Title: Patient positioning device
Abstract: The patient positioning device of this invention relates to an apparatus used to assist a patient into a supine position and additionally through which traction is applied to the spine, such as physical therapy and chiropractic treatment. The patient positioning device is preferably a stand alone portable device that can be readily transported and adapted to almost any horizontal surface, such as a treatment table. A primary application of the leg support of this invention is in raising and supporting a patient's lower legs during before, during, and after traction is applied to a patient. The device includes a lower support frame, vertical supports, and a leg support coupled to a top frame. The patient positioning device may also have a motor which powers the leg support to rotate from a lowered position, in which a patient's lower legs rest on the leg support, to an elevated position in which a patient's lower legs are elevated. Once in the elevated position, traction can be applied to the lower back preferably with a cable and a board that is placed across the front of a patient's thighs.
Patent Number: 6,986,181 Issued on 01/17/2006 to Murphy, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Murphy; Stephen P. (Westfield, MA);
Murphy; Edward T. (Douglasville, GA);
Murphy; George W. (Franklin, MA)
|
| Assignee:
|
GES Company (Douglasville, GA)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
080071 |
| Filed:
|
February 21, 2002 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
5/648; 5/624 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
A47C 20/02 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
5/648,650,624
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
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| |
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| 3124126 | Mar., 1964 | Spinks.
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| 3302641 | Feb., 1967 | Berne et al.
| |
| 3672361 | Jun., 1972 | Forneron.
| |
| 3889664 | Jun., 1975 | Heuser et al.
| |
| 3986499 | Oct., 1976 | Fischer.
| |
| 4002165 | Jan., 1977 | Lind.
| |
| 4099523 | Jul., 1978 | Lowrey.
| |
| 4362151 | Dec., 1982 | Cottrell.
| |
| 4466427 | Aug., 1984 | Granberg.
| |
| 4535762 | Aug., 1985 | Natchev.
| |
| 4602619 | Jul., 1986 | Wolf et al.
| |
| 4664101 | May., 1987 | Granberg.
| |
| 4898185 | Feb., 1990 | Fuller.
| |
| 4981148 | Jan., 1991 | Fuller.
| |
| 5052378 | Oct., 1991 | Chitwood.
| |
| 5297539 | Mar., 1994 | Liebl et al.
| |
| 5308359 | May., 1994 | Lossing.
| |
| 5333623 | Aug., 1994 | Fuller.
| |
| 5362302 | Nov., 1994 | Jensen et al.
| |
| 5416939 | May., 1995 | Maalouli.
| |
| 5444882 | Aug., 1995 | Andrews et al.
| |
| 5672157 | Sep., 1997 | Gallagher et al.
| |
Primary Examiner: Safavi; Michael
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Woodcock Washburn LLP
Claims
We claim:
1. A patient positioning device for positioning a patient in a supine position
so that traction can be administered to the patient's back, comprising:
a bottom support frame comprising a pivot;
a leg support, that is coupled to the bottom support, and upon which the patient's
lower legs rest in an attitude substantially parallel to the patient's spine throughout
the full range of motion of the device;
a vertical support member coupled to the leg support;
a motor coupled to the bottom support frame; and
an actuator, coupled to the vertical support member, which the motor powers to
push the vertical support member and rotate the leg support and the patient's lower
legs from a lowered position to an elevated position, such that the patient is
moved to a supine position that includes the patient's lower legs being elevated
and substantially parallel to the patient's spine and the patient's upper legs
being disposed in an angular relationship with the patient's lower legs and back.
2. The patient positioning device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises
a cylinder attached coupled to the bottom frame and a screw, which is coupled to
the vertical support member, that extends into the cylinder.
3. The patient positioning device of claim 1, further comprising a pad that fits
behind a person's thighs.
4. The patient positioning device of claim 1, further comprising a rail and a
track for extending the leg support relative to the bottom support frame.
5. The patient positioning device of claim 1, further comprising a controller
that is electrically coupled to the motor to control the movement of the device
between the lowered and elevated positions.
