Surgical table hand control and surgical table hand control clip

Abstract

Surgical table hand control clip for attaching a hand control to a rail of a surgical table. The hand control clip includes a partial ring portion, arc opening, and guideway portion. The partial ring portion has a geometry defined by the major arc of a circle, and includes first and second opposite ends defined by the opposite ends of the major arc. The arc opening has a geometry defined by the minor arc of the circle. The central angle of the major arc is at least 240 degrees. The guideway portion defines a radial opening adjacent the arc opening and extends radially outward along a radial line extending from the center of the circle. The guideway portion includes a front member projecting from the first end of the partial ring portion in a direction toward the radial line and gradually protruding downward farther away from the center of the circle

Description

[0001] SURGICAL TABLE HAND CONTROL AND SURGICAL TABLE HAND CONTROL CLIP

[0002] Claim of Priority and Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 466,783, filed on May 16, 2023, entitled “SURGICAL TABLE HAND CONTROL AND SURGICAL TABLE HAND CONTROL CLIP,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0004] Field of Invention

[0005] This application relates generally to a surgical table hand control, and more particularly to a surgical table hand control clip for attaching the hand control to a rail of the surgical table.

[0006] Background

[0007] Some surgical tables particularly electrically powered surgical tables have hand controls. The hand control typically is attached as by hooking, docking, etc. to a rail of the table with a hook or clip feature of the hand control. Attachment and removal of the hand control needs to be as simple and intuitive as possible.

[0008] Current surgical table hand control clips have various drawbacks in certain applications. One example is a hand control that incorporates a plastic clip that grips the rail and offers the ability to rotate the hand control about the rail. This results in the generation of particles and debris due to degradation and erosion as the clip rotates about the table rail.

[0009] Some hand control clips provide an indexed horizontal holding position when the hand control is rotated to the horizontal position. Fixed in this position the hand control may be an obstacle to navigation as it is projecting out into the environment away from the surgical table. Additionally, the projecting hand control presents the possibility that it may be unintentionally struck and damaged by individuals and objects. The connector of the hand control and the cord connected thereto are particularly vulnerable to damage from impact. Some hand control clips have a shape that unduly limits the amount of rotation of the hand control on the rail, for example, beyond a horizontal position. Thus, when an operator attempts to rotate the hand control beyond the horizontal position on the rail, for example to provide a favorable viewing angle of the hand control, the clip may become over stressed, deformed, damaged, or broken.

[0010] Some hand control clips grip the table rail tightly to resist rotation of the hand control about the rail. These types of clips have been found to be susceptible to being damaged and fractured.

[0011] Accordingly, there remains a need for further contributions in this area of technology.

[0012] Summary of Invention

[0013] This application relates generally to a surgical table hand control, and more particularly to a surgical table hand control clip for attaching the hand control to a rail of the surgical table. The hand control and hand control clip thereof employ features that address one or more of the foregoing problems.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, a surgical table hand control clip for attaching a hand control to a rail of a surgical table, includes a partial ring portion having a geometry defined by the major arc of a circle, the partial ring portion including first and second opposite ends defined by the opposite ends of the major arc; an arc opening having a geometry defined by the minor arc of the circle; wherein the central angle of the major arc of the partial ring portion is at least 240 degrees; a guideway portion defining a radial opening adjacent the arc opening of the minor arc of the circle and extending radially outward along a radial line extending from the center of the circle, the radial opening being configured to receive therethrough the rail of the surgical table; wherein the guideway portion includes a front member projecting from the first end of the partial ring portion in a direction toward the radial line and that gradually protrudes downward farther away from the center of the circle.

[0015] Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following additional features separately or in combination.

[0016] The front member may be spaced from the radial line.

[0017] The front member may be spaced from a line that is tangent to a front edge of the partial ring portion and that is parallel to the radial line.

[0018] The partial ring portion and the front member of the guideway portion may have the same thickness.

[0019] The front member may include a front curved member projecting from the first end of the partial ring portion, and a front straight member projecting from the front curved member.

[0020] The front straight member may be parallel to the radial line.

[0021] The front straight member may have at least two through holes for receiving respective fasteners to attach the front straight member to a hand control body.

[0022] In an embodiment, an upper tangent line of the front curved member may be coincident with a partial ring tangent line of the partial ring portion, and a lower tangent line of the front curved member may be coincident with the front straight member.

[0023] The guideway portion may include a rear member projecting from the second end of the partial ring portion in a direction toward the radial line and that gradually protrudes downward farther away from the center of the circle.

[0024] The rear member may be spaced from the radial line.

[0025] The front and rear members may be outside of the circle and may be configured to taper the guideway portion from adjacent the arc opening and radially outward from the arc opening.

[0026] The front member may include a front curved member having a front radius of curvature and the rear member may include a rear curved member having a rear radius of curvature, and the rear radius of curvature may be greater than the front radius of curvature.

[0027] The partial ring portion may have a partial ring portion radius of curvature, the front member may include a front curved member having a front radius of curvature, and the rear member may include a rear curved member having a rear radius of curvature, and the partial ring portion radius of curvature may be greater than the front radius of curvature and less than the rear radius of curvature.

[0028] In an embodiment, the shortest distance between the front member and the rear member may be greater than one-third the diameter of the circle and less than one-half the diameter of the circle.

[0029] The rear member may include a rear curved member projecting from the second end of the partial ring portion, and a rear lip member that projects from the rear curved member, and the rear lip member may be configured to gradually protrude outwardly in a direction away from the front member.

[0030] In an embodiment, a centerline passing through the center of the narrowest portion between the front and rear members and parallel to the radial line may be offset from the radial line.

[0031] According to another aspect of the invention, a surgical table hand control attachable to a rail of a surgical table, includes a hand control body having a front side and a rear side, an upper end and a lower end, a left side and a right side; and, a hand control clip including: a partial ring portion having a geometry defined by the major arc of a circle, the partial ring portion including first and second opposite ends defined by the opposite ends of the major arc; an arc opening having a geometry defined by the minor arc of the circle; wherein the central angle of the major arc of the partial ring portion is at least 240 degrees; and, a guideway portion defining a radial opening configured to receive therethrough the rail of the surgical table, the guideway portion including a front member projecting from the first end of the partial ring portion; wherein the front member of the guideway portion of the hand control clip is connected to the hand control body, and the connected hand control body and hand control clip together have a center of gravity located within a geometric envelope defined by the front side and the rear side, the upper end and the lower end, and the left side and the right side; wherein the partial ring portion is configured relative to the hand control body such that when the partial ring portion is mounted on the rail of the surgical table, the partial ring portion swings about the rail such that the center of gravity shifts rearwardly due to gravity from a position in front of a circle center vertical plane passing through the center of the circle to a position substantially within the circle center vertical plane.

