A patient treatment table and method of operating thereof

Abstract

A patient treatment table 10 comprising a patient support platform 12 for supporting at least part of the body of a patient and a platform support structure 14 for supporting the patient support platf

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a patient treatment table and method of operation, and particularly a patient treatment table and method of operation relating to, for example, chiropractor treatment and orthopaedic treatment. BACKGROUND

[0002] The diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine, is undertaken by musculoskeletal practitioners, such as, for example, chiropractic and orthopaedic practitioners.

[0003] A treatment undertaken by musculoskeletal practitioners involves manual therapy, such as, for example, manipulation of the spine, other joints, and soft tissues.

[0004] The manual therapy generally utilises a treatment table. Various apparatus have been developed to facilitate this type of treatment. One such apparatus is the drop piece table. Such tables generally include a padded platform or table having, for example, a neck portion, upper back portion, lower back and pelvic portion. One of these portions includes a drop portion having a drop mechanism, utilising a spring and screw, which drops as pressure is applied to the affected area by the practitioner undertaking the treatment. The drop portion enables the specific joint to remain in motion while the hands of the practitioner continue movement through the joint. That is to say, the drop panel is retained by the drop mechanism in a state in which it holds potential energy against a bias. As the practitioner applies a relatively forceful pressure on the patient, the drop panel is released, and the potential energy is translated into kinetic energy. The practitioner utilises the kinetic energy of the drop to adjust the patient’s joints.

[0005] Prior art patent document number US5,774,915 discloses such a treatment tables.

[0006] However, these known drop tables are disadvantaged in that they do not provide any function to control the energy inputted into the patient’s joint and are generally designed to provide heavy and frequent drops. Accordingly, very similar practitioner-centred adjustments are carried out on different patients with different needs, pain thresholds, health needs and complications and musculoskeletal problems.

[0007] Moreover, these known drop tables are disadvantaged in that they do not have any means to provide consideration of the patient’s current pre-treatment condition and post-treatment condition. Furthermore, there is no known agreed standard which provides practitioners with an indication of, for example, the drop force suitable for the treatment of an individual patient’s specific conditions, treatment tolerances and treatment needs. Therefore, the same musculoskeletal treatment can be carried out very differently by different musculoskeletal professionals and each musculoskeletal professional can carry out the same musculoskeletal treatment on different patients with different outcomes. Consistency and efficacy of musculoskeletal treatment is, therefore, limited because of inconsistencies in the treatment that is currently available.

[0008] Accordingly, it is desirable in the industry for there to be a patient treatment table, system and method which enables a musculoskeletal practitioner to simply and efficiently undertake pre-determined treatment which is independently and specifically prescribed for the individual patient’s physical and personal needs and thereby enable a musculoskeletal practitioner to provide consistent and improved treatment outcomes and substantially mitigate the risk of undesirable and unintended harm to the patient. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a patient treatment table comprising: a patient support platform for supporting at least part of the body of a patient; and a platform support structure for supporting the patient support platform; the patient support platform comprising a drop panel displaceable relative to one or more other portions of the patient support platform; wherein the patient treatment table further comprises a processor operable to receive an electronic patient treatment prescription and generate electronic patient-specific drop instructions representative of the received electronic patient treatment prescription; and a drop panel controller operable to receive the electronic patient-specific drop instructions which, upon actuation, cause the drop panel controller to perform a patient-specific prescribed displacement of the drop panel.

[0010] The patient treatment table advantageously further comprises patient weighing means operable to provide a patient weight measurement, wherein the patient weight measurement is received by the processor and wherein the processor includes the patient weight measurement in generating the electronic patient-specific instructions.

[0011] The patient weighing means advantageously comprises a load cell disposed to underlie the drop panel portion and operable to provide the determined weight of a patient when in a supine or prone position on the patient treatment table.

[0012] The patient treatment table advantageously further comprises a receiver for receiving an electronic signal comprising the electronic patient treatment prescription from a remote server.

[0013] The patient treatment table advantageously further comprises a transmitter for transmitting data to a remote server.

[0014] The patient treatment table advantageously further comprises memory for storing at least one of patient data and treatment data.

