Patent Grant
12102571
The present disclosure relates to boot stirrups that couple to a surgical table and support a patient's leg and foot during surgery. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the mechanisms of boot stirrups that permit movement of the boot stirrups relative to the surgical table.
Boot stirrups are typically configured to support and/or immobilize a patient's foot and leg. A boot stirrup is sometimes needed, for example, during surgery to maintain the patient's foot and leg in a selected position relative to a surgical table. Boot stirrups are used with patients of varying sizes and maintain the patient in a variety of positions. Some known boot stirrups include a lockable joint that allows the boot stirrup to be repositioned relative to the surgical table and/or relative to the patient. Some lockable joints include clamps that require rotation of a handle or knob to open and close the clamp. To reposition such boot stirrups, one hand of a user operates the clamp while the other hand supports and repositions the boot. Additionally, most boot stirrups include a static boot that does not provide for adjustment of the boot size with regard to length or width.
The present invention may comprise one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which each are considered to be optional and which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter:
A support arm may include a spar, a lockable swivel joint, and a spar handle. The spar may have a proximal end, a distal end spaced apart from the proximal end, and an actuator rod extending between the proximal and distal ends along a longitudinal axis of the support arm. The lockable swivel joint may be coupled to the actuator rod at the proximal end of the spar and coupled to the surgical table. The lockable swivel joint may be configured to permit movement of the spar relative to the surgical table about a plurality of axes. The spar handle may be coupled to the distal end of the spar. The spar handle may include a handle housing coupled to the spar and a spar lever coupled to the actuator rod and configured to move linearly and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis relative to the handle housing to cause the actuator rod to rotate about the longitudinal axis between a first orientation in which the lockable swivel joint is locked and a second orientation in which the lockable swivel joint is unlocked.
In some embodiments, the spar lever may include a lever slide arranged around the actuator rod and a lever handle extending radially away from the lever slide relative to the longitudinal axis. The lever slide may be configured to move with the lever handle and cause the actuator rod to rotate between the first and second orientations when the lever handle is moved linearly and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.
In some embodiments, the lever slide may include an inner surface, an outer surface radially spaced apart from the inner surface, and a sidewall extending radially through the lever slide between the inner and outer surfaces. The sidewall may be formed to define a slot extending axially and circumferentially along the lever slide. The spar may further include an actuator axle coupled to the actuator rod for movement therewith. The actuator axle may extend into the slot.
In some embodiments, the actuator axle may extend through the actuator rod into the slot. The lever slide may be arranged to move linearly along the longitudinal axis to cause the sidewall to engage the actuator axle and move the actuator axle circumferentially about the longitudinal axis to cause the actuator rod to rotate between the first and second orientations.
In some embodiments, the actuator axle may include a pin and a bearing arranged around the pin. The pin may extend through the actuator rod into the slot. The bearing may be positioned between the pin and the sidewall.
According to this disclosure a boot stirrup for use during surgery may include a support arm having a longitudinal axis, a surgical boot, and a lockable joint. The surgical boot may include a foot support portion formed to support a foot of a patient and a boot handle fixed to the foot support portion. The lockable joint may be coupled to the support arm and coupled to the surgical boot. The lockable joint may be configured to move between an unlocked position in which the lockable joint permits movement of the surgical boot along the longitudinal axis relative to the support arm and rotation of the surgical boot about the longitudinal axis relative to the support arm and a locked position in which the lockable joint blocks movement of the surgical boot along the longitudinal axis relative to the support arm and rotation of the surgical boot about the longitudinal axis relative to the support arm. The lockable joint may include a release lever configured to move relative to the boot handle to unlock the lockable joint.
In some embodiments, the lockable joint may have a lever axis. The release lever may be pivotable about the lever axis between a first orientation in which the release lever is spaced apart from the boot handle and a second orientation in which the release lever is adjacent to the boot handle. In some embodiments, the lockable joint may be in the locked position when the release lever is in the first orientation and may be in the unlocked position when the release lever is in the second orientation.
In some embodiments, the lockable joint may further include an arm clamp arranged around the support arm and a clamp actuator coupled to the arm clamp. The clamp actuator may include a clamp rod and an actuator unit configured to move the clamp rod relative to the arm clamp between a first position in which the clamp rod engages the arm clamp to cause the arm clamp to be in a closed position and a second position in which the clamp rod disengages the arm clamp to cause the arm clamp to be in an open position.