[0032] Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following additional features separately or in combination.

[0033] The front member of the guideway portion of the hand control clip may be connected to the rear side of the hand control body.

[0034] The partial ring portion may be configured relative to the hand control body such that when the partial ring portion is mounted on the rail of the surgical table, the lower end of the hand control body shifts rearwardly due to gravity from a position in front of the circle center vertical plane to either partially behind or fully behind the circle center vertical plane.

[0035] The partial ring portion may be configured relative to the hand control body such that, for a rail having a front-to-rear depth less than the front-to-rear depth of the radial opening, when the partial ring portion is mounted on the rail, the front member shifts rearwardly due to gravity from a position in front of a rail front edge vertical plane passing through a frontmost edge of the rail to a position partially behind the rail front edge vertical plane.

[0036] The front member may include a front curved member projecting from the first end of the partial ring portion such that, when the partial ring portion is mounted on the rail, the front curved member shifts rearwardly due to gravity from a position in front of a rail front edge vertical plane passing through a frontmost edge of the rail to a position partially behind the rail front edge vertical plane.

[0037] The front curved member curves from adjacent the upper end to adjacent the rear side of the hand control body.

[0038] The rear side may include a surface and a recess that is recessed relative to the surface, and at least a portion of the front member of the hand control clip may be seated in the recess.

[0039] The thickness of the front member may be the same as a depth of the recess such that when the at least a portion of the front member is seated in the recess, a rear surface of the front member is flush with the surface of the rear side. A material of the rear side of the hand control body adjacent left, right, and bottom edges of the recess may include polycarbonate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

[0040] The front member may include countersunk holes and the front member may be connected to the rear side of the hand control body by countersunk head fasteners passing through the respective countersunk holes such that a rear surface of the front member is flush with the head of the countersunk head fasteners.

[0041] The following description and the annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features according to aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

[0042] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0043] The annexed drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, show various aspects of the invention.

[0044] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical table including side rails and a hand control including a hand control clip attachable to the rails in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0045] Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the hand control and the hand control clip thereof.

[0046] Fig. 3 is an exploded rear perspective view of the hand control and the hand control clip thereof.

[0047] Fig. 4 is a top rear perspective view of the hand control clip.

[0048] Fig. 5 is a bottom rear perspective view of the hand control clip.

[0049] Fig. 6 is a left side elevational view of the hand control clip.

[0050] Fig. 7 is a rear elevational view of the hand control clip.

[0051] Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the hand control clip.

[0052] Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the hand control clip. Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the hand control clip.

[0053] Fig. 11 is a side view of a portion of the surgical table and the rail thereof shown in right side cross section, and the hand control including the hand control clip thereof rotated from a relatively lower position shown in dashed lines to a relatively higher position shown in solid lines.

[0054] Fig. 12 is a side view of a portion of the surgical table and the rail thereof shown in right side cross section, and the hand control including the hand control clip thereof shown in a resting position.

[0055] Fig. 13 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the surgical table and the rail thereof shown in right side cross section, and the hand control including the hand control clip thereof shown in a typical interaction angle position.

[0056] Fig. 14 is a side view of a portion of the surgical table and the rail thereof shown in right side cross section, and the hand control including the hand control clip thereof rotated from a resting position shown in dashed lines to another position shown in solid lines as a result of a front impact or cord pulling event on the hand control.

[0057] Fig. 15 is a rear view of a portion of the surgical table rail and the hand control including the hand control clip thereof wherein the hand control is shown tilted relative to vertical as a result of a lateral impact or cord pulling event on the hand control.

[0058] Fig. 16 is a side view of a portion of the surgical table and the rail thereof shown in right side cross section, and the hand control including the hand control clip thereof, showing a guideway portion of the hand control clip positioned at the top of the rail.

[0059] Fig. 17 is similar to the Fig. 16 side view except showing an arc opening of the hand control clip positioned at the top of the rail and the guideway portion of the hand control clip positioned midway along the rail.

[0060] Fig. 18 is similar to the Fig. 16 side view except showing the guideway portion of the hand control clip positioned below the rail and a partial ring portion of the hand control clip positioned on the rail. Fig. 19 is similar to the Fig. 18 side view except showing the hand control including the clip thereof having rotated from the vertical position shown in Fig. 18 to the resting position shown in Fig. 19 due to gravity.

[0061] Detailed Description

[0062] While the present invention can take many different forms, for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein, are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

[0063] Fig. 1 shows a surgical table 10 and a pair of hand controls 20 attached to a rail 28 at the side of the surgical table 10. The surgical table 10 includes a base 30, a tabletop 32, and a column framework 34 and a table framework 36 moveable relative to one another to move the tabletop 32 relative to the base 30. The tabletop 32 provides a patient support surface 38 and may include any number of table sections, for example, a headrest 40, an upper torso section 42, a lower torso section 44, and a leg section 46. The hand control 20 is configured to control articulation of the table sections for positions appropriate for the patient, physicians, and surgical procedures. Referring to the inset of Fig. 1 , as used herein, horizontal means the plane of the horizon or the plane defined by the two orthogonal H-H axes, and vertical means at a right angle, or perpendicular, to the horizontal or horizon, which is illustrated by the vertical axis V-V.

[0064] The hand control 20 is mounted or attached to the rail 28. The rail 28 may also be referred to in the surgical table art as an accessory rail 28. A variety of accessory clamps may be attachable to the rail 28 to position surgical table accessories to the surgical table 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the rail 28 is rectangular shape in cross section although rails having other cross sections are contemplated including round rails, oblong shape rails, among others. The shape and size of the rail 28 may depend on the country of origin and / or brand, for example, US: 0.374 inch x 1 .122 inches (9.5 mm x 28.5 mm); Europe: 0.394 inch x 0.984 inch (10 mm x 25 mm); Eschmann (UK): 0.236 inch x 1 .260 inches (6 mm x 32 mm); Japan: 0.354 inch x 1 .260 inches (9 mm x 32 mm); and Switzerland: 0.394 inch x 1.181 inches (10 mm x 30 mm). By way of example, the as-shown rail 28 may have a width or front-to-rear dimension of 9.5 mm and a height or top-to- bottom dimension of 28.5 mm.