[0015] The electronic patient-specific drop instructions is advantageously derived from representations of at least one of patient treatment history, patient centre of gravity, patient weight, patient health condition, patient clinical condition and patient biometrics.

[0016] The electronic patient treatment prescription advantageously comprises at least one of a drop resistance value, drop duration value and drop delay value.

[0017] The patient treatment table advantageously further comprises a centre of gravity determination device operable to determine the downward load characteristics of a standing patient and transmit the downward load characteristics to the processor.

[0018] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a patient-specific treatment table system comprising one or more patient treatment tables, according to the first aspect of the present invention, and a remote treatment prescribing server connected to the one or more patient treatment tables with a communication network, wherein the remote treatment prescribing server is operable to generate an electronic patient treatment prescription and transmit the electronic patient treatment prescription to a specified patient treatment table for treatment of a specified patient.

[0019] According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing patient-specific prescribed displacement of a drop panel of the patient safety treatment table according to the first aspect of the present invention, the method comprising: providing an electronic patient treatment prescription; generating electronic patient-specific drop instructions representative of the electronic patient treatment prescription and delivering the generating electronic patient-specific drop instructions to the drop panel controller; actuating the drop panel controller to perform a patient-specific prescribed displacement of the drop panel in accordance with the electronic patient-specific instructions.

[0020] The method advantageously further comprises: providing patient weighing means; weighing said patient to be treated and providing a patient weigh measurement; delivering the patient weight measurement to the processor; wherein the processor uses the patient weight measurement in generating the electronic patient-specific instructions.

[0021] The patient weighing means advantageously comprises a load cell disposed to underlie the drop panel and the said patient is weighed in a supine or prone position on the patient treatment table.

[0022] The electronic patient treatment prescription may be received from a remote server. Post-treatment data may be transmitted to a remote server.

[0023] The electronic patient-specific drop instructions are advantageously derived from representations of at least one of patient treatment history, patient centre of gravity, patient weight, patient health condition, patient clinical condition and patient biometrics.

[0024] The electronic patient treatment prescription advantageously comprises at least one of a drop resistance value, drop duration value and drop delay value.

[0025] The method advantageously further comprises providing a centre of gravity determination device; determining the downward load characteristics of a standing patient; and delivering the downward load characteristics to the processor.

[0026] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided A method of remotely providing patient-specific prescribed displacement of a drop panel of one or more patient safety treatment tables, the method comprising: providing a patient-specific treatment table system according to the second aspect of the present invention; generating an electronic patient treatment prescription on the remote treatment prescribing server; and transmitting the electronic patient treatment prescription to a specified patient treatment table for treatment of a specified patient.

[0027] The electronic patient treatment prescription comprises at least one of a drop resistance value, drop duration value and drop delay value.

[0028] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer program product comprising a non-transitory readable medium holding computer instructions, the computer program instructions executed by a hardware processor to carry out the method according to the third aspect of the present invention.

[0029] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer program product comprising a non-transitory readable medium holding computer instructions, the computer program instructions executed by a hardware processor to carry out the method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0031] Figure 1 is a drawing of a perspective view of a patient treatment table, according to the present invention; and

[0032] Figure 2 is a drawing of a side view of the patient treatment table of Figure 1.

[0033] Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of a patient-specific treatment table system including one or more patient treatment tables of Figure 1; and

[0034] Figure 4 is a schematic drawing of method of providing patient-specific prescribed displacement of a drop panel of the patient safety treatment table of Figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a patient treatment table 10, according to the present invention, comprises a patient support platform 12. The patient support platform 12 is supported by a platform support structure 14. The platform support structure 14 is preferably in the form of a framed chassis 16 to provide sufficient support and stability to enable a musculoskeletal practitioner to accurately undertake relatively forceful treatments on the patient. The platform support structure 14 also functions to raise the patient support platform 12 to a height suitable for a musculoskeletal practitioner to safely and comfortably undertake treatment on a patient positioned thereon.

