NL2014615A

NL2014615A - Patient treating table.

Info

Publication number: NL2014615A
Application number: NL2014615A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Philip Maria De Loos Raymond
Original assignee: Lomed Nederland B V
Priority date: 2015-04-10
Filing date: 2015-04-10
Publication date: 2016-10-12
Also published as: NL2014615B1

Abstract

A patient treating table comprises a floor supported base frame, and a first telescopic lift column extending upwardly from the base frame. A table frame is supported from an upper end of the first telescopic lift column, and at least one leg supporting cushion is carried by the table frame. A column support is associated with the table frame, and a second telescopic lift column extends upwardly from the column support. An upper frame IS mounted to an upper end of the second telescopic lift column. A body supporting seat cushion is mounted to the upper frame, and a body supporting back rest is hinged to the upper frame for rake adjustment. The first and second telescopic lift columns are each extendable and retractable independently between a fully extended and a fully retracted position to adjust the height of the leg and body support cushions and back rest.

Description

Title: Patient treating table

The invention relates to a table to support patients for medical examination and treatment, in particular for treatment in plaster rooms to apply cast to fractures, or like.

Tables for this purpose are known and are amongst others height adjustable for patient comfort, for ergonomics of the treating personal, and for allowing different treatment methods. In particular it has been found useful to also have independently adjustable leg and body supporting sections, so that patients may be supported in possible many variations of reclining and seated positions. The leg supporting sections can include angularly adjustable upper and lower leg portions, and the body supporting section can include a seat, or hip support, and a backrest adjustable for rake. To obtain height adjustability within a footprint of these treatment tables it has been popular to resort to scissor mechanism to ensure linear upward and downward movement. Nonetheless it has sometimes been felt as a disadvantage that these exposed scissor mechanisms limit access to a patient to be treated, and also may present a safety hazard in that, during use or adjustment of the table, limbs of patients or medical practitioners could become entangled, or worse in a probably unlikely event become squeezed between the scissor mechanism.

There is accordingly a need for a patient treating table that offers better access to a patient to be treated, and that at the same time eliminates any risk of injury.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to propose an improved patient treating table, in particular for treatment in plaster rooms to apply cast to fractures, or like. In a more general sense it is thus an object of the invention to overcome or reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. It is also an object of the present invention to provide at least one alternative solution, which is less cumbersome in assembly and operation and which moreover can be made relatively inexpensively or in an environmental more friendly manner. Alternatively it is an object of the invention to at least provide a useful alternative.

To this end the invention provides for a patient treating table as defined by one or more of the appended claims.

More in particular a patient treating table is provided that comprises a floor supported base frame, a first telescopic lift column extending upwardly from the base frame, a table frame supported from an upper end of the first telescopic lift column, at least one leg supporting cushion carried by the table frame, a column support associated with the table frame, a second telescopic lift column extending upwardly from the column support, an upper frame mounted to an upper end of the second telescopic lift column, a body supporting seat cushion mounted to the upper frame, and a body supporting back rest hinged to the upper frame for rake adjustment, wherein the first and second telescopic lift columns are each extendable and retractable independently between a fully extended and a fully retracted position. Such a patient treating table offers improved access to a patient to be treated, and that at the same time minimizes any possible risk of injury. In one embodiment the second telescopic lift column can extend parallel to the first telescopic lift column. In such an embodiment it would be advantageous when the second telescopic lift column in its fully retracted position has a height that is less than a height of the first telescopic lift column in its fully retracted position. Thereby it is ensured that both telescopic lift columns can both be in a fully retracted position at the same time. In this regard it can be further advantageous when a difference in length between the fully extended and fully retracted positions of the second telescopic lift column is less than that of the first telescopic lift column.

Alternatively or additionally an embodiment of the patient treating table can have the table frame adapted to accommodate a combined perimeter of the body supporting seat cushion and the body supporting back rest, when the second telescopic lift column is in its fully retracted position, and with the backrest in a horizontal position. Such an arrangement allows the body supporting seat cushion and backrest to form a substantially planar patient supporting surface with the body supporting cushions resting upon the table frame.

In another embodiment the floor supported base frame can include caster wheels to be selectively movable over a floor surface, which is useful when loading or unloading patients onto or from the table. Furthermore selective movability may also be convenient for a medical practitioner to attain the best position for performing a treatment.

