Multimodality Medical Procedure Mattress-Based Device

Abstract

A mattress system is provided that is optimized for the hospital setting and includes a guiderail system that accepts a variety of accessories for attachment thereto. The guiderail system may have integrated data lines, power lines, gas lines, and / or fluid lines. Also provided are radioabsorbant shields, trays and other components designed for optimal use with the mattress system.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 008,495 filed Dec. 5, 2014 entitled A Multimodality Medical Procedure Mattress-Based Device, and to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62 / 240,409 filed Oct. 12, 2015 entitled Radioabsorbent Assemblies, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present application relates generally to the use of devices during medical procedures (e.g. heart catheterization, surgery, medical imaging) in which a patient lies on a surface.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Patient tables are used in a wide variety of settings for medical procedures and for patient transport. In most or all of these procedures, the patients lie upon a mattress that rests atop the patient table and typically consists of a soft pad that is contained within a flexible cover. While on the mattress, the patient is often connected to any one of a numb...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a device that holds a patient's head to protect their brain during surgery or medical emergencies. The device has a cavity filled with gas that can be rapidly cooled, using a pressurized valve, to quickly lower the patient's temperature and improve brain function. This helps to save organs and improve outcomes for patients with cardiac arrest or circulatory collapse.

Problems solved by technology

While providing some modicum of patient comfort, this mattress is not designed with any additional features to provide value to the patient or clinician.

This results in a confusing array of cables, tubes, power sources, gas sources (such as oxygen), and displays.

All of these require attachment to the patient or travel with the patient, creating a complex web of devices around and connected to the patient.

These connections are prone to inadvertent mis-application and disconnection.

Moreover, the need for a battery power supply in some devices increases weight and creates a need for recharging of multiple devices.

That impedes patient transfer to a bed and often leaves the patient unmonitored while electrodes are reattached.

While helpful for evacuation of patients, these products do not support ancillary medical equipment such as pumps, monitoring devices, or radiation shielding.

This device obviously could not be easily transported or used for x-ray imaging.

These cables often become entangled and there is always a risk that leads are inappropriately managed or connected to the patient.

Challenges with cable management can lead to procedural delays, entanglement with other devices, and potential patient misdiagnosis.

One problem with this method of attaching medical equipment to tables is that the table is usually fixed to a rigid structure such as an x-ray unit, stretcher, or large bed.

In addition, many of the devices attached to the rails require electrical power, connections to other devices, or pressurized gas.

This creates a clutter of wires and tubes around the bed and also may impede efficient patient transfer from one area to another.

This can be a difficult maneuver to insert the board, and the rigid board directly beneath the back and shoulders of the patient may be uncomfortable.

The disadvantage is that the support devices must themselves be secured to the arm board.

A number of devices have been developed to support the left arm in this position, but none have integrated x-ray shielding.

In addition to the discomfort to the patient, there is risk during radiographic procedures to the physician and cath lab staff due to radiation exposure.

However, significant portions of the radiation intended for imaging are scattered by interaction with the patient and spread around the cath lab.

These are cumbersome to operate and require constant movement by the HCW to shield themselves from radiation.

Frequently, they also do not conform to the patient's body habitus and contours.

Another major impediment of existing methods is that the HCW has to move these heavy equipment manually and also conform their bodies to visualize around the impediments caused by the existing devices.

This is a major cause for musculoskeletal morbidity of the HCW resulting in chronic neck, back injuries.

In addition, many times the HCW forgets to move the shields for adequate protection.

These systems, however, employ extensive heavy shields or encase the operator in a restrictive enclosure.

The primary problem with prior attempts to provide x-ray scatter radiation shielding is that the shield must conform to the patient's body contour and also be able to conform to the x-ray imaging device.

X-ray units are bulky and the physician often needs to image the patient at widely varied angles relative to the patient's long axis.

These devices are cumbersome, heavy, and have been associated with orthopedic injuries.

Problems keeping the pads clean from patient to patient have led to their use in a disposable form.

This adds to medical cost and toxic waste.

These devices have shown to be too cumbersome to be of practical use.

One challenge to x-ray visualization in the cath lab is ensuring that the area of treatment in the patient is not blocked by radiopaque materials that prevent adequate x-ray penetration for imaging.

In particular, cables such as ECG leads that may drape across the patient can cause imaging difficulty.

Many conductors of electricity, such as copper and gold, are visible under x-ray and interfere with medical imaging.

These problems interfere with the monitoring of patients undergoing x-ray examinations.

Currently, the methods used to gather this information are not streamlined or synchronized in a manner that is conducive to simple and easy use in the interventional cath lab or other medical settings.

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