EP1785115A2 - Patient support system - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a set of coupling units (22) arranged at a patient supporting surface, where the units (22) selectively connect another set of coupling units (24) or a third set of coupling units (26) to a supporting column and/or a transporting carriage. The units (22) have a recess (40) with an inner contour (42), and the units (24, 26) are designed as guiding pins that have an outer contour (58) adapted to the inner contour (42). The units (24, 26) have a recess for accommodating the unit (22), where the recess has an inner contour (50) adapted to an outer contour (38) of the units (22).

Description

The invention relates to a patient support system comprising a patient support surface, a support column for supporting the bearing surface and a transport carriage for transporting the bearing surface, wherein on the bearing surface first coupling elements are arranged, which determines the selective connection with second or third coupling elements on the column or the trolley are.

Such a system is for example from the EP 457 246 B1 known. To transfer the storage area on the trolley this is brought into a suitable position relative to the support column. By downward movement of the height adjustment of the support column, the bearing surface is first lowered until it rests on the trolley. At the moment of transfer, the first coupling elements on the bearing surface engage simultaneously with the second and third coupling elements on the column or the transport carriage. In the known solution, the arrangement is made such that in each case a second and a third coupling element lie against each other and between them include first coupling element which engages in mutually facing recesses in the second and the third coupling element. Since the coupling elements must absorb a high load and are therefore designed to be stable, this arrangement requires a relatively large amount of space.

The invention has for its object to form a device of the type mentioned under the provision of high reliability space-saving.

This object is achieved in that the first coupling elements each have an outer contour and a recess with an inner contour that the second or the third coupling elements are each formed as a guide pin, which have a matched to the inner contour of the recess of the first coupling elements outer contour and Intervention in the recess are determined, and that the third or the second coupling elements each have a specific for receiving a first coupling element recess with a matched to the outer contour of the first coupling elements inner contour.

The inventive design of the coupling elements results in that at the moment of transfer of the bearing surface from the trolley to the support column or vice versa, i. when all three coupling elements are engaged with each other at the same time, the coupling elements are nested so that they are at least approximately in one plane. This results in a very space-saving arrangement transversely to the longitudinal direction of the bearing surface.

Preferably, the third coupling elements are formed by supports arranged on supports of the trolley, while the second coupling elements are formed by receiving pockets formed on the support column. The first coupling elements thus engage in the receiving pockets of the second coupling elements, when the bearing surface is connected to the support column, and in turn take in their recess, the pins on the supports of the trolley, when the bearing surface is located on the trolley.

To increase the security in the transfer of the bearing surface of the column on the trolley or vice versa, it is advantageous if at least one centering pin is arranged on the column, which is intended to engage in a complementary recess on the bearing surface or a bearing surface fixed part, wherein the Arrangement is made such that the centering pin extends the engagement zone of the coupling element.

In order to prevent inadvertent lifting of the bearing surface from the connection with the support column or the trolley, as long as the bearing surface is not connected to the respective other receiving part, locking means are provided in a conventional manner at least one of the coupling elements to the first coupling elements alternatively to lock with the second or third coupling elements when the bearing surface is coupled to the column or the trolley.

In the from the EP 457 246 B1 known patient storage system the coupling elements of the bearing surface associated with two spring-loaded latch, one of which locks in the coupling element of the column when the bearing surface is on the column, and the other latch in the coupling element of the transporter engages when the bearing surface is located on the van , In the case of the transfer process, for example, from the transporter to the column by an upward movement of the column, the latched in the coupling element of the trolley latch is pushed back by a control contour of the column and thus unlocks the bearing surface on the trolley. In the same train, the engagement of the other bolt in the coupling element of the column is initially prevented by the presence of the trolley. Only through the Lifting the bearing surface from the trolley, the second latch with increasing distance from the coupling element of the trolley in the coupling element of the column engage under the spring bias. In the opposite case, the locked in the coupling element of the column latch is pushed back by a control contour of the transporter, while the other latch engages with increasing distance of the column of the bearing surface under the action of the spring force in the coupling element of the trolley. At the moment of acquisition, ie when the coupling element of the column and the coupling element of the trolley are in engagement with the coupling element of the bearing surface, the bearing surface is protected by no bolt against lifting. In addition, situations may arise in which the snapping of the bolt is prevented by spring force, for example, when the coupling elements are slightly tilted against each other.

