Patient positioning support structure

Abstract

A patient support system includes independently adjustable end columns supporting a centrally hinged, jointed or breaking patient support structure. At least one column includes a powered rotation assembly. The patient support includes at least two sections. A coordinated drive system provides for both upwardly and downwardly breaking or jointed orientations of the two sections in various inclined and tilted positions. Cable, cantilevered and pull-rod systems are included.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 14 / 096,875, filed Dec. 4, 2013, and which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13 / 317,012, filed Oct. 6, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,719,979, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. U.S. Ser. No. 13 / 317,012 is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12 / 460,702, filed Jul. 23, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,060,960, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11 / 788,513, filed Apr. 20, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,565,708, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 798,288 filed May 5, 2006 and was also a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 159,494 filed Jun. 23, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,635, that is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 062,775 filed Feb. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,261, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 14 / 050,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029]Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome one or more of the problems with patient support systems described above. Further objects of the present invention include providing breaking or hinged patient support structures; providing such structures wherein such break or joint may be in any desired direction; providing such structures that include at least one base support structure that allows for vertical height adjustment; providing such a structure wherein such base support is located at both outer ends of the patient support, allowing for patient positioning and clearance for access to the patient in a wide variety of orientations; providing such a structure that may be rotated about an axis as well as moved upwardly or downwardly at either end thereof; and providing apparatus and methods that are easy to use and especially adapted for the intended use thereof and wherein the apparatus are comparatively inexpensive to make and suitable for use.

[0030]Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.

[0031]The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

Problems solved by technology

While manipulation of the patient when on the support structure suspended between outer end supports of the base is desirable, too much vertical and horizontal travel for the patient is not, as this can lead to unwanted consequences concerning anaesthesia, tubing, IV lines in the patient, and son on.

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