In some embodiments, the lockable joint may include a transverse axis that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The clamp rod may extend along the transverse axis.
In some embodiments, the lockable joint may include a transverse axis and a lever axis that is spaced apart from and generally parallel with the transverse axis. The clamp rod may extend along the transverse axis. The release lever may be pivotable about the lever axis.
In some embodiments, the actuator unit may include a spacer assembly. The clamp rod may be coupled to the spacer assembly. The spacer assembly may be movable between an expanded position in which the spacer assembly causes the clamp rod to engage the arm clamp to move the arm clamp to the closed position and a compressed position in which the spacer assembly causes the clamp rod to disengage the arm clamp to move the arm clamp to the open position.
In some embodiments, the actuator unit may further include a first slide plate coupled to the spacer assembly. The first slide plate may be configured to move between a first position in which the first slide plate moves the spacer assembly into the expanded position and a second position in which the first slide plate moves the spacer assembly into the compressed position.
In some embodiments, the first slide plate may include an upper surface, a lower surface spaced apart from the upper surface, and a sidewall extending between the upper and lower surfaces to form a slot having a narrow end and a wide end. A portion of the spacer assembly may extend into the slot and engage the sidewall at the wide end of the slot to cause the spacer assembly to be in the expanded position when the first slide plate is in the in the first position. The portion of the spacer assembly may engage the sidewall at the narrow end of the slot to cause the spacer assembly to be in the compressed position when the first slide plate is in the in the second position.
In some embodiments, the lockable joint may include a transverse axis. The actuator unit may further include a first slide plate. The spacer assembly may include a first spacer, a second spacer, and a bias member. The first and second spacers may be aligned with the transverse axis. The clamp rod may extend through the first and second spacers and may be coupled to the first spacer for movement therewith. The bias member may be configured to bias the first spacer away from the second spacer to cause the first spacer and the clamp rod to move away from the second spacer to cause the clamp rod to engage the arm clamp and move the arm clamp to the closed position when the lockable joint is in the locked position. The first slide plate may be configured to engage the first and second spacers to cause the first spacer and the clamp rod to move toward the second spacer to cause the clamp rod to disengage the arm clamp and move the arm clamp to the open position when the lockable joint is in the unlocked position.
In some embodiments, the release lever may include a grip portion that is pulled toward the boot handle to unlock the lockable joint. In some embodiments, the grip portion may be located beneath the boot handle and may be pulled upwardly toward the boot handle to unlock the lockable joint.
In some embodiments, the boot handle may extend from a sole of the foot support portion. In some embodiments, the boot handle may extend from a heel support region of the surgical boot.
According to this disclosure, a surgical boot may include a foot support portion, a lower leg support portion, and a connector. The connector may be coupled to the foot support portion and may be coupled to the lower leg support portion. The connector may be configured to permit movement of the lower leg support portion relative to the foot support portion to accommodate legs of patients of different sizes.
In some embodiments, the connector may be configured to permit linear movement of the lower leg support portion relative to the foot support portion. In some embodiments, the connector may include a first rail that extends from the foot support portion toward the lower leg support portion and a first track arranged around the first rail.
In some embodiments, the first rail may be formed to include a plurality of indentations spaced apart from one another. The first track may include a pin arranged to extend into at least one of the plurality of indentations to block movement of the lower leg support portion relative to the foot support portion.
In some embodiments, the first rail may include an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart from the upper surface. The upper surface may be formed to include the plurality of indentations.
In some embodiments, the first rail may be coupled to the foot support portion. The first track may be coupled to the lower leg support portion. The first track may be configured to translate on the first rail to cause the lower leg support portion to move relative to the foot support portion.
In some embodiments, the connector may include a second rail spaced apart from the first rail and a second track arranged around the second rail. The second rail may be coupled to the foot support portion. The second track may be coupled to the lower leg support portion. The second track may be configured to translate on the second rail to cause the lower leg support portion to move relative to the foot support portion. In some embodiments, the lower leg support portion may include a calf portion and a kneepad having a pad insert and a strap that couples the kneepad to the calf portion.
