Operating Support For Surgeons

Abstract

Operating room equipment is provided for supporting the body, feet and chest of a surgeon while operating. The support is adjustable to satisfy individual needs and preferences and does not interfere with the freedom of the surgeon's hand and arm movements. The support is preferably releasably secured adjacent an operating table and may be provided with means for illuminating the operating field.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to surgical operating room equipment and more particularly to an operating support for surgeons.

Surgical practice is such that operating room equipment and its arrangement varies greatly depending on the particular surgical procedure and individual needs and preferences. Flexibility in positioning items of equipment is highly desirable and is one reason that operating tables mounted on casters are generally preferred to those having a fixed base. Although personnel may be variously disposed around the operating table, the anesthetist is invariably seated on a stool at the head of the table. At times the surgeon will sit on a stool, for instance in vaginal operations or during protracted hand surgery. However, during many procedures of long duration, the surgeon is compelled to stand simply because he cannot properly position himself relative to the operating field while seated on a stool. Although operating room accommodations should not be excessive, at the present time there is no satisfactory and practical way of physically supporting the surgeon that would be useful in a wide variety of operations. However, if the surgeon could sit and be otherwise supported while operating, he would experience less fatigue and function more smoothly.

The discomfort of surgeons and dentists during individual or collective procedures that necessitate their standing for long periods of time is a recognized problem and the prior art shows that some effort has been made to solve it. For example, there has been proposed a surgeon's operating chair having a body-contacting member against which the surgeon leans while operating, and there is a chest-supporting device against which a dentist can lean while working over a reclining patient. It may be noted that a presently available stool with a novel revolving back is finding increasing acceptance among dentists. However, since surgeons still find it routinely necessary to stand while operating and resort to standing on hazardous foot-stools to elevate themselves, it is obvious that the problem of providing a practical support for surgeons remains unsolved.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing and other considerations in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an operating support for surgeons that can be used in most operations to conserve the surgeon's energy and increase his efficiency.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating support for surgeons that can be readily adjusted to comfortably accommodate persons of different stature, physique and operating technique.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating support for surgeons that is easily cleaned and completely safe to use in the environment of an operating room.

A further object of the invention is to provide an operating support for surgeons that may carry a surgical light to better illuminate the operating field.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an operating support for surgeons that is simple in design and relatively economical to produce.

THE INVENTION

In general, these objects and others ancillary thereto are accomplished by providing an operating support for surgeons that can be selectively positioned and secured in proximity to the operating table. The seat of the device is adjustable in height above the floor and a platform or the like for supporting the surgeon's feet is adjustable relative to the seat. The device can be quickly readjusted, removed or repositioned should this be desirable or necessary during an operation. The device includes a chest-support assembly against which the surgeon normally leans while operating, thereby substantially relieving a material portion of the weight of the surgeon.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the chest-support assemlby functions to yieldingly oppose the surgeon's forward leaning. A light may be carried by the chest-support assembly or mounted elsewhere on the device and can be used as needed to provide variable intensity illumination of the surgical site. Adjustable parts of the operating support are calibrated so that once a surgeon is fitted to the device it can be quickly reset to his exact specifications. The device may be electrically grounded and is otherwise suitably constructed for use in a surgical operating room.

The novel features considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which :

FIG. 1 is a left-side view in elevation, broken away in part, of an operating support for surgeons in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view in elevation of the operating support illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view in elevation of the same operating support;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged left-side view in elevation of the operating support illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and depicts the manner of its use by a surgeon;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, broken away in part, illustrating one form of a movement-regulating mechanism applicable to the operating support for surgeons;

FIG. 6 is a view of the underside of the operating support base, shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, incorporating a vacuum arrangement for releasably securing the support in an operating room;

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of another embodiment of the invention with a portion broken away to better show its construction;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, broken away in part, of still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, broken away in part, of an operating support for surgeons illustrating yet another specific embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the lines 10--10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, broken away in part, of yet another form of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 11.

Since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, the specific embodiments of the invention illustrated are designed to be comparatively lightweight so that they can be simply carried into the operating room. Heavier versions might include retractable wheels or casters, or be moved around with a hand truck or the like. After the device is positioned in proximity to the operating table, it must be secured in place against the possibility of accidental movement or unintentional displacement of any kind. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. However, it is assumed that in most cases the operating support will be attached to the floor. Great flexibility in positioning the device can be achieved by attaching it to the floor by means of a vacuum arrangement such as that associated with the operating support illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6.

This embodiment of the invention has a base 11 having a perimeter element 13 made of a resilient material like rubber or vinyl. Beneath the base 11 there are three vacuum elements 15 that function like vacuum cups to hold the operating support in place. Each vacuum element 15 is served by a pipeline P1, P2 and P3 that extends from the element to a convenient location of the structure of the operating support where it terminates in a suction-line connection. For example, suction-line connections might be located in a recess at points C1, C2 and C3 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Modern operating rooms are equipped with a piped suction system for use by the surgeon in keeping the incision dry and for the anesthetist's use in keeping the patient's throat clear. This system can be used for initial evacuation of the vacuum elements 15 and even thereafter to maintain suction on the elements during the operation. Then again, a vacuum pump could be provided exclusively for use with the operating support. The operating support can be released from the floor by valving air to the vacuum elements 15.