6. The patient positioning device of claim 5, further comprising a pad that fits
behind a person's thighs.
7. The patient positioning device of claim 6, further comprising a rail and track
for moving the leg support and the pad relative to the bottom frame.
8. A patient positioning device that can be placed on a surface on which a person
lies, and that can move a person's feet and lower legs between a lowered position
and an elevated position, comprising:
a bottom frame comprising a pivot;
a leg support that is coupled to the pivot and upon which the person's lower
legs rest in an attitude substantially parallel to the patient's spine; and
a means for rotating the leg support and the person's lower legs about the pivot
from the lowered position to the elevated position, in which the person is in a
supine position that includes the patient's lower legs being elevated and substantially
parallel to the patient's spine and the patient's upper legs being disposed in
an angular relationship with the patient's lower legs and back.
9. The patient positioning device of claim 8, wherein the means for rotating
comprises a motor.
10. The patient positioning device of claim 9, wherein the means comprises a
controller for control the power to the motor and thereby move the device between
the lowered and elevated positions.
11. The patient positioning device of claim 10, wherein the means for rotating
further comprises an actuator.
12. The patient positioning device of claim 11, wherein the actuator comprises
a screw and a cylinder.
13. The patient positioning device of claim 12, further comprising a vertical
support coupled to the bottom frame and the leg cushion to which the screw is coupled,
and wherein the cylinder is coupled to the bottom frame, so that when the screw
moves linearly with respect to the cylinder the device rotates.
14. The patient positioning device of claim 8, further comprising a linkage that
couples the bottom frame to the leg support.
15. An apparatus for supporting a patient's lower legs while undergoing spinal
traction while in a supine position, comprising:
a base;
a leg support upon which the patient's lower legs rest;
a linkage that connects the base to the leg support and that rotates the leg
support and the patient's lower legs from a lowered position to an elevated position
in an attitude substantially parallel to the patient's spine, in which the patient
is in a supine position that includes the patient's lower legs being elevated and
substantially parallel to the patient's spine and the patient's upper legs being
disposed in an angular relationship with the patient's lower legs and back.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a motor that is coupled to
the base to power the linkage and the leg support to rotate.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a cylinder coupled to the base
and the motor and a screw coupled to the linkage, the screw moving relative to
the cylinder such that when the motor powers the screw, the screw moves to rotate
the leg support from the lowered position to the elevated position.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a controller that is electrically
coupled to the motor to control the motor and the movement of the leg support.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a pad coupled to the leg support
for padding a patient's thighs.
20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the leg support is adjustable relative
to the base so that the leg support can be extended relative to the base.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a rail and a track for moving
the leg support relative to the base.
22. A patient positioning device that rotates to lift a patient's lower legs
while a patient is in a supine position, comprising:
a bottom support frame comprising a pivot;
a leg support;
a linkage that couples the leg support to the bottom support frame; and
a motor that rotates the leg support about the pivot from a lowered position
to an elevated position, in which the patient is in a supine position that includes
the patient's lower legs being elevated and substantially parallel to the patient's
spine and the patient's upper legs being disposed in an angular relationship with
the patient's lower legs and back.
23. The patient positioning device of claim 22, further comprising a cylinder
coupled to the bottom support frame and a screw coupled to the linkage, such that
when the motor powers the screw, the screw moves relative to the cylinder to rotate
the leg support from the lowered position to the elevated position.
24. The patient positioning device of claim 23, further comprising a pad that
fits behind a person's thighs.
25. The patient positioning device of claim 23, further comprising a rail and
a track for extending the leg support relative to the bottom support frame.
26. The patient positioning device of claim 22, further comprising a controller
electrically coupled to the motor for controlling the movement of the leg support
from the elevated and lowered position.
27. The patient positioning device of claim 25, wherein the pad is mounted to
the leg support so that the pad moves with the leg support on the rail and the track.
