US2670999A - Two-part hospital obstetrical table - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1954 5. J. STONE TWO-PART HOSPITAL OBSTETRICAL TABLE 5 sneaks-sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1951 V VIIIIIIII I a I I .f

E m w rm M m R V m mJ, r Y A w m 0 Y .fib E 8 Z n MM /7 1M M March 2, ,1954 s. J. STONE TWO'PART HOSPITAL OBSTETRICAL TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, i951 INVENTOR d'lmvsr J. J E

nrromws'ra March 1954 5; J. STONE TWO-PART HOSPITAL OBSTETRICAL TABLE Filed April 5, 1951 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORJVE 75 March 2, 1954 s. J. STONE 2,670,999

TWO-PART HOSPITAL OBSTETRICAL TABLE Filed April 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. SIDNEY J." JTONE rranmrrs March 2, 1954 5, J, TON

TWO-PART HOSPITAL OBSTETRICAL TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 5, 1951 El l s .N mm m mx wm m IglU Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TWO PART HOSPITAL OBSTETRIGAL TABLE Sidney .L Stone, Lyndhurst; Ohio Application April 5, 1951, Serial N0. 219,441

1' Claim.

invention relates to improvementsm an examination or delivery table and. more particularly to. a table having a quickly lowerable end portion, or to an auxiliary bed, delivery-table or-hospital'table of. very narrow'width adapted tobe placed alongside or permanently attached to an ordinary hospital bed or at the end-of a delivery table.

This applieation is a: continuation-impartof my co-pending application, Serial No. 155,700, filed June19, 1947, now U. S. Patent No.- 2,610,903, and entitled Delivery Table.

An object' of the present invention is to provide a plurality of patient. supporting surfaces,

the distal surface of which isquickly lowerable and then returnable to'its original patient-supporting position;

Another object of the present invention is to provide a narrow portable bed adapted" to be wheeled alongside an ordinary hospitalised after which a woman in labor lying upon a hospital bed may be turned around, her hips placed upon the auxiliary table here disclosed, her legs properly positioned in leg holders and thereafter-the attending obstetrician may deliver the babythus converting any labor bed intoa deliverytable.

Another object of the present invention is to connect, preferably detaohably, my improved'delivery table with a hospital bed so that the r'lelivery-table willnot move during a delivery operation.

Another object of the present invention'i's to provid adjustability as to the height" of'my' improved delivery table so that it maysupport a patient at the right level and at least a portion thereof may be moved downward beneath a woman's hips momentarily to permit the'pl'acing of a sterilized sheet beneath her hips: after which the table or the portlonthereof is again moved up. to hip-supporting position.

Another object of the presentinventi'on isto provide a delivery table'adapted to beattached to an ordinary hospitalized and having two patient supporting surfaces. adjustable-to the bedlevel to aid in supporting One surfac being the patient andthe second or distal surface being'quicldy'lowerable and then returnable to its original patient-supporting Position.

By using this table the thighs may easily. be lowered to the so-called "WalcherPpositionthe advantage of which is well recognized; by trained obstetricians.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the .acoompany- 2 ing drawings and description, and the essential features thereof. will be set forth. in the appended claim:

In he drawings,

Fig. 1 is an end elevationalview of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2; is a. top 'plan view of the same, with parts-1 brokenaway to more clearly: show the attachment of the. delivery tableto the hospital bed;

Fiat-is a ira'gmental side. elevational view of he same. device. taken from-the right-hand side oirFig. 1;.

Fig 4: is, a fragmental sectional view taken along the line H oi Fig. l, the same being somewhat enlarged;

Fig; 5 is an enlargedfrasmental sectional view taken along theline 5--5. of Fi 1.;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged viewofsaporiion of the left side oi the-frame; as. shown'iniig, .1, with parts broken away to. more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 7 isian enlarged fragmentalview. of the midportionof theright-hand side of the frame, as shown in Fig; 1.. withparin broken away to more clearly show the construction;.