According to the disclosure, a support apparatus for use with a surgical table may include a support arm, a lockable joint, and a surgical boot. The support arm may be coupled to the surgical table. The lockable joint may be coupled to the support arm. The surgical boot may be coupled to the lockable joint for movement of the surgical boot relative to the support arm about a plurality of axes. The surgical boot may include a limb-support surface configured to engage and support a limb of a patient and a mount surface including at least one mount configured to couple to and support an accessory unit.
In some embodiments, the at least one mount may include a plurality of threaded apertures formed in the mount surface and extending into the surgical boot. In some embodiments, the mount surface may be generally flat.
In some embodiments, the surgical boot may be formed to include a notch extending into the surgical boot. The notch may be configured to receive at least one conduit extending between the accessory unit and the limb of the patient.
In some embodiments, the accessory unit may include a sequential compression device. In some embodiments, the sequential compression device may include a pump unit coupled to the mount surface.
In some embodiments, the sequential compression device may include a garment worn on a patient's limb and at least one conduit extending between the garment and the pump unit. In some embodiments, the surgical boot may include a notch to receive the at least one conduit.
Additional features, which alone or in combination with any other feature(s), such as those listed above, may comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the embodiments as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures, in which:
An illustrative boot stirrup 10 is shown in
The boot stirrup 10 includes a support arm 100, a surgical boot 300, and a lockable joint 200 coupled to the support arm 100 and coupled to the surgical boot 300 as shown in
The support arm 100 includes a spar 102 and a spar handle 104 as shown in
The lockable swivel joint 106 is configured as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,055, granted Dec. 16, 2003, and entitled “ARMBOARD ASSEMBLY,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for it teachings of the swivel joint construction disclosed therein. The lockable swivel joint 106 includes an abduction axis 110 and a lithotomy axis 112 as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, the support arm further includes a telescoping strut 122 as shown in
The telescoping strut 122 may be a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, a linear actuator, or an un-powered strut. In some embodiments, the telescoping strut 122 may be a combination of a hydraulic/pneumatic device. In the illustrative embodiment, the telescoping strut 122 comprises a counterbalance gas spring that is pre-charged with gas to provide positioning assistance.
Illustratively, the telescoping strut 122 is coupled to the lockable swivel joint 106 and coupled to the spar 102. In other embodiments, the telescoping strut 122 may be coupled to a portion of a clamp that mounts to the surgical table and coupled to the spar 102. The telescoping strut 122 illustratively includes an extension tube and an extension rod such as a piston rod, for example. The extension tube is configured such that an inner diameter of the extension tube is slightly larger than an outside diameter of a piston at an end of the extension rod so that the extension rod is telescopically received within the extension tube.
The spar 102 is configured to pivot about the plurality of pivot axes that extend through the lockable swivel joint 106 as suggested in
The actuator rod 118 is coupled to the lockable swivel joint 106 at the proximal end 114 as shown in
The support shaft 120 is coupled to the lockable swivel joint 106 at the proximal end 114 for movement therewith as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, the spar 102 further includes an actuator axle 124 as shown in
The pin 126 extends through the actuator rod 118 at the distal end 116 as shown in
The spar handle 104 is coupled to the distal end 116 of the spar 102 as shown in
The spar lever 130 includes a lever slide 134 and a lever handle 136 as shown in
The lever slide 134 includes an outer wall 138, an inner wall 140, and a sidewall 144 extending between the outer and inner walls 138, 140 to form a slot 150 as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, the lever slide 134 is cylindrical and arranged around the actuator rod 118 as shown in
The lever slide 134 is configured to move linearly and generally parallel with the longitudinal axis 108 in the illustrative embodiment. As the lever slide 134 moves linearly, the sidewalls 144 apply a circumferential force to the bearings 128 of the actuator axle 124 to cause the actuator rod 118 to rotate about the longitudinal axis 108 between the first and second orientations. The lever slide 134 is biased to cause the lever slide 134 to orient the actuator rod 118 into the first orientation and lock the lockable swivel joint 106.