[0065] Figs. 2-3 show enlarged front and rear perspective views respectively of the hand control 20. The hand control 20 includes a hand control body 60 and a hand control clip 70 connected to the hand control body 60 by a plurality of fasteners 72. As used herein, the terms front, rear, upper, lower, left and right are defined by referring to the inset of Fig. 2. The front-rear direction, the upper-lower direction, and the left-right direction are directions that are orthogonal to one another. The front-rear direction includes frontward and rearward, and is the depth direction of the hand control 20. The upper-lower direction includes upward and downward, up and down, and top and bottom, and is the height direction of the hand control 20. The left-right direction includes leftward and rightward, and is the width direction of the hand control 20. The foregoing terms and the inset of Fig. 2 are used by way of illustration only and should not be interpreted as limiting the posture of the hand control 20 when it is actually used.

[0066] Figs. 4-10 show the hand control clip 70 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The hand control clip 70 includes a partial ring portion 80, an arc opening 90, and a guideway portion 100. The partial ring portion 80 has a geometry defined by the major arc of a circle, and includes first and second opposite ends 82, 84 defined by the opposite ends of the major arc. The arc opening 90 has a geometry defined by the minor arc of the circle. In this example, the central angle A of the major arc of the partial ring portion 80 is at least 240 degrees. The guideway portion 100 defines a radial opening 110 adjacent the arc opening 90 of the minor arc of the circle and extends radially outward along a radial line RL extending from a center C of the circle. The radial opening 110 is configured to receive therethrough the rail 28 of the surgical table 10. The guideway portion 100 includes a front member 120 projecting from the first end 82 of the partial ring portion 80 in a direction toward the radial line RL and gradually protrudes downward farther away from the center C of the circle.

[0067] As will be described in greater detail below, several advantages may be realized by the hand control clip 70 in accordance with the invention. For example, owing to the major arc geometry of the partial ring portion 80 of the hand control clip 70, a hand control 20 equipped with the hand control clip 70 can easily be rotated while it is still attached to the rail 28. This facilitates viewing and interacting with the hand control 20 without unmounting or detaching it from the rail 28. The guideway portion 100 of the hand control clip 70 enables the hand control 20 to freely respond to any sort of impact or cord pulling event, whether from the front or from the side of the hand control 20; in other words, the guideway portion 100 provides a guided and controlled impact response rather than a wobbly or unstable impact response. The partial ring portion 80 of the hand control clip 70 also facilitates return of the hand control 20 to a resting position by gravity. Moreover, the radial opening 110 of the guideway portion 100 provides a limited pass-through zone that may be sized close to the front-to-rear depth of the rail 28 to aid in mounting and retaining the hand control 20 on the rail 28. The projection of the front member 120 toward the radial line RL and gradually away from the center C of the circle advantageously positions the center of gravity of the hand control 20 in such a way as to cause the hand control 20 to swing under the rail 28 of the table 10 when mounted on the rail 28. The foregoing and other advantages will become apparent in the description that follows.

[0068] Turning initially then to Figs. 4-10, the hand control clip 70 may be formed by any suitable material, for example stainless steel, and any suitable manufacturing technique, for example by bending sheet metal or by additive manufacturing methods. As shown in Fig. 6, the illustrated hand control clip 70 has a constant thickness T. Thus, the partial ring portion 80, the front member 120 of the guideway portion 100, as well as a later described optional rear member of the guideway portion 100, all have the same thickness. In some embodiments, the hand control clip 70 may not have a constant thickness, and / or some portions of the hand control clip 70 may have a thickness that is different from that of other portions. In this example, the curves in the hand control clip 70 are configured such that the radii thereof are at least 2.5 times the thickness T of the hand control clip 70. The inventors found that constructing the hand control clip 70 with such radii may eliminate stress risers and fracture points that are commonly associated with prior surgical table hand control clips.

[0069] As noted above, the hand control clip 70 includes the partial ring portion 80, the arc opening 90, and the front member 120 that projects from the first end 82 of the partial ring portion 80 in the direction toward the radial line RL and gradually protrudes downward farther away from the center C of the circle. In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 6, the front member 120 protrudes in such a manner as to be spaced from the radial line RL. In other embodiments, the front member 120 may protrude toward and across the radial line RL. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the front member 120 is spaced from a line FTL that is tangent to a front edge of the partial ring portion 80 and that is parallel to the radial line RL. As will be appreciated, the extent of front member 120 protrusion toward the radial line RL and the spacing from the tangent line FTL will depend on the desired front-to-rear depth of the radial opening 110 for receiving the rail 28, as well as the desired amount of swing and the desired resting position relative to the rail 28 of a hand control 20 equipped with the hand control clip 70.

[0070] With continued reference to Figs. 4-6 and 8, the front member 120 may include a front curved member 140 projecting from the first end 82 of the partial ring portion 80. The front member 120 may also include a front straight member 142 projecting from the front curved member 140. In the illustrated embodiment, the front straight member 142 projects from a distal end 144 of the front curved member 140, or from an end of the front curved member 140 opposite to where the front curved member 140 projects from the first end 82 of the partial ring portion 80. In the illustrated embodiment, an upper tangent line UFTL of the front curved member 140 is coincident with a partial ring tangent line PFTL of the partial ring portion 80, for example, the tangent at the first end 82 of the partial ring portion 80. A lower tangent line LFTL of the front curved member 140, for example, the tangent at the distal end 144 of the front curved member 140, is coincident with the front straight member 142. Further, as shown in Fig. 6, the front straight member 142 may be parallel to the radial line RL.

[0071] The dimensions of the surgical table hand control clip 70 may be selected according to, for example, the desired weight and geometry of the hand control 20 of which the hand control clip 70 is a part, as well as the shape and size of the surgical table rail 28 to which the hand control 20 is to be mounted. The inventors found that the selection of dimensions aid in realizing the advantageous effects of the invention described herein, including for example easy rotation of the hand control 20, guided impact response, gravity return to a resting position, easy mounting and effective retention of the hand control 20, and a resting position tilted under the surgical table rail 28.

