U.S. patent number RE41,412 [Application Number 09/660,433] was granted by the patent office on 2010-07-06 for leg holder system for simultaneous positioning in the abduction and lithotomy dimensions.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Allen Medical Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kip Van Steenburg.
United States Patent |
RE41,412 |
Van Steenburg |
July 6, 2010 |
Leg holder system for simultaneous positioning in the abduction and
lithotomy dimensions
Abstract
A leg holder system for simultaneously positioning in the
abduction and lithotomy dimensions including a support device for
supporting a leg cradle; a clamping device for mounting the
proximate end of the support device to a mounting device having a
first axis and selectively clamping and releasing motion of the
support device about the first axis and about a second axis
transverse to the first axis. An actuator device for actuating the
clamp to selectively clamp and release simultaneously the support
device and the mounting device; and an operator device remote from
the clamping device and actuator device for operating the actuator
device to enable the support device to move simultaneously about
the first and second axis in both the lithotomy and abduction
dimensions.
Inventors: |
Van Steenburg; Kip (Winterpark,
FL) |
Assignee: |
Allen Medical Systems, Inc.
(Batesville, IN)
|
Family
ID: |
25213140 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/660,433 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
08813708 |
Mar 7, 1997 |
05802641 |
Sep 8, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/648; 5/624;
5/602; 5/649 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G
13/12 (20130101); A61G 13/0009 (20130101); A61G
13/1245 (20130101); A61G 13/101 (20130101); A61G
13/125 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61G
13/12 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;5/602,648-651,624 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
"O.R. Direct Surgical Table Accessories", Aug. 1996, (9 pages).
cited by other .
Advertisement of Allen Medical Systems. "Just Lift It", (4 pages),
Parent U.S. Appl. No. 08/813,708, Patent No. 5,802,6141. cited by
other .
Brouchure of O.R. Direct Surgical Table Accessories (Aug. 1996).
cited by other.
|
Primary Examiner: Trettel; Michael
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.This application is a Reissue of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 08/813,708, filed on Mar. 7, 1997 and now U.S. Pat. No.
5,802,641..Iaddend.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A leg holder system for simultaneous positioning in an abduction
dimension and a lithotomy dimension comprising: a support device,
having a longitudinal axis, for supporting a leg cradle; a clamping
device for mounting a proximate end of said support device to a
mounting device having a first axis transverse to said longitudinal
axis and selectively simultaneously clamping and releasing motion
of said support device about said first axis and about a second
axis transverse to both said first axis and said longitudinal axis,
said support device fixed in said clamping device from rotation
about said longitudinal axis; an actuator device for actuating said
clamping device to simultaneously selectively clamp and release
said support device and said mounting device; and an operator
device remote from said clamping device and said actuator device
for operating said actuator device to enable said support device to
move jointly about both said first and said second axes in the
abduction and lithotomy dimensions.
2. The leg holder system of claim 1 in which said clamping device
includes a pair of pressure blocks, a first recess for receiving
said mounting device and a second recess for receiving said support
device.
3. The leg holder system of claim 2 in which said clamping device
includes a biasing device for biasing said blocks to normally
produce friction between said recesses and their respective
mounting and support devices to clamp them in position.
4. The leg holder system of claim 1 in which said actuator device
includes an actuator rod extending with said support device.
5. The leg holder system of claim 4 in which said support device
includes a bore and said actuator rod is disposed in said bore.
6. The leg holder system of claim 4 in which said actuator device
includes a camming device fixed to said actuator rod and a follower
device disposed in said clamping device and responsive to said
camming device for opposing said biasing device to simultaneously
decrease the friction force on said support device and on said
mounting device to release the clamping device in both axes.
7. The leg holder system of claim 1 in which said operator device
includes a handle for both operating said actuator device to
remotely release and secure said clamping device to said support
device and said mounting device and to position said support device
in the abduction and lithotomy dimensions.
8. The leg holder system of claim 1 in which said support device
includes a resilient device for counterbalancing the weight borne
by said support device.
9. The leg holder system of claim 6 in which said operator device
includes a handle for both operating said actuator device to
remotely release and secure said clamping device to said support
device and said mounting device and to position said support device
in the abduction and lithotomy dimensions.