28. A portable foot lifting device for supporting a patient's lower legs while
undergoing spinal traction while in a supine position that can be set on a treatment
table, comprising:
a bottom support comprising a pivot;
a lower leg support;
a linkage that couples the bottom support to the lower leg support; and
an actuator, coupled to the linkage, which pushes the linkage and the lower leg
support to rotate from a lowered position to an elevated position, in which the
patient is in a supine position that includes the patient's lower legs being elevated
in an attitude substantially parallel to the patient's spine and the patient's
upper legs being disposed in an angular relationship with the patient's lower legs
and back.
29. The patient positioning device of claim 28, wherein the actuator comprises
a cylinder attached to the linkage and a screw, which is attached to the bottom
support, the screw extending into the cylinder.
30. The patient positioning device of claim 28, further comprising a pad that
fits behind a person's thighs.
31. The patient positioning device of claim 30, further comprising a rail and
a track for extending the pad relative to the bottom support.
32. The patient positioning device of claim 31, wherein the leg support is coupled
to the track and the rail so that the leg support moves with the pad relative to
the bottom support.
33. The patient positioning device of claim 28, further comprising a motor that
powers the actuator.
34. The patient positioning device of claim 33, further comprising a controller
that is electrically coupled to the motor to permit a patient to control movement
of the device.
35. A method for passively moving a patient's legs to the supine position, comprising:
resting a patient's lower legs on a cushion;
powering a motor which powers an actuator to rotate the leg cushion and the legs
about the hip from a lowered position to an elevated position, in which the patient
is in a supine position that includes the patient's lower legs being elevated in
an attitude substantially parallel to the patient's spine and the patient's upper
legs being disposed in an angular relationship with the patient's lower legs and
back and powering the motor to cycle the cushion between the lowered position and
the elevated position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus used to position a patient into the supine
position. This invention also relates to a system that positions a patient and
applies traction to the spine, such as physical therapy and chiropractic treatment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The practice of applying traction to the spine of a patient for therapeutic purposes
is commonly prescribed by physicians, physical therapists and chiropractors. When
professional judgment calls for a patient to be placed in a supine position, a
harness is normally attached to the patient by encircling the lower abdomen with
a harness that consists of a belt which must be attached by straps to a traction
head. The Saunders Group, Incorporated of Chaska, Minn. sells harnesses of this
type including its harness model # 46210. The belt portion which encircles the
abdomen must be cinched tightly enough to capture the pelvis of the patient and
thus transfer the traction force from the traction head through the belt to the
pelvis and in turn to the lower spine. When applying traction, the upper part of
the body is similarly captured by a thoracic harness. Thoracic harnesses including
that designated as model no. 46205 can also be obtained from The Saunders Group,
Incorporated of Chaska, Minn.
In order to place a patient in the supine position, the clinician first places
the patient on a treatment table with the patient's back resting on the table and
with the patient's legs extended straight and essentially level. The clinician
then assists the patient in raising his/her legs onto a stool that is placed on
the table between the patient's lower legs and the table such that the upper legs
are close to vertical and the lower legs are parallel to the plane of the table.
Stools are available from the Chattanooga Group, Inc. The clinician can then adjust
the patient's lower legs' elevation by loosening and then retightening a vertical
adjustment clamp while supporting the patient's legs so the stool does not collapse
to its minimum height.
Difficulties arise with this treatment method in the case of obese,
elderly or pregnant patients. With obese patients, for instance, the harness belt
is frequently difficult to tighten sufficiently to capture the pelvis, which results
in the force from the traction head being distributed through the soft tissues
throughout the pelvis. This results in (1) discomfort to the patient; (2) slippage
of the belts; and (3) uncertainty as to the actual spinal treatment force.
This invention relates to a patient positioning device for controlling the movement
of a patient into the supine position. This invention also relates to a system
for positioning a patient into the supine position and applying traction to the patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The patient positioning device of this invention can be readily transported and
attached to a horizontal or inclined surface such as a patient treatment table.
