Genito-urinary Examination Device

Abstract

A portable genito-urinary examination device for use in conjunction with a bed or other support to orient the pelvic area of a patient including a support base which rests on the bed, a table pivoted to one end of the support base and overlying the base, an elevating mechanism for selectively raising the opposite end of the table with respect to the base, and a pair of leg supports carried by the base on opposite sides of that end of the table which can be raised. Adjustment means is provided for varying the lateral spacing between the leg supports, the pivotal position of the leg supports and the height of the leg supports.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many times in medical practice, it becomes necessary to examine the pelvic or rectal area of a patient or to perform various procedures in this area. Because the necessary visualization and exposure of the pelvic area are not generally possible on a bed or other similar support on which the patient is normally located, it has heretofore been necessary to move the patient to a remotely located special examination table to perform the examination or procedure. Since such special examination table is expensive to obtain and since it must be permanently located, such tables are generally only available in hospitals in a specially constructed location. This has not only required excess time for the physician and hospital personnel but also has resulted in delayed evaluation of the medical problem. Moreover, the moving of non-ambulatory and obese patients has required additional hospital personnel or special equipment to lift and place the patient on the examination table and transport vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other problems associated with the prior art are overcome by the invention disclosed herein by providing a portable genito-urinary examination table which can be used in conjunction with the bed or other support on which the patient is normally located so that the patient does not have to be moved to be examined or to perform the various procedures. The invention allows fast evaluation of the medical problem with a minimum of personnel and time. Because the invention is lightweight, it can be easily transported to the patient whether in the hospital, physician's office or the patient's home. Moreover, because the construction of the invention is simple and inexpensive, the physican can have the use of several such tables without undue expense. Because the invention has multi-adjustable capability, the proper orientation and exposure of the patient can be readily obtained for any pelvic or rectal examination and procedure.

The following are a few of the many uses of the invention:

1. Pelvic examination

2. Rectal examination

3. Minor surgical procedures such as rectal biopsy, incision and drainage of rectal abcesses, cauterization of cervix, meatotomies, cystoscopic exams and urethral dilations

4. The insertion of contraceptive devices

5. Pap smears

6. Vaginal cultures

7. Catheterizations including sterile techniques for clean catch specimens of urine for culture and sensitivity and sterile catheter insertion

8. Baby delivery expecially in emergency situations

The apparatus of the invention includes a support base pivotally mounting a support table at one end thereof and overlying the support base. An elevating mechanism is provided for pivoting the table with respect to the base. A pair of leg supports are carried by the support base on opposite sides of the table at that end of the base opposite the one to which the table is pivotally mounted for supporting the legs of the patient in a spread apart position while the patient's buttocks are carried by the support table. The spacing between the leg supports may be adjustably varied as well as the height of the supports and the rotational position thereof.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in use;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 6--6 in FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing a second embodiment of the elevating mechanism.

These figures and the following detailed description disclose specific embodiments of the invention, however, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited thereto since it may be embodied in other forms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the figures, the invention includes generally a support base 10, a support table 11 pivotally mounted on one end of the base 10 and overlying same, an elevating mechanism 12 for selectively pivoting the table 11 with respect to the base 10 and a pair of leg supports 14 on opposite sides of that end of table 11 opposite its pivotal connection with base 10. The table 11 is placed under the patient's buttocks as seen in FIG. 1 so that base 10 rests on the bed or other supporting carrying the patient and the elevating mechanism 12 manipulated to raise the buttocks for proper exposure. The patient's legs are then placed on the leg supports 14 and they are also adjusted for proper exposure. The patient is now ready for examination of medical procedures as illustrated in FIG. 1.

As best seen in FIGS. 1-3, the support base 10 is a generally rectangular plate which is relatively thin, the bottom surface of which rests on the bed or other support on which the patient is lying. An appropriate hand hole 15 is provided at one end of base 10 for use in carrying the device.