The lever handle 136 is coupled with the lever slide 134 for movement therewith as shown in
The handle housing 132 extends around a portion of the support shaft 120, a portion of the actuator rod 118, the actuator axle 124, the lever slide 134, and a portion of the lever handle 136 as shown in
In operation, a user grips the spar handle 104 and squeezes the lever handle 136 to overcome the bias force and move the lever handle 136. Movement of the lever handle 136 causes the actuator axle 124 to rotate which causes the actuator rod 118 to rotate into the second orientation. In the second orientation, the lockable swivel joint 106 is unlocked. As such, the user is allowed to pivot the spar 102 about the abduction axis 110 and the lithotomy axis 112. When the support arm 100 is moved into a desired position, the user releases the lever handle 136. The lever handle 136 is biased to move toward the proximal end 114 of the support arm 100. The movement of the lever handle 136 causes the actuator axle 124 to rotate which causes the actuator rod 118 to rotate into the first orientation and lock the lockable swivel joint 106.
The lockable joint 200 is coupled to the support arm 100 and is configured to support the surgical boot 300 in a plurality of positions as suggested in
The lockable joint 200 has a transverse axis 225 and a medial-lateral adjustment axis 227 as shown in
The lockable joint 200 includes a release lever 202, an arm clamp 204, and a clamp actuator 206 as shown in
The release lever 202 has a lever axis 213 and the release lever 202 is pivotable about the lever axis 213 between a first orientation and a second orientation as shown in
The release lever 202 includes a grip portion 208, a mount arm 210, and a cam 212 as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, the grip portion 208 is pulled toward the boot handle 316 to unlock the lockable joint 200. In other embodiments, the grip portion 208 is pulled toward the boot handle 316 to lock the lockable joint 200. In the illustrative embodiment, the grip portion 208 is located beneath the boot handle 316 and the grip portion 208 is pulled upwardly toward the boot handle 316 to unlock the lockable joint 200. In the illustrative embodiment, the boot handle 316 extends from a heel support region 348 of the surgical boot 300.
The mount arm 210 is coupled to the clamp actuator 206 for rotation about the lever axis 213. Illustratively, the mount arm 210 extends radially away from the lever axis 213 about perpendicular to the lever axis 213. The grip portion 208 is coupled to and extends away from the mount arm 210. Illustratively, the grip portion 208 is about parallel with the lever axis 213.
The cam 212 is coupled to the mount arm 210 for movement therewith as shown in
The upper pin 216 is coupled to an upper portion of the cam body 214 and to the clamp actuator 206 as shown in
The lower pin 217 is coupled to the cam body 214 and to the clamp actuator 206 as shown in
The arm clamp 204 includes a track 218, an inner shoulder 220, and an outer shoulder 222 as shown in
The track 218 is movable between the open position shown in
The track 218 is formed to include an arm passage 223 that extends through the track 218 and receives the support arm 100 as shown in
The inner shoulder 220 is coupled to the track 218 as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, the inner shoulder 220 is formed to include a guide pin passage 243 and a guide pin 244 that extends through the guide pin passage 243 as shown in
The outer shoulder 222 is coupled to the track 218 and spaced apart from the inner shoulder 220 as shown in
When the lockable joint 200 is in the locked position, the clamp rod 234 moves away from the inner shoulder 220 toward the outer shoulder 222 as suggested in
When the lockable joint 200 is in the unlocked position, the clamp rod 234 moves away from the outer shoulder 222 toward the inner shoulder 220 as shown in
The clamp actuator 206 includes the clamp rod 234 and an actuator unit 236 as shown in
The clamp rod 234 includes a rod 238 and the end cap 242 as shown in
The end cap 242 is threaded onto the inner end of the rod 238 for movement therewith as shown in
Illustratively, the actuator unit 236 includes an actuator housing 246, a spacer assembly 248, a first slide plate 250, and a second slide plate 251 as shown in
The actuator housing 246 is arranged around the spacer assembly 248, the first slide plate 250, the second slide plate 251, the clamp rod 234, and the cam 212 as shown in
The housing body 252 is formed to include a chamber 255 and a pivot slot 256 as shown in
The pivot arm 254 is formed to include a rod passage 257 that receives the rod 238 as shown in
The spacer assembly 248 is coupled to the first and second slide plates 250, 251 and the clamp rod 234 as shown in
The spacer assembly 248 includes a first spacer 260, a second spacer 262, and a bias member 264 as shown in
The first spacer 260 is coupled with the rod 238 for movement therewith as shown in
The spacer body 266 extends into a chamber 279 formed in the second spacer 262 to block the bias member 264 from escaping the chamber 279 as shown in
The spacer body 266 is formed to include the rod receiving passage 272 and the rod retainer chamber 274 as shown in
The upper shoulder 268 extends upwardly from the spacer body 266 away from the second slide plate 251 into the triangular aperture 280 formed in the first slide plate 250 as shown in
The lower shoulder 270 extends downwardly from the spacer body 266 away from the first slide plate 250 into the triangular aperture 282 formed in the second slide plate 251 as shown in
The second spacer 262 includes a spacer body 267, an upper shoulder 269, a lower should 271, and a rod receiving passage 273. The spacer body 267 couples the second spacer 262 with the first spacer 260 and the bias member 264. The upper shoulder 269 engages a first ramp surface 276 included in the first slide plate 250 to cause the second spacer 262 to move along the first ramp surface 276 when the first slide plate 250 is moved. The lower shoulder 271 engages a second ramp surface 278 included in the second slide plate 251 to cause the second spacer 262 to move along the second ramp surface 278 when the second slide plate 251 is moved. The rod receiving passage 272 receives a portion of the rod 238.
