and instrument slots 295, 296. Section 291 includes a
female latch 297 having a slot 297a and section 292 includes a male
latch member 298 having a projection 298a which in closed position
shown in FIG. 12A, telescopes within a portion of latch member 297.
FIG. 12B shows the assembly in the extended position in which slots
295 and 296 receive surgical instruments to be supported and
stored.
[0075] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 10 the support for
surgical instruments includes a series of slots 200 spaced
relatively far apart so that each slot may receive a plurality of
surgical instruments 202. In FIG. 10 the slots are formed by
cutting or molding the slots 200 leaving vertical side supports 204
and flat sections 205 to support the extended portions 206 of the
surgical instruments.
[0076] The bottom surface 208 of the support is also preferably
made flat to facilitate its remaining in place on a supporting
surface such as a medical table.
[0077] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 10A the support for
surgical instruments 210 includes a series of slots 212 spaced
relatively far apart so that each slot may receive a plurality of
surgical instruments 214. In FIG. 10a the slots are formed by
cutting or molding the slots 210 leaving vertical side supports 211
and curved sections 215 to support the sides 116 of the surgical
instruments.
[0078] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 11 the support for
surgical instruments includes no series of slots and the surgical
instruments 220 are supported by a continuous curved surface 222 to
support the extended portions 226 of the surgical instruments. The
bottom surface 208 of the support is also preferably made flat to
facilitate its remaining in place on a supporting surface such as a
medical table.
[0079] In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 13-13B the support 300
is made in at least two sections 301 and 302, each having a body
portion 303, 304 and instrument slots 305, 306. Sections 301 and
302 each include a female latch 307 having a slot 307a and a male
latch portion 308 having a projection 308a which in closed position
shown in FIGS. 13 and 13B, telescopes within a portion of female
slot 307a. FIGS. 13B and 13B shows the assembly in the extended
position in which slots 305 and 306 receive surgical instruments to
be supported. Any number of sections 301 and 302 can be connected
together to make along instrument support.
* * * * *