Surgical Table Lower Body Translation and Rotation Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surgical tables often lack the ability to easily access surgical sites with unrestricted imaging capabilities, particularly when positioning patients in prone and lateral positions, and they frequently require complex and expensive mechanical parts that are not radiolucent.

Innovation Solution

A surgical table designed for prone and lateral positioning, featuring a base with head and foot end support structures, a patient support structure with upper and lower body support sections, and a lower body translation and rotation structure that allows for the translation and rotation of pelvic pads relative to the chest pad, maintaining a constant virtual pivot axis during position changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional surgical tables use complex mechanical parts to provide adjustable patient positioning, then positioning capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase, and radiolucency is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning capabilityVSAvoidmechanical parts complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patient support structure is divided into separate modular sections: an upper body support structure and a lower body support structure that can be independently positioned. Each section can be adjusted without affecting the other, providing versatile positioning capability while using simpler individual mechanical components rather than one complex integrated mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lower body support structure incorporates a translation mechanism with a movable pelvic pad that can dynamically adjust its position along the longitudinal axis. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the pelvic pad to move independently to accommodate different surgical positions and imaging requirements, enhancing adaptability without requiring complex fixed mechanical arrangements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional surgical tables use complex mechanical arrangements for positioning, then positioning flexibility is improved, but radiolucency deteriorates due to non-radiolucent mechanical parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning flexibilityVSAvoidimaging capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pelvic pad is designed as a movable component within the lower body support structure that can be positioned to accommodate imaging requirements. The use of streamlined mechanical elements and open framework design allows imaging beams to pass through with minimal obstruction, maintaining radiolucency while preserving positioning flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional surgical tables require manual repositioning of patients, then positioning capability is achieved, but loss of time increases due to re-prepping and draping requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning capabilityVSAvoidre-positioning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The upper and lower body support structures are pre-configured with independent adjustment mechanisms that allow the patient to be positioned in different orientations (prone, lateral, etc.) without requiring manual repositioning. The pelvic pad can be preliminarily adjusted to maintain proper alignment during position changes, eliminating the need for time-consuming re-prepping and re-draping procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If conventional surgical tables lack independent adjustment of body sections, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability deteriorates when accessing different surgical sites

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidaccess to surgical sites

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patient support structure is segmented into an upper body support structure and a lower body support structure that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows each section to be positioned optimally for different surgical access requirements while maintaining overall structural simplicity through modular design. The independent adjustability of each segment provides the adaptability needed to access various surgical sites without complicating the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250041141A1Surgical table with movement capabilities of lower body support structures

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC

AI summary

A surgical table for prone and lateral positioning of a patient, where the table includes a base and a patient support structure. The base may include a head and a foot end support structure. The patient support structure may include an upper body support structure cantilevered off of the head end support structure at a first end and a lower body support structure cantilevered off of the foot end support structure at a second end. The upper body support structure may include a chest pad. The lower body support structure may include a lower body translation and rotation structure and at least one pelvic pad supported thereon.