GB2148110A - Obstetric table - Google Patents

Abstract

An obstetric table comprises a first section (1) mounted on a support (2, 3, 4) and having a surface for receiving a patient in a lying position, and a second section (10) extending from one end of the first section and removably connected (5, 14) thereto. The second section (10) comprising means (20, 22) which in one position define a chair suitable for use in delivery, the chair having a seat (20) and a back (22) and which in another position cooperate with the first section (1) to define a substantially continuous surface for receiving a patient in a lying position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Obstetric table This invention relates to an obstetric table.

In recent years there has been an increasing demand from mothers-to-be to be able to deliver their babies in a sitting position. To meet this demand birth chairs have been developed for use during delivery, and beds have been developed which convert into birth chairs when required.

Simple birth chairs have the disadvantage, of course, that they do not permit delivery in any position other than the sitting position. This can be a severe disadvantage if, for example, there are complications during delivery which necessitate surgical intervention. On the other hand, the known obstetric beds which convert into birth chairs are elaborate and expensive. It is an object of the present invention to provide an obstetric table which can also serve as a birth chair, buy which is relatively simple in construction and hence relatively inexpensive.

According to the present invention there is provided an obstetric table comprising a first section mounted on a support and having a surface for receiving a patient in a lying position, and a second section extending from one end of the first section and removably connected thereto, the second section comprising means which in one position define a chair suitable for use in delivery and which in another position cooperate with the first section to define a substantially continuous surface for receiving a patient in a lying position.

In a preferred form of the invention the first section is so mounted on the support as to enable the first section to be orientated at an adjustable angle to the horizontal, i.e. to slope from one end to the other. The connection between the first and second sections is then preferably such that adjustment of the angle of the first section causes the chair-defining means to move vertically up and down without causing the chair to change its attitude, i.e. to tilt.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic view from one side of an obstetric table according to the present invention, with parts of the table support being omitted; Figure 2 shows part of the table illustrated in Figure 1, but from the opposite side; Figure 3 shows in more detail and on a larger scale a ratchet mechanism which is also shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the shape of the base of the chair and of an additional portion which mates therewith.

The table shown in the drawings comprises a first section 1 which defines a longitudinal extending surface for receiving a patient in a lying position.

The section 1 is mounted on a support which is partly indicated at 2. The mounting also comprises three hydraulic cylinders, namely a centrally positioned cylinder 3 and two further cylinders 4 disposed on opposite sides of the table. One of the cylinders 4 is visible in Figure 1, the other cylinder being hidden behind it. The lower end of the mounting 2, including the cylinders 3 and 4, is connected to a base structure mounted on wheels in a conventional manner. The first section 1 is pivotally connected to the support 2 by a pivot 6.

The table thus far described is known for use as an obstetric table. It is for this reason that this known table section is provided with vertical bores 5, one of which can be seen in Figure 1, to receive lithotomy poles. The known table, of which section 1 forms a part, also has a removable second section which simply forms a horizontal continuation of the first section 1, in a direction to the left of section 1, as viewed in Figure 1.

In the present invention, however, instead of the second section just described a different second section is provided, and this is denoted in the drawings by reference numeral 10. The second section 10 comprises on each side a side plate 11 and a side arm 12. Adjacent one end the side arm 12 is pivotally connected to the side plate 11 by a pivot 13. Adjacent its other end the side arm 12 carries a vertically extending pin 14which is received in the bore 5. A strut 15 is pivotally connected at one end to the side plate 11 by a pivot 16, and at its other end the strut 15 is pivotally connected by a pivot 17 to the support 2. Since the support 2 would not, in the conventional section 1 carry any means to which the pivot 17 might be attached, a pivot block 18 is removably clamped to the support 2.Clamping is achieved by a pair of bolts 19, of which one is indicated.

The side plates 11 carry between them a seat member 20. The seat member 20 is shown in Figure 4, from which it can be seen that it is provided with a central cut-out 21 in the distal edge portion thereof.

The seat member 20 constitutes part of a chair which has a back 22. In addition, each side plate 11 carries an adjustable foot support 43.

The angle of inclination of the chair back 22 can be varied by means of a ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism can be seen in Figures 2 and 3.

In Figure 2 the mechanism is behind the adjacent side plate 11, and hence is shown in broken lines.

