Field
The present specification generally relates to person support apparatuses and, more specifically, to person support apparatuses including person repositioning assembly.
Technical Background
In some surgical procedures, such as a spinal procedure, it may be necessary to reposition a patient between various positions. For example, a surgical procedure may require that a patient is initially oriented in a prone position and may subsequently require that the patient be repositioned to lie on his or her side, or vice versa. A common technique in conventional practice is to summon as many colleagues as practical to lift and maneuver the patient between the various positions. This risk of mishandling the patient makes this technique undesirable.
Accordingly, a need exists for alternative person support apparatuses that include person repositioning assemblies.
In one embodiment, a person support apparatus includes a base frame, a primary support frame supported on the base frame, where the primary support frame extends in a longitudinal direction, a support deck coupled to the primary support frame, the support deck including an upper segment positioned at a head end of the person support apparatus, a leg segment positioned at a foot end of the person support apparatus, and a torso segment positioned between the upper segment and the leg segment in the longitudinal direction, where at least one of the upper segment, the torso segment, and the leg segment rotates with respect to the primary support frame about an axis that extends in the longitudinal direction.
In another embodiment, a person support apparatus includes a base frame, a primary support frame supported on the base frame, the primary support frame including a longitudinal frame that extends in a longitudinal direction and is positioned above the base frame in a vertical direction, a support deck coupled to the longitudinal frame of the primary support frame, and a repositioning assembly coupled to at least a portion of the support deck, the repositioning assembly including at least one rocker member movably coupled to the primary support frame, the at least one rocker member extending in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction, and an actuator coupled to the primary support frame and engaged with the at least one rocker member, where the actuator moves the at least one rocker member with respect to the primary support frame.
In yet another embodiment, a person support apparatus includes a base frame, a primary support frame supported on the base frame, the primary support frame including a longitudinal frame that extends in a longitudinal direction and is positioned above the base frame in a vertical direction, where at least a portion of the longitudinal frame extends in a horizontal plane, a support deck coupled to the longitudinal frame of the primary support frame, the support deck including a torso segment including a first portion and a second portion severally coupled to the first portion, and a repositioning assembly coupled to at least a portion of the support deck and movably coupled to the primary support frame, where the repositioning assembly moves the torso segment between a first position in which the first portion is co-planar with the horizontal plane and a second position in which the second portion is co-planar with the horizontal plane.
Additional features and advantages of the embodiments described herein will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description describe various embodiments and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed subject matter. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the various embodiments, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate the various embodiments described herein, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations of the claimed subject matter.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of person support apparatuses that include person repositioning assemblies, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. One embodiment of a person support apparatus is depicted in
As used herein, the term “longitudinal direction” refers to the forward-rearward direction of the person support apparatus (i.e., in the +/−X-direction as depicted). The term “lateral direction” refers to the cross-direction of the person support apparatus (i.e., in the +/−Y-direction as depicted), and is transverse to the longitudinal direction. The term “vertical direction” refers to the upward-downward direction of the person support apparatus (i.e., in the +/−Z-direction as depicted), and is transverse to the lateral and the longitudinal directions. The terms “head end” and “foot end” refer to the relative location of components of the person support apparatus in the longitudinal direction.
The phrase “communicatively coupled” is used herein to describe the interconnectivity of various components of steering system and means that the components are connected either through wires, optical fibers, or wirelessly such that electrical, optical, and/or electromagnetic signals may be exchanged between the components.
Referring to
The base frame 110 of the person support apparatus 100 includes a forward portion 114 positioned at a head end of the person support apparatus 100 and a rearward portion 116 positioned at a foot end of the person support apparatus 100. The forward portion 114 and the rearward portion 116 are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction and may be coupled to one another by a central portion 118 that extends between the forward portion 114 and the rearward portion 116 in the longitudinal direction. The central portion 118 may extendable and/or retractable in the longitudinal direction, thereby increasing or decreasing the distance between the forward portion 114 and the rearward portion 116 in the longitudinal direction. In embodiments, the forward portion 114 and the rearward portion 116 are coupled to a plurality of rollers 112, such that the person support apparatus 100 may be moved along a surface, such as a floor.
The primary support frame 120 extends upward from the base frame 110 of the person support apparatus 100. In the embodiment depicted in
The primary support frame 120 includes a longitudinal frame 126 that is positioned above the base frame 110 in the vertical direction and that extends between the forward column 122 and the rearward column 124 in the longitudinal direction. In the embodiment depicted in
The forward column 122 and the rearward column 124 may be adjustable in the vertical direction such that the forward column 122 and the rearward column 124 may raise or lower the longitudinal frame 126 with respect to the base frame 110 in the vertical direction. In embodiments, at least one column actuator 121 coupled to the forward column 122 and/or the rearward column 124 and moves the forward column 122 and the rearward column 124 upward and downward in the vertical direction with respect to the base frame 110. The column actuator 121 may be a powered actuator, such as an electric motor or the like, or may be a manually powered, such as by a footpedal, a crank, or the like. The column actuator 121 include a linear actuator, such as a screw, a wheel and axle, a cam, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a pezioelectric actuator, an electro-mechanical actuator, or the like.