[0036] The patient support platform 12 comprises a plurality of panel portions including a neck portion 18, upper back portion 20, and lower back and pelvic portion 22, which are preferably discrete relative to each other. Each of the neck portion 18, upper back portion 20, and lower back and pelvic portion 22 have a support surface, 24, 26 and 28, respectively, which is preferably padded for the comfort of the patient positioned thereon.

[0037] The neck portion 18 and lower back and pelvic portion 22 are attached and fixed in position relative to the platform support structure 14.

[0038] The upper back portion 20 comprises a drop panel 25, which is disposed to underlie the upper back portion support surface 26. The drop panel 25 comprises a fixed end portion 30 and a free end portion 32. The fixed end portion 30 is fixed to the platform support structure 14 at a pivot 34 such that the free end portion 32 is displaceable about the pivot 34 to arcuately drop towards the ground substantially vertically by approximately between 10mm to 30mm, and more preferably approximately between 15mm and 25mm, and even more preferably approximately 20mm.

[0039] The patient treatment table 10 further comprises a drop panel controller 36. The drop panel controller 36 comprises a processor 38 and drop panel position locking means 40. The drop panel position locking means 40 is operable to hold the drop panel 25 upwards in a pre-event position.

[0040] The drop panel locking means 40 preferably comprises an electromagnetic locking device. Alternatively, or additionally, the drop panel locking means 40 comprises a solenoid locking device.

[0041] The patient treatment table 10 further comprises a patient weighing means 41 disposed within the patient support platform 12 and preferably disposed within the upper back portion 20. The patient weighing means 41 preferably comprises a load cell and is operable to measure the weight of the patient when positioned on the patient treatment table 10 in either a supine or prone position.

[0042] The patient treatment table 10 further comprises a drop panel reset actuator 44 disposed to underlie the free end portion 32 and operable to return the free end portion 32 of the drop panel 25 to the pre-drop position. In the pre-drop position, the support surface 26, of the upper back portion 20, is substantially parallel relative to the support surface 24, of the neck portion 18, and the support surface 28, of the pelvic portion 22. In the post-drop position, the support surface 26, of the upper back portion 20, is substantially non-parallel relative to the support surface 24, of the neck portion 18, and the support surface 28, of the pelvic portion 22.

[0043] In an alternative embodiment, the patient treatment table 10 further comprises a centre of gravity determination device 46 disposed suitable for a patient to stand upon. The centre of gravity determination device 46 is operable to determine the downward load characteristics of a standing patient and transmit the downward load characteristics to the processor 38 of the drop panel displacement controller 36.

[0044] A user interface 48 is displayed on a computer device which is preferably a mobile communication device such as, for example, a user computer tablet 50. The user interface 48 comprises a user actuator 42 operable to send a drop panel position lock release signal to the processor 38. Additionally, or alternatively, a user actuator, such as a button or switch, may be disposed on the patient treatment table 10. The button or switch is preferably discretely located on the patient treatment table 10 to prevent accidental activation by someone other than the musculoskeletal practitioner.

[0045] A patient viewing screen 52 is suitably positioned to enable a patient to view the treatment and procedure when positioned on the patient treatment table 10.

[0046] Patient data is stored on a computer server (not shown). The patient data is biomechanical and pertinent clinic data and comprises representations of at least one of age, sex, occupation, weight, patient centre of gravity, patient weight, patient health condition, patient clinical condition and biometric condition, including past treatments and pre-existing conditions. The computer tablet 50 is connected to the computer server such that data can be communicated between the computer tablet 50 and computer server.

[0047] A prescription algorithm determines the most appropriate treatment specifically for each patient and generates an electronic patient treatment prescription which includes the characteristic and timings of the energy to be imparted in the treatment and includes at least one of drop force value, drop resistance value, drop duration value and drop delay value. The prescription algorithm generates the electronic patient treatment prescription based on data on one or more of patient treatment history, patient biometrics, patient centre of gravity, patient weight, patient health condition, and patient clinical condition.

[0048] The electronic patient treatment prescription is communicated to the processor 38. The processor 38 processes the electronic patient treatment prescription and generates electronic patient specific instructions, which are communicated to the drop panel controller 36.

[0049] The user computer tablet 50 is used to actuate the drop panel controller 36 to perform a predetermined controlled drop of the drop panel 25 in accordance with the electronic patient specific instructions and the electronic patient treatment prescription.