In yet another embodiment of the patient treating table the first and second telescopic lift columns can each include a power operated linear actuator. The use of power operation greatly reduces the manual effort required in bringing a patient in a proper position for treatment. In this regard it can be particularly advantageous when the power operated linear actuator of at least one of the first and second telescopic lift columns is an electrically operated hnear actuator. Electric power equipment, such as motors, switch gear and cables are better suited to ensure hygienic conditions than for instance hydraulic, or pneumatic equipment.

In a particular patient treating table according to the invention the first and second telescopic lift columns can each include at least two rectangular guide tubes, and one of the at least two rectangular guide tubes can then be telescopically guided within the other of the at least two guide tubes. This not only ensures stability of the entire table, but also enables the mechanical parts to be shielded from the exterior.

Advantageously the body supporting back rest is adjusted for rake by a linear actuator arranged diagonally between the second telescopic biting column and the back rest. While manual adjustment of the back rest remains a practical option, a power operated actuator further reduces the effort required in positioning of patients on the treating table.

In a further elaborated embodiment of a patient treating table in accordance with the invention the floor supported base frame can include a panel with a plurality of distinct foot pedals for operating at least the first and second telescopic lift columns. Such an arrangement is particularly useful in combination with power operation and allows the medical personal to keep their hands free for other tasks when bringing a patient into position. In such an arrangement is can be advantageous when the panel also includes a foot pedal for adjusting the rake of the body supporting back rest.

In another embodiment the at least one leg supporting cushion carried by the table frame, can be part of an arrangement of individual left and right upper leg support cushions, and left and right lower leg support cushions, and the left and right lower leg support cushions can then hinged to the table frame for enabling an individual downward inclination of one or both the left and right lower leg support cushions. In combination with leg support adjustment a gas spring can advantageously be interposed between each of the left and right lower leg support cushions and the table frame. Also in combination with adjustable leg support a leg support extension cushion can be slidably connected to a free end of each of the left and right lower leg support cushions for length adjustment, to cope with differences in legs of patients. The leg support extension cushions can then each be adapted to be indexed in discrete positions of length adjustment, and be arranged for locking by means of an indexing pin.

In a further embodiment of the invention a support arm can extend from the floor supported base frame, which support arm can be adapted to suspend therefrom at least one of a trapeze bar and traction devices. A trapeze bar can offer additional comfort to the patient and also be useful when the patient is able to assist in taking position on the table. Traction devices are often required when applying cast to fractures.

Further advantageous aspects of the invention will become clear from the appended description and in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a patient treating table according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the patient treating table, partially in cross section according to the hne II-II in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is one example of a possible adjustment position of the patient treating table of the invention; and

Figure 4 is another example of a possible adjustment position of the patient treating table of the invention.

In Figures 1 and 2 a patient treating table 1 is shown that has a floor supported base frame 3. The base frame 3 is provided with caster wheels 5 for being movable over a floor surface. These caster wheels 5 can have provisions for locking, so that the patient treating table 1 can be immobihzed after being moved in position. Such locking provisions for caster wheels are conventional and need not be described in further detail.

It is however clear that being able to move the patient treating table 1 in respect of a supporting floor surface is useful when loading or unloading a patient onto the treating table, or for a medical practitioner to take a proper position for performing a treatment. Extending upwardly from the base frame 3 is a first telescopic lift column 7. At an upper end of the first telescopic lift column 7 is mounted a table frame 9. The table frame 9 is mounted to the first telescopic lift column 7 by means of a transverse member 11. A column support 13 is attached to the transverse member 11 to support a second telescopic lift column 15 in close proximity to the first telescopic lift column 7. The first and second telescopic lift columns 7, 15 can be of any type, such as hydraulically or mechanically, but conveniently are of a type similar to that described in EP 2 700 608. An upper frame 17 is affixed to an upper end of the second telescopic lift column 15. As best seen in Figure 2 an upper leg supporting cushion 19 is mounted to the table frame 9. The upper leg supporting cushion 19 can be pivoted into an inclined position about a hinge 21. Support of the first leg supporting cushion 19 in an inclined position is provided by a first gas spring 23. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the upper leg supporting cushion 19 is in a horizontal position. Hinged to an end of the table frame 9 beyond the upper leg supporting cushion 19 is a pair of left-hand and right-hand, lower leg supporting cushions 25A, 25B. Each of the lower leg supporting cushions 25A, 25B is hinged by a respective hinge 27A, 27B and each is supported by a respective second gas spring 29A, 29B. To better cope with length differences in patients’ legs, left and right leg support extension cushions 31 A, 3 IB are mounted on telescopically adjustable frame extensions 33A, 33B associated with the lower leg supporting cushions 25A, 25B for longitudinal adjustments. To lock the frame extensions 33A, 33B in an adjusted position indexing pins 35A, 35B are provided, which can engage and lock the frame extensions 33A, 33B in predefined discrete positions.