The patient positioning device can be attached by straps and clamps or the like
to the table surface. The patient positioning device of this invention rotates
from a lowered position to an elevated position. In the lowered position, a patient's
lower legs, the portion below the knees, are rested on the patient positioning
device. The patient positioning device is then rotated to the elevated position
in which the patient's feet and lower legs are elevated. The patient positioning
device has a motor and an actuator that can be used to move the device between
the lowered and raised positions. The motor powers the actuator to move the positioning
device. In a preferred embodiment, the motor has a remote controller that permits
a patient or attendant to power the motor. Once in the elevated position, traction
or other therapy can be applied to the patient.
The portable patient positioning device preferably includes a bottom support
frame, a leg support, and vertical support members that couple the bottom support
frame to the leg support. Attached to the bottom support frame may be a pivot and
a stationary bar. The pivot bar and the stationary bar are, in a preferred embodiment, parallel.
The patient positioning device's actuator preferably includes a threaded cylinder
coupled to the stationary bar o the bottom support and a screw disposed in the
threaded cylinder and attached to a vertical support member. When the motor is
powered, the motor rotates the screw in and out of the cylinder. When the screw
rotates out of the cylinder, the screw pushes on the vertical support member to
push the vertical support member in a rotary manner about the bottom frame pivot.
As the vertical support member rotates the leg support, which is coupled to the
vertical support, also rotates to the elevated position. Conversely, when the screw
is rotated into the cylinder, the screw pulls the vertical support and the leg
support in a rotary manner into the lowered position.
The leg support may be mounted to the device so that it can move laterally relative
to the device. Preferably, the leg support moves laterally with a rail system and
locks in place in a desired position that is best for a patient's anatomy. In a
preferred embodiment the locking system includes a pin that fits into a hole. There
are preferably a series of holes and the pin is placed in the hole that corresponds
to the desired location, thereby locking the leg support in place. The pin may
be spring loaded in order to hold the pin in the hole.
The patient positioning device may also have a pad, which is preferably a thigh
support pad, that is coupled to the leg support. The thigh support pad can be moved
laterally with the leg support so that it can be moved behind a patient's thighs.
This pad provides comfort to a patient's legs as it provides a stationary force
absorbing fulcrum for the moment arm if traction is to be employed. Preferably,
the leg cushion is coupled to the pad, so that the leg cushion moves laterally
with the rails and the pad. As described above and below, the tracks and rails
permit the thigh support pad and the leg support to be moved to a position that
fits a particular patient's anatomy.
This invention can also be used as a therapeutic or passive exercise device.
In particular, the support can be rotated between the lowered and elevated positions.
One such application where the device could be used as a passive exercise device
is after a patient has had hip surgery.
This invention also includes a system for treating a patient's back by applying
traction to the back. The system includes the patient positioning device including
any of the embodiments described above and below and a device for applying the
patient in traction. The traction device is preferably includes a femur board,
a cable, and a traction unit. The femur rests on the front of the patient's thighs,
and the cable extends from the femur board to the traction unit. Once the patient's
lower legs are elevated with the positioning device, the femur board is placed
across the thighs, and the traction unit pulls on the cable and the femur board,
placing the patient in traction. Except where so expressly limited in the claims,
the patient positioning device can be used with a variety of traction devices,
including harness type devices such as those described above.
This invention also includes methods of positioning a patient's legs with the
patient positioning device, and methods of treating a patient with the patient
positioning device and the device for applying traction.
Other features of the invention are described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a patient positioning device according to a
preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 disposed on a treatment
table and in an elevated position;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 disposed on a treatment
table and in a lowered position;
FIG. 4 is a view along line 4—4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4A is an assembly drawing of a preferred embodiment of the thigh pad of
FIG. 1's connection to the patient positioning device of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along line 5—5 of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The patient positioning device
10 is portable and can be easily transported
and adapted to a patient's treatment table
8 or any other suitable surface.
The treatment table may, but need not be, a Triton Table available from the Chattanooga
Group, Inc. The surface may be inclined. As described below, the patient positioning
device
10 can be rotated from a lowered position to an elevated position.
A perspective of an embodiment of the patient positioning device
10, that
is partially cut away at the top, is shown in FIG.