[0072] Turning now to Figs. 2-7 and 9, the guideway portion 100 of the illustrated hand control clip 70 also includes a rear member 160 projecting from the second end 84 of the partial ring portion 80 in a direction toward the radial line RL and that gradually protrudes downward farther away from the center C of the circle. As noted previously, the rear member 160 is optional and therefore in some embodiments the rear member 160 may be omitted, for example, where the partial ring portion 80 and the front member 120 are adequate to provide the advantages described herein, such as guiding, swinging, and impact resistance.

[0073] In the illustrated embodiment, the rear member 160 protrudes in such a manner as to be spaced from the radial line RL. In other embodiments, the rear member 160 may protrude toward and across the radial line RL. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the rear member 160 is spaced from a line RTL that is tangent to a rear edge of the partial ring portion 80 and that is parallel to the radial line RL. As will be appreciated, the extent of rear member 160 protrusion toward the radial line RL and the spacing from the rear tangent line RTL will depend on the desired front-to-rear depth of the radial opening 110 for receiving the rail 28, as well as the desired amount of swing and the desired resting position relative to the rail 28 of a hand control 20 equipped with the hand control clip 70. As shown in Fig. 6, the illustrated front and rear members 120, 160 are outside of the circle and taper the guideway portion 100 from adjacent the arc opening 90 and radially outward from the arc opening 90. The guideway portion 100 tapered in this manner aids in smooth rotation of the hand control 20 about the rail 28, since the edges of the rail 28 will be guided toward the center C of the circle by the taper in either direction of rotation of the hand control 20 about the rail 28.

[0074] The rear member 160 may include a rear curved member 180 projecting from the second end 84 of the partial ring portion 80. The rear member 160 may also include a rear lip member 182 projecting from the rear curved member 180. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear lip member 182 projects from a distal end 184 of the rear curved member 180, or from an end of the rear curved member 180 opposite to where the rear curved member 180 projects from the second end 84 of the partial ring portion 80. In the illustrated embodiment, an upper tangent line URTL of the rear curved member 180 is coincident with a partial ring tangent line PSTL of the partial ring portion 80, for example, the tangent at the second end 84 of the partial ring portion 80. A lower tangent line LRTL of the rear curved member 180, for example, the tangent at the distal end 184 of the rear curved member 180, is coincident with an upper tangent line LIPTL of the rear lip member 182, for example, the tangent at the proximal end 186 of the rear lip member 182. Further, as shown in Fig. 6, the rear lip member 182 may be configured to gradually protrude outwardly in a direction away from the front member 120 or away from the radial line RL. Thus, the farther the rear lip member 182 protrudes from the rear curved member 180, the farther the rear lip member 182 is spaced from the front member 120 or the radial line RL.

[0075] As with the dimensions of the partial ring portion 80 and the front member selected according to, for example, the desired weight and geometry of the hand control 20 of which the hand control clip 70 is a part, as well as the shape and size of the surgical table rail 28 to which the hand control 20 is to be mounted. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear lip member 182 has upper and lower straight members 190, 192 and an intermediate arc member 194 having the lip radius of curvature R182.

[0076] In relation to the other portions of the hand control clip 70, in the illustrated embodiment the rear radius of curvature R180 of the rear curved member 180 is greater than the front radius of curvature R140 of the front curved member 140, and the partial ring portion radius of curvature R80 is greater than the front radius of curvature R140 and less than the rear radius of curvature R180. Also, as shown in Fig. 6, the shortest distance between the front member 120 and the rear member 160 is greater than one-third the diameter of the circle and less than one-half the diameter of the circle, and a centerline CL passing through the center of the narrowest portion between the front member 120 and the rear member 160 and parallel to the radial line RL is offset from the radial line RL, illustrated in Fig. 6 by a front-to-rear spacing offset D. The inventors found that the foregoing dimensions aid in realizing the advantageous effects of the invention described herein, including for example easy rotation of the hand control 20, guided impact response, gravity return to a resting position, easy mounting and effective retention of the hand control 20, and a resting position tilted under the surgical table rail 28.

[0077] Turning now to Figs. 2-3 and 11 -19, the hand control 20 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention will now be described. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the hand control 20 includes the hand control body 60 and the hand control clip 70, such as the afore described hand control clip 70, connected to the hand control body 60. The hand control body 60 has a front side 210 and a rear side 212, an upper end 220 and a lower end 222, a left side 230 and a right side 232. The front member 120 of the guideway portion 100 of the hand control clip 70 is connected to the hand control body 60, and the connected hand control body 60 and hand control clip 70 together have a center of gravity CG located within a geometric envelope defined by the front side 210 and the rear side 212, the upper end 220 and the lower end 222, and the left side 230 and the right side 232. Referring to Figs. 16-19, it can be seen that the partial ring portion 80 of the hand control clip 70 is configured relative to the hand control body 60 such that when the partial ring portion 80 is mounted on the rail 28 of the surgical table 10, the partial ring portion 80 swings about the rail 28 such that the center of gravity CG shifts rearwardly, i.e., from left to right going from Fig. 18 to Fig. 19, due to gravity from a position in front of a circle center vertical plane CCVP passing through the center C of the circle to a position substantially within the circle center vertical plane CCVP.

[0078] As will be described in greater detail below, several advantages may be realized by the hand control 20 in accordance with the invention. For example, the afore mentioned position of the partial ring portion 80 relative to the center of gravity CG of the hand control 20 causes the hand control 20 to swing under the rail 28 and surgical table 10 when mounted on the rail 28. This reduces exposure of the hand control 20 to passing objects and people, which is particularly advantageous in protecting not only the hand control 20 itself but also, for example, a cord 250 and plug 252 attached thereto, if provided, as shown in Fig. 1 . The foregoing and other advantages will become apparent in the description that follows.

[0079] The front member 120 of the guideway portion 100 may be connected to the hand control body 60 in any suitable manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the front member 120 is connected to the rear side 212 of the hand control body 60. It will be appreciated that the front member 120 need not be connected to the rear side 212 or only to the rear side 212 of the hand control body 60, and other embodiments are contemplated. For example, the front member 120 may be shaped in a manner so as to connect to the upper end 220 of the hand control body 60. In another form, the front member 120 may be shaped to form side walls or flanges that connect to the respective left side 230 and right side 232 of the hand control body 60, in addition to or alternate to the rear side 212 and / or upper end 220 of the hand control body 60.