To eliminate this problem and to increase the safety of the patient support system, the invention proposes that the locking means comprise at least one adjustable on one of the coupling elements arranged locking element which engages in the engaged position of two coupling elements in a recess of the respective adjacent coupling element, and that to the Control elements are formed by which the locking element during the transfer process of the bearing surface of the support column on the trolley or vice versa forced into the respective recess or disengaged from this. Preferably, the respective locking element is designed as a two-armed rotatably mounted lever which has certain control edges for interaction with the cams, which are opposite to the pivot point of the lever, i. are arranged on the two lever arms.

The embodiment according to the invention results in that the respective locking element does not reach its detent position by spring pressure, but instead is forcibly led. At the same time during the transfer process, ie during the movement of the locking element, the bearing surface always caught between the oppositely oriented control edges and thus secured at the time of acquisition against lifting out of the respective coupling element.

Preferably, similar to the above-described known patient storage system, two locking elements are arranged on each first coupling element, one of which is intended for locking the first coupling element with the second coupling element and the other for the locking of the first coupling element with the third coupling element , wherein the control cams for adjusting the locking elements are formed on the second and third coupling elements.

In order to ensure a flawless and as force-free as possible transfer of the storage area of the trolley to the column and vice versa, the coupling elements should be aligned exactly prior to the transfer, so that they can slide as freely as possible into each other. This assumes that the column head, which is usually adjustable to change the position of the patient on an operating table, has a well-defined position to the floor of the operating room on which the trolley stands. Also, for some reason, the position of the patient support surface on the trolley may not be exactly parallel to the floor of the operating room. Since these deviations may not be detectable with the eye, or not so quickly, it is proposed according to the invention that at least one sensor for scanning the position of a first coupling element connected to the bearing surface is provided on at least one of the support column-side coupling elements, relative to the column-side coupling element Sensor is effective when the storage area is on the trolley and this assumes a certain position for the transfer of the bearing surface to the support column position relative to this. Conveniently, the sensor is connected to a controller controlling the actuator of the column head. If the sensor detects a deviation from the desired orientation of the bearing-surface-side coupling elements relative to the column-side coupling elements or the coupling elements on the transport carriage, then the controller effects an adjustment of the column head until the coupling elements lie exactly in alignment with one another. The sensor may for example be formed by a deflectable finger which scans one of the contours of the bearing surface side or dolly side coupling elements.

Fig.1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Patientenlagersystems umfassend eine Patientenlagerfläche, einen Transportwagen für eine Lagerfläche und eine Stützsäule für eine Patientenlagerfläche,

Fig.2

eine teilweise schematische Darstellung der drei miteinander zusammenwirkenden Koppelelemente,

Fig.3

einen schematischen Schnitt durch die drei miteinander gleichzeitig in Eingriff stehenden Koppelelemente,

Fig.4

eine teilweise schematische Darstellung eines ersten Koppelelementes allein, das an einem lagerflächenseitigen Teil angeordnet ist,

Fig.5

eine schematische Darstellung der miteinander gleichzeitig in Eingriff stehenden drei Koppelelemente,

Fig.6 und 7

jeweils eine Darstellung der drei Koppelelemente bei der Übergabe der Übergabe der Lagerfläche von der Stützsäule an den Transportwagen und

Fig.8 und 9

jeweils den Fig.6 und 7 entsprechende Darstellungen bei der Übergabe der Lagerfläche von dem Transportwagen auf die Stützsäule.

