Operating Table Strap Clamp Assembly for Patient Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient positioning devices fail to securely hold patients at various angles during surgical procedures, leading to slippage and re-positioning issues, especially in steep Trendelenburg positions, which can cause tissue and nerve damage and prolong recovery.
Innovation Solution
A rail clamp assembly that securely attaches straps of a patient positioning pad to the side rail of an operating table at any point along the rail, using a body portion with a rail channel, swivel screw, and pivot jaw assembly to prevent slippage and allow for angular movement, thereby maintaining patient stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional positioning devices use straps secured to side rails, then patient positioning is provided, but patient slippage occurs in steep Trendelenburg positions
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is divided into multiple independent straps that can be secured at different locations along the rail, rather than relying on a single strap. This segmentation allows for distributed force application and better control of patient positioning stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional horizontal strap placement to vertical strap placement along the rail. By utilizing the vertical dimension of the rail, the straps can be positioned at multiple heights, creating a more effective constraint system that prevents slippage in steep angles.
2Reliability
If additional operating table straps are placed over patient body, then patient positioning is improved, but nerve damage and pressure ulcers occur
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful straps that wrap around the patient's body are removed from the system. Instead, the invention uses straps that attach to the rail structure itself, extracting the problematic element while maintaining the positioning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail acts as an intermediary structure between the positioning system and the patient. Rather than straps directly contacting and pressing on the patient's body, the rail serves as a mediator that provides structural support and positioning without causing harm to the patient.
3Ease of operation
If conventional rail clamps are used to secure straps, then strap attachment is provided, but clamps cannot join or slide along the rail due to strap interference
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to move freely along the rail before being secured. The pivot jaw assembly can open and close to accommodate straps, and the entire clamp can be repositioned along the rail as needed, providing both ease of attachment and operational versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly is designed to be pre-positioned and moved into place before the strap is secured. This preliminary positioning action allows the strap to be attached at the optimal location without interfering with the clamp's ability to move along the rail.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamping device configured to secure a strap to a rail of a support table or operating table is provided, which prevents the patient from slipping, provides optimal patient stability when the table is placed in angle positions, and eliminates patient re-positioning during surgical procedure. The clamping device includes a body portion having a plurality of rail arms that form a rail channel, the clamping device including a pivot jaw assembly with jaw rail flange portions coupled to sides of the body portion. The pivot jaw is hingedly operated between an open and closed position. The rail arms further include a strap channel configured to hold a strap disposed around the side rail, and to secure the strap to the rail using a clamp bar via force exerted on rail and jaw flange portions of the clamp assembly, to effectively clamp the strap to the table.