Formed solid with the base 11 is an upstanding main frame member 17 having at its upper end a cylindrical guideway 19. The guideway 19 has a vertical bore to which a seat post 21 is carefully fitted so that it can be moved smoothly up and down through the bore. A saddle-like seat 23 is mounted atop seat post 21 and can turn on the vertical axis of the seat post. The height of the seat 23 above the floor can be adjusted by sliding the seat post 21 through the guideway 19. The seat post 21 is locked at the desired elevation by screwing the post lock pin 25 into the most appropriate of the holes 26 that are spaced apart and drilled through the seat post. The post lock pin 25 actually screws through the threaded forward wall of the guideway 19 since the seat post holes themselves are not threaded.

These vertically arrayed holes are similarly used for positioning the foot platform 27 in suitable spaced relation to the seat 23. The foot platform 27 has its own integral guideway 29 and a screw-threaded lock pin 30. In FIGS. 1 through 4, the seat post 21 is shown in the full down position with its lower end resting on top of the base 11.

FIG. 4 clearly illustrates how a surgeon leaning toward the operating field is supported by the chest-support assembly 31. Basically, this assembly consists of a chest-support piece 33 which is pivotally connected to an extensible arm 35. The extensible arm 35 is carried by a sheath-like member 37 that is in turn connected to a movement-regulating mechanism housed by the shell of seat 23.

The movement-regulating mechanism itself can be of many forms, for example, the resistance to pivotal movement offered by the chest-support assembly 31 may be adjusted by using handwheel 39, FIG. 5, to compress a spring 41 located within the shell of seat 23. FIG. 5 exemplifies the type of movement-regulating mechanism that would be applicable. Referring more specifically to FIG. 5, it will be seen that an extension 43 of the sheath-like member 37 passes into the shell of seat 23 through an opening 45. The extension 43 pivots on pin 47 and is connected to the handwheel 39 by linkage that makes the chest-support assembly 31 responsive to the degree of compression imposed on the spring 41 by said handwheel.

Adjustment of the chest-support assembly 31 is of course directed to promoting the steadiness and comfort of the surgeon. A simple lock pin and hole arrangement can also be used to adjust the length of the extensible arm 35. Numeral 49 designates a screw-threaded lock pin for the extensible arm 35. During an operation, the chest-support piece 33 may be covered with a disposable pad 51 and the operating support as a whole may be partially or completely draped.

Another way of attaching an operating support to the floor would be to bolt the base of the device to female screw-threaded fixtures installed at appropriate places in the floor. When not in use, these fixtures would be sealed by small cover plates. An operating support utilizing this bolt-down method is illustrated in FIG. 7. In this embodiment of the invention, the base 53 of the operating support is bolted to a floor fixture through a slot 55 in its trailing portion. A bolt 57 holds the device in place by bearing on the flanged bottom of the slot 55. Considerable latitutde in positioning the operating support is achieved with this simple arrangement since the device can be moved forward or backward the length of the slot and swung 360 degrees around the floor fixture.

Formed solid with the base 53 of the FIG. 7 form of the invention is an upstanding tubular main frame member 59 having a vertical bore that is open at both ends. Slidingly fitted to the bore is a seat post 61 that carries a seat 63. The desired elevation of the seat is accomplished by inserting an elevating rod increment 65 of suitable length into the bore of the tubular member 59. A plurality of elevating rods in assorted lengths are provided for this purpose. With the end of the seat post resting on an elevating rod there is no possibility of the seat post slipping during an operation. The seat post may be rigidized by tightening handwheel 67.

A foot platform 69 is adjustable relative to the seat 63 and can be clamped at the desired elevation by tightening handwheel 71. The seat 63 can turn on the vertical axis of the seat post 61 and carries with it a chest-support assembly. The chest-support assembly illustrated has a flat spring arm 73 that yieldingly resists the surgeon's forward leaning and the chest-support piece 75 can be raised or lowered on the arm 73 to suit the surgeon.

Numeral 77 designates a surgical light that is mounted on the front-side of the chest-support assembly. It is readily evident that a surgical light held in this general area would be extremely useful in many cases. For example, the light could be used to provide shadowless, deep illumination of the surgical cavity when the surgeon interposes himself between the usual overhead light and the operating field. The surgeon or an assistant may control the light, turning it on or off and regulating its brightness at will through suitable means.

In FIG. 8 of the drawings there is shown an operating support for surgeons that has the features previously described, i.e., a seat 79, a chest-support assembly 81, a foot platform 83 and means for securing the device in place. In this case the operating support is secured in place by means of a post 85 that telescopes from floor to ceiling. The post has a lower portion 87 that fits a collar 89 on the elongated base 91. The upper portion 93 of the post carries a cap 95 that provides a suitable bearing surface on the ceiling 97. The post 85 is locked in telescoped position by means of handwheel 99. Alternatively, a jacking system could be used to raise and lock the post in position.