Figure 3 is a view from the other side of that side plate, and shows the ratchet mechanism on a larger scale. As will be seen in Figure 2 the chair back 22 is pivoted to the side plate 11 by means of a pivot 23. A similar pivot is provided at the opposite side of the chair back for pivotal connection with the other side plate 11. However, on the side of the chair shown in Figure 2 the chair back 22 carried a lug 24 the lower end of which is pivotally connected, by means of a pivot 25, to a square cross-section tube 26. The tube 26 is a loose sliding fit in another tube 27, also of square cross-section, the tube 27 being pivotally mounted on the side plate 11 by a pivot 28. Formed on the upper side of the tube 27 is a mounting 29 which carries a pivot 30 for a pivotal ratchet arm 31.

The ratchet dog 32 selectively engages in one of a number of apertures 33 provided in the upper surface of the tube 26. The ratchet mechanism thus permits the chair back to be moved to any one of the positions defined by the apertures 33, the tube 26 sliding in the tube 27 until the desired position is reached and the dog 32 engages in the desired aperture 33.

Althoguh not shown in the drawings, the obstetric table would in practice be provided with mattresses covering the first section 1, the seat member 20 and the chair back 22.

In use, the mother-to-be is seated on the seat member 20, with her back resting against the chair back 22. The presence of the cut-out 21 ensures that the woman's perineum is not blocked so that delivery can actually take place in the seated position. To adjust the height of the chair use is made of the cylinders 3 and 4. If, for example, it is desired to lowerthe chairthecylinders3and 4 are raised so that the first section 1 tilts downwardly from right to left. The locations of the pivots 6, 13, 16 and 17 are arranged to define a parallelogram. As a result, the above-mentioned tilting causes the pivot points 13 and 16 to move downwardly in unison with one another in such a way that the pivot point 13 is always vertically above the pivot point 16.This means that the attitude of the side plates 11 remains constant, and hence the seat member 20 remains horizontal. If it is necessary for the woman to lie down the chair back 22 can simply be tilted back until it occupies a horizontal position. The seat member 20, chair back 22 and first section 1 then define a substantially continuous horizontal surface.

To complete the horizontal surface and provide a full-length bed a further section 34 (see Figure 4) can be mated with the seat member 20. For th is purpose the section 34 is preferably provided with horizontally extending arms which are received in corresponding slots defined in the side plates 11.

The section 34 has an edge which complements the cut-out edge of the seat member 20.

Furthermore, the table can, if desired, be converted into a conventional short obstetric table by removing the second section 10 altogether. This can be achieved by undoing the clamps 18 and lifting the pins 14 from the bores 5. The bore 5 can then be used, as mentioned above, to receive lithotomy poles.

Furthermore, the forward ends of the side arms 12, i.e. the ends remote from the section 1, can be provided with vertical bores (not shown), for receiving iithotomy poles, so that the table can be used in a conventional manner without having to remove the second section 10.

Claims (13)

1. An obstetric table comprising a first section mounted on a support and having a surface for receiving a patient in a lying position, and a second section extending from one end of the first section and removably connected thereto, the second section comprising means which in one position define a chair suitable for use in delivery and which in another position cooperate with the first section to define a substantially continuous surface for receiving a patient in a lying position.

2. An obstetric table according to claim 1, comprising means for tilting the first section so that it slopes from one end to the other.

3. An obstetric table according to claim 2, wherein the first and second sections are connected together by a parallelogram linkage so that tilting of the first section with the second section in said one position causes the chair to be raised or lowered whiist maintaining a constant attitude.

4. An obstetric table according to any preceding claim, wherein the chair comprises a seat portion and a back portion mounted for pivotal adjustment with respect thereto.

5. An obstetric table according to claim 4, wherein a ratchet mechanism is provided for holding the back portion in its adjusted position.

6. An obstetric table according to claim 5, wherein the ratchet mechanism is pivotally connected to the back portion and to the seat portion.

7. An obstetric table according to claim 6, wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises a pawl member pivotally connected to one of the said portions, and an elongate ratchet member pivotally connected to the other of the said portions and arranged to move longitudinally with respect to the pawl member.

8. An obstetric table according to any preceding claim, wherein the chair comprises a seat member which has a central cut-out in the distal edge portion thereof, which cut-out is positioned to leave the perineum of a woman seated thereon clear to enable delivery to take place.

9. An obstetric table according to claim 8, wherein the chair comprises an additional member removably connected to the seat member and having an edge which complements the cut-out edge of the seat member.

10. An obstetric table according to any preceding claim, comprising foot supports connected to the said second section.

11. An obstetric table according to any preceding claim, wherein the said first section has means for receiving lithotomy poles.

12. An obstetric table according to any preceding claim, wherein the said second section has means for receiving lithotomy poles.

13. An obstetric table according to any preceding claim, wherein the said first and second sections are interconnected by a pin and bore connection.