10. The leg holder system of claim 9 in which the axis of said
handle is coincident with the axis of said actuator rod for
independent actuation of said clamp device and motion of said
support device in the lithotomy dimension.
11. The leg holder system of claim 7 in which said handle includes
a rotatable sleeve.
12. The leg holder system of claim 1 in which said support device
includes a cradle bracket for mounting a leg cradle spaced from
said longitudinal axis of said support means.
13. The leg holder system of claim 6 in which said actuator device
includes a limiter device for arresting movement of said camming
device before its highest position to enable said biasing device to
back-drive said camming device when said operator device is
released and automatically re-establish the clamping friction
between said recesses and said support and mounting devices.
.Iadd.14. A leg positioning apparatus comprising a mounting device
configured to be attached to a surgical table, a support device
having a longitudinal axis, the support device being hollow, a
clamping device for mounting a proximate end of the support device
to the mounting device having a first axis transverse to said
longitudinal axis, the clamping device being configured to
selectively simultaneously clamp the motion of the support device
about the first axis and about a second axis transverse to both the
first axis and the longitudinal axis and to selectively
simultaneously release the motion of the support device for
movement about said first and second axes, said support device
being fixed in said clamping device from rotation about said
longitudinal axis, wherein the clamping device includes a plurality
of clamping elements, at least one first clamping element of the
plurality of clamping elements is movable between a first clamping
position to prevent the motion of the support device about the
first axis and a first releasing position to release motion of the
support device about the first axis, at least one second clamping
element of the plurality of clamping elements being movable between
a second clamping position to prevent the motion of the support
device about the second axis and a second releasing position to
release motion of the support device about the second axis, wherein
the simultaneous motion of the support device about the first and
second axes is permitted after the at least one first clamping
device element is moved to the first releasing position and after
the at least one second clamping device element is moved to the
second releasing position, wherein the simultaneous motion of the
support device about the first and second axes is prevented after
the at least one first clamping device element is moved to the
first clamping position and after the second clamping device
element is moved to the second clamping position, at least one
actuator device configured to move the at least one first clamping
device element and the at least one second clamping device element
to the respective first and second releasing positions, at least a
portion of the at least one actuator device extending within the
support device, an operator device situated adjacent a distal end
of the support device, the handle being movable to actuate the at
least one actuator device to move the first and second clamping
device elements between the respective first and second releasing
positions and the respective first and second clamping positions,
and a leg cradle supported by the support device between the
operator device and the clamping device and movable about a
plurality of leg cradle axes relative to the support device,
wherein the leg cradle is movable about the first plurality of axes
when the support device is clamped against movement about the first
and second axes..Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the
first axis about which the support device rotates corresponds to an
abduction dimension and the second axis about which the support
device rotates corresponds to a lithotomy dimension..Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the
support device comprises an elongated tube..Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 16, wherein the
operator device comprises a handle positioned adjacent the distal
end of the elongated tube..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 17, wherein the
longitudinal axis of the support device passes through the
handle..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 16, wherein the
portion of the actuator extending within the support device
comprises a rod extending with the elongated tube..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 19, wherein the
rod is rotatable within the elongated tube to move at least one of
the first and second clamping device elements to the unclamping
position..Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 14, wherein one of
the first and second clamping device elements comprises a housing
formed to include a tapered bore and the other of the first and
second clamping device elements comprises a pressure block
configured to wedge against the tapered bore..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 21, wherein the
housing includes a recess configured to receive the mounting device
and the pressure block being biased to tighten the recess of the
housing against the mounting device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 22, wherein the
clamping device includes at least one Belleville washer to bias the
pressure block to wedge against the tapered bore..Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. A leg positioning apparatus comprising a mounting device
configured to attach to a surgical table, a support device
comprising an elongated member having a longitudinal axis, a leg
holder pivotably coupled to the support device and adapted to
engage and support at least a portion of a leg of a patient, a
coupler configured to couple the leg holder to the elongated
member, the coupler being configured to permit adjustment of a
position of the leg holder relative to the elongated member about
at least one leg holder axis, a clamping device for mounting a
proximate end of the elongated member to the mounting device having
a first axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, the clamping
device being configured to selectively simultaneously clamp the
motion of the elongated member about the first axis and about a