1. FIGS. 2 and 4 illustrate
the patient positioning device
10 in an elevated position, and FIG. 3 depicts
the patient positioning device
10 in a lowered position. (FIG. 2 depicts
the device
10 in an elevated position, but not fully elevated, and FIG.
4 depicts the device
10 in a fully elevated position so that the details
of the device are better understood.)
As shown in FIG. 1, the patient positioning device
10 includes a bottom
frame
11. The bottom frame
11 can have any number of configurations,
and in the preferred embodiment shown, it is generally rectangular. Additionally,
the bottom frame
11 can be constructed from any suitable material, but it
is preferably metal. In the preferred embodiment shown, the bottom frame
11
has four bars
12,
14,
16,
18. The bars
12,
14,
16,
18 may be attached by any suitable means including but not limited
to mechanical fasteners and welding.
Attached to the bottom frame
10 are a pair of vertical support members
20,
22. The vertical supports
20,
22 are depicted in
FIGS. 1-3. Any number of vertical support members
20,
22 can be used,
and they are preferably metal, but any suitable material can be employed. Vertical
support member
20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, may have an angular shape
in order to accommodate the raising and lowering of the device
10 so as
not to interfere with the upper portion of the device in the lowered position.
In the preferred embodiment show, the vertical support member
20 is coupled
to a cross-bar
21 that extends between bottom support members
16
and
18, and the vertical support member
22 is coupled to a cross-bar
23 which also extends between bottom support members
16 and
18.
The cross-bars
21,
23, which are shown in FIG. 1, are rotatably mounted
to the bottom support members
16 and
18 with a bearing or the any
suitable means. The vertical support members
20,
22 are attached
to the cross-bars with welds and support plates
25, which are shown in FIG.
4. Other attachment means such as mechanical fasteners may be used. The
preferred embodiment is exemplary, and other vertical supports may be used. For
instance, a pair of vertical supports attached to each of the sides may be employed.
As described in more detail below, because the cross-bars
21,
23
are rotatably mounted, the vertical support members
20,
22 can rotate
with the cross-bars to move the device
10 from the lowered position of FIG.
3 to the elevated position of FIG.
3.
The vertical support members
20,
22 are preferably attached to
the cross-bars
21,
23 such that they are off-set from the center
line, as shown in FIG.
4. This provides a stable support for the device.
Any number of support members can be used, and they can be attached to the bottom
and top frames by any suitable means in any locations. The embodiment shown is
the preferred embodiment.
The patient positioning device
10 also includes a top frame
26,
which is also shown in FIGS. 1-5. In the preferred embodiment shown, the top frame
26 is stationary and includes a substantially c-shaped support member
28,
which is shown in FIGS. 1,
4 and
5. Extending between the sides of
the support members are two cross-bars
29,
31. The cross-bars
29,
31 are rotatably mounted to the side support members by any suitable means
including for example bearings. Each of the cross-bars
29,
31 is
attached to one of the vertical support members by welding. Optionally, support
plates
33,
35, which are best shown in FIG. 4, can be used to support
the vertical members. Other means such as mechanical couplings and fasteners can
be used.
The stationary top frame
26 also includes a stationary guide
37,
which is best shown in the cross-section of FIG.
5 and the perspective cut
away of FIG.
1. The leg support
30 of FIG. 1 has been cut away to
expose the guide
37, which has also been cut so that the cross-section of
the guide
37 can be exposed. The stationary guide or track is substantially
T-shaped as shown in the end view of FIG.
4 and the perspective of FIG.
1. Disposed within the stationary guide
37 are a series of holes
39. Each of these holes
39 is for receiving the pin
41 as
shown in FIG.
5 and as described in more detail below. The guide
37
is mounted on the support member
28 by mechanical fasteners (not shown)
or any suitable means.
