U.S. patent application number 11/749516 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-13 for tray mounting system.
Invention is credited to Steven T. Charles.
Application Number | 20070284495 11/749516 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38820934 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070284495 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Charles; Steven T. |
December 13, 2007 |
Tray Mounting System
Abstract
A tray mounting system for use with a piece of medical/surgical
equipment includes a tray and a tray support base. The tray and
tray support base are attached to one another using a locking
mechanism. When the instruments, devices and/or consumables on the
tray are in need of replacement, either the tray alone or the
combination of the tray and tray support base may be removed and
replaced.
Inventors: |
Charles; Steven T.;
(Memphis, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALCON
IP LEGAL, TB4-8, 6201 SOUTH FREEWAY
FORT WORTH
TX
76134
US
|
Family ID: |
38820934 |
Appl. No.: |
11/749516 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60872407 |
Jun 13, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/274.1 ;
128/898 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 50/33 20160201;
A61B 50/15 20160201; A61B 50/10 20160201; A61B 90/50 20160201 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/274.1 ;
128/898 |
International
Class: |
E04G 3/00 20060101
E04G003/00 |
Claims
1. A tray mounting system for use with a medical/surgical system,
said tray mounting system comprising: a multi-positionable mounting
arm constructed and arranged for positioning by the operator of the
medical/surgical system; said multi-positionable mounting arm being
further constructed and arranged to include a mounting for a tray;
said mounting for a tray constructed and arranged for use with
trays of different configurations.
2. The tray mounting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said
mounting for a tray includes a tray support base.
3. The tray mounting system as defined in claim 2 wherein the tray
is detachable from said tray support base.
4. The tray mounting system as defined in claim 3 further including
a locking mechanism to affix the tray to said tray support
base.
5. The tray mounting system as defined in claim 4 wherein said
locking mechanism is deactivated by a handle.
6. The tray mounting system as defined in claim 2 wherein the tray
and said tray support base are removable from said
multi-positionable mounting arm as a unit.
7. A mounting for a tray containing instruments, devices or
consumables associated with a procedure performed by a piece of
medical/surgical equipment, said mounting for a tray comprising of:
a tray constructed and arranged to hold and organize the
instruments, devices or consumables; a tray support base
constructed and arranged to removably support said tray; said tray
support base constructed and arranged for removable attachment to
the piece of medical/surgical equipment.
8. The mounting for a tray as defined in claim 7 wherein said tray
is connected to said tray support base using a locking
mechanism.
9. The mounting for a tray as defined in claim 8 wherein said
locking mechanism is deactivated by a handle connected to said tray
support base.
10. The mounting for a tray as defined in claim 9 wherein said
handle includes a visual characteristic associated with the
instruments, devices or consumables on said tray.
11. The mounting for a tray as defined in claim 9 wherein said
handle includes a tactile characteristic associated with the
instruments, devices or consumables on said tray.
12. The mounting for a tray as defined in claim 9 wherein said
handle includes a geometrical characteristic associated with the
instruments, devices or consumables on said tray.
13. A method for reconfiguring a piece of medical/surgical
equipment for performance of different medical/surgical procedures,
said method comprising the steps of: identifying the instruments,
devices and/or consumables used with a medical/surgical procedure;
assembling the identified instruments, devices and consumables on a
tray; affixing said tray to the end of arm extending from the piece
of medical/surgical equipment; replacing said tray with another
tray holding a new set of instruments, devices and consumables
whenever a medical/surgical procedure has been completed.
14. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein said tray includes a
tray support base.
15. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein said tray is
removable from said tray support base.
Description
[0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/872,407 filed Jun. 13, 2006.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention pertains to tray mounting systems used
with medical/surgical equipment; more particularly, the present
invention pertains to tray mounting systems that may be configured
based on the type of medical/surgical procedure being
performed.
BACKGROUND
[0003] While tray systems are used to hold instruments, devices,
and consumables used with a variety of medical/surgical equipment,
it has been found that prior art console-mounted tray arms are not
tray-configurable. Specifically, prior art console-mounted tray
arms typically provide for the mounting of one size or one type of
tray. When the medical/surgical equipment provides the capability
to perform multiple procedures, each of which uses different
instruments, devices, and consumables, there is a need for greater
utility. Such greater utility can be provided by a mounting system
which enables the use of various different types of trays. Each
tray is designed to hold and organize the various instruments,
devices, and consumables associated with a specific procedure
enabled by the piece of medical/surgical equipment to which the
tray is attached.