second axis transverse to both the first axis and the longitudinal
axis and to selectively simultaneously release the motion of the
elongated member for movement about said first and second axes,
said elongated member being fixed in said clamping device from
rotation about said longitudinal axis, wherein the clamping device
includes a plurality of clamping elements, at least one first
clamping element of the plurality of clamping elements is movable
between a first clamping position to prevent the motion of the
elongated member about the first axis and a first releasing
position to release motion of the elongated member about the first
axis, at least one second clamping element of the plurality of
clamping elements being movable between a second clamping position
to prevent the motion of the elongated member about the second axis
and a second releasing position to release motion of the elongated
member about the second axis, wherein the simultaneous motion of
the elongated member about the first and second axes is permitted
after the at least one first clamping device element is moved to
the first releasing position and after the at least one second
clamping device element is moved to the second releasing position,
wherein the simultaneous motion of the elongated member about the
first and second axes is prevented after the at least one first
clamping device element is moved to the first clamping position and
after the second clamping device element is moved to the second
clamping position, and an operator device comprising a handle
coupled to the elongated member and operatively coupled to the
clamping device, the coupler being positioned between the handle
and the clamping device, the elongated member extending away from
the clamping device beyond the coupler and the leg holder to a
distal end, the handle being situated beyond the distal end of the
elongated member and movable to move the first and second clamping
device elements between the respective first and second clamping
positions and the respective first and second releasing positions,
and the handle being usable to reposition the elongated member
about the first and second axes after the first and second clamping
device elements are moved to the respective first and second
releasing positions..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 24, wherein the
mounting device includes a post that defines the first
axis..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 25, wherein at
least one of the first and second clamping device elements clamps
against the post when the first and second clamping device elements
are in the respective first and second clamping
positions..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 25, wherein the
mounting device includes a block adapted to be coupled to an
accessory rail of a patient-support table and the post is coupled
to the block..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 25, further
comprising a resilient device configured to counterbalance weight
supported by the leg holder, the resilient device being coupled to
the mounting device, and the resilient device being coupled to the
elongated member..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 24, wherein the
coupler is configured to be loosened for repositioning along the
elongated member and tightened to prevent repositioning along the
elongated member..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 29, wherein the
coupler is rotatable about the elongated member when
loosened..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 24, wherein the
operator device is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the
elongated member to move at least one of the first and second
clamping device elements between the respective first and second
clamping position and the respective first and second releasing
position..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 24, further
comprising a rod coupled to the operator device and extending
therefrom toward the clamping device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 32, wherein the
elongated member comprises a tube having a passage therethrough and
at least a portion of the rod is positioned in the
passage..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 32, wherein a
portion of the tube and a portion of the rod extend through the
coupler..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 24, wherein at
least one of the first and second clamping device elements is
yieldably biased against the mounting device when the first and
second clamping device elements are in the respective first and
second clamping positions..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 24, wherein the
mounting device comprises a post and at least one of the first and
second clamping device elements comprises a housing formed to
include a recess receiving the post and a gap extending therefrom
such that increasing the size of the gap permits rotation of the
housing relative to the post..Iaddend.
.Iadd.37. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 36, wherein the
post defines the first axis and the housing is formed to include a
bore defining the second axis..Iaddend.
.Iadd.38. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 37, wherein the
first axis is spaced from the second axis such that the first and
second axes do not intersect..Iaddend.
.Iadd.39. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 37, wherein at
least one of the first and second clamping device elements
comprises first and second pressure blocks received by the bore,
the first pressure block being movable relative to the second
pressure block within the bore, the first and second pressure
blocks engaging the housing and being configured so that the
movement of the first pressure block toward the second pressure
block decreases the length of the gap of the housing and the
housing grips the post, thereby blocking rotation of the housing
relative to the post..Iaddend.
.Iadd.40. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 24, wherein at
least one of the first and second clamping device elements includes
a housing and the other of the first and second clamping device
elements comprises a first pressure block received by the housing,
a second pressure block received by the housing, and a spring
received by the housing and acting to yieldably bias the first
pressure block toward the second pressure block..Iaddend.
