Claims
- 1. An apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position which comprises:
a patient support surface which is tiltable and includes a head end, a foot end and opposed sides which extend between the head end and the foot end; and a pair of padded hip braces positioned inward from the sides of the patient support at an intermediate location between the head end and foot end thereof whereat the pair of padded hip braces can engage a top portion of hips of a patient lying on the patient support surface and thereby prevent the patient from sliding toward the head end when the patient support surface is tilted in a Trendelenburg position.
- 2. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 1, wherein the padded hip braces are contoured to engage the top portion of the patient's hips.
- 3. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 2, wherein the padded hip braces are curved inward toward one another.
- 4. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of padded hip braces is coupled to an opposite side of the patient support surface by an adjustable positioning assembly.
- 5. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 4, wherein the adjustable positioning assembly includes at least one ball joint assembly.
- 6. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 5, wherein the at least one ball joint assembly comprises a pair of ball joint assemblies.
- 7. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 6, further comprising a support bar between each of the pair of ball joint assemblies.
- 8. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 7, wherein the support bar comprises an angled support bar.
- 9. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 8, wherein opposite ends of the angled support bar pass through one of each of the pair of ball joint assemblies.
- 10. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 9, wherein one of the pair of ball joint assemblies is coupled to one of the pair of padded hip braces and the other of the pair of ball joint assemblies is coupled to an adjacent side of the patient support surface by a movable clamp.
- 11. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 10, further including a rail along each of the opposed sides of the patient support surface and wherein the movable clamps are coupled to the rails.
- 12. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of shoulder braces which are positioned near the head end of the patient support surface for abutting against the patient's shoulders.
- 13. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of padded hip braces include a contoured pad base and a padded cover.
- 14. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 13, wherein each of the contoured base pads includes a mounting post.
- 15. The apparatus for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position according to claim 1, wherein the patient support surface is a surgical table.
- 16. A method for restraining a patient in a Trendelenburg position which comprises:
positioning a patient on a tiltable patient support surface having a head end; and engaging a top portion of the patient's hips on either side with padded hip braces configured to engage the top portion of the patient's hips and prevent the patient from sliding toward the head end of the tiltable patient support surface when tilted in the Trendelenburg position.
- 17. The method for restraining the patient in the Trendelenburg position according to claim 16, further comprising engaging the patient's shoulders with shoulder braces.
- 18. The method for restraining the patient in the Trendelenburg position according to claim 17, wherein the step of engaging the patient's shoulders with shoulder braces is performed after the patient support is tilted to an intermediate Trendelenburg position.
- 19. A method of reducing compression forces on a patient's back when the patient is braced with shoulder braces and supported in a Trendelenburg position which comprises:
engaging a top portion of the patient's hips on either side with padded hip braces configured to engage the top portion of the patient's hips and prevent the patient from sliding toward the head end of the patient support surface prior to tilting the patient support surface in the Trendelenburg position.
- 20. A method of reducing compression forces on a patient's back according to claim 19, wherein the patient's shoulders are engaged with the shoulder braces after the patient support is tilted to an intermediate Trendelenburg position.
- 21. An apparatus for use with a patient support movable to a Trendelenberg position comprising, a hip brace assembly comprising a padded portion configured to engage the patient's hip and a connector portion, the connector portion being coupled between the padded portion and the patient support, the connector portion being adjustable to permit adjustable movement of the padded portion relative to the patient support, the padded portion engaging the hip to provide a force vector at the hip away from the head.
- 22. The apparatus for use with a patient support movable to a Trendelenberg position according to claim 21, wherein the hip brace assembly comprises a pair of padded portions each positioned on opposed sides of the patient's hips engaging the hips to provide the force vector at the hips away from the head.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present disclosure is based upon U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/192,538, filed on Mar. 28, 2000, the complete disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60192538 |
Mar 2000 |
US |