Fig. 8.15 a. fragmental side elevational view of a second embodimentoi myinvention;

Fig; 9 isan end elevational-view of thezsame;

Fig-1Q is anenlarged elevational view, to. Fig. 9,.with parts: broken away to. more clear- 13! showtheconstruction; while.

Fig.1l is aside elevational view of a third em;- bodiment of my invention.

Itis well known that there are difliculties in many hospitals. in providing sufficient delivery tables although there are usually sufficient labor beds. The'present invention makes it possible touse-every bed as a delivery-table.-

Another disadvantage in present daypractice is the difiiculty of moving an anesthetized" patient from a labor bed onto a delivery table. Bythe use of my present invention, it is not necessary to move the patient fromthe labor bed itself but insteadher body is manipulated on. the labor bed-s0 as to utilize my improved delivery table during thedelivery'operation. Thus, undesirable movement oithe patient is obviated.

Figs. 1 to "7,, showing the first embodimentof the invention, disclose a light.v frame; l0- portably mounted upon casters. or wheels" I t so'that it may be wheeled from place to place. The details of this frame are unimportant exceptas hereinafter specifically referred to. In the drawings our end postsila are shown-,the two,- postsat one end being connected by an upper cross bar ldb and a lower cross bar its. Two upper longitudinally extending frame members Hid connect the two upper cross bars lab. One lower longitudinally extending frame member We connects the two bottom end cross bars lilo. These members are all connected together by suitable T- shaped fittings as shown. It will be noted that this provides a strong frame but one which leaves the space clear for the attending physician to stand or sit close to the right-hand edge of the delivery table, as shown in Fig. l.

The table top consists of a bed portion or patient supporting surface 12. Means is provided for supporting said table top on said frame for vertical movement. This means consists of a quickly operable means for lowering the bed portion and for returning the same to the normal position and an adjustable means for supporting said table in a normal position at a predetermined height.

The first or quickly operable means is provided for lowering and raising the bed portion momentarily to slip a sheet under the womans hips or for a similar purpose. The drawings show one means suitable for this purpose comprising a toggle 13 although my invention is not limited to this specific means. The bed portion 12 rests upon a structural base 14 to which is rigidly attached a downwardly extending stem l5 which slidably engages within the hollow portion of a pedestal it which in turn is rigidly secured to the two frame members ltd. Operating means for the toggle is of a simple type and comprises a link ll which is connected to a yoke E8, each arm of which has a clevis connection 29 with the mid-point of one element of the toggle 23, there being one yoke arm on each side of the pedestal l6. Rigidly secured to the frame member or upper cross bar ltb is a bracket 20 on which is oscillatably mounted a handle 2i which is pivotally connected to the link i; at the point or pivotal connection Zia. When the bed portion 12 is in raised or normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, the toggle 13 is slightly over center toward the right and the pin or stop lea fixed in the pedestal limits further movement of the toggle toward the right. When it is desired to lower the bed, the handle 2| is moved toward th left, as viewed in Fig. 3, permitting the toggle Hi to break toward the left until the bottom of the stem l5 strikes the bottom it!) of the hollow of pedestal l6. Other suitable limiting means may be provided. i

The second. means comprises the pivot pin l3a of the toggle linkage mounted in any one of a number of suitable openings l3b in th pedestal [6. This adjustable means supports said table top or bed portion [2 in a. normal position at a predetermined height approximately on a level with bed 23, as shown in Fig. 1.

Means is disclosed for providingrelative vertical adjustment between the top of said table or bed portion 12 and the patient supporting surface or bed 23. This means also connects the delivery table to the bed to prevent separation of them. Any means for attachment to a specific type of bed is within the scope of this invention. As clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, the means here provided co-acts with one of the usual longitudinally extending frame members 22 of a common type of hospital bed 23. The bed mattress is shown resting upon this bed frame. Each of the end posts Illa nearest the hospital bed is hollow and receives a screw 24 threaded to receive an adjusting nut 25.- The upper end of the screw 24 is provided with a diametrically extending slot or recess 24a adapted to receive the downturned leg 22a of th angle member 22. With the two screw members 2G in lowered position, the delivery table is wheeled up to the hospital bed with the slots 24a directly beneath downturned leg 22a of the bed frame. The nuts 25 are then manipulated to raise the screws 24 until th downturned leg or frame member 22a firmly engages in the slots or recesses 24a. This holds the delivery table in fixed position relative to the bed. Nuts 25 may be manipulated to cause screws 2G to lift the patient-supporting surface of the mattress of bed 23 to a level corresponding with bed portion l2, if desired.