[0080] Referring to Fig. 13, the front member 120 may be connected to the hand control body 60 such that the front curved member 140 thereof curves from adjacent the upper end 220 to adjacent the rear side 212 of the hand control body 60. The inventors found that this reduces the overall size and profile of the hand control 20 while maintaining the advantages described herein. In other embodiments, for example, where the front curved member 140 is omitted, the front member 120 may be connected to the hand control body 60 without such curve from the upper end 220 to the rear side 212.

[0081] As shown in Fig. 3, the hand control clip 70 is connected to the hand control body 60 by the plurality of fasteners 72. The front straight member 142 of the hand control clip 70 has at least two through holes 240, in the illustrated embodiment four such through holes 240, for receiving the respective fasteners 72 to attach the front straight member 142 to the hand control body 60. The rear side 212 of the hand control body 60 includes a surface 260 and a recess 262 that is recessed relative to the surface 260, and at least a portion of the front member 120 of the hand control clip 70, in the illustrated embodiment the front straight member 142 thereof, is seated in the recess 262. The thickness T142, see Fig. 6, of the front straight member 142 is the same as a front-to-rear depth of the recess 262 such that when the front straight member 142 is seated in the recess 262, a rear surface 264 of the front straight member 142 is flush with the surface 260 of the rear side 212 of the hand control body 60. The through holes 240 in the front straight member 142 may be countersunk holes and the fasteners 72 may be countersunk head fasteners 72 such that, once the fasteners 72 are installed, the rear surface 264 of the front straight member 142 is flush with the heads of the countersunk head fasteners 72. In Fig. 3, the material of the rear side 212 of the hand control body 60 adjacent left 280, right 282, and bottom 284 edges of the recess 262 includes an abrasion resistant material such as polycarbonate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, also known as polycarbonate ABS. In other exemplary embodiments, other suitable materials may be used that allow for abrasion resistance or other properties desired.

[0082] Constructed in the foregoing manner, the hand control 20 engagement surfaces 264, 280, 282, 284 are smooth, the fasteners 72 are recessed, and the contact surfaces are made from abrasion resistant materials. The smooth engagement surfaces 264, 280, 282, 284 of the hand control clip 70 and the rear side 212 eliminate snagging of the hand control 20 on the rail 28 and reduce abrasion, particularly when the materials of the hand control clip 70 and the rear side 212 of the hand control body 60 are respectively stainless steel and polycarbonate ABS. This prevents or at least significantly reduces wear of the hand control 20 due to repeated cycles of use and interaction with the rail 28.

[0083] Figs. 18-19 show additional details of the configuration of the hand control clip 70 relative to the hand control body 60 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the partial ring portion 80 of the hand control clip 70 is configured relative to the hand control body 60 such that when the partial ring portion 80 is mounted on the rail 28 of the surgical table 10, the lower end 222 of the hand control body 60 shifts rearwardly due to gravity from a position in front of the circle center vertical plane CCVP to either partially behind or fully behind the circle center vertical plane CCVP. Also in the illustrated embodiment, the partial ring portion 80 is configured relative to the hand control body 60 such that, for a rail 28 having a front-to-rear depth less than the front-to-rear depth of the radial opening 110 of the guideway portion 100, when the partial ring portion 80 is mounted on the rail 28, the front member 120 of the guideway portion 100 shifts rearwardly due to gravity from a position in front of a rail front edge vertical plane RFEVP passing through a frontmost edge 310 of the rail 28 to a position partially behind the rail front edge vertical plane RFEVP. Still further in the illustrated embodiment, the front curved member 140 of the front member 120 projects from the first end 82 of the partial ring portion 80 such that, when the partial ring portion 80 is mounted on the rail 28, the front curved member 140 shifts rearwardly due to gravity from a position in front of the rail front edge vertical plane RFEVP to a position partially behind the rail front edge vertical plane RFEVP.

[0084] Fig. 11 shows a portion of the surgical table 10 and the rail 28 thereof, and the hand control 20 including the hand control clip 70 thereof rotated from relatively lower positions 11 A, 11 B, 11 C shown in dashed lines to a relatively higher position 11 D shown in solid lines. The lowest position 11 A shown in Fig. 11 is a vertical position of the hand control 20. The next highest position 11 B is a typical interaction or viewing angle position of the hand control 20. The next highest positions 11 C, 11 D are higher rotated interaction and viewing angle positions of the hand control 20.

[0085] As shown in Fig. 11 and in greater detail in Fig. 13, the hand control clip 70 deliberately avoids a “tight grip” on the profile of the rail 28. The geometry of the hand control clip 70 is such that the end user can easily rotate the hand control 20 while it is still attached to the rail 28 without the risk of generating micro particles due to abrasion or erosion. Thus, as shown in Fig. 11 , for example, when the hand control 20 is rotated, the partial ring portion 80 of the hand control clip 70 enables the hand control clip 70 and thus the hand control body 60 to which it is attached to follow an arc path having as a rotation axis the center C of the circle of which the partial ring portion 80 is a part.

[0086] As shown in Fig. 13, the geometry of the hand control clip 70 enables the hand control clip 70 to have little or no tension on the rail 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the radius of the major arc of the partial ring portion 80 is only slightly larger than a radial distance R28 from a center CR of the rail 28 to a comer K of the rail 28. As such, when the hand control 20 is rotated for example from position 11 A to position 11 B, 11 C, or 11 D, the partial ring portion 80 slides on the four corners K of the rail 28. In some embodiments, the radius of the major arc of the partial ring portion 80 may be larger than the radial distance R28 from the center CR of the rail 28 to the corner K of the rail 28 such that, when the hand control 20 is rotated for example from position 11 A to position 11 B, 11 C, or 11 D, the partial ring portion 80 slides on only two of the corners K of the rail 28 at any given rotation of the hand control 20.

[0087] With continued reference to Figs. 11 and 13, the hand control clip 70 of the hand control 20 may be sized to accommodate the profile of the rail 28 to facilitate interacting and viewing with the hand control 20 without unmounting the hand control 20 from the rail 28. For example, when moving the hand control 20 from the position 11 A to the position 11 B, which is also shown in Fig. 13, to more easily view information displayed on an interface 300 of the hand control 20, there is no need to remove the hand control 20 from the rail 28. This is advantageous over prior hand controls that grip the rail tightly, for example, prior hand control clips that have a rectangular profile that matches the profile of the rail and therefore prevents rotation of the hand control unless the hand control is entirely removed from the rail.