The spacer body 267 is formed to include the chamber 279 that receives the bias member 264 as shown in
The spacer body 267 is formed to include the rod receiving passage 273 as shown in
The upper shoulder 269 extends upwardly from the spacer body 267 away from the second slide plate 251 into the triangular aperture 280 formed in the first slide plate 250 as shown in
The lower shoulder 271 extends downwardly from the spacer body 267 away from the first slide plate 250 into the triangular aperture 282 formed in the second slide plate 251 as shown in
When the lockable joint 200 is in the locked position, the second spacer 262 moves away from the first spacer 260. When the lockable joint 200 is in the unlocked position, the lower shoulder 271 is pushed toward the first spacer 260 by the ramp surface 278. In the illustrative embodiment, the lower shoulder 271 is curved. Illustratively, the lower shoulder 271 has a semi-circular shape. The semi-circular shape allows the second spacer 262 to pivot about the medial-lateral adjustment axis 227 while maintaining contact with the first ramp surface 276.
In the illustrative embodiment, the bias member 264 comprises a plurality of spring washers such as, for example, Belleville washers. Illustratively the Belleville washers are stacked one after the other and are aligned with the transverse axis 225. In other embodiments, the bias member 264 may be a compression spring or any other suitable alternative.
The first slide plate 250 is configured to move the spacer assembly 248 between the expanded position and the compressed position when the release lever 202 is pulled upwardly and released as suggested in
The first slide plate 250 is coupled with the upper pin 216 of the cam 212. As such, the first slide plate 250 is configured to slide toward the grip portion 208 when upper pin 216 pivots about the lever axis 213 toward the grip portion 208 and to slide away from the grip portion 208 when the upper pin 216 pivots away from the grip portion 208.
The triangular aperture 280 comprises a wide end and a narrow end as shown in
The second slide plate 251 is configured to move the spacer assembly 248 between the expanded position and the compressed position when the release lever 202 is pulled upwardly and released as suggested in
The second slide plate 251 is coupled with the lower pin 217 of the cam 212. As such, the second slide plate 251 is configured to slide away from the grip portion 208 when lower pin 217 pivots about the lever axis 213 away from the grip portion 208 and to slide toward the grip portion 208 when the lower pin 217 pivots toward the grip portion 208.
The triangular aperture 282 comprises a wide end and a narrow end as shown in
In operation, a user pulls up on the grip portion 208 to cause the cam 212 to rotate about the lever axis 213. The upper pin 216 pivots away from the grip portion 208 to cause the first slide plate 250 to move away from the grip portion 208. As the first slide plate 250 moves, the first and second spacers 260, 262 are biased toward each other as they move out of the wide end and into the narrow end of the triangular aperture 280. The lower pin 217 pivots toward the grip portion 208 to cause the second slide plate 251 to move toward the grip portion 208. As the second slide plate 251 moves, the first and second spacers 260, 262 are biased toward each other as they move out of the wide end and into the narrow end of the triangular aperture 282.
