GB2129988A

GB2129988A - Patient support means

Info

Publication number: GB2129988A
Application number: GB08228223A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Eric King
Original assignee: Smith and Nephew Associated Companies PLC
Current assignee: Smith and Nephew PLC
Priority date: 1982-10-02
Filing date: 1982-10-02
Publication date: 1984-05-23

Abstract

A patient support means has a base and a superstructure and has at least one source of motive power so that the whole or part of the superstructure is capable of movement according to instructions given by means of coded radiation sensed by a receptor mounted in or connected to the patient support means. The coded radiation used is preferably in the form of ultrasonic waves generated by a hand-held generator or may be optical waves. The patient support means may be an operating table or a chiropody or dental chair.

Description

SPECIFICATION Patient support means The invention relates to a movable patient support means and the control of the movement thereof.

Conventionally patient support means are embodied as tables or chairs for surgical, medical or hygiene.purposes. For example such support means are used in chiropody, dentistry, theatre surgery, investigative tests such as X-Ray, gynaecology or ophthalmology.

A patient support means in the form of a table often comprise a flat support surface to accommodate a patient in a lying position. The support surface is adapted to be capable of one or more of movements such as raising or lowering, fore-and-aft tilting, side tilting, raising or lowering of end or side panels, tilting of end or side panels, and swivelling horizontally and vertically. A patient support means in the form of a chair often comprises a device in which the patient is capable of adopting a sitting position and which is movable by raising, lowering, swivelling, tilting, articulating and the like. Both such forms of patient support means are provided with stable bases.

A patient support means therefore comprises a base and a movable superstructure in the form of a flat support surface or chair. Generally the patient support means is not capable of translaboral movement.

Conventionally movable patient support means are operated by electromechanical or, preferably, hydraulic or pneumatic means. The extent and mode of movement chosen is dependent upon the use to which the patient support means is to be put.

It is conventional for the patient support means to be presettable into an initial position and/or normal working position, with an over-riding return button to automatically set the patient support means in these positions as necessary.

The present invention is concerned with the control of each movement of a patient support means using coded radiation.

Hitherto, it has been known to provide control buttons on the moving part of the patient support means. To move the required part of the patient support means it is usual for the button to be depressed and held untii the requisite movement is complete. It is preferable to place the operating buttons on the moving part to avoid obstructing them through movement of the patient support means if they were on a stationary part. Further if the buttons were positioned elsewhere the leads may become entangled through movement.

This disadvantage may be overcome by providing a foot-operated control member. The connections from this foot-operated control member will pass into the stationary part of the patient support means. However, the range of movement options is reduced and for safety reasons a foot-control member must be built to very high technical specifications to withstand vigorous use and to be waterproof.

The present invention relates to a control means which is not cumbersome to the operator or obstructed by movement of the patient support means in use and which can be kept remote from damage or danger on the floor.

Accordingly the present invention provides a patient support means comprising a base and a superstructure including at least one source of motive power whereby the whole or part of the superstructure is capable of movement and operatively linked to said source of motive power at least one receptor for coded radiation which receptor is mounted on or connected to the patient support means, in order to control movement thereof.

The patient support means is generally of the type having a stationary base and a movable superstructure.

Most aptly the patient support means is in the form of a chair.

The receptor or receptors may be located on the base but more preferably will be located on the superstructure of the support means. Most preferably the receptor or receptors are located on a surface not covered in use or capable of being covered by movement of the superstructure.

Suitable forms of coded radiation include visible, infra-red or ultra-violet light, or sonic (including ultrasonic) waves. However, it is more suitable to use those forms of radiation which do not cast a sharp shadow or which are capable of adequate reflection especially in the environment of a medical or like treatment room. For these reasons it is preferred that the radiation is sonic since it is not unduly sensitive either to passage of the patient in front of the receptor or to misorientation of the receptor in relation to the generating means for the coded radiation. The most preferable form of radiation is ultrasonic waves.

The use of coded sonic radiation in connection with a receptor for the radiation mounted on a movable superstructure which alters it orientation relative to the generating means rather than its gross position is surprising.

In a further aspect of the invention the receptor or receptors may be mounted on a separate panel provided in the vicinity of the support means and connected therewith.

The generating means for the coded radiation is most suitably fitted with suitable finger controls which will allow for the large number of movement required of the patient support means.

The generating means may be small enough to be hand-held and easily carried in a pocket or may be mounted on a fixed or movable stand.

A further aspect of the invention is primarily concerned with a combination of patient supporting means and coded radiation generating means.

Claims

1. A patient support means comprising a base and a superstructure including at least one source of motive power whereby the whole or part of the superstructure is capable of movement and operatively linked to said source of motive power at least one receptor for coded radiation which receptor is mounted on or connected to the patient support means in order to control the movement thereof.

2. A patient support means as claimed in claim 1 in which the patient support means comprises a stationary base and a movable superstructure.

3. A patient support means as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 in which the patient support means is in the form of a chair.

4. A patient support means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the receptor is located on the superstructure of the support means.

5. A patient support means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which the receptor receives coded radiation in a form selected from the group consisting of visible light, infra-red light, ultraviolet light, sonic waves and ultra-sonic waves.

6. A patient support means as claimed in claim 5 in which the coded radiation is in the form of ultra-sonic waves.

7. A patient support means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the receptor is mounted on a panel separate from the patient support means and is operatively connected therewith.

8. A combination of a patient support means and a coded radiation generating means wherein the patient support means comprises a base and a superstructure including at least one source of motive power whereby the whole or part of the superstructure is capable of movement and operatively linked to said source of motive power at least one receptor for coated radiation generated by the coded radiation generating means, which receptor is mounted on or connected to the patient support means in order to control the movement thereof.

9. A combination as claimed in claim 8 in which the coded radiation generator generates radiation in the form of ultra-sonic waves.

10. A combination as claimed in either of claims 8 or 9 in which the coded ration generator is fitted with finger controls which allow for various movements of the patient support means.

11. A combination as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10 in which the coded radiation generator is small enough to be portable and held in the hand.