[0088] Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the impact resistance advantage provided by the hand control clip 70 according to the embodiment of the invention. Fig. 14 shows the hand control 20 including the hand control clip 70 thereof rotated from a resting position shown in dashed lines, and also shown in Fig. 19, to another position shown in solid lines as a result of a front impact or cord pulling event on the hand control 20. Thus, as shown in Fig. 14, for example, when a front impact or cord pulling event is imparted on the hand control 20, the partial ring portion 80 of the hand control clip 70 enables the hand control clip 70 and thus the hand control body 60 to which it is attached to follow an arc path having as a rotation axis the center C of the circle of which the partial ring portion 80 is a part. In this way, the profile of the hand control clip 70 enables the hand control 20 to freely respond to such front impact or cord pulling event. As earlier described, gravity will return the hand control 20 to the resting position shown in dashed lines in Fig. 14, and also shown in Fig. 19.

[0089] Fig. 15 shows the hand control 20 including the hand control clip 70 thereof tilted relative to vertical as a result of a lateral impact or cord pulling event on the hand control 20. When a lateral impact or cord pulling event is imparted on the hand control 20, the partial ring portion 80 of the hand control clip 70 guides the rail 28 toward the arc opening 90 and the radial opening 110 of the guideway portion 100. The guiding is smooth owing to the bottom of the rail 28 sliding along the round surface of the partial ring portion 80 and the smooth transition to the front member 120 of the guideway portion 100 and thus the radial opening 110 thereof as the bottom of the hand control 20 tilts rightward and upward as shown in Fig. 15. In embodiments where the front member 120 also includes the front curved member 140, the front curved member 1 0 may also aid in guiding the bottom of the rail 28 toward the radial opening 110 of the guideway portion 100 as the bottom of the hand control 20 tilts rightward and upward as shown in Fig. 15. In this way, the profile of the hand control clip 70 enables the hand control 20 to freely respond to such lateral impact or cord pulling event. As earlier described, gravity will return the hand control 20 to the resting position shown in Figs. 1 , and shown in dashed lines in Fig. 14, and also shown in Fig. 19.

[0090] Figs. 16-19 show additional details of the hand control clip 70, as well as the behavior of the hand control clip 70 when the hand control 20 is mounted on the rail 28 of the surgical table 10. Fig. 16 shows the hand control 20 including the hand control clip 70 thereof in a state where the guideway portion 100 of the hand control clip 70 is positioned at the top of the rail 28. Fig. 17 shows the arc opening 90 of the hand control clip 70 positioned at the top of the rail 28 and the guideway portion 100 of the hand control clip 80 positioned midway along the rail 28. Fig. 18 shows the guideway portion 100 positioned below the rail 28, and the partial ring portion 80 of the hand control clip 70 positioned on the rail 28. Fig. 19 shows the hand control 20 having rotated from the vertical position shown in Fig. 18 to the resting position shown in Fig. 19 due to gravity.

[0091] Referring to Fig. 17, and as earlier described, the radial opening 110 of the guideway portion 100 provides the limited pass-through zone that may be sized close to the front-to-rear depth of the rail 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the front- to-rear depth of the radial opening 110 is slightly less than the front-to-rear depth of the rail 28 to create a choke point or interference as the hand control 20 is mounted to the rail 28. The interference is designed such that the hand control 20, once in the position in Fig. 16, need only be released by the user and the hand control 20 by gravity will move to the position in Fig. 18, overcoming the resistance provided by the choke point or interference, and ultimately swinging to the Fig. 19 resting position as above described. In other words, the interference reduces the speed at which the hand control 20 drops by gravity from the position in Fig. 16 to the position in Fig. 18. Referring to Fig. 19, which shows the resting position of the hand control 20 positioned on the rail 28 at the left in Fig. 1 , and additionally to Fig. 12, which shows the resting position of the hand control 20 on the rail 28 at the right in Fig. 1 , it can be seen that, once the hand control 20 is in the resting position, the front member 120 of the hand control clip 70 is located at least partially vertically below the front bottom of the rail 28. This creates an obstacle or interference to lateral movement of the hand control 20, for example, as may occur when the hand control 20 is subjected to a lateral impact or cord pulling event shown in and described with respect Fig. 15. Moreover, the obstacle or interference provided by the hand control clip 70 as shown in Figs. 12 and 19, in combination with the afore described choke point or interference provided by the radial opening 110 pass-through zone described above with respect to Figs. 16 and 17, together aid in retaining the hand control 20 on the rail 28.

[0092] Turning now to Fig. 16, and with additional reference to Fig. 6, as earlier described, the rear member 160 of the guideway portion 100 projects from the second end 84 of the partial ring portion 80 in a direction toward the radial line RL and gradually downward farther away from the center C of the circle. The rear member 160 may curve outward for example by the rear curved member 180 and the rear lip member 182 as shown, or in any other suitable manner, so as to provide a lead 320 for aligning and seating the hand control clip 70 and thus the hand control 20 on the rail 28. Thus, when the hand control 20 is attached to the rail 28, a wider opening is provided than if the lead 320 was omitted, and the lead 320 and the front member 120 guide the rail 28 toward the radial opening 110 of the guideway portion 100, which in turn guides the rail 28 to the arc opening 90 and into the partial ring portion 80, whereby the partial ring portion 80 sits on the rail 28 and the hand control 20 swings to the resting position shown in Fig. 19.

[0093] Attachment and removal of the hand control 20 is made simple and intuitive by the hand control 20, including the hand control clip 70 thereof, in accordance with the invention. The hand control 20 and the hand control clip 70, resolve numerous challenges with prior rail clip designs including difficulty in accurately aligning the clip opening to the rail to place the hand control on the rail on the first try; having to remove the hand control from the rail to easily interact with the interface; having to remove the hand control from the rail to easily view information displayed by the interface; difficulties exhibited by clip designs that securely grip the rail or lock into a fixed position and create a risk of damage in the event of a collision with objects or people; and difficulties exhibited by hand control clips that break due to their tight curve geometry that creates stress concentrations, leading to clip fracture and failure.

