US1741836A - Surgical operating cushion - Google Patents

Description

Deg. 31, 1929. L. L. .GI LBERT SURGICAL OPERATING CUSHION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 2. 1927 Dec. 31, 1929. L. "GlLBERT SURGICAL OPERATING CUSHION Original Filed March 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKCE LEVI. L. GILBERT, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB T0 Til-IE ELI-DEE SUPPLY COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA SURGICAL OPERATING CUSHION Application filed March 2, 1927, Serial No. 171,922. Renewed October 2, 1929.

This invention relates to a surgical operating cushion for use on a bed or table in performing vaginal examinations, operations and for use in obstetrical cases.

Heretofore many forms of invalid mattresses, obstetrical tables and the like have been proposed, many for hospital use and a few intended for portable use to be taken'to the patients home, the latter being awkward 10 to handle and inconvenient to use because limited to one position for the patient. Itis accordingly anobjectof this invention to provide an improved pneumatic surgical cushion that can be positioned on the side of an ordinary bed and to provide means for draining fluids therefrom and at the same time prevent fluids from accidental escape from the cushion.

. The cushion of this invention is made from two similarly shaped rubber sheets vulcanized or otherwise secured together along the side edges and also inwardly of the edges in a plurality of incomplete annuli. The annuli define rings when the cushion is inflated and theinner ring defines a central well, which well extends to one edge of the cushion. The ends of the rings so formed by the annuli terminate each side of the well so as to allow drainage to the cushion edge from the grooves between the rings so formed. The cushion is infiatableby means of a single valve, inflation taking place in the rings and also between the outermost annulus and theedge of the cushion, thereby providing, when inflated, an air cushion with a plurality of supporting surfaces with drainage spaces between the same communicating with the well so that fluid, no matter where it falls on the cushion, will drain to the well and thence to a waste receptacle near the edge of the cush- The annuli are so arranged as to form rings of varying sizes in order that the cushion may be comfortable in any position which a patient assumes on the table and also for providing a plurality of rings whereby move-j ment of the patient on the cushion may be accomplished without discomfort of any character.

flated, has substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the top except that the well rests substantially flatwise on the cushion support, whatever it may be.

The two sheets may, if desired, be of different materials, such, for instance, as rubber and canvas, which are fastened together inthe manner described.

When the cushion is deflated, the whole may be readily cleaned and sterilized, as there are no folds, creases, corners or other places likely to retain foreign matter.

The rings at one end communicate with one another and also with the space between the outermost annulus and the edge of the cushion so as to allow ready inflation and deflation by means of a single valve. 1

When deflated, the cushion is nothing more or less than two flat pieces of rubber in superposed relation. The fastening together of these two sheets being such as to maintain the thicknessof the cushion when deflated at a minimum and also to allow ready cleansing and rolling or folding of the cushion in deflated condition.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a bed having a cushion embodying the features of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the cushion alone.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of a cushionshowing the drainage apron.

Figure 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Figure 2.

I Figure 5 is a section on the line V-V of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged section on the line VII-VII of Figure 2.

As shown on the drawings:

An ordinary bed frame 10 and a mattress 11 are indicated in Figure 1, the surgical cushion of this invention is laid thereon, either by itself or tied at its corners to a stretching frame 12 which helps to prevent shifting of the cushion during movements of the patient.

The cushion proper comprises a substantially rectangular pneumatic mat-tress 13 divided by circular inner rings 14: and 15 into three compartments with a connecting air passage 16 to permit inflation-0f all the compartments through a single valve 17. The inner ring 15 defines the boundary of a central well 18 formed of the material of the cushion, this well extending to one edge of thecushion' through each compartment, as indicated at 19, so that each ring is a broken annulus.