The support table 11 is also generally rectangular in shape but slightly shorter than base 10 so as to expose the hand hole 15 when the table 11 overlies base 10. Table 11 includes a generally rectangular central web 16 having downwardly turned flanges 18 along opposite sides thereof integral therewith. A downwardly turned end flange 19 is provided along one end of web 16 and is integral therewith and with the adjacent ends of flanges 18. The flanges 18 and 19 provide smoothly rounded edges around three sides of web 16 whose upper surface 20 supports the buttocks and lower back of the patient lying on the bed or support.

The underside of web 16 is pivotally connected through hinges 21 to the end 22 of base 10 opposite the hand hole 15 at that end adjacent the end flange 19 so that the web 16 and side flanges 18 overlie the base 10. This allows table 11 to be pivoted about the axis of hinges 21 to selectively elevate the buttocks and lower trunk of the patient while presenting a smooth surface to the patient to prevent injury.

The elevating mechanism 12 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 includes a pivot shaft 24 carried by spaced mounting brackets 25 attached to the underside of web 16. A pair of drive links 26 are rotatably mounted on pivot shaft 24 at one of their ends in a spaced apart relationship. The other ends of drive links 26 carry a drive shaft 28 on the opposite ends of which a pair of positioning wheels 29 are rotatably mounted. Wheels 29 roll along the upper surface of base 10 so that as the drive shaft 28 is moved toward the hinges 21, the table 11 will be pivoted about the common axis of the hinges 21 to elevate same and vice versa.

A drive mechanism 30 is provided for selectively moving the drive shaft 28. The mechanism 30 includes a drive member 31 rotatably and slidably mounted in bearing block 32 on base 10 and rotatably mounted in a transfer connector 34 so that as member 31 is moved toward and away from hinges 21, the drive shaft 28 will be likewise moved to pivot the support table 11. A threaded drive rod 35 is mounted in a threaded passage of a positioning collar 36 pivotally mounted on base 10 and connected to the extending end of the drive member 31 through a universal connector 38. Thus, it will be seen that the threaded drive rod 35 selectively positions the drive member 31 as it is rotated by handle 39 on the end of rod 35 to locate the table 11 in its various pivotal positions.

The leg supports 14 are carried by a transversely extending housing 40 on base 10 and defining a transversely extending passage 41 with a rectangular cross-section therethrough. Since the leg supports 14 are mirror images of each other, only one will be described in detail with like reference numbers being applied to the other.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6, the support 14 includes generally a carriage beam 42 having a generally rectangular cross-section slidably receivable in passage 41 of housing 40. An upstanding pivot plate 44 is affixed to the extending end of beam 42 and that portion of beam 42 received in housing 40 is provided with a plurality of spaced locating holes 45, each selectively alignable with a pair of holes 46 in housing 40. A pin 48 is slidably receivable in holes 45 and 46 to selectively fix the extension of beam 42 from housing 40.

A support pad 49 is mounted on the underside of the extending end of beam 42 to support same on the bed or other support carrying the patient. A support tube 50 is pivotally attached to the pivot plate 44 by a fastener 51 and defines a central passage 52 within its tubular side wall 54. The tube 50 is flattened at its end and connected to pivot plate 44 with a locating passage 55 therethrough spaced from the fastener 51 to selectively overlie any one of the plurality of holes 56 defined in plate 44 along an arcuate path. A locating pin 58 is provided for locating the angular position of the tube 50 with respect to plate 44.

The support tube 50 slidably receives the depending leg 61 of an offset connector member 60 in the upper end of passage 52. The tube 50 defines a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of diametrically aligned holes 62 through side wall 54 adjacent the lower flattened end of tube 50 through which a height selection pin 64 is received and on which the bottom of leg 61 rests to control the height to which the member 60 projects from tube 50. A plurality of angularly and longitudinally spaced pairs of diametrically aligned elongate slots 65 are provided through side wall 54 above the holes 62 which are selectively alignable with one of a plurality of diametrically extending holes 66 through leg 61. A locating pin 68 is selectively received through one pair of slots 65 and hole 66 to locate the angular position of the offset connector member 60.