[0050] The prescription algorithm may be loaded on a local server, in the same location as the patient treatment table 10.

[0051] Referring also to Figure 3, in an alternative embodiment, according to the second aspect of the present invention, a patient-specific treatment table system 100 has one or more patient treatment tables, 110A, 11 OB, 110C, 110D and a remote treatment prescribing server 152, located at a remote prescribing location 154 and connected to the patient treatment tables (110A, 11 OB, 110C, 110D) through a communication network 156.

[0052] The patient treatment tables (110A, 110B, 110C, 110D) are located at treatment locations (158A, 158B, 158C), at which patients receive treatment. In the exemplary embodiment described herein with reference to Figure 3, treatment tables 110A and 110B are located in a first treatment location 156, treatment table 110C is located in a second treatment location 158, and treatment table 110D is located in a third location treatment location 160.

[0053] In alternative embodiments, different numbers of treatment tables may be located in different numbers of treatment locations. For example, there may be a single treatment table 110 located at a single treatment location and in communication with the remote treatment prescribing server 152 connected to the patient treatment table 110 through a communication network 154.

[0054] Alternatively, there may be a plurality of treatment tables 110 located at a single treatment location or a plurality of treatment locations, wherein each treatment table 110 is in communication with the remote treatment prescribing server 152 through a communication network 154. In such embodiments in which there are a plurality of treatment tables 110 located at a single or plurality of treatment locations, each treatment location may in the same building, treatment centre or organisation as the remote treatment prescribing server 152, but located remotely in the building, treatment centre or organisation, from the remote treatment prescribing server 152.

[0055] Alternatively, the plurality of treatment centres may be in different geographical locations, such as, for example, within the same country or in different countries and the remote treatment prescribing server 152 may be located in a different geographical location, such as, for example, within the same country or in a different country relative to one or more of the treatment locations.

[0056] The prescribing algorithm is loaded on the remote treatment prescribing server 152. The prescribing algorithm generates an electronic patient treatment prescription for a specified patient having a specified treatment at a specified treatment location (e.g. 158A) on a specified treatment table (e.g. 110A) and transmits the electronic patient treatment prescription over the communication network 154 to the specified treatment location (e.g. 158A) and to the specified patient treatment table (110A) for treatment of the specified patient.

[0057] In use, in an embodiment which comprises a centre of gravity determination device 46, whether the electronic patient treatment prescription has been generated remotely or locally, a patient’s centre of gravity measurement is determined using the centre of gravity determination device 46 and the resultant centre of gravity measurements are communicated to the processor 38.

[0058] Determining the centre of gravity of the patient includes measuring the load characteristics of a standing patient on four main areas on a horizontal plane, i.e. the front, back right side and left side.

[0059] With the patient lying on the patient treatment table 10 the patient’s weight is measured using the patient weighing means 41.

[0060] The patient’s weight is communicated to the processor.

[0061] The musculoskeletal practitioner accesses the relevant patient account, stored on the computer server, through the user interface 48 on the user computer tablet 50. The prescription algorithm determines the most appropriate treatment for the patient and outputs the electronic patient prescription. The processor 38 processes the electronic patient prescription and generates electronic patient-specific drop instructions representative of the electronic patient prescription. The electronic patientspecific drop instructions are communicated to the drop panel controller 36.

[0062] With the electronic patient-specific drop instructions communicated to the drop panel controller 36 a representation of the patient-specific treatment and the patientspecific drop instructions are displayed to the musculoskeletal practitioner through the user interface 48 on the user computer tablet 50.

[0063] The patient treatment table 10 is prepared with the drop panel 25 positioned upwards in a pre-treatment position and is held in the pre-treatment position by drop panel position locking means 40.

[0064] Referring also to Figure 4, according to a third aspect of the present invention, a method of providing patient-specific prescribed displacement of a drop panel 25, 200, is described.

[0065] An identified patient lies on the patient treatment table 10 and is positioned appropriately on the patient support platform 12, 210.

[0066] The patient weighing means 41 (load cell) detects the patient is lying on the patient treatment table 10 and the weighs the patient, 212.