The following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrates the invention in terms of embodiments. Show it:

Fig.1

a schematic representation of a patient support system comprising a patient support surface, a trolley for a storage area and a support column for a patient support surface,

Fig.2

a partial schematic representation of the three cooperating coupling elements,

Figure 3

a schematic section through the three mutually simultaneously engaged coupling elements,

Figure 4

a partially schematic representation of a first coupling element alone, which is arranged on a bearing surface side part,

Figure 5

a schematic representation of the mutually engaged three coupling elements,

Fig.6 and 7

in each case a representation of the three coupling elements in the transfer of the transfer of the bearing surface of the support column to the trolley and

8 and 9

6 and 7 corresponding representations in the transfer of the bearing surface of the trolley on the support column.

The patient support system shown schematically in FIG. 1 comprises a support column, generally designated 10, of a surgical table with a pedestal 12 and a column head 14 mounted on it in a height-adjustable manner. The height adjustment device is not shown. It may be formed in any conventional manner. As a rule, this will be a hydraulic or mechanical lifting device.

To the left of the support column there is a transport carriage, generally designated 16, which carries a bearing surface or table top 18 of the operating table. The trolley 16 consists of two side frame members 20 which are interconnected by transverse bars, not shown, as shown in the EP 457 246 B1 is shown. The trolley 16 can be moved up to the support column 10 so that it lies between the side frame members 20.

On the longitudinal side edges of the bearing surface 18, first coupling elements 22 are arranged, which engage in second coupling elements 24 on the column head 14 and third coupling elements 26 on the side frame parts 20 of the trolley 16 are determined to connect the bearing surface 18 with either the support column 10 or the trolley 16. The detailed design of the coupling elements and their operation will now be described in more detail below.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 28 designates a connecting frame comprising a middle plate 30 and two side cheeks 32 projecting downwards at the longitudinal ends thereof, only one of which is shown. The middle plate 30 has on its upper side a bearing 34 for connection to the actual patient support surface 18, which is mounted on the connecting frame 28 so as to be pivotable about the bearing axis 36 extending transversely to its longitudinal direction. Each of the cheeks 32 carries on its inside a first coupling element 22. This has the shape of a wide pin with an outer contour 38, and a slot-shaped recess 40 with an inner contour 42nd

Below the connecting frame 28 is a partially illustrated saddle 44, which is part of the column head 14. It is similar to the connecting frame 28 C-shaped with a central web 46 and two side panels 48, of which only one is shown. The side part 48 has on its outer side a second coupling element 24 forming receiving pocket for receiving the first coupling element 22, wherein the receiving pocket has an outer contour 38 of the first coupling element 22 adapted inner contour 50. The center bar 46 carries near its respective side part 48 on its upper side a centering pin 52 which is intended to engage in a complementary pin receptacle 54 which is formed on the underside of the middle plate 30 of the connecting frame 28.

In the illustration of Figure 2 projects into the receiving pocket of the second coupling element 24, a third coupling element 26 forming guide pin which is attached via a base 56 on the trolley 16 and for engagement is determined in the recess 40 of the respective first coupling element 22. He has one of the inner contour 42 of the first coupling element 22 corresponding outer contour 58th

Are all three coupling elements 22, 24, 26 in the transfer of the bearing surface of the trolley on the support column or vice versa simultaneously engaged with each other, they are nested, as can be seen in the schematic representation of Figure 3. The pin forming the third coupling element 26 lies in the recess 40 of the first coupling element 22, which in turn engages in the receiving pocket forming the second coupling element 24, so that all three coupling elements lie, as it were, in one plane. This results in a transverse to the longitudinal direction of the bearing surface 18 very flat design.

The further advantages of this arrangement will become apparent from the following description of the locking mechanism, with which the bearing surface 18 is mutually connected either with the column head 14 or the trolley 16.

4 shows a schematic plan view of the inside of a cheek 32 of the connecting frame 28. It can be seen again the first coupling element 22, on which now two locking elements 60 and 62 are adjustably mounted. The locking elements 60 and 62 are each in the form of a two-armed lever, which is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 64 and 66 and is biased by a torsion spring 68 and 70 respectively in a clockwise direction. The locking element 60 is intended for locking the bearing surface 18 with the column head 14. For this purpose, a lever arm 72 is provided with a hook extension 74, which is intended for engagement in a recess 76 on the inner contour 50 of the second coupling element 24 (Figure 5). The locking element 62 is for locking the bearing surface 18 with the trolley 16 determined. For this purpose, the lever arm 78 of the locking element 62 has a hook extension 80, which is intended for engagement in a recess 82 on the outer contour 58 of the pin-shaped third coupling element 26 (Figure 5).