The upper frame 17 carries a body supporting seat cushion 37, and a body supporting back rest 39. The body supporting back rest 39 is hinged to the upper frame 17 by a hinge member 41 and is adjustable for rake. The rake adjustment of the back rest 39 is by means of a linear actuator 43, which extends diagonally between the second telescopic lift column 15 and an upper portion of the back rest 39. The body supporting seat cushion 37 is mounted to an upper sub-frame 45, which is slidable with respect to the upper frame 17. The shdable sub-frame 45 allows the seat cushion 37 to be spaced further from the back rest 39, when such would be required.

It is further seen in Figures 1 and 2, that the floor supported base frame 3 includes an upwardly extending support arm mounting member 47.

The support arm mounting member 47 supports a support arm 49 from which a trapeze bar (not shown, but conventional) can be suspended for assisting the patient taking or changing position on the treating table 1. The same support arm 49 can also be used to suspend medical equipment such as traction devices, which are useful in applying cast to fractures.

For operation of the first and second telescopic lift columns 7, 15 for height adjustment of the body and leg supports, as well as for rake adjustment by the actuator 43, the floor support frame 3 is provided with foot pedals 51, 52, 53. When the second telescopic lift column 15 is in a fully retracted position, the body supporting seat cushion 37 and back rest 39 in a horizontal position can rest upon the table frame 9 and thereby form a planar patient supporting surface with the upper leg supporting cushion 19 and the left and right-hand lower leg supporting cushions 25A, 25B.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4 the arrangement in close proximity of the parallel first and second telescopic lift columns 7, 15 provides optimal accessibihty to a patient supported on the patient treating table 1. In an example illustrated in Figure 3 the body supporting seat and back rest cushions 37, 39 are adjusted by the second telescopic lift column 15 at a height different and independent from a height at which the upper and lower leg supporting cushion 19, 25A, 25B are adjusted by the first telescopic lift column 7. In another example as shown in Figure 4 the body supporting seat cushion 37 and the upper leg support cushion are in the same plane on top of the table frame 9. The second telescopic lift column 15 then is in its fully retracted position. As further illustrated in Figure 4 the rake of the back rest 39 can have been adjusted to an inclination by linear actuator 43, and the lower leg support cushions 25A, 25B can each have been inclined together at an identical angle. As will be clear from the above description the lower leg support cushions 25A, 25B can also be individually adjusted to take different positions from that shown in Figures 3 and 4.

All possible positions, including those of Figures lto 4, but not limited thereto, can be achieved by a very compact adjustment mechanism, notably including the first and second telescopic lift columns 7, 15. Thereby patient access is optimized and any risk of injury by the adjustment mechanism is eliminated.

Accordingly a patient treating table 1 is described that comprises a floor supported base frame 3, and a first telescopic lift column 7 extending upwardly from the base frame 3. A table frame 9 is supported from an upper end of the first telescopic lift column 7, and at least one leg supporting cushion 19 is carried by the table frame. A column support 13 is associated with the table frame 9, and a second telescopic lift column 1 extends upwardly from the column support 13. An upper frame 17 is mounted to an upper end of the second telescopic lift column 15. A body supporting seat cushion 37 is mounted to the upper frame 17, and a body supporting back rest is hinged to the upper frame 17 for rake adjustment. The first and second telescopic lift columns 7, 15 are each extendable and retractable independently between a fully extended and a fully retracted position to adjust the height of the leg and body support cushions and back rest 19, 37, 39.