Leg holders are provided on the delivery or hospital table, if desired. The vertical posts Hla farthest from the hospital bed are hollow and receive vertical adjustment means comprising the adjustable posts 25, each of which is provided with a series of horizonta1 openings extending clear through the posts as indicated at 26a. The T member 21 is provided with aligned openings 27a through which passes a pin 28 which engages in one of the selected openings 26c so as to hold the post 26 at the desired height. As clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3, there is one of these posts 2-6 at each side of the delivery table or bed portion l2. At the top of each of these posts is a leg holder 25 Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, a block 30 is mounted to swivel about each post 26 by means of a thumb screw 3i which engages in an annular groove 32 in the top of post 26. Mounted in each block 36 is an arm 33 having a shank passing through a suitable opening in the block 30 so that the shank of the arm 33 is adjustable in a direction at right angles to the post 26. The end of each arm 33 is provided with a flattened top surface 330. and a thumb screw 34 threaded into the block 30 bears against the surface 33a to hold the arm 33 in various adjusted positions. Each leg holder 29 has a downwardly extending ear 2911 which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 35 by means of the horizontally extending pin 35.

.Each bracket 35 is mounted to swive1 about the vertically extending portion 33b of the associated arm 33, by means of a thumb screw 3'! which engages in an annular groove 38 at the upper end of the arm portion 33b. This is clearly shown in Fig. 4. Preferably, a vertical adjustment means is provided to Permit adjustment of leg holders 29 to hold the knees below the abdomen.

This consists of a pin 28 selectively positioned in any one of the openings 26a, as previously described. However, any mean for vertical-adjustment is within the scope of this invention.

Preferably, the uni-t is finished by attaching side plates 39 and end plates 40 extending downwardly from the bed base I 4 so as to completely enclose the operating parts of the toggle 13. The end plates are slotted as shown at 40:: so as to permit the bed portion !2 to be lowered with reference to the frame members 0d.

The second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 15 wherein the Hit series of the reference numerals used to describe the first embodiment are used wherever possible to designate parts having functions similar to the parts of the first embodiment. Frame Ilil is portably mounted upon casters or wheels Ill so that it may be wheeled from place to place. In the drawings, two end frames 0a are shown. Each consists of an upper cross bar llllb and a lower cross bar I I to. Two upper longitudinally extending frame members I Hid connect the upper endsof endframcs IIIIc and 'two lower longitudinally extending frame members I We connect the bottom ends of end frames; How. It will be noted that this provides a strong frame but one which leaves the space clear for the attendingphysician to standorsit close to the left-hand edge of the delivery table as shown inFig. 9-.

The table top consists of bed portion or patientsupporting surface H 2 and bed surface or patient supporting surface I23a. Means is providedfor supportingsaid table top. onsaid frame for vertieal movement. This meansconsists of an ad justable means for supporting said'tabletop on a subframe 2Ill in a normal position ata predetermined height and a quickly operable-means for lowering the-bed portion and for returning the same to the normal osition. The first means, which moves both bed por tion H2 and bed surface Ina, consists-of two tubes II5. secured to subframe 2H3, each sIidabl-y mounted on a pedestal HE. A screw II3a is rotatably mounted in a nut H311 attached" to each pedestal H6. Each screw I I3'a is rotatably supported in its tube H5 and is driven by bevel gears 3c and H311 by shaft II3e-andhandle H3}.- When handle- H31 istu-rned, the screw will cause-the. tubes I'Ii to telescope over pedestals H5 and to raise or lower table-top H2, I23c. Thetubes and pedestals are. kept in alignment by hanging sleeves Iii'5a mounted on frame members ms and hanging supports IIBb mounted on lower frame members Illle.