In FIG. 8 the main frame member 101 is fixed to the base 91 and the seat 79 is carried by a tubular member 103 that fits over the main frame member and is movable thereon for adjusting the height of the seat above the floor.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 has a seat 79, a chest-support assembly 81 and a seat-carrying tubular member 103 that are similar to those shown in FIG. 8. However, in other respects the device is considerably different. For instance, it is secured in place by suspending it from the ceiling 105 by means of a permanently installed ceiling fixture 107. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the ceiling fixture 107 taken along lines 10--10 of FIG. 9.

The ceiling fixture 107 is designed to receive and hold a channeled member 109 that is attached to the upper end of post 111. Fitted to the post 111 is a tubular guideway 113 that can be raised or lowered on the post to adjust the height of the surgeon's foot support 115. The guideway 113 is locked in the desired position by tightening handwheel 117. The guideway 113, the foot support 115, the main frame member 119 and the connecting member 121 form a single unitary structure. The seat 79 is of course adjusted to a suitable height with respect to the adjustment of the foot support. The guideway 113 can be swung 360 degrees around the post 111 and the post can be moved the length of the ceiling fixture 107. A threaded rod 123 can be screwed out of the seat post 119 by means of handwheel 125 so as to solidly contact the floor and thereby rigidize the suspended operating support.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 11 and 12, the surgeon's support includes a generally hollow base member 127 which has secured therein a plurality of electromagnets 129 which are connected to a source of electrical energy via a conductor 131. The electromagnets 129 coact with a metal plate 133, embedded below the surface of the operating room floor, designated 135, in a zone adjacent an operating table. With this arrangement, the support may be positioned in proximity to the operating table within the zone of the metal plate 133 and releasably secured in such position by energizing the electromagnets 129.

The foot-supporting platform 137 in the FIGS. 11 and 12 form of the invention is itself supported by a plurality of elevating rods 139. The elevating rods are designed so that one end screws into the base of the foot platform 137 while the other end is slidably received by bores 141 located atop the base member 127. A number of elevating rods 139 of varying lengths are provided with each unit so that the height of the foot platform can be adjusted to suit individual requirements.

The seat 141 is adjustably mounted relative to the upper end of a main support member 143 via a cylindrical post 145 which is slidably received in a vertical bore in element 147. The position of the seat 141 is fixed by tightening the handwheel 149 so as to clamp the post 145 in the bore of element 147.

The chest support 151 for the surgeon is relatively rigidly carried by an upstanding arm 153 extending from the forward portion of the seat 141. As previously described, the chest support 151 may include a surgical light 155 to beam light forward and downward onto the operating field.

In order to provide limited pivotal movement for the seat and chest support, in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the lower end 157 of the main support member 143 is connected to the base 127 on a horizontal pivot generally designated by numeral 159. A lower extension 161 of the main support member 143 terminates in a plate 163, the lower surface of which normally rests on the upper surface of a partition 165, internally positioned within the base 127. A flat spring 167 has one end 169 in contact with the top surface of the plate 163, and its opposite end suitably secured as at 171 in the base.

The flat spring 167 may be replaced by a coil spring provided with suitable adjusting means.

In FIG. 11, the limit of pivotal movement of the support is represented by arrows A and a positive lower limit stop is obtained when the tip 173 of the plate 163 approaches the undersurface 175 of the top of the base member 127.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible, including permanent installations with elaborate built-in structure with provision for powered transport and adjustment of the device. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. An operating support for surgeons, comprising a generally upstanding frame member, means for releasably securing said frame member in proximity to an operating table, a seat, means for adjustably securing said seat to said frame for movement in a generally vertical direction, a support for the surgeon's feet, means for adjustably securing said support for the surgeon's feet for movement in a vertical direction and in spaced relation to said seat, a chest support assembly against which the surgeon normally leans while operating, means for mounting said chest support from said seat, said chest support mounting means comprising a single support member mounted at one end at the forward end of the seat and carrying the chest support at the other end whereby a surgeon using the operating support can properly position himself relative to the operating field and can work with less fatigue and increased efficiency.

2. An operating support for surgeons as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for releasably securing said frame member in proximity to an operating table comprises a base member and floor engaging vacuum elements carried by said base member.

3. An operating support for surgeons as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for securing said frame member in proximity to an operating table includes a base and mechanical means for attaching the base to a floor.

4. An operating support for surgeons as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for securing said frame member in proximity to an operating table includes means for suspending the frame from the ceiling of an operating room.

5. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said chest-support assembly further includes means to yieldingly oppose the surgeon as he leans toward the operating field.

6. An operating support for surgeons, comprising in combination, a seat-supporting structure, means for securing said structure in proximity to an operating table, a seat for the surgeon, means for adjusting the height of said seat above the floor of an operating room, a support for the surgeon's feet, means for adjusting said support for the surgeon's feet in spaced relation to said seat, a chest-support assembly having means to yieldingly oppose the surgeon as he leans toward the operating field, and a surgical light mounted to said chest-support assembly.