It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description and drawings appended thereto. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described. It will be clear to the skilled person that the invention is not limited to any embodiment herein described and that modifications are possible which may be considered within the scope of the appended claims. Also kinematic inversions are considered inherently disclosed and can be within the scope of the invention. In the claims, any reference signs shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The terms 'comprising' and including’ when used in this description or the appended claims should not be construed in an exclusive or exhaustive sense but rather in an inclusive sense. Thus expression as 'including' or ‘comprising’ as used herein does not exclude the presence of other elements, additional structure or additional acts or steps in addition to those listed. Furthermore, the words ‘a’ and ‘an’ shall not be construed as hmited to ‘only one’, but instead are used to mean ‘at least one’, and do not exclude a plurahty. Features that are not specifically or exphcitly described or claimed may additionally be included in the structure of the invention without departing from its scope. Expressions such as: "means for ...” should be read as: "component configured for ..." or "member constructed to ..." and should be construed to include equivalents for the structures disclosed. The use of expressions like: "critical", "preferred", "especially preferred" etc. is not intended to limit the invention.

To the extend that structure, material, or acts are considered to be essential they are inexpressively indicated as such. Additions, deletions, and modifications within the purview of the skilled person may generally be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as determined by the claims.

Claims

A patient treatment table comprising: a floor-supported basic frame; a first telescopic lifting column extending upwards from the base frame; a table frame supported from an upper end of the first telescopic lifting column; at least one leg support cushion carried by the table frame; a column support associated with the table frame; a second telescopic lifting column extending upwardly from the column support; an upper frame mounted on an upper end of the second telescopic lifting column; a body support seat mounted on the upper frame; and a body support backrest hinged for tilt adjustment, wherein the first and second telescopic lifting columns are each independently extendable and retractable between a fully extended and fully retracted position.

The patient treatment table of claim 1, wherein the second telescopic lifting column extends parallel to the first telescopic lifting column.

The patient treatment table according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second telescopic lifting column in its fully retracted position has a height that is less than a height of the first telescopic lifting column in its fully retracted position.

The patient treatment table according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a difference in length between the fully extended and fully retracted positions of the second telescopic lifting column is less than that of the first telescopic lifting column.

The patient treatment table according to claims 1 to 4, wherein the table frame is adapted to receive a combined circumference of the body support seat and the body support back when the second telescopic lifting column is in its fully retracted position with the backrest in a horizontal position.

The patient treatment table according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the floor-supported base frame comprises casters to be selectively movable over a floor surface.

A patient treatment table according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second telescopic lifting columns each comprise a driving actuator linear actuator.

The patient treatment table of claim 7, wherein the driving actuated linear actuator, of at least one of the first and second telescopic lifting columns, is an electrically operated linear actuator.

The patient treatment table according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first and second telescopic lifting columns each comprise at least two rectangular guide tubes, and wherein one of the at least two rectangular guide tubes is telescopically guided within the other of the at least two conductor tubes.

The patient treatment table according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the body support backrest for tilt is adjustable by a linear actuator arranged diagonally between the second telescopic lifting column and the backrest.

The patient treatment table according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the floor-supported base frame comprises a panel with a plurality of separate foot pedals for operating at least the first and second telescopic lifting columns.

The patient treatment table of claim 11, wherein the panel further comprises a foot pedal for adjusting the tilt of the body support backrest.

The patient treatment table according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the at least some leg support pad supported by the table frame is part of an assembly of individual left and right thigh support pads, and left and right lower leg support pads. support pads, and wherein the left and right lower leg support pads are hinged on the table stand for adjusting one or both of the left right lower leg support pads to an individual downward slope.

The patient treatment table of claim 13, wherein a gas spring is disposed between each of the left and right lower leg support pads and the table frame.

The patient treatment table according to any of claims 13 or 14, wherein a leg support extension cushion is slidably connected to a free end of each of the left and right lower leg support pads for length adjustment.

The patient treatment table of claim 15, wherein the leg support extension pads can each be placed in discrete positions of length adjustment, and locked by means of a locking pin.

The patient treatment table according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein a support arm extends from the floor-supported base frame, the support arm being configured to suspend at least a single of a parrot and traction means therefrom.