[0067] The patient-specific information is input into the prescribing algorithm. The patient-specific information may include one or more of patient treatment history, patient centre of gravity measurement, patient weight measurement, patient health condition, patient clinical condition and patient biometrics, and the prescribing algorithm determines a electronic patient prescription for treatment of the identified patient, 214.

[0068] The measured patient weight is communicated to the prescribing algorithm which determines an optimum drop resistance value for the patient treatment. The optimum drop resistance value is part of the patient-specific drop instructions to thereby actuate the drop panel controller 36 to cause the drop panel to perform a controlled drop in accordance with the optimum drop resistance value.

[0069] For example, the prescribing algorithm may normalise the patient weight to enable determination of a drop resistance value relevant to the weight of the specific patient. This is an important aspect of the present invention because it enables the musculoskeletal practitioner to undertake the optimum treatment for each patient and thereby improve patient outcomes and mitigate risk of undesirable and unintended harm to the patient.

[0070] This is a particularly advantageous feature of the present invention, because when pressure is placed upon the patient, there are a number of factors that could create the possibility of a dampening effect or a premature drop on the drop panel 25. A premature drop can occur when the patient has a relatively low mass because the differential between their mass (as measured by the load cell) and the relatively small resistance required to move their joint (as calculated by the algorithm), could be very small. As part of the controlled drop of the drop panel 25, only once pre-tension has been met will the drop panel 25 be released and dropped (i.e., delay of dropping of the drop panel 25). This means that only the required amount of force is delivered. On the other hand, for a high mass (e.g., obese) patient, the importance is to account for and address the ‘dampening effects’ of adipose tissue and muscle mass before administering the drop. This requires sufficient force to be applied to overcome the resistance. Accordingly, the drop panel 25 is not released until this resistance has been equalled and the same time delay determination applies as above, according to that prescribed by the algorithm.

[0071] For the patient-specific treatment table system 100, the prescription algorithm is loaded on the remote treatment prescribing server 152, located at a remote prescribing location 154. The electronic patient prescription is transmitted to the specified treatment table (e.g. 110A) at the specified treatment location (e.g. 158A) over the communication network 154. The processor 38 adapts the received electronic patient prescription to include any patient information which may only be available at the local specified treatment location (e.g. 158A), for example, the centre of gravity measurement and patient’s weight measurement. The electronic patient-specific instructions, generated from the adapted electronic patient prescription, are communicated to the drop panel controller 36, as previously described, 216.

[0072] The musculoskeletal practitioner activates the patient treatment table 10 using the user actuator 42. The drop panel controller 36 is set for an appropriate electrical resistance in accordance with the patient-specific instructions, 218.

[0073] The musculoskeletal practitioner places their hand on the relevant anatomical area to carry out the treatment, 220.

[0074] The user actuator 42 may be located either as a soft key on the user interface 48 or an actuating button or switch discretely located on the patient treatment table 10. Upon activation of the user actuator 42, a drop panel position lock release signal is communicated to the processor 38.

[0075] The user interface 48 provides a delay function which enables the delay in activating the drop panel position lock release signal for the determined period of time, in accordance with the patient-specific instructions. The musculoskeletal practitioner then increases pressure on a particular joint to be treated. The time period of the drop delay is counted down to the point when the correct force (or pressure or energy) has been reached, which is communicated to the musculoskeletal practitioner using visual or audible indicators, or both. Therefore, the algorithm determines a prescribed time delay to pass and allows the mechanism to unlock only when this delay time period has passed and the electrical resistance is correct, in accordance with the patientspecific instructions. If the electrical resistance drops below the level determined by the algorithm, the drop panel 25 will not be allowed to drop, whether the time delay has elapsed or not.

[0076] Upon receiving the drop panel position lock release signal and after the selected time period delay, the processor 38 communicates a signal to the drop panel position locking means 40 to release the drop panel 25 and to the drop panel controller 36 to drop the drop panel 25 from the pre-treatment position to a post-treatment position in a controlled manner in accordance with the patient-specific instructions derived from the electronic patient prescription determined by the algorithm, 222.