The device
10 further includes a leg support
30 that is in a preferred
embodiment a pad or cushion. The leg support
30 is preferably any suitable
cushioning material. Preferably, vinyl
43 covering a foam cushion
45
or the like is used. The leg pad
30 may have a relatively rigid back
47
such as wood or metal. The leg support
30 is mounted on a c-shaped rail
49, which has a channel
51, as shown best in FIG. 4, that surrounds
the stationary T-shaped guide
37 so that the rail
49 and the attached
leg support
30 can slide over the T-shaped guide
37 and move laterally
relative to the base and top frames as shown in FIG. 2 with the phantom lines and
the solid lines. The support
30 can be attached to the rail
49 by
any suitable means. Together the leg support
30—including the cover
47, the cushion
45, and the backing
47, and the c-shaped rail
49—form a moveable piece that moves on the guide track
37.
The c-shaped rail
49 is also shown in FIG. 1 where the leg support
30
has been cut away. The rail
49 has also been cut away to show the guide
37 and the channel
51 defined by the rail
49.
Other means may be used to mount the leg support
30 so that it can move
laterally relative to the top frame
26. For example, a torsion spring and
a rod (not shown) or other rail and track systems may be used.
The leg support
30 may have a locking system for locking the leg support
30 in place after it has been moved laterally relative to the bottom and
top frames. The locking system may include the pin
41, the guide track
37,
and bracket
61. Bracket
61 is mounted to the leg support
30
by screws
59 or fasteners as best shown in FIG.
5. The screws
59
thread into the bracket
61, the leg support
30, and the leg support
backing. The pin
41 is mounted in a pin housing
65, which is mounted
to the bracket
61 with any suitable means so that the housing
65
can move up and down relative the bracket
61.
The pin
41 can be spring loaded downward as viewed in FIG. 5 by spring
63. Spring
63 is mounted within pin housing
65. Knob
67
is coupled to the pin housing
65. The pin
41 is spring loaded so
that it fits within one of the guide holes
39, as shown in FIG.
5.
The knob
67 can be pulled upward to pull the pin housing
65, which
lifts the pin
41 upward against the pressure of the spring
63 and
out of the hole
39. The pin
41 is what retains the leg support
30
and prevents the leg support
30 from moving once it has been positioned;
thus, it defines a preferred embodiment of a locking system.
As best understood with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, the leg support
30
can be positioned laterally relative to the top or bottom frames by lifting the
pin
41 against the pressure of the spring
63, sliding the leg support
30 laterally relative to the bottom and top frames as shown by comparing
the phantom lines and the solid lines in FIG.
2.
The patient positioning device
10 also includes a pad
44 that cushions
the upper leg just above a patient's knees, as best understood with reference to
FIGS. 2 and 5. Like the leg pad
30, the pad
44 can be any suitable
cushioning material, preferably vinyl
44a covering foam
44b
with a stable backing
44c such as wood, reinforced plastic, or
metal. The pad
44 is preferably coupled by a hinge bracket
44d
to the top frame support member
28, as best shown in FIG.
4A.
Preferably, the hinge
44d is relatively rigid such that it can hold
the pad
44 in place. In another embodiment not shown, the pad
44
may be rigidly connected to the top frame.
The pad
44 is preferably mounted so that the pad
44 can move laterally
relative to the top and base frames. The hinge bracket
44d is connected
to bracket
44e with fasteners
44h as shown in FIG.
4A. The top
44f of the bracket
44e is connected
to the leg support
30 with fasteners
44g or the like as shown
in FIGS. 4 and 5. Because the pad
44 is mounted to the leg support
30
the pad
44 moves with the leg support
30.
In order to support the leg support
44 and the pad
30, the device
10 may further include a pair of c-shaped rails
53 which are attached
to the side portions
44j of bracket
44e with fasteners
or any suitable means as best shown in FIG.
4A. The c-shaped rails
53
ride on a series of wheels
55, three in the preferred embodiment, as best
understood with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The wheels
55 are preferably
mounted to the top frame member
28 with brackets
57, which are preferably c-shaped.
When the leg support
30 and the pad
44 move laterally, the rails
53 ride over the wheels
55. The lateral moveable pieces of the device
10 include the leg support
30, the pad
44, the hinge
44d,
the bracket
44e, the rails
53, and the rail
49. The
stationary pieces include the guide
37, the wheels
55, the brackets
57, and the top support member
28. The leg support
30 rail
49 moves over the guide
37, and the rails
53 move over the
wheels
55 in order to move the leg support
30 and the pad
44 laterally.
