Surgical Table Ramped Surface for Catheter Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical tables lack a stable and smooth surface for precise manipulation of elongated medical devices like catheters and guide wires during procedures, often resulting in snags, tangles, and impaired sterility due to the irregular patient body surface and sterile drape, which complicates precise positioning and control of instruments, especially in delicate operations like neurosurgical and cardiovascular surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A surgical table apparatus with a main base and side wings that provide a declining ramped surface and interlocking grooves and projections, allowing for a stable and extended working surface that minimizes obstructions and facilitates smooth movement of medical devices, while maintaining sterility with an optional extension table and recess for instrument placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a traditional surgical table with flat surface is used, then the structure is simple, but the surface causes snags and tangles for elongated medical devices
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical table surface is designed with a declining ramped configuration instead of a flat surface. The ramped surface creates a smooth gradient that guides elongated medical devices downward, preventing snags and tangles while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If a declining ramped surface is added to facilitate device movement, then the smooth manipulation of devices is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical table is divided into distinct functional zones: a main base with declining ramped surface for device advancement, side wings for instrument support, and an extension table for additional workspace. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function while keeping the overall structure manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The main base features an asymmetric width design where the width at the first end is less than the width at the second end. This asymmetric configuration optimizes the ramped surface geometry for smooth device movement while accommodating the anatomical positioning requirements.
3Area of stationary object
If side surgical table wings are added to extend over patient legs, then the working surface area is increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side surgical table wings serve multiple functions: they extend the working surface area over the patient's legs, provide support for additional instruments, and maintain the smooth ramped configuration for device guidance. This multi-functionality justifies the added structural components.
4Area of stationary object
If an extension table is added to the main base, then the working surface area is increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extension table extends the working surface in the longitudinal dimension of the surgical table, providing additional workspace away from the patient's groin area. This dimensional extension allows surgeons to position instruments and devices at optimal distances without increasing vertical or lateral complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus offers a stable, smooth, and sterile working surface that reduces the effort required for instrument manipulation, minimizes snags and tangles, and enhances precision during medical procedures by providing an extended, unobstructed path for medical devices, improving the control and organization of instruments, especially in procedures involving blood vessels.
Implementation Method 1
the projection of the wherein each of the at least two side surgical table wings are configured to be inserted in a frictional interference fit in a respective elongated groove of the main body
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical table apparatus for a patient on a flat surface includes a platform including a main base. The main base includes a first end; a second end; a top surface; a bottom surface; two side surfaces extending from the first end to the second end, and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface; wherein a width of the main base at the first end is less than a width of the main base at the second end. The surgical table apparatus also includes at least two side surgical table wings, each side surgical table wing configured to be connected to respective ones of the two side surfaces of the main body. The first end is configured to be positioned at a groin area of the patient and the at least two side surgical table wings are configured extend over legs of a patient to define an extended surface.