[0077] As the drop panel controller 36 performs the controlled drop of the drop panel 25, the musculoskeletal practitioner undertakes the required adjustment treatment of the joint. The patient treatment table 10, according to the present invention, thereby provides the optimum energy in the drop for the musculoskeletal practitioner to carry out the most accurate and appropriate adjustment of the joint for the specific patient undergoing treatment.

[0078] Following treatment, the patient data is updated and uploaded to the computer server for recording the health of the patient and for use by the algorithm in future treatments for the patient and for development of the algorithm through machine learning.

[0079] Having completed the treatment, the drop panel reset actuator 44 returns the free end portion 32 of the drop panel 25 to the pre-treatment position, ready for the next treatment. In pre-treatment position, the support surface 26, of the upper back portion 20, is substantially parallel relative to the support surface 24, of the neck portion 18, and the support surface 28, of the pelvic portion 22, 224.

[0080] The musculoskeletal practitioner can then undertake a further treatment immediately, starting again by placing their hand on the relevant anatomical area to carry out the further treatment, 220 and proceeding with step 222 and 224.

[0081] When the one or more treatments are completed, the drop panel reset actuator 44 returns the free end portion 32 of the drop panel 25 to the pre-treatment position, ready for the next patient, 226.

[0082] The patient leaves the treatment table and data associated with the treatment is recorded and saved for future treatments and to improve the prescribing algorithm, 228.

[0083] The patient treatment data is displayed on a patient access platform and uploaded to a cloud server from which patients can access the platform through an App using a mobile communication device, such as, for example, a mobile phone. 10

Claims

1. A patient treatment table comprising:a patient support platform for supporting at least part of the body of a patient; anda platform support structure for supporting the patient support platform; the patient support platform comprising a drop panel displaceable relative to one or more other portions of the patient support platform;wherein the patient treatment table further comprises a processor operable to receive an electronic patient treatment prescription and generate electronic patient-specific drop instructions representative of the received electronic patient treatment prescription; anda drop panel controller operable to receive the electronic patient-specific drop instructions which, upon actuation, cause the drop panel controller to perform a patient-specific prescribed displacement of the drop panel.

2. A patient treatment table as claimed in claim 1, further comprising patient weighing means operable to provide a patient weight measurement, wherein the patient weight measurement is received by the processor and wherein the processor includes the patient weight measurement in generating the electronic patient-specific instructions.

3. A patient treatment table as claimed in claim 2, wherein the patient weighing means comprises a load cell disposed to underlie the drop panel portion andoperable to provide the determined weight of a patient when in a supine or prone position on the patient treatment table.

4. A patient treatment table as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a receiver for receiving an electronic signal comprising the electronic patient treatment prescription from a remote server.

5. A patient treatment table as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a transmitter for transmitting data to a remote server.

6. A patient treatment table as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising memory for storing at least one of patient data and treatment data.

7. A patient treatment table as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the electronic patient-specific drop instructions is derived from representations of at least one of patient treatment history, patient centre of gravity, patient weight, patient health condition, patient clinical condition and patient biometrics.

8. A patient treatment table as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the electronic patient treatment prescription comprises at least one of a drop resistance value, drop duration value and drop delay value.

9. A patient treatment table as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a centre of gravity determination device operable to determine the downward load characteristics of a standing patient and transmit the downward load characteristics to the processor.10.A patient-specific treatment table system comprising one or more patient treatment tables, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, and a remote treatment prescribing server connected to the one or more patient treatment tables with a communication network, wherein the remote treatment prescribing server is operable to generate an electronic patient treatment prescription and transmit the electronic patient treatment prescription to a specified patient treatment table for treatment of a specified patient.