The second means, quickly operable for lowering the bed portion H2 of the table top and for returning it to the normal position, is most clearly shown in 10,. at H3.

This means or toggle-like connection H3 consists of a link III operatively connected to a lever I-IB'. Lever H8; and its substantially parallel lever 118a, each have one end pivotally connccted to bracket I' I812, attached to bedportion H2; and each lever has its other end connected to bracket to, attachedto the subframe. 210 of the delivery table. These levers permit the top of bed portion H2 to remain always parallel to the bed surface I23a during its lowering movement. Ample space is provided to slip a sheet under the woman's hips when the bed portion H2 is in its lowest position. Link H1 is driven by handle I2I mounted on shaft I2Ic through crank arm I2Ib and pivotal connection I2I a. The solid lines in Fig. 10 show bed portion H2 in its raised position while the dot-dash lines show it in its lowered position. Crank arm I2Ib engages the stop portion II6a of the frame to lock bed portion I I2 in its elevated position with toggle-like connection H3 over center.

Means is provided to give relative vertical adjustment between the table top II2, I23a and the patient-supporting surface of said bed I23. This'means also connects the table and bed for preventing separation of them. Any means for attachment to a specific type of bed is within the scope of this invention. Bed or patientsupporting surface I23 has a mattress and a longitudinally extending frame member I22. A screw I24, rotatably mounted in post IIOa', elevates rod Ia with its slot or recess I2 Ia engaging frame member I22 until bed I23 is approximately level with the normal position of bed surface or patient-supporting surface I 23a and bed portion H2. The knob I25b is furnished as a means to drive the screw.

Leg holders are provided at I29, as seen in Fig. 9. A horizontal support I2'Ia extends from post Him to support the vertical adjustment means foreaeh leg holder. This means consists of -a threaded, adjustable-post I26 mounted in a T member I21. gear I28a which in turn drives a worm wheel I28. The worm wheel is internally threaded to co-act with the screw threads l26a on the adjustable post. The slot or key way-I261), engaging a key in T member m, prevents the adjustable post I26 from'turningbut permits longitudinai movement thereof. Block 30 ismounted to swivel on top of post I 26; Arm r33 has a. fiattened top surface I-33a: fitting ina slot in block I30 A- flat plate 134a is clamped on. the fiattened-surfaceby thumb screw 134.. The vertically extending portion I332; of arm 33 sup ports a bracket I35 adapted to. swivel omthe upper end of said portion I33b; A horizontally extending pin I36 pivotallyattaches downwardly extending ear mm of leg holder I23 to thebrackct I35.

Thethird modification in Fig. 11 is somewhat similar to Figs. 8, Qand 10. Except that bed portion or patient-supporting surface H2 is permanently attached to. bed, bed. surface,- delivery table, examination-table, or patient-sunporting surface I213.

Bed I23 is similar to an examination table; or an ordinary. hospital bed or deliverytable and is equippedwith leg holders I29 andmounted on rollers or wheels Hi". In this modification bed ortion H2 is mounted on parallel'levers H8 and IIila!v exactly like the. parts H2, H8, and HM. Bed portion H2. has all of the. ads justments shown. in Fig. 14);. Handle I21" manipulates a. toggleelik'e connection, similar, to H3,

connected withlevers. H8 and Hta'v to hold them in raisedor lowered position. like the-full line and dot-dash lines. of 10.

In its broadest. aspects, the inventionconsists of a plurality ofpatient-supporting, surfaces i2. 23, H2, i123, I23a-, HZ'and I23 of which the distal'surfacc l2, H2. or H2 isquic-kly, lowerable and then returnable to its normal position.

