Patient positioning support structure

Abstract

A patient support system includes independently adjustable end columns supporting a centrally hinged, jointed or breaking patient support structure. At least one column includes a powered rotation assembly. The patient support includes at least two sections. A coordinated drive system provides for both upwardly and downwardly breaking or jointed orientations of the two sections in various inclined and tilted positions. Cable, cantilevered and pull-rod systems are included.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 14 / 096,875, filed Dec. 4, 2013, and which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13 / 317,012, filed Oct. 6, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,719,979, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. U.S. Ser. No. 13 / 317,012 is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12 / 460,702, filed Jul. 23, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,060,960, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11 / 788,513, filed Apr. 20, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,565,708, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 798,288 filed May 5, 2006 and was also a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 159,494 filed Jun. 23, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,635, that is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 062,775 filed Feb. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,261, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 14 / 050,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a patient support system that allows for adjustable positioning, repositioning, and selectively lockable support of a patient's head and upper body, lower body and limbs in up to a plurality of individual planes while permitting inclination, roll or tilting, rotation or angulation, breaking or bending, and other manipulations as well as full and free access to the patient by medical personnel and equipment. The system includes a patient support structure that is connected to and bridges substantially between a pair of end supports. The end supports may be independently height-adjustable or connected to a horizontally length-adjustable base. The patient support structure may be a frame or other patient support.

Problems solved by technology

While manipulation of the patient when on the support structure suspended between outer end supports of the base is desirable, too much vertical and horizontal travel for the patient is not, as this can lead to unwanted consequences concerning anaesthesia, tubing, IV lines in the patient, and son on.

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