Adjustable Cutout Surgical Table for Lateral Spinal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical systems fail to properly align and maintain patients in a lateral position during spinal surgeries, particularly for patients with greater-than-average weight, as their abdomen is often positioned too high, causing spinal misalignment and difficulty in holding the desired position.
Innovation Solution
A surgical table with a cutout opening to accommodate the patient's abdomen, featuring a removable and adjustable cutout section that can be lowered or slid away to expose the opening, allowing for proper spinal alignment and secure patient positioning using an operating table with a table bed and support system that includes a cutout section adapted to be repositioned and secured at various depths and angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a patient with greater-than-average weight is placed in a lateral position on a flat operating table, then the patient can be positioned for surgery, but the patient's abdomen is held in a position that is too high, causing the spine to be distorted out of alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The operating table is divided into multiple sections, including a head section, a torso section with a cutout opening, and a leg section. This segmentation allows independent positioning of each section to achieve proper spinal alignment while accommodating the patient's anatomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The table introduces vertical adjustment capability through height-adjustable table legs and movable cutout sections, adding a vertical dimension to patient positioning. This allows the abdomen to be positioned at the correct height relative to the spine, resolving the alignment issue.
2Reliability
If large wraps or tape are used to hold the patient in the desired position, then the patient can be maintained in position, but the system becomes more complex and harder to use
Solution Approach 1:
The table design allows the patient's own body weight and anatomy to work with the table structure to maintain positioning. The cutout opening naturally accommodates the abdomen, and the table sections can be adjusted to self-lock into position, reducing the need for external restraints and complex securing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutout section acts as an intermediary element between the patient's abdomen and the table surface. It provides a transition zone that allows proper positioning without requiring direct contact between the abdomen and the rigid table surface, eliminating the need for wraps or tape.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cutout section is completely removed from the table bed, then the cutout opening is fully exposed for patient accommodation, but the table structure becomes less stable
Solution Approach 1:
The cutout section is designed to be movable rather than fixed or completely removable. It can be positioned in different locations along the table bed and adjusted to different depths, providing adaptability while maintaining structural integrity. The section can be slid along rails or tracks that preserve table stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutout section can be nested within the table structure when not in use, or positioned to overlap with adjacent table sections. This nesting arrangement maintains the overall structural integrity of the table while allowing the cutout opening to be fully exposed when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention includes a device, system, and method for performing surgery on a patient. The invention includes an operating table having a cutout section which is configured to be repositioned, such as via partial or complete removal, to reveal a cutout opening which provides room for a part of a patient's anatomy to extend below the plane of the top surface of the table, in order to achieve desired positioning of other portions of the patient's anatomy.