[0094] The inventors found that hand controls that have plastic clips that grip the rail and offer the ability to rotate the hand control around the rail to an indexed horizontal position oftentimes result in the generation of particles and debris due to degradation and erosion as the clip rotates about the table rail. Also, although such a hand control clip provides an indexed fixed horizontal holding position when the hand control is rotated to the indexed fixed horizontal position, the inventors found that, once fixed in this position, the hand control can be an obstacle to navigation as the hand control projects out into the environment away from the table. Additionally, these types of prior hand controls present the possibility that the hand control can be unintentionally struck and damaged by individuals and objects. The cord and connector are particularly vulnerable to damage from impact. The inventors also found that the shape of such prior hand control clip, in providing the indexed fixed horizontal position in the hand control clip, the hand control clip inherently limits rotation of the hand control to the single indexed fixed horizontal position, and actually is counterintuitive to a user’s desire to move the hand control to the user’s desired viewing angle, which invariably will be different from the single indexed fixed horizontal position. As the user urges rotation of such hand control about the rail beyond such indexed fixed horizontal position, the hand control clip becomes over stressed, deformed, damaged, or broken.

[0095] The inventors also found that hand control clips that grip the table rail tightly to limit movement are susceptible to being damaged and fractured. The inventors found, for example, that if such prior hand control, while installed on the rail, is impacted or stressed rearward (for example under the table) or pulled outward (for example away from the table), it is possible to damage any number of elements including the hand control body, the hand control clip, the rail clip, the cable connector, and / or cable socket. In some instances, the strength of the impact or stress may crack LCD display screen of the hand control. Also, the inventors found that such prior hand controls while attached to the rail cannot be rotated for interaction or viewing, at least not without potentially damaging the hand control by flexing and straining the hand control clip.

[0096] The inventors also found that many prior hand controls have structures that contribute to the generation of micro particles due to abrasion and when they interact with the surgical table rail, whether in the form of exposed fasteners, exposed metal edges of the hand control clip for example above the surface of the hand control body, and / or due to soft material that degrades surrounding the hand control clip.

[0097] The hand control clip 70 in accordance with one or more of the above embodiments of the invention as described above provides multiple advantages through its design, shape, configuration relative to the hand control body 60, and / or its material construction. The hand control clip 70 leverages the partial ring portion 80 that can easily rotate about the surgical table rail 28. The position of the partial ring portion 80 in relation to the hand control clip 70 opening enhances retention of the hand control 20 on the rail 28. The hand control clip 70 and / or the hand control body 60 to which the hand control clip 70 is attached, specifically address issues of durability, usability, and damage sustained in the field for example as identified above. The hand control 20 and / or the hand control clip 70 thereof provide degrees of freedom and motion while mounted that heretofore were not available in prior hand controls and hand control clips. The hand control 20 and / or the hand control clip 70 thereof deliberately eliminate stress risers commonly found in several prior hand control clips.

[0098] For example, as described above, the hand control 20 and / or the hand control clip 70 thereof deliberately avoids a “tight grip” on the rail 28 profile. The geometry of the hand control clip 70, for example the partial ring portion 80 thereof, is configured such that the user can easily rotate the hand control 20 while the hand control 20 is still attached to the rail 28 without the risk of generating micro particles due to abrasion or erosion. Further, as described above, the profile of the hand control clip 70 is sized to accommodate the profile of the rail 28 in a way as to facilitate viewing and interacting with the hand control 20 without unmounting the hand control 20 from the rail 28 of the surgical table 10. Further, as described above, the profile of the hand control clip 70 allows the hand control 20 to freely respond to any sort of impact or cord pulling event, whether from the front of the hand control 20 or laterally from a side of the hand control 20. Gravity will return the hand control 20 to its resting position. Further, as described elsewhere herein, the position of the partial ring portion 80 and the center of gravity CG relative to the hand control 20 causes the hand control 20 to swing partially under the surgical table 10 when mounted on the rail 28. This minimizes exposure of the hand control 20 to passing objects and people, and has been found particularly beneficial in protecting the cord 250 and plug 252, see Fig. 1 . Further, as was described above, the guideway portion 100 of the hand control clip 70 provides the limited pass- through zone that may be sized close to the rail 28 width to aid in retaining the hand control 20 on the rail 28. Further, as described above, the hand control clip 70 may be provided with tapered angles, for example by means of the lead 320, to assist with alignment and seating of the hand control 20. Further, the unique radii dimensions of the hand control clip 70 eliminate fracture points and stress riser commonly seen on prior hand control clips. Still further, as described above, the hand control clip 70 and the hand control body 60 provide an engagement surface that is smooth, all fasteners are recessed, and contact surfaces are made from abrasion resistant materials. The hand control clip 70 being made of stainless steel for example, and the hand control body 60 being made of abrasion resistant material such as polycarbonate ABS, aid in preventing the hand control 20 from wearing due to repeated cycles of use and interaction with the rail 28, for example by eliminating snagging on the rail 28. Thus, the hand control clip 70 enables end users to easily interact with and view the hand control 20 while the hand control 20 is mounted on the rail 28 because the hand control 20 can be easily rotated to a broad range of different angles. The hand control clip 70 eliminates the need for end users to remove the hand control 20 from the rail 28 in order to use the hand control 20. The partial ring portion 80 of the hand control clip 70 enables the hand control 20 to be rotated 360 degrees about the rail 28. Rotation about the rail 28 is only limited by the hand control 20 running into the surgical table 10. The design of the hand control clip 70 itself, or the configuration of the hand control clip 70 relative to the hand control body 60, do not inherently limit rotation about the rail 12. The hand control 20 equipped with such hand control clip 70 provides a free rotating design that reduces risks to the environment and objects while preventing damage to the hand control 20 itself due to impacts and collisions. The hand control clip 70 employs radii designed not to fracture due to commonly observed abuse cases, for example, where users grab and rotate the hand control 20 while the hand control 20 is on the rail 28 which in prior hand controls would results in breaking the hand control clip, or from impacts to the hand control 20, leaning against the hand control 20, or from cord pulling events.

[0099] As will be appreciated, the hand control clip 20 geometry and configuration may be applied to other items located inside the operating room that are mounted to or suspended from a rail.