Referring to
Referring again to
The support deck 130 is coupled to the longitudinal frame 126 and includes one or more segments that are positioned between the forward column 122 and the rearward column 124 in the longitudinal direction to support a patient on the person support apparatus 100. In the embodiment depicted in
Each of the upper segment 140, the torso segment 150, and the leg segment 160 include generally planar surfaces that support a patient on the person support apparatus 100. In some embodiments, the upper segment 140, the torso segment 150, and/or the leg segment 160 may include contoured or shaped surfaces that accommodate a patient. For example, in the embodiment depicted in
Referring to
By pivoting at the leg segment pivot 162, the leg segment 160 may be lowered in the vertical direction with respect to the torso segment 150 and the upper segment 140. By lowering the leg segment 160 in the vertical direction, a patient's legs and lower body may be positioned lower than the torso of the patient, which may assist with aligning and orienting a patient during surgery. While the leg segment 160 is described and depicted as being pivotally coupled to the longitudinal frame 126, it should be understood that the leg segment 160 may be rigidly coupled to the longitudinal frame 126 and the torso segment 150 and/or the upper segment 140 may be pivotally coupled to the longitudinal frame 126.
Referring to
Referring again to
Ones of the rocker members 176 coupled to the first portion 152 of the torso segment 150 and ones of the rocker members 176 coupled to the second portion 154 are aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction and generally extend in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction. The rocker members 176 are movably coupled to the primary support frame 120. In particular, the rocker members 176 are movably coupled to at least one guide 178 that is coupled to the longitudinal frame 126 of the primary support frame 120.
In embodiments, the rocker members 176 and/or the at least one guide 178 have a curved or arced shape such that the rocker members 176 rotate about an axis 10 with respect to the primary support frame 120, where the axis 10 extends in the longitudinal direction. The rocker members 176 and/or the at least one guide 178 include a radius of curvature that generally corresponds to a radius 12 extending from the axis 10 to the rocker members 176.
The rocker members 176 may include a toothed member 175 that is engaged with the at least one guide 178. The toothed member 175 may be positioned on an outer circumference of the rocker members 176. Alternatively or additionally, the toothed member 175 may be positioned on a side face of the rocker members 176. An actuator 180 is coupled to at least one of the guides 178 and moves the rocker members 176 with respect to the primary support frame 120. The actuator 180 may include one or more gears or screws (not depicted) that are engaged with the toothed member 175 of the rocker members 176, such that the actuator 180 and the rocker members 176 are engaged with one another in a fashion similar to a rack and pinion configuration. As the actuator 180 drives the one or more gears or screws meshed with the toothed member 175, the actuator 180 moves rocker members 176 with respect to the at least one guide 178. In embodiments, the actuator 180 may include various actuators, including, but not limited to an electric motor, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or the like.
Referring to
Referring again to
While the actuator 180 is depicted as being positioned proximate to the torso segment 150 and as being directly engaged with the rocker members 176, it should be understood that the actuator 180 may be positioned at any suitable position on the person support apparatus 100 and may be engaged with the rocker members 176 through a variety of mechanical linkages.
The rocker members 176, the guides 178, the actuator 180, and the first portion 152 and the second portion 154 of the torso segment 150 are formed from materials such that the person support apparatus 100 may be suitable for use with a variety of medical equipment, such as an X-ray machine. In embodiments, each of the rocker members 176, the guides 178, the actuator 180, and the first portion 152 and the second portion 154 of the torso segment 150 may be formed from a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, polymers, composites, resins, carbon fiber or the like.
The person support apparatus 100, and in particular the repositioning assembly 170 of the person support apparatus 100, repositions a patient by rotating the first portion 152 and the second portion 154 of the torso segment 150 about axis 10 with respect to the primary support frame 120. For example, a patient may initially be positioned in a prone position, as depicted in
Referring to
Referring to
The rocker member 176 that is coupled to the first portion 152 continues to rotate and the actuator 180 engages the rocker member 176 that is coupled to the second portion 154 of the torso segment 150. Once engaged with the rocker member 176 that is coupled to the second portion 154 of the torso segment 150, the actuator 180 continues to rotate the torso segment 150 to reposition the person support apparatus 100 into the second position.
Referring to
While the person support apparatus 100 is described and depicted as showing the repositioning assembly 170 moving a patient between a prone position and a lateral position, it should be understood that the person support apparatus 100 may be utilized to move a patient between additional rotational positions. For example, the person support apparatus 100 may be utilized to reposition a patient between the lateral position, as shown in
It should now be understood that the person support apparatuses according to the present disclosure include repositioning assemblies that move a patient between various positions. In embodiments, the repositioning assemblies include at least one rocker member that is coupled to a torso segment of the person support apparatus and that is movably coupled to a primary support frame of the person support apparatus. The at least one rocker member rotates the torso segment with respect to the primary support frame and is repositionable between a first position and a second position. By rotating the torso segment with respect to the primary support frame, the repositioning assembly may rotate a patent on the person support apparatus between rotational positions, such as between a prone position and a lateral position. By rotating the patient between the different rotational positions with the repositioning assembly of the person support apparatus, a patient may be repositioned as required during a surgical procedure with minimal manual handling of the patient by medical staff, thereby reducing risk to the patient and the medical staff.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Thus it is intended that the specification cover the modifications and variations of the various embodiments described herein provided such modification and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/174,102, filed Jun. 11, 2015, and entitled “Person Support Apparatuses Including Person Repositioning Assemblies” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62174102 | Jun 2015 | US |