The mode of operation of the locking elements in the transfer of the bearing surface 18 from the column 10 to the trolley 16 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

5 shows the three coupling elements 22, 24 and 26 in complete engagement with each other. In this state, both locking elements 60 and 62 are pivoted into their release position. In the case of the locking element 60, this takes place in that the lever arm 84 opposite the lever arm 84 slides with a control edge 86 on a control cam 88 formed on the third coupling element 26 and is pivoted counterclockwise, with the end 90 opposite the hook extension 74 of the first locking element 60 of the first lever arm 72 dips into a semicircular recess 92 in the outer contour of the third coupling element, as shown in FIG. In the same way, the second locking member 62 is pivoted counterclockwise by a lever arm 78 opposite lever arm 94 slides with a control edge 96 formed on a second coupling element 24 control cam 97, in turn, the hook extension 80 opposite end 98 of the first lever arm 78 in a semicircular recess 100 is immersed in the second coupling elements 24, as shown in Fig.5.

When transferring the bearing surface 18 to the transport carriage 16, the column head 14 of the support column 10 is lowered from the position shown in FIG. 5, as can be seen in FIGS. Fig.6 shows that with the beginning of the downward movement of the column head 14 and thus of the second coupling element 24, the right-hand locking element 62 is pivoted in the clockwise direction under the action of the control cam 97 of the second coupling element 24 that slides on a control edge 101 of the lever end 98, so that the hook extension 80 is moved into the recess 82. Already in the position shown in Figure 6, the bearing surface 18 could no longer be lifted from the trolley 16. If the column head 14 is lowered further, as shown in FIG. 7, the hook extension 80 of the second locking element 62 is completely pivoted into the recess 82 in the third coupling element 26, so that the bearing surface 18 is firmly locked to the transport carriage 16. In this position, the hook extension 80 is held by the action of the torsion spring 70. Conversely, would be pivoted in the lifting of the column head 14 from the position shown in Figure 7, the locking member 62 in the counterclockwise direction, so that the lock between the first and the third coupling element is released.

8 and 9 show the locking process in the transfer of the bearing surface 18 of the trolley 16 on the support column 10. In this case, starting from the position shown in Figure 5, the column head 14 is raised, so that the third coupling element 26 down slides out of the recess 40 of the first coupling element 22. At the same time, the first locking element 60 is forcibly pivoted clockwise by the control cam 88 sliding on a control edge 103 on the lever end 90 on the third coupling element 26, so that the hook extension 74 of the first locking element 60 engages in the recess 76 in the column-side second coupling element 24 as shown in Fig.8. When the third coupling element is pulled out of the first coupling element, the bearing surface 18 is firmly locked to the column head 14, as shown in Fig.9. Conversely, upon insertion of the third coupling element 26 into the recess 40 of the first coupling element 22, the locking element 60 is pivoted counterclockwise, so that the lock between the second and the first coupling element is released. The above description shows that the two locking elements 60 and 62 are respectively forcibly pivoted in the coupling processes, so that a reliable locking between the bearing surface and the column head on the one hand and the bearing surface and the trolley on the other hand is ensured.

It can also be seen that starting from the position shown in Figure 5, in which both locking elements 60 and 62 are pivoted into their release position, when lifting the bearing surface 18 relative to the column head and the trolley both locking elements pivoted clockwise and would be locked. A lifting of the bearing surface 18 from the position shown in Figure 5 is thus reliably prevented.