.Iadd.41. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 40, wherein the
first pressure block comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a
head formed on the distal end and the second pressure block
comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a head formed on the
distal end, and wherein the first and second pressure blocks are
movable between an inward position at which the head of the first
pressure block and the head of the second pressure block
frictionally engage the housing to block rotation of the first and
second pressure blocks relative to the housing and an outward
position permitting rotation of the first and second pressure
blocks relative to the housing..Iaddend.
.Iadd.42. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 41, wherein at
least one of the first and second pressure blocks is formed to
include a bore receiving the elongated member so that the elongated
member rotates relative to the housing when the first and second
pressure blocks rotate relative to the housing and so that movement
of the elongated member relative to the housing is blocked when the
first and second pressure blocks are at the inward
position..Iaddend.
.Iadd.43. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 41, wherein the
mounting device includes a post, the housing is formed to include a
recess receiving the post and a gap extending therefrom, the
housing being flexible to increase the size of the gap to permit
rotation of the housing relative to the post and movement of the
first and second pressure blocks to the inward position decreases
the gap thereby blocking rotation of the housing relative to the
post..Iaddend.
.Iadd.44. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 24, wherein the
one of the first and second clamping device elements include a
housing and the other of the first and second clamping device
elements include first and second pressure blocks that are received
by the housing and that are movable relative to one another between
an inward position at which the first and second clamping device
elements are in the respective first and second clamping positions
and an outward position at which the first and second clamping
device elements are in the respective releasing
positions..Iaddend.
.Iadd.45. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 44, further
comprising an actuator device operatively coupling the operator
device to at least one of the first and second pressure blocks, the
actuator device being movable between a first position at which the
first and second pressure blocks are at the outward position and a
second position at which the first and second pressure blocks are
at the inward position..Iaddend.
.Iadd.46. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 45, further
comprising a rod coupled to the handle and coupled to the actuator
device so that movement of the handle moves the actuator
device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.47. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 44, wherein the
actuator device includes an eccentric portion, one of the first and
second pressure blocks comprises a follower portion, the eccentric
portion engaging the follower portion to move the first and second
pressure blocks to the outward position when the actuator device is
rotated in a first direction..Iaddend.
.Iadd.48. A leg positioning apparatus comprising a tube having a
longitudinal axis, a mounting device configured to attach to a
surgical table, a clamping device for mounting a proximate end of
the tube to the mounting device having a first axis transverse to
said longitudinal axis, the clamping device being configured to
selectively simultaneously clamp the motion of the tube about the
first axis and about a second axis transverse to both the first
axis and the longitudinal axis and to selectively simultaneously
release the motion of the tube for movement about said first and
second axes, said tube being fixed in said clamping device from
rotation about said longitudinal axis, wherein the clamping device
includes a plurality of clamping elements, at least one first
clamping element of the plurality of clamping elements is movable
between a first clamping position to prevent the motion of the tube
about the first axis and a first releasing position to release
motion of the tube about the first axis, at least one second
clamping element of the plurality of clamping elements being
movable between a second clamping position to prevent the motion of
the tube about the second axis and a second releasing position to
release motion of the tube about the second axis, wherein the
simultaneous motion of the tube about the first and second axes is
permitted after the at least one first clamping device element is
moved to the first releasing position and after the at least one
second clamping device element is moved to the second releasing
position, wherein the simultaneous motion of the tube about the
first and second axes is prevented after the at least one first
clamping device element is moved to the first clamping position and
after the second clamping device element is moved to the second
clamping position, and a leg holder coupled to the tube at a first
distance away from the clamping device, and an operator device
coupled to the tube at a second distance away from the clamping
device, the second distance being greater than the first distance,
the tube extending away from the clamping device beyond the leg
holder to a distal end of the tube, the operator device being
coupled to the tube near the distal end of the tube beyond the leg
holder, the operator device being movable to move the first and
second clamping device elements between the respective first and
second clamping positions and the respective first and second
releasing positions..Iaddend.