The invention also includes the. combining of the twovertical adjustment means for the delivery table top relative to thegbed into one single means. For example, screws 24, I24 are disclosed as being part of the means providing relative vertical adjustment between the top of the table or bed portion I2 or H2 and I23a and the body supporting surface of the bed 23 or I23. The pin and opening I3a, I3b and screw I I30. are part of the adjustable means for supporting the table top in a normal position at a predetermined height relative to the bed or part of the means for supporting the table top on the frame for vertical movement. All of these means could be defined as or replaced by a single means to perform the functions of relative vertical adjustment of the table and bed, adjustably supporting the table top in a normal position, or supporting the table top on the frame for vertical movement. Each of the above means could interchangeably read on each other or on the aforesaid single means since each performs the same 7 function.

The operation of the device should now be clear. Inthe first two modifications, the delivery table is moved alongside of the bed and the screws 24 or I24 are manipulated to secure it against movement relative to the bed and to vertically adjust the table top relative to the bed. Of course, in the Fig. 11 modification, this operation is not necessary since the bed portion is attached to the bed. The table top I2, H2, I23a, is ad Handle I 28!) drives a'wormjusted to the normal position at proper height by selecting the proper opening I321 or rotating handle 3f. A woman in labor lying upon the bed is moved sideways on the bed by simply sliding her body and without any danger of injuring the mother or the child. The womans hips are then moved off the bed slightly so that they rest upon the narrow delivery table. I find that a width of the order of siX to ten inches is sufilcient for the bed portion l2, H2, or H2 because it is desirable that the bulk of the womans weight .should rest upon the hospital mattress of bed 23, I23 or I23. The length of the bed portion may be anything desired but is usually of the order of several feet. During the preparation of the patient for delivery it is usually desirable to slip a sterilized sheet beneath her hips. The attending physician may do this easily by operating the quickly operable means 13 or H3 to momentarily lower the bed portion at which time the patients weight rests upon the bed 23, I23 or I23 and bed surface I230; or I23a' and the support of the legs in the leg holders is suflicient to permit this operation. After this, the bed portion is again raised to the normal position. It will be noted that the leg holders may be freely tilted in any direction about the pivot pins 36, I35 and the lower part of brackets 35, I35. The legs of the patient are usually secured to the leg .holder by means of straps passing through the slotted openings 291), I292).

It will be noted that the space vertically beneath the edge [2a, for example, is clear in each modification. In other words the frame members are back beneath the bed portion leaving the space clear for the attending physician to stand or sit as close as he desires to the delivery table and permitting the placing of a basin or other receptacle directly beneath the edge IZa of the delivery table. After the baby has been delivered the patient is slid back upon the bed with a minimum of movement, the screws 24, I24 are moved downwardly out of engagement with the bed frame after which the improved delivery table may be rolled away, if desired, in the first and second modifications.

When the patient is in danger of aspirating food or fluids while she is under the anesthetic, the physician may need to use the Trendelenberg position in which the hips are raised slightly higher than the head. Both modifications of this invention, as shown in Figs. 1 to 7 and Figs. 8 to 10, are adapted to make the patient assume this position. Nut 25 in Figs. 1 and 6 or knob I251) in Fig. 9, may raise the bed 23 or I23 respectively, to provide this Trendelenberg position. The above means for positioning table tops I2 and I I2, I23a respectively at bed level have been previously described.

What I claim is:

A delivery table comprising a frame adapted to be placed alongside a bed, a narrow bed surface supported on said frame portion, a narrow bed portion supported on said frame portion parallel to and adjacent said bed surface, each said bed surface and said bed portion having a length parallel to the side of said bed of the order of a few feet, each said bed surface and said bed portion having a width normal to the side of said bed of the order of six to ten inches, means on said frame for adjusting the top of said bed surface to a normal position level with the top of the body supporting surface of said bed, said bed portion top in normal position being level with the top of said bed surface, and other quickly operable means for lowering the top of said bed portion below, and for returning the same to, said normal position.

SIDNEY J. STONE.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,078,894 Ashby et al Nov. 18, 1913 2,120,732 Comper et al June 14, 1938 2,257,491 Armstrong Sept. 30, 1941 2,306,031 Anderson et al Dec. 22, 1942 2,368,748 Doty Feb. 6, 1945 2,528,048 Gilleland Oct. 31. 1950

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