In order to achieve a frictionless transfer of the bearing surface from the column to the trolley or vice versa, the coupling elements 22, 24 and 26 should be exactly in alignment with each other. If they are tilted against each other, malfunctions can occur. To avoid this, a generally designated 102 sensor is arranged on the saddle 44 within the receiving pocket of the second coupling element 24, which is to scan the position of the third coupling element 26 relative to the second coupling element 24. The sensor consists of a rotatably mounted disc 104, which is connected for example with a potentiometer and on the outside of an eccentrically arranged sensing finger 106 is provided. This sensing finger 106 engages in a recess 108, which is formed on a broad side of the third coupling element 26 and is bounded by two control edges 110 and 112. Are the takeover process trolley 16 and column head 14 inclined to each other, so that the coupling elements 24 and 26 are not aligned with each other in the desired shape, so the sensing finger 106 abuts against one of the control edges 110, 112. As a result, the disc 104 is rotated. This rotation is detected, for example via the connected potentiometer and can be converted into a control signal, in turn, the controller the column head 14 is supplied. Thereby, the column head 14 can be adjusted so that the second and the third coupling element are aligned with each other to allow a frictionless coupling.

Claims (11)

A patient support system, comprising a patient support surface (18), a support column (10) for supporting the bearing surface (18) and a transport carriage (16) for transporting the bearing surface (18), wherein on the bearing surface (18) first coupling elements (22) are arranged, which are intended for selective connection with second or third coupling elements (24, 26) on the support column (10) or the transport carriage (16), characterized in that the first coupling elements (22) each have an outer contour (38) and a recess ( 40) with an inner contour (42), that the second or the third coupling elements (24, 26) are each formed as a guide pin, which is adapted to the inner contour (42) of the recess (40) of the first coupling elements (22) outer contour ( 58) and are intended for engagement in the recess (40), and that the third or the second coupling elements (26, 24) each have a for receiving a first coupling element (22) certain recess with a the outer contour (38) of the first coupling elements (22) have adapted inner contour (50). Patient storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that the third coupling elements (26) are formed by supports arranged on supports (20) of the transport carriage (16). Patient support surface according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second coupling elements (24) are formed by on the support column (10) formed receiving pockets. Patient storage system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the support column (10) at least one centering pin (52) is arranged, which is intended for engagement in a complementary recess (54) on the bearing surface (18), wherein the arrangement is made such that the centering pin (52) extends the engagement zones of the coupling elements (22, 24, 26). Patient storage system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one of the coupling elements locking means (60, 62) are provided to lock the first coupling elements (22) alternatively with the second or third coupling elements (24, 26), if the bearing surface (18) is coupled to the support column (10) or the transport carriage (16). Patient storage system according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking means comprise at least one on one of the coupling elements (22, 24, 26) adjustably arranged locking element (60, 62), which in the engaged position of two coupling elements (22, 24, 26) in a recess (76, 82) of the respective adjacent coupling element engages, and that on the coupling elements control cams (88, 97) are formed, through which the locking element (60, 62) during the transfer process of the bearing surface (18) of the support column (10) on the trolley (16) or vice versa forcibly engaged or disengaged from the recess. A patient support system according to claim 6, characterized in that the locking element (60; 62) is designed as a two-armed rotatably mounted lever which for interaction with the control cams (88; 97) has certain control edges (86,103; 96,101) on both sides the pivot point (64; 66) of the lever are arranged. Patient storage system according to claim 6, characterized in that on each first coupling element (22) has two locking elements (60, 62) are arranged, one of which for locking the first coupling element (22) with the second coupling element (24) and the other for the lock of the first coupling element (22) with the third coupling element (26) is determined, and that the control cams (97, 88) for adjusting the locking elements (60, 62) on the second and third coupling element (24, 26) are formed. Patient storage system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one of the support column-side coupling elements (24) at least one sensor (102) for sensing the position of a bearing surface (18) connected to the first coupling element (22) relative to the column-side coupling element (24) is provided, wherein the sensor (102) is effective when the bearing surface (18) on the trolley (16) and this one for the transfer of the bearing surface (18) to the support column (10) certain position relative to this occupies. Patient storage system according to claim 9, characterized in that the column-side coupling element (24) is arranged on an adjustable at least one actuator column head (14) and that the sensor (102) with the actuator of the column head (14) controlling is connected. Patient storage system according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the sensor is formed by a deflectable finger (106) for scanning one of the contours of the bearing surface side or dolly side coupling elements (22, 26).

Images