.Iadd.49. A leg positioning apparatus comprising a mounting device
configured to attach to a surgical table, a support device lockable
relative to the mounting device and releasable to rotate relative
to the mounting device about a first plurality of axes, the support
device being tubular and having a longitudinal axis, a clamping
device for mounting a proximate end of the support device to a
mounting device having a first axis of the first plurality of axes
transverse to said longitudinal axis, the clamping device being
configured to selectively simultaneously clamp the motion of the
support device about the first axis and about a second axis of the
first plurality of axes transverse to both the first axis and the
longitudinal axis and to selectively simultaneously release the
motion of the support device for movement about said first and
second axes, said support device being fixed in said clamping
device from rotation about said longitudinal axis, wherein the
clamping device includes a plurality of clamping elements, at least
one first clamping element of the plurality of clamping elements is
movable between a first clamping position to prevent the motion of
the support device about the first axis and a first releasing
position to release motion of the support device about the first
axis, at least one second clamping element of the plurality of
clamping elements being movable between a second clamping position
to prevent the motion of the support device about the second axis
and a second releasing position to release motion of the support
device about the second axis, wherein the simultaneous motion of
the support device about the first and second axes is permitted
after the at least one first clamping device element is moved to
the first releasing position and after the at least one second
clamping device element is moved to the second releasing position,
wherein the simultaneous motion of the support device about the
first and second axes is prevented after the at least one first
clamping device element is moved to the first clamping position and
after the second clamping device element is moved to the second
clamping position, a leg holder lockable relative to the support
device and releasable to move relative to the support device about
a second plurality of axes, a first handle coupled to the elongated
member and operatively coupled to the clamping device, the support
device extending away from the clamping device beyond the leg
holder to a distal end, the first handle being situated beyond the
distal end of the support member and movable to move the first and
second clamping device elements between the respective first and
second clamping positions and the respective first and second
releasing positions, and the first handle being usable to
reposition the elongated member about the first and second axes
after the first and second clamping device elements are moved to
the respective first and second releasing positions, and a second
handle movable to lock the leg holder from moving about the second
plurality of axes relative to the support device and movable to
unlock the leg holder for movement about the second plurality of
axes relative to the support device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.50. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 49, wherein the
second handle is positioned between the first handle and clamping
device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.51. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 49, further
comprising a resilient device configured to counterbalance weight
supported by the leg holder, the resilient device being coupled to
the mounting device, and the resilient device being coupled to the
support device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.52. The leg positioning apparatus of claim 49, wherein the
mounting device includes a block adapted to be coupled to an
accessory rail of a patient-support table..Iaddend.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved leg holder system and more
particularly to such a system in which adjustment in both the
lithotomy and abduction dimensions can be made simultaneously with
a single action.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
In recent years many newer surgical procedures have required
interoperative positioning of patients legs. Until recently such
positioning typically required adjusting the leg holder's mounting
clamp located on the surgical table siderail, beneath the sterile
drape. This raised concerns about possible violation of the sterile
field and it limited the performance of such adjustments to
non-sterile personnel. Recent attempts to solve this problem
yielded leg holders that could be raised and lowered through the
drapes, however, they have several limitations. First, when
adjusted upwardly they lock by means of a ratchet mechanism; this
mechanism does not prevent further unintended upward movement of
the legs that could result from tilting the patient in the extreme
head down direction "Trendelenburg" or from surgical staff leaning
against the leg holder. Secondly, abduction is predetermined and
cannot be adjusted without accessing the mounting clamp.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved
leg holder system.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system
with which both the lithotomy and abductions for a leg holder can
be adjusted with a single action with one hand.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system
which permits adjustment without violating the sterile field.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system
which prevents further inadvertent upward movement even when the
patient is tilted in the extreme head down or Trendelenburg
direction.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system
which when locked prevents movement in all directions.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system
which permits a full abduction adjustment range throughout the full
lithotomy range.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system
which the clamps are normally locked and must be activated for
release.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system
which release of the actuation of the clamps causes them to default
to the locked condition.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system
in which the clamps are remotely operable.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system
in which the clamping operation is accomplished through the same
instrumentality as the re-positioning of the leg holders.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system
in which the leg holders are counterbalanced for reducing the load
encountered by the user with a patient in place.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a system
in which the operation of the clamping means can be accomplished
with the same action as the repositioning of the leg holders or can
be decoupled for independent operation.
This invention results from the realization that a truly simple,
fail-safe leg holder system which enables simultaneous positioning
in the abduction and lithotomy dimensions with a single action
outside the sterile field can be effected using an actuator that is
normally biased to clamp both the leg cradle support device and a
mounting device which have a mutually transverse axes and under
control of a remote operator simultaneously releases the clamping
force in both devices to enable movement of the support device
about both axes for repositioning in both the abduction and
lithotomy dimensions.