Movement of the spacers 260, 262 cause the spacer assembly 248 to move to the compressed position. In the compressed position, the first spacer 260 moves the rod 238 toward the arm clamp 204. The end cap 242 moves away from the inner shoulder 220 to allow the arm passage 223 to expand and disengage the support arm 100. As such, the lockable joint 200 is moved to the unlocked position and the user may move the surgical boot 300 relative to the support arm 100.
When the user releases the release lever 202, the bias member 264 applies a bias force to the first and second spacers 260, 262. The bias force causes the first spacer 260 to move away from the second spacer 262 and causes the rod 238 to move away from the arm clamp 204. The end cap 242 engages the inner shoulder 220 to cause the arm clamp 204 to close and lock the lockable joint 200.
As the first spacer 260 moves away from the second spacer 262, the spacers 260, 262 engage ramp surfaces 276, 278 and move the slide plates 250, 251 to cause the spacers 260, 262 to move into the wide end of the apertures 280, 282. Movement of the slide plates 250, 251 causes the upper and lower pins 216, 217 and, thus, the cam 212 to rotate. As the cam 212 rotates, the mount arm 210 moves the grip portion 208 away from the boot handle 316.
The surgical boot 300 is configured to support and/or immobilize the foot and leg of the patient as suggested in
The lower foot support portion 302 includes an ankle portion 310, a sole portion 312, a heel receiving passage 314, and the boot handle 316 as shown in
The ankle portion 310 includes a lower shell 318 and an ankle insert 320 as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, the boot handle 316 is coupled to the lower shell 318 for movement therewith and extends away from the lower shell 318 as shown in
The ankle insert 320 extends along a portion of the lower shell 318 as shown in
The sole portion 312 includes an upper shell 322 and a sole insert 324 as shown in
The upper shell 322 is coupled to the lower shell 318 and extends upwardly away from the lower shell 318 as shown in
The sole insert 324 extends along a portion of the upper shell 322 to provide a limb-support surface 328 as shown in
The upper shell 322 includes a mount surface 330 configured to couple to and support an accessory unit 332 as shown in
The mount surface 330 includes at least one mount 334 as shown in
The accessory unit 332 may be any device that is desired to be proximate to the boot stirrup 10 as shown in
The lower leg support portion 304 includes a calf portion 342, a kneepad 344, and a calf handle 346 as shown in
The calf portion 342 includes an elongated shell 350 and a calf insert 352 as shown in
The elongated shell 350 is formed to receive a calf and knee of a patient as shown in
The calf insert 352 extends along a portion of the elongated shell 350 as shown in
In the illustrative embodiment, the calf handle 346 is coupled to the elongated shell 350 for movement therewith and extends upwardly away from the connector 306 as shown in
The kneepad 344 is coupled to the calf portion 342 and is configured to support a patient's knee as shown in
The pad insert 380 is contoured to receive a patient's knee as shown in
The strap 382 includes a male fastener 384, a female fastener 386, and a belt 388 as shown in
The connector 306 is coupled to the foot support portion 302 and coupled to the lower leg support portion 304 as shown in
The connector 306 includes a first rail 360, a second rail 362, a first track 364, and a second track 366 as shown in
The first rail 360 is coupled to the foot support portion 302 and coupled to the lockable joint 200 as shown in
The first rail 360 includes an upper surface 368, a lower surface 370 spaced apart from the upper surface 368, and a plurality of indentations 372 as shown in
The second rail 362 is spaced apart from the first rail 360 as shown in
The first track 364 is arranged around the first rail 360 as shown in
The first track 364 includes a track body 374 and a track pin 376 as shown in
The second track 366 is substantially similar to the first track 364. As such, the second track 366 is not discussed in detail.
In operation, the track pin 376 extends into one of the indentations 372 to block the lower leg support portion 304 from moving relative to the foot support portion 302 as shown in
Although certain embodiments have been described in detail above, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of this disclosure as described and as defined in the following claims.
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/229,247, filed Dec. 21, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,147,730, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/880,619, filed Oct. 12, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,188,573, which claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/075,338 which was filed Nov. 5, 2014 and which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Parent | 16229247 | Dec 2018 | US |
| Child | 17485826 | US | |
| Parent | 14880619 | Oct 2015 | US |
| Child | 16229247 | US |