When the cushion is-defiated, it is simply a trapezoidal double sheet without extra material to form the deep well shown, as I have foundthat it is a peculiar property of the broken annulus or rings to tend to close up at the gap when inflated, thus automatically providing the extra material to form the depending well 18 as shownin Figure 6,: and this shrinkage" forms overlapping or re-entrant edges 20 abovethe portion 19 of the well as shown in Figure 5, that tend to hold the desired shape ofthe well. The original trapezoidal form of the sheets is chosen to produce a rectangular cushionwhen inflated.

An apron 21of rubberized sheet material like the cushion proper is cemented to the mouth of the well to hang down over the side of the bed, the free corners of the apron being provided with snap fasteners 22 to enable the apron to be formed into a funnel, as shown in Figure 3, to form a continuation of the overlapping or re-entrantedges 20 of the well at the edge of the cushion, the funnel directingfluids into a receptacle 24 positioned below the bed.

In using the cushion for an obstetrical case,

the cushion is placed on the bed asshown in Figure 1, and the patientpositioned thereon in any desired way such as the lithotomy or Sims position, suitable padding being applied beneath the patient either at the side or end of the pneumatic cushion as the case requires. The channels between the rings act as drainage passages opening into the well 18 and 19 and prevent liquid from overflowing onto the bed,- thus maintaining sanitary conditions. The ringsin the cushion also facilitate ro tating the patient thereon from one position to another without displacing the cushion and without discomfortto the patient.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a simple and inexpensive cushion that can be readi y cleaned and sterilized and collapsed to a relatively small compass for transportation to and from the patients home. Alarge pneumatic surface contributing to the comfort of the patient and in the preferred form a plurality of rings or dams securing complete protection against overflow.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. An inflatable operating cushion consisting of two sheets, which, when the cushion is deflated lie in contact with each other over their whole area, said cushion having a plurality of broken annuli formed therein to define concentric air chambers of varying diameter and depth, and also defining fluid conducting channels, and a central well into which the channels open when the cushion is inflated, the said concentric air chambers cooperating when inflated to form a seat or support to facilitate the rotating of a person seated thereon from one position to another without displacing the cushion.

2.- A pneumatic surgical cushion including a plurality of incomplete circular air chambers defining a central well, said well extending to one edge of the cushion, said cushion being so arranged that when inflated each side will be of similar shape.

3. A pneumatic cushion comprising two sheets of material fastened together along the edges and also fastened together inwardly of the edges in a plurality of variably spaced incomplete annuli, the portions between the fastened part being inflatable and forming a plurality of incomplete concentric rings, the'innermostring and the ends of the other rings defining a-central well which extends to a side of the cushion, the sheets being so fastened together that when inflated the inflated portions will extend symmetrically above and below the fastenings.

4. A pneumatic air cushion formed of two superposed sheets secured along the edges and at intervals inwardly of the edges in a plurality of incomplete annuli providing communicating-air spaces between the parts sooured together, the innermost annulus defining. a central well which extends to one edge of the cushion, an air. valve communicating with one of the air spaces so formed, the cushionwhen inflated being of similar shape and arrangement on the top side and the bottom side.

5. A pneumatic air cushion formed of two superposed sheets secured along the edges and atintervals inwardly of the edges in a plurality of incomplete annuli providing communicating air spaces between the parts socuredtogether, the innermost annulus defining-a central well which extends to one edge of the cushion, an air valve communicating with one of the air spaces so formed, the cushion when inflated beingof similar shape and arrangement on the top side and the bottom side forming drainage canals con1- municating with the central well.

6. An inflatable operating cushion consisting of two sheets Which, when the cushion is deflated, lie in contact With each other over the whole area theerof; said cushion having a plurality of broken annuli formed therein to define concentric air chambers and also defining. fluid conducting channels; and a central well into which the channels open when the cushion is inflated.

7 An inflatable operating cushion consisting of two sheets which, when the cushion is deflated, lie in contact with each other; said cushion having a plurality of broken annuli formed therein to define incomplete air chainhers and a central Well and also defining fluid conducting channels; said cushion being so arranged that when inflated each side will be of similar shape.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon.

LEVI L. GILBERT.

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