This invention features a leg holder system for simultaneous
positioning in the abduction and lithotomy dimensions. There is a
support device for supporting a leg cradle and a clamping device
for mounting the proximate end of the support device to a mounting
device having a first axis and selectively clamping and releasing
motion of the support device about the first axis and about a
second axis transverse to the first axis. An actuator device
actuates the clamp to selectively clamp and release simultaneously
the support device and the mounting device. An operator device
remote from the clamping device and actuator device operates the
actuator device to enable the support device to move simultaneously
about both the first and second axes in the abduction and lithotomy
dimensions.
In a preferred embodiment the clamping device may include a pair of
pressure blocks a first recess for receiving the mounting device
and a second recess for receiving a support device. The clamping
device may include a device for biasing the blocks to normally
produce friction between the recesses and their respective mounting
and support devices to clamp them in position. The actuator device
may include an actuator rod extending with a support device. The
support device may include a bore and the actuator rod may be
disposed in the bore. The actuator device may include a camming
device fixed to the actuator rod and a follower device disposed in
the clamping device and responsive to the camming device for
opposing the biasing device to simultaneously decrease the friction
force on the support device and on the mounting device to release
the clamping device in both axes. The operator device may include a
handle for both operating the actuator device to remotely release
and secure the clamping device to the support device and the
mounting device and to position the support device in the abduction
and lithotomy dimensions. The support device may include a
resilient device for counterbalancing the weight of the leg holder.
The axis of the handle may be coincident with the axis with the
actuator rod for independent actuation of the clamping device and
motion of the support device in the lithotomy and abduction
dimensions. The handle may include a rotatable sleeve. The support
device may include a leg cradle bracket for mounting a leg cradle
spaced from the axis of the support means. The actuator device may
include a limiter device for arresting movement of the camming
device before its highest position to enable the biasing device to
back-drive the camming device when the operator device is released
and automatically reestablish the clamping function between the
recesses and the support and mounting devices.
DISCLOSURE OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled
in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment
and the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a detailed sectional view of a leg holder system with
portions broken away and foreshortened of a leg holder system
according to this invention;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, with the support device rotated
90.degree.;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the leg holder system shown in FIGS.
1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a pair of leg holder systems according to this invention
as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 installed on an x-ray table with leg
cradles and leg cradle clamps installed and employing gas cylinder
lift assistance devices;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with the leg cradles
repositioned with greater abduction and lesser lithotomy; and
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with the leg cradles
repositioned with greater lithotomy and lesser abduction.
There is shown in FIG. 1, leg holder system 10 according to this
invention which enables simultaneous positioning in the abduction
and lithotomy dimensions. Leg holder system 10 includes support
device 12 for supporting a leg cradle not shown in FIG. 1, but seen
in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. System 10 also includes a clamping device 14,
actuator device 16, and an operator device, handle 18. Support
device 12 includes a hollow tube 20 which has its proximal end 22
located in clamping device 14 and its distal end 24 at handle 18.
Limiter device 26 shown more completely in FIG. 3, is mounted at
the distal end 24 of hollow tube 20. Clamping device 14 includes a
clamp housing 30 having a recess 32 which receives and clamps a
mounting device such as pivot post 34 extending from an x-ray
table. Clamp housing 30 is rotatable about axis 36 of pivot post 34
which allows motion in the abduction dimension indicated by arrow
35.
Clamp housing 30 also includes a bore 38 which receives pressure
blocks 40 and 42. Pressure block 40 has a bore 44 through it which
receives the body 46 of pressure block 42. The enlarged tapered
head 48 of pressure block 40 fits in the enlarged tapered bore 50
of clamp housing 30. Enlarged tapered head 52 of pressure block 42
fits in an enlarged tapered bore 54 of clamp housing 30. The distal
end 56 of pressure block 42 includes threads 58 which mate with
threads 60 on locking nut 62. The enlarged head 64 of locking nut
62 engages one of two oppositely facing Belleville washers 66 and
68 located in recess 69. Thus, when locking nut 62 is tightened
down on pressure block 42 it compresses the Belleville washers 66
and 68. This causes the tapered portions 48 and 52 of pressure
blocks 40 and 42 the force of the Belleville washers to be drawn
tightly inwardly against the tapered recesses 50 and 54 of clamp
housing 30. This wedging effect insures a good tight clamping force
which brings clamp housing together by narrowing gap 70 and thereby
tightening recess 32 about pivot post 34 and simultaneously wedging
pressure blocks 42 and 40 tightly in the tapered recesses 50 and
54, respectively, so that they are held against rotation in the
lithotomy dimension about their central axis 72 as shown by arrow
74.