[0100] Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc ), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e. , that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

Claims

Claims1 ) A surgical table hand control clip for attaching a hand control to a rail of a surgical table, comprising: a partial ring portion having a geometry defined by the major arc of a circle, the partial ring portion including first and second opposite ends defined by the opposite ends of the major arc; an arc opening having a geometry defined by the minor arc of the circle; wherein the central angle of the major arc of the partial ring portion is at least 240 degrees; a guideway portion defining a radial opening adjacent the arc opening of the minor arc of the circle and extending radially outward along a radial line extending from the center of the circle, the radial opening being configured to receive therethrough the rail of the surgical table; wherein the guideway portion includes a front member projecting from the first end of the partial ring portion in a direction toward the radial line and that gradually protrudes downward farther away from the center of the circle.2) The surgical table hand control clip of claim 1 , wherein the front member is spaced from the radial line.3) The surgical table hand control clip of any of claims 1 -2, wherein the front member is spaced from a line that is tangent to a front edge of the partial ring portion and that is parallel to the radial line.4) The surgical table hand control clip of any of claims 1 -3, wherein the partial ring portion and the front member of the guideway portion have the same thickness.5) The surgical table hand control clip of any of claims 1 -4, wherein the front member includes a front curved member projecting from the first end of the partialring portion, and a front straight member projecting from the front curved member.6) The surgical table hand control clip of claim 5, wherein the front straight member is parallel to the radial line.7) The surgical table hand control clip of any of claims 5-6, wherein the front straight member has at least two through holes for receiving respective fasteners to attach the front straight member to a hand control body.8) The surgical table hand control clip of any of claims 5-7, wherein an upper tangent line of the front curved member is coincident with a partial ring tangent line of the partial ring portion, and a lower tangent line of the front curved member is coincident with the front straight member.9) The surgical table hand control clip of any of claims 1 -8, wherein the guideway portion includes a rear member projecting from the second end of the partial ring portion in a direction toward the radial line and that gradually protrudes downward farther away from the center of the circle.10) The surgical table hand control clip of claim 9, wherein the rear member is spaced from the radial line.11 ) The surgical table hand control clip of any of claims 9-10, wherein the front and rear members are outside of the circle and are configured to taper the guideway portion from adjacent the arc opening and radially outward from the arc opening.12) The surgical table hand control clip of any of claims 8-11 , wherein the front member includes a front curved member having a front radius of curvature and the rear member includes a rear curved member having a rear radius of curvature,wherein the rear radius of curvature is greater than the front radius of curvature.13) The surgical table hand control clip of any of claims 8-12, wherein the partial ring portion has a partial ring portion radius of curvature, the front member includes a front curved member having a front radius of curvature, and the rear member includes a rear curved member having a rear radius of curvature, wherein the partial ring portion radius of curvature is greater than the front radius of curvature and less than the rear radius of curvature.14) The surgical table hand control clip of any of claims 8-13, wherein the shortest distance between the front member and the rear member is greater than one-third the diameter of the circle and less than one-half the diameter of the circle.15) The surgical table hand control clip of any of claims 8-14, wherein the rear member includes a rear curved member projecting from the second end of the partial ring portion, and a rear lip member that projects from the rear curved member, wherein the rear lip member gradually protrudes outwardly in a direction away from the front member.16) The surgical table hand control clip of any of claims 8-15, wherein a centerline passing through the center of the narrowest portion between the front and rear members and parallel to the radial line is offset from the radial line.17) A surgical table hand control attachable to a rail of a surgical table, comprising: a hand control body having a front side and a rear side, an upper end and a lower end, a left side and a right side; and, a hand control clip including: a partial ring portion having a geometry defined by the major arc of a circle, the partial ring portion including first and second opposite ends definedby the opposite ends of the major arc; an arc opening having a geometry defined by the minor arc of the circle; wherein the central angle of the major arc of the partial ring portion is at least 240 degrees; and, a guideway portion defining a radial opening configured to receive therethrough the rail of the surgical table, the guideway portion including a front member projecting from the first end of the partial ring portion; wherein the front member of the guideway portion of the hand control clip is connected to the hand control body, and the connected hand control body and hand control clip together have a center of gravity located within a geometric envelope defined by the front side and the rear side, the upper end and the lower end, and the left side and the right side; wherein the partial ring portion is configured relative to the hand control body such that when the partial ring portion is mounted on the rail of the surgical table, the partial ring portion swings about the rail such that the center of gravity shifts rearwardly due to gravity from a position in front of a circle center vertical plane passing through the center of the circle to a position substantially within the circle center vertical plane.18) The surgical table hand control of claim 17, wherein the front member of the guideway portion of the hand control clip is connected to the rear side of the hand control body.19) The surgical table hand control of any of claims 17-18, wherein the partial ring portion is configured relative to the hand control body such that when the partial ring portion is mounted on the rail of the surgical table, the lower end of the hand control body shifts rearwardly due to gravity from a position in front of the circle center vertical plane to either partially behind or fully behind the circle center vertical plane.20) The surgical table hand control of any of claims 17-19, wherein the partial ring portion is configured relative to the hand control body such that, for a rail having a front-to-rear depth less than the front-to-rear depth of the radial opening, when the partial ring portion is mounted on the rail, the front member shifts rearwardly due to gravity from a position in front of a rail front edge vertical plane passing through a frontmost edge of the rail to a position partially behind the rail front edge vertical plane.21 ) The surgical table hand control of any of claims 17-20, wherein the front member includes a front curved member projecting from the first end of the partial ring portion such that, when the partial ring portion is mounted on the rail, the front curved member shifts rearwardly due to gravity from a position in front of a rail front edge vertical plane passing through a frontmost edge of the rail to a position partially behind the rail front edge vertical plane.22) The surgical table hand control of claim 21 , wherein the front curved member curves from adjacent the upper end to adjacent the rear side of the hand control body.23) The surgical table hand control of any of claims 17-22, wherein the rear side includes a surface and a recess that is recessed relative to the surface, and wherein at least a portion of the front member of the hand control clip is seated in the recess.24) The surgical table hand control of claim 23, wherein the thickness of the front member is the same as a depth of the recess such that when the at least a portion of the front member is seated in the recess, a rear surface of the front member is flush with the surface of the rear side.25) The surgical table hand control of any of claims 23-24, wherein a material of the rear side of the hand control body adjacent left, right, and bottom edges of the recess includes polycarbonate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 26) The surgical table hand control of any of claims 17-25, wherein the front member includes countersunk holes and the front member is connected to the rear side of the hand control body by countersunk head fasteners passing through the respective countersunk holes such that a rear surface of the front member is flush with the head of the countersunk head fasteners.

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