The patient positioning device
10 also includes a motor
34 for
moving the patient positioning device
10 between a lowered and an elevated
position. The motor
34 may be any suitable motor and is selected based on
the patient positioning device's intended use. If the patient positioning device
10 is intended to be used for lifting a patient's lower legs in preparation
for applying therapeutic traction, then a motor having a relatively low duty cycle
rating can be selected. In contrast, if the patient positioning device is intended
to be used repetitively as a passive exercise device, then a motor with a high
duty cycle rating should be employed.
The motor
34 powers an actuator
36 to move the patient positioning
device
10 between the elevated and lowered positions of FIGS. 2 and 3. In
the preferred embodiment shown, the actuator
36 includes a screw
38
disposed in a cylinder
40, as best shown in FIG.
3. The screw may
be a ball screw. The screw
38 is connected to one of the vertical support
members
20, and the cylinder
40 is hinged to the bottom frame
11
by fasteners
70 and brackets
72 or any other suitable means. Thus,
when the motor
34 powers the screw
38, the screw
38 moves
relative to the cylinder
40. As the screw
38 moves, it drives the
patient positioning device including the vertical support
20, the top frame
26, and the leg support pad
30 to rotate about the cross bars
21,
23. Additionally, the top cross bars
29,
31 rotate relative
to the top frame
26 to change the angle of the vertical supports
20,
22 relative to the top frame. Further operation of the motor
34 and
the system is provided below.
The motor
34 may have a remote control
34a so it can be
powered by the patient, therapist, or other care provider. In the case of passive
exercise, the remote controller provides patient control over movement to the supine
position, which permits the patient to control the level of pain. Other actuators
may be used, such as a linear motor, rotary actuator, hydraulic piston, or any
suitable means for rotating the patient positioning device
10.
Although the preferred embodiment preferably uses a motor, a manual device
such as a screw and hand-crank could be employed in place of the motor and actuator.
Furthermore, hydraulic or pneumatic pistons can be used as well.
The patient positioning device can be used alone to support a patient's legs
or with a traction device. Although any suitable traction device can be used, in
a preferred embodiment a traction device
80 which includes a femur board
82, a cable
84, and a traction unit
86, which are shown in
FIG.
2. The femur board
82 extends across the front of a patient's
thighs, and the cable
84 extends from the femur board
82 to the traction
unit
86. Although not shown, straps, belts and the like may be used to couple
the femur board to the table
8. For example, a belt could extend from either
lateral side of the femur board and extend down beneath the table and attach together
to hold the femur board in position. The belt prevents the femur board from sliding
out of a preferred position.
The cable
84 can be attached to the femur board
82 by any suitable
means. The patient positioning device
10 preferably has an opening
64
through which the tension cable
84 can be threaded. In the preferred embodiment,
this opening
64 is defined by the space between the bottom
11 and
top frames
26. The cable
84 threads between them.
The traction unit
86 applies tension to the cable
84 to pull the
femur board
82 and apply traction to the patient. Other traction devices
such as harnesses can be used with the patient positioning device. The traction
device could be any of a number of suitable devices, but is preferably a traction
unit made by Chattanooga Group, Inc. Even more preferably, the traction unit is
a Triton traction unit and could be the MP-1 Digital Traction Unit.
Except where expressly stated in the claims, the traction device could be
any number of devices. For example, any number of harness systems including those
referenced above can be used. The femur board system is, however, preferred.
Operation of the patient positioning device can best be understood with
reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The portable patient positioning device
11 can
be placed on a patient's treatment table or other flat area including an inclined
surface. If desired the patient positioning device
10, can be coupled to
the treatment table
8 by one or more straps
88 and buckles
90
or other mechanism as shown in FIG.
3. When placed on the surface, the patient
positioning device
10 is in the lowered position of FIG.
3. The patient
places his feet and lower legs on the leg pad
30, as shown in FIG.
3.