Thus, in the normal condition locking nut 62 is tightened down
sufficiently to compress Belleville washers 66 and 68 so that a
clamping force is applied to prevent rotation 74 about axis 72 in
the lithotomy dimension and prevent rotation 35 about axis 36 in
the abduction dimension. Release of both of these clamping forces
in both dimensions is accomplished simultaneously by rotating
handle 18 about axis 80 as indicated by arrow 82. This rotation
causes actuator rod 84 to rotate along with actuator member 86
which is fixed by pin 88 to rotate with rod 84. Pressure block 42
includes a bore 75 which is larger than but coaxially aligned with
a similar bore 76 in pressure block 40. The proximal end 22 of tube
20 of support device 12 passes through bores 75 and 76 and is fixed
or force fitted to bore 76 so that when handle 18 and tube 20 of
support device 12 are rotated up out of the paper as indicated by
arrow 77 the entire pressure block assembly including pressure
blocks 40 and 42 is rotated with tube 20.
Actuator member 16 includes two bearing portions 90 and 92 which
receive needle bearings 94 and 96 that enable rod 84 to rotate
smoothly within tube 20. Bearing 96 is supported in journal 98
fitted in the end of tube 20. Between bearing portions 90 and 92 is
eccentric portion 100 which also supports a needle bearing 102.
Riding on needle bearing 102 is follower 104 which extends through
bore 106 in the proximal end 22 of tubing 20. The end 108 of
follower 104 is cylindrically shaped to engage the cylindrical
shape of needle bearing 102. The other end 110 is concave or cup
shaped to engage the spherical tip 112 of set screw 114 which is
threadibly engaged in bore 116 of pressure block 42. Thus, when
handle 82 is rotated about axis 80 it rotates the eccentric portion
100 to bear on follower 104 which in turn exerts an outward force
on set screw 116. As a result there is a force directed along axis
72 which opposes the bias of Belleville washers 66 and 68 thereby
releases the force of pressure blocks 40 and 42 on tapered portions
50 and 54 of clamp housing 30. This allows clamp housing 30 to
spread somewhat thereby increasing the length of gap 70 so that
recess 32 relaxes its grip on pivot post 34 and permits rotation as
indicated by arrow 35 in the abduction direction and simultaneously
permits pressure blocks 40 and 42 to rotate in the tapered recesses
50 and 54 so that actuator rod 84 and tube 20 of support device 12
can be rotated in a direction out of or into the paper as indicated
by arrow 77.
Thus with one action, the rotation of handle 18 about axis 80, the
clamp releases its grip to allow rotation about both axis 36 and
axis 72 to provide simultaneous repositioning in the abduction and
lithotomy dimensions. When the handle is released the force of
Belleville washers 66 and 68 back-rotate the eccentric, snapping
the handle to the normal position and allowing the Belleville
washer to reinstate the clamping force on both axes. Covers 120 and
122 may be installed to cover the heads of pressure blocks 40 and
42, respectively.
The rotation of support device 12 in the direction of arrow 77,
FIG. 1, is shown in FIG. 2, where upon the rotation of handle 18
about axis 80 and the application of eccentric 100 to counteract
the clamping force of Belleville washers 66 and 68, the entire
support device 12 including tube 20 and the actuator rod 84 have
been rotated from the plane of the paper in FIG. 1, to the upright
position where tube 20 and actuator rod 84 are perpendicular to the
plane of the paper in FIG. 2.
