Abstract:
A facial support cushion for supporting the face of a person lying in a prone position, wherein the cushion is an annular, generally torus shaped body having a hollow interior with a plurality of generally radially extending partitions extending across the interior of the body, dividing it into a plurality of individual chambers spaced sequentially around the body. Apparatus is connected with the chambers to sequentially expand and contract them in an alternating pattern so that some of the chambers are expanded to contact and support the face while other chambers are contracted to relieve the pressure exerted against the face by the other chambers, whereby the formation of pressure sores and other deleterious effects are avoided by periodically and temporarily relieving pressure exerted by the chambers against different areas of the face.
Abstract:
A draping system provides a continuous sterile field between a patient incision area and one or more medical practitioners. The draping system has a quick release system incorporated into the drape that enables a medical practitioner to separate from the continuous sterile field without disrupting the sterile field around the practitioner or the patient. The draping system may include an abbreviated practitioner gown, a drain and an integral patient incision area or a flap for extending the continuous sterile field around to one or more additional operating room tables. A modular drape and gown system extends the sterile field beyond the operating table allowing practitioners to couple to the extended field. A tent provides an enclosed sterile field useful in mobile or other non operating room surgical environments. Integral lighting and information displays facilitate field surgical procedures.
Abstract:
A patient transfer system for transferring a patient to an operating table in a prone position (lying facedown) from a supine position (lying on the back—facing up), and vice versa, is described. Integrated within a portion of the patient transfer system is an apparatus that transforms the surface of a commonly used operating table into a dedicated platform configured to support a patient in a prone position for back surgery or other medical procedures. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a frame configured to rest on top of the surface of an operating table and support members attached to the frame, configured to support the patient in a prone position. Thus, the apparatus converts commonly used operating tables into a dedicated back surgery. The apparatus eliminates the use of various improvised support structures stuffed underneath the patient to provide support while on the operating table in a prone position.
Abstract:
A draping system provides a continuous sterile field between a patient incision area and one or more medical practitioners. The draping system has a quick release system incorporated into the drape that enables a medical practitioner to separate from the continuous sterile field without disrupting the sterile field around the practitioner or the patient. The draping system may include an abbreviated practitioner gown, a drain and an integral patient incision area or a flap for extending the continuous sterile field around to one or more additional operating room tables. A modular drape and gown system extends the sterile field beyond the operating table allowing practitioners to couple to the extended field. A tent provides an enclosed sterile field useful in mobile or other non operating room surgical environments. Integral lighting and information displays facilitate field surgical procedures.
Abstract:
A modular, multi-articulated patient support system includes independently adjustable columns connected by an adjustable base and supporting a patient support structure. Each column includes rotation, angulation and separation adjustment structure. The patient support may be raised, lowered and rotated about a longitudinal axis in either horizontal or tilted orientation. The patient support includes a body support rotatably coupled with right and left leg supports disengageable at the outboard ends, that can be tilted, rotated and locked in place. An intermediate brace engages the base when the outboard ends of the leg supports are disengaged. The patient support structure may include two pairs of patient supports, each attached at the outboard end of a column and having a free inboard end. A coordinated drive system raises, lowers, tilts and rotates the patient supports, which may be positioned in overlapping relation. The pairs of patient supports may be rotated in unison to achieve 180° repositioning of a patient.
Abstract:
A patient positioning device and method of operation that is simple in construction, is easy to install, is positioned outside the sterile operating field, yet permits the surgeon to readily position, adjust, and re-position a patient during a surgical procedure is provided and includes a support adapted to be positioned against a predetermined portion of a patient's body, a drive mechanism for moving the support along a generally linear path, a source of power for the drive mechanism, a bracket for mounting the drive mechanism to an operating table, and a remote device for actuating the drive mechanism.
Abstract:
A medical device for positioning a patient correctly in the sitting position when performing spinals or epidurals. The medical device is wedge shaped and inflexible. The device can have handles adjacent to the front wall of the wedge or can be used without the handles. The device is used by first placing it on an elevated surface, then having a patient sit on the device so that the patient's knees flex at the front and upper juncture of the device. The patient is then instructed to sit upright. By sitting upright, the pelvis will rotate backwards thereby promoting flexion of the lumbar/thoracic spine. On the medical device with handles, the flexion of the lumbar/thoracic spine can be augmented by having the patient push upward, palms up, on the handles. The upward pushing forces will force the lumbar spine posteriorly and further increase thoracic/lumbar flexion. Then either inserting the tip of a spinal needle into the patient's spinal space or inserting the tip of an epidural needle into the patient's epidural space.
Abstract:
An inflatable positioning device is provided. The device includes a pump, a tube extending from the pump, a valve intermediate the length of the tube and non-rectangular inflatable pillow connected to the end of the tube remote from the pump. The non-rectangular inflatable pillow is dimensioned for positioning portions of a patient's body during surgery.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a patient support device specifically designed to facilitate punctures and injections into the cervical (neck) or lumbar spine (lower back). The cushion support device provided by this invention has a raised V-shaped support cushion surface and a raised and rounded transverse cushion at one end for supporting a patient reposing therein in a facedown (prone) position and resisting lateral movement or rotation by that patient and reducing the lordosis (natural inward curve) of the lumbar spine or alternatively maximizing the flexion of the cervical spine.
Abstract:
During a surgical procedure being performed on a patient in the prone (face down) position, the patient's head and face are supported by a facial support mask having two or more contoured cushions that are independently inflatable and deflatable with respect to each other. The inflatable cushions are sequentially pressurized and depressurized, thus providing continuous, soft support for the patient's head, while alternatively relieving compression forces applied to pressure-sensitive facial areas. Alternately pressurizing and depressurizing the inflatable cushions shifts the location of compressive forces, thus relieving compressed tissues and permitting recovery of normal blood circulation in sensitive facial tissues. The patient's head, neck and face are not disturbed while the support cushions are cycled through various pressurization and depressurization states.