[0004] A need remains in the art for a tray mounting system that
will support various different types of trays so that the proper
array of instruments, devices and consumables are provided to the
medical professional performing a procedure using a piece of
medical/surgical equipment.
SUMMARY
[0005] The tray mounting system of the present invention enables
the use of multiple trays with a single piece of medical/surgical
equipment. Each tray is configured to hold and organize the
instruments, devices, and/or consumables associated with a
procedure offered by the medical/surgical equipment being operated
by a medical professional.
[0006] The tray mounting system includes a multi-positionable
mounting arm constructed and arranged for positioning by the
operator of the system. The mounting arm is constructed and
arranged to include a mounting for a tray. The mounting for a tray
is constructed and arranged for use with trays of different
configurations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0007] A better understanding of the tray mounting system of the
present invention may be had by reference to the drawing figures,
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tray mounting system of
the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tray mounting
system shown in FIG. 1; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view showing the
removal/replacement of a complete tray module.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The present invention is described in terms of its use with
an ophthalmic surgical system. Those of ordinary skill in the art
will understand that the present invention may be used with any
type of medical/surgical equipment with which a tray including an
array of instruments, devices, or consumables is used.
[0012] Because ophthalmic surgical systems are used with multiple
surgical procedures to include cataract and vitreoretinal surgery,
there is a need on the part of the medical professional using the
system to use trays specific to a particular type of surgery or as
needed for a particular procedure.
[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the tray arm 100 used with the
tray mounting system 10 of the present invention may be configured
to allow trays of different sizes or trays with different integral
features to be mounted at the end of the tray arm 100. As shown in
FIG. 2 the tray 20 and/or unlocking handle 30 may be changed
without affecting the rest of the tray support mechanism.
[0014] By use of the disclosed invention, fresh trays 20 of
instruments, devices and/or consumables may be provided for use
with a repetitive series of the same or different type of
medical/surgical procedure on multiple patients. Optionally, the
entire tray 20 and tray support base 40 may be removed as a unit as
shown in FIG. 3 and replaced with a different tray 20 and tray
support base 40.
[0015] The health care professional using the tray mounting system
10 of the present invention specifies which configuration of tray
20 for holding instruments, devices, and consumables is needed
based on medical/surgical needs. If, at any point between
medical/surgical procedures, the medical professional decides to
configure the medical/surgical equipment for a different procedure,
a complete replacement tray mounting system 10 may be ordered. The
replacement tray system is easily installed by field service
personnel on the end of arm 100.
[0016] In FIG. 2 it may be seen that by pulling handle 30, a tray
locking mechanism 50 is de-activated. With the tray locking
mechanism 50 de-activated, the tray 20 may simply be lifted off a
tray support base 40 containing the tray locking mechanism 50 and
replaced with another tray. As may be further seen in FIG. 2, the
handle 30 is replaceable. Those of ordinary skill in the art will
understand that the color and shape of the replaceable handle 30
and/or the color and shape of the tray 20 may provide a visual,
tactile, or geometrical indicator that the proper tray including
the needed instruments, devices, and/or consumables is mounted to
the tray support base 40 at the end of the arm 100.
[0017] While a simple butterfly-shaped connection 52 for tray
locking mechanism 50 is shown in FIG. 2, those of ordinary skill in
the art will understand that a variety of different shaped
connections may be used.
[0018] In FIG. 3, both the tray 20 and tray support base 40 are
lifted from the end of the tray arm 100. Such removal of both the
tray 20 and the tray support base 40 is needed when a dramatically
different procedure is being performed using the piece of
medical/surgical equipment. While a simple pin 60 and socket 62
connection is shown, those of ordinary skill will understand that a
variety of different connections may be used without departing from
the scope of the present invention. Such connection may include
spring loaded detents, pinned connections or threaded
engagements.
[0019] While the present invention has been disclosed according to
its preferred and alternate embodiment, those of ordinary skill in
the art will understand that other tray mounting systems have been
enabled by the foregoing disclosure. Such other tray mounting
systems shall fall within the scope and meaning of the appended
claims.
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