The rotational symmetry as well as rotational action may be better
understood with reference to the exploded three dimensional view in
FIG. 3. Also shown in FIG. 3 is collar 130 which is held to the end
of tube 20 by means of set screw 132 and the limiter collar 26a on
the other end of tube 20 which is held there by means of set screws
140 and 142. A circumferential slot 144 which extends less than all
the way around the circumference of limiter collar 26a receives
limiter pin 146 fixed to rotate with actuator rod 84. A pair of
bushings 148 and 150 are mounted on either end of limiter pin 146
after it is mounted in hole 152 of actuator rod 84 to provide for a
smoother rotation within slot 144. It is limiter pin 146 in
conjunction with the limited extent of slot 144 that arrests the
rotation of actuator rod 84 before it reaches top dead center on
the cam so that upon release by the human operator of handle 18 the
handle and actuator rod 84 snap back to the position where they do
not oppose the force of Belleville washer 66 and 68 and so the
Belleville washers reinstate the fail-safe clamping force on both
axes. Handle 18 is rotatably mounted on pin 160 which is mounted
for rotation about axis 85 on pin 162. Pin 62 includes a groove 164
that allows it and handle 160 to rotate about axis 85 but which
engages with spring loaded balls 166 and 168 that prevent the
handle 160 and pin 162 from being withdrawn from the hollow end 170
of actuator rod 84.
Although thus far the system can be shown as actuated by mechanical
device namely, the action of eccentric 100. This is not a necessary
limitation of the invention, for example, any device may be
substituted for eccentric 100 which will exert the opposing force
on follower 104 or a similar device to release the action of
Belleville washers 66 and 68 on the pressure blocks and clamp
pressure blocks 40 and 42 and clamp housing 30. For example, a
hydraulic piston could be installed in place of eccentric 100
driven through hydraulic lines by a foot pedal, for example, which
would be remote from the device and external to the sterile drapes.
Similarly an electrical device having a movable armature could be
used in the same fashion or even a piezo electric crystal or
similar device when only small mechanical movements are
required.
Typically, in use, two such systems 10a and 10b are used in
conjunction with an x-ray table 180, FIG. 4. X-ray table 180
includes two rails 182 and 184 on which slide blocks 186 can be
slid into and out of the plane of the paper and tightened at a
desired location by handles 190 and 192. Pivot posts 34a and 34b
extend upward from clamps 186 and 188 into recesses 32a and 32b,
not shown, of clamp housings 30a and 30b. Mounted on each support
device 20a and 20b are leg cradles (leg holders) 200 and 202
pivotally mounted on axes 204 and 206 which are spaced from the
axes 80a and 80b of tubes 20a and 20b by support shafts 208 and 210
which are supported in clamps 212 and 214 that are clamped into
position on tubes 20a and 20b by handles 216 and 218. The lifting
of the weight of this system including cradles 200 and 202 and the
legs of the patient may be assisted by means of springs or gas
cylinders or other devices as symbolically indicated by gas
cylinders 220 and 222 mounted to support tubes 20a and 20b by
clamps 224 and 226 and mounted to pivot posts 34a and 34b by clamps
228 and 230.
In FIG. 4, cradles 200 and 202 are in a midrange position with
respect to the lithotomy and abduction dimensions. By simply
gripping handles 18a and 18b and rotating them in the direction of
arrows 230 and 232 the eccentric members are engaged opposing the
Belleville washer force and freeing up and releasing the clamping
action on both axes 32a and 32b and axes 72a and 72b. Now by simply
moving the handles downwardly as indicated by arrows 240 and 242
the cradles 200 and 202, FIG. 5, can be moved to a lower position
in the lithotomy dimension and may be spread farther apart in the
abduction dimension as shown in FIG. 5, or alternatively the same
motion of handles 18a and 18b in FIG. 4, which releases the clamp
in both dimensions. After the operation of both of them which
releases them in both dimensions the handles 18a and 18b can be
moved upwardly to increase the position in the lithotomy dimension
and reduce somewhat the position in the abduction dimension as
shown in FIG. 6. In each case upon the accidental or intentional
release of the handles 18a and 18b the limiter device allows the
Belleville washers to snap the handles and the actuator rods and
the eccentric out of position so that the Belleville washers, once
more in a fail-safe mode, apply the clamping force in both
dimensions.
Although specific features of this invention are shown in some
drawings and not others, this is for convenience only as each
feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in
accordance with the invention.
Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are
within the following claims:
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