11. A method of providing patient-specific prescribed displacement of a drop panel of the patient safety treatment table according to claims 1 to 9, the method comprising:providing an electronic patient treatment prescription;generating electronic patient-specific drop instructions representative of the electronic patient treatment prescription and delivering the generating electronic patient-specific drop instructions to the drop panel controller;actuating the drop panel controller to perform a patient-specific prescribed displacement of the drop panel in accordance with the electronic patient-specific instructions.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:providing patient weighing means;weighing said patient to be treated and providing a patient weigh measurement;delivering the patient weight measurement to the processor;wherein the processor uses the patient weight measurement in generating the electronic patient-specific instructions.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the patient weighing means comprises a load cell disposed to underlie the drop panel and the said patient is weighed in a supine or prone position on the patient treatment table.14.A method as claimed in claimed in claims 11 to 13, wherein the electronic patient treatment prescription is received from a remote server.15.A method as claimed in claims 11 to 14, wherein post-treatment data is transmitted to a remote server.

16. A method as claimed in claims 11 to 15, wherein the electronic patient-specific drop instructions is derived from representations of at least one of patient treatment history, patient centre of gravity, patient weight, patient health condition, patient clinical condition and patient biometrics.

17. A method as claimed in claims 11 to 16, wherein electronic patient treatment prescription comprises at least one of a drop resistance value, drop duration value and drop delay value.

18. A method as claimed in claims 11 to 17, further comprising:providing a centre of gravity determination device;determining the downward load characteristics of a standing patient; and delivering the downward load characteristics to the processor.

19. A method of remotely providing patient-specific prescribed displacement of a drop panel of one or more patient safety treatment tables, the method comprising:providing a patient-specific treatment table system as claimed in claim 10;generating an electronic patient treatment prescription on the remote treatment prescribing server; andtransmitting the electronic patient treatment prescription to a specified patient treatment table for treatment of a specified patient.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the electronic patient treatment prescription comprises at least one of a drop resistance value, drop duration value and drop delay value.21.A computer program product comprising a non-transitory readable medium holding computer instructions, the computer program instructions executed by a hardware processor to carry out the method of claims 11 to 18.22.A computer program product comprising a non-transitory readable medium holding computer instructions, the computer program instructions executed by a hardware processor to carry out the method of claims 19 or 20.19 11 25AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:CLAIMS1. A patient treatment table comprising:a patient support platform for supporting at least part of the body of a patient; anda platform support structure for supporting the patient support platform; the patient support platform comprising a drop panel displaceable relative to one or more other portions of the patient support platform;a drop panel controller operable to hold the drop panel upwards in a state of potential energy against a bias, and release the drop panel to drop upon a predetermined force incident on the drop panel;wherein the patient treatment table further comprises a processor operable to receive an electronic patient treatment prescription and generate electronic patient-specific drop instructions representative of the received electronic patient treatment prescription; anda drop panel controller operable to receive the electronic patient-specific drop instructions which, upon actuation, cause the drop panel controller to perform a patient-specific prescribed displacement of the drop panel.

2. A patient treatment table as claimed in claim 1, further comprising patient weighing means operable to provide a patient weight measurement, wherein the patient weight measurement is received by the processor and wherein the processor includes the patient weight measurement in generating the electronic patient-specific instructions.

3. A patient treatment table as claimed in claim 2, wherein the patient weighing means comprises a load cell disposed to underlie the drop panel portion and operable to provide the determined weight of a patient when in a supine or prone position on the patient treatment table.

4. A patient treatment table as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a receiver for receiving an electronic signal comprising the electronic patient treatment prescription from a remote server.

5. A patient treatment table as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a transmitter for transmitting data to a remote server.LO 6. A patient treatment table as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising CMmemory for storing at least one of patient data and treatment data.i—7. A patient treatment table as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the electronic patient-specific drop instructions is derived from representations of at least one of patient treatment history, patient centre of gravity, patient weight, patient health condition, patient clinical condition and patient biometrics.

8. A patient treatment table as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the electronic patient treatment prescription comprises at least one of a drop resistance value, drop duration value and drop delay value.

9. A patient treatment table as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a centre of gravity determination device operable to determine thedownward load characteristics of a standing patient and transmit the downward load characteristics to the processor.10.A patient-specific treatment table system comprising one or more patient treatment tables, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, and a remote treatment prescribing server connected to the one or more patient treatment tables with a communication network, wherein the remote treatment prescribing server is operable to generate an electronic patient treatment prescription and transmit the electronic patient treatment prescription to a specified patient treatment table for treatment of a specified patient.19 11 25

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