A knee stirrup 70 of known construction is pivotally mounted on a rotary joint connector 71 carried by the upper end of the upstanding leg 69 of member 60. A locking screw 72 is provided in connector 71 to selectively locate the stirrup 70 in a selected rotational position with respect to the leg 69.

Thus, it will be seen that the height of stirrup 70, the rotational position of offset connector member 60 and the rotational position of stirrup 70 may be selectively adjusted to give the proper exposure of the patient. Also, the spacing between the supports 14 may be varied.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an alternate embodiment of the elevating mechanism is illustrated and designated 112 with the common components of the rest of the examination table having the same reference numerals as the first embodiment. The mechanism 112 includes a pivot shaft 114 carried by spaced mounting brackets 115 attached to the underside of web 16. A curved positioning arm 116 is pivotally connected to shaft 114 by a collar 118. The arm 116 defines a plurality of spaced notches 119 along the lower edge thereof that selectively engage an abutment 120 located on base 10 adjacent housing 40 to selectively elevate the support table 11.

The operation of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment except that arm 116 is moved until the proper notch 119 engages abutment 120 to locate table 11.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it is to be understood that full use may be made of modifications, substitutions and equivalents without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

Claims

I claim:

1. A portable pelvic examination device for use in conjunction with a support unit carrying a patient in a reclining position to position the patient for examination of the pelvic area including:

a support base adapted to lie on the support unit and sized to fit under the buttocks of the patient;

a support table sized to fit under the buttocks of the patient and overlying said support base;

hinge means pivotally connecting one end of said base to one end of said table

elevating means for effecting pivotal movement between said base and said table about said hinge means between said table and base to rotate the buttocks of the patient upwardly to expose the pelvic area;

a support housing mounted on said base at that end opposite said hinge means and extending across said base generally transversely of the central axis of said table;

a pair of support beams slidably received in opposite ends of said housing;

a pair of tubular members, one being adjustably pivoted on the projecting end of each of said support beams;

a pair of rod members, one being slidably and rotatably mounted in the upper end of each of said tubular members, each of said rod members including a depending leg slidably and rotatably received in the upper end of said tubular member, an offset section integral with the upper end of said depending leg and extending laterally thereof, and an upstanding leg integral with the extending end of said offset section and extending upwardly therefrom generally parallel to and laterally spaced from said depending leg; and,

stirrup means carried by the upper end of each of said upstanding legs of said rod members to support the legs of the patient.

2. The portable pelvic examination device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elevating means includes a pair of links pivotally mounted on the underside of said support table at one of their ends, a pair of wheels rotatably mounted at the opposite ends of said links and adapted to roll along the upper surface of said support base and to cause said links to raise said support table as said wheels move toward said hinge means between said table and said base, and drive means for selectively moving said wheels toward and away from said hinge means.

3. The portable pelvic examination device of claim 1 wherein said elevating means includes a positioning arm pivotally mounted on the underside of said support table and abutment means carried by said support base for selectively engaging said positioning arm to locate said table in selected pivotal positions with respect to said support base.

4. The device of claim 1 further including adjustment means for selectively adjusting the extension of each of said depending legs from said tubular members and for selectively adjusting the rotational position of each of said depending legs with respect to said tubular members.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said extension adjustment is independent of said rotational adjustment.

6. The portable pelvic examination device of claim 5 wherein said adjustment means includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of diametrically aligned apertures defined through said tubular member adjacent the lower end thereof, a height adjusting pin slidably received through any selected of said pairs of apertures on which the lower end of said rod member within said tubular member rests to selectively control the extension of said rod member from said tubular member, a plurality of circumferentially and longitudinally spaced pairs of diametrically aligned elongate slots defined through said tubular member adjacent the upper end thereof, a plurality of diametrically extending holes defined through said rod member and selectively alignable with each of said pairs of slots when said rod member is carried on said height adjusting pin, and a locating pin slidably received through a selected pair of said slots and one of said holes to selectively fix the rotational position of said rod member with respect to said tubular member.