Preferably, the support pad
30 and the pad
44 are first
positioned laterally, so that the support
30 is positioned to fit a patient's
anatomy and the pad
44 is in close proximity with the patient's upper legs
just above the patient's knees, and locked in placed in the extended position.
The angle of the extension pad
44 can be adjusted by adjusting the hinge
44d. Alternatively, these lateral and hinge adjustments can be done
after the patient positioning device
10 is moved to the elevated position.
In order to adjust the lateral position of the leg support
30 and the
pad
44, the knob
67 of the locking system is pulled to pull the pin
41
against spring pressure and out of the hole. The support pad
30 is then
slid laterally by pulling or pushing the pad
30 so that the c-shaped rail
49 moves over the t-shaped guide
37 and the rails
53 move
over the wheels
55. Once the leg support
30 is in the desired position
that fits a patient's anatomy, the knob
67 and pin
41 are released,
and the pressure of the spring
63 moves the pin
41 into the corresponding
hole
39 in the guide
37. The pin
41 then retains the leg support
30 in position until the pin
41 is moved to move the leg support
30.
The patient positioning device
10 is moved to the elevated position, by
operating the motor controller
34a. This can be done by the patient,
which is advantageous in controlling any patient discomfort and permitting the
patient to find the best semi-fowler position that fits the patient's anatomy.
When powered, the motor
34 powers the actuator
36. In the preferred
embodiment shown, the screw
38 is rotated relative to the cylinder
46
and moves away from the cylinder
46 in a typical ball screw/lead screw arrangement.
As the screw
38 extends further out from the cylinder
46, the vertical
support members
20,
22 are pushed upward to rotate, and the cross
bars
21,
23,
29,
31 rotate relative to the respective
bottom and top frames. Thus, the top frame, the leg support
30, and the
vertical supports
20,
22 are rotating about the cross-bars
21
and
23, which defines pivots, to move the leg support
30 to the elevated
position of FIG.
3. Additionally, the rotatably mounted cross-bars
21,
23,
29,
31 rotate relative to the bottom and top frames to
adjust the angle at which the vertical supports extend from the bottom and top
frames. The motor
34 is powered until the patient positioning device
10
is moved into the desired elevation position, which is in most instances the elevated
position, as shown in FIG.
3. If desired, the support
30 and the
pad
44 can be adjusted laterally once the patient positioning device
10
is in the elevated position of FIG. 2 as described above. All of this movement
can be controlled by the patient or clinician with the controller
34a.
If desired, traction can then be applied with any traction apparatus, including
but not limited to the femur board
82, as shown in FIG.
2. This can
be done by powering the traction unit
86 to place a tension on the cable
84. The cable
84 pulls on the femur board
82 to provide the
traction. The reverse steps can be performed to move the patient positioning device
from the elevated position to the lowered position.
One benefit, but not the only benefit, of the patient positioning device of this
invention is that it is a portable support. It can be readily transported, and
used on almost any horizontal surface. Thus, it is particularly suited for use
hospitals, patient care facilities, or home care situations. Another benefit of
an embodiment of this invention is that the patient positioning device rotates
between the lowered and elevated positions, as opposed to translating vertically.
The rotational movement of the leg support is beneficial because without the device
10 vertical movement requires a secondary lateral adjustment of the patient
or the support for the lower legs after elevation is achieved, and such adjustment
can aggravate some back injuries or cause pain. Rotational movement is preferred
because it imitates the normal articulation of the leg around the hip joint. These
benefits of the device are not intended to limit the claims except where so stated
in the claims.
The patient positioning device can also be used as a passive, therapeutic exercise
device. By cycling the patient positioning device between the lowered and elevated
positions, the patient positioning device can apply a therapeutic force to the
lower body. Although this cycling has many applications, one such application is
as a passive exercise device for a patient recovering from a hip-joint replacement.
Movement of the hip soon after surgery is important but painful. The patient positioning
device of this invention makes movement of the joints more comfortable and permits
the patient to control the movement.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and
advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure
is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters
of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention
to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which
the appended claims are expressed.
*
