Synchronized patient elevation and positioning apparatus for use with patient positioning support systems

An elongated height adjustable subassembly supported on a floor for positioning a patient on a patient positioning apparatus above the floor during a medical procedure, the patient supported on a fixed, integral patient support structure with first and second outer ends opposite each other, the patient support structure supported by a dual-column base portion of the patient positioning apparatus, the dual-column base portion having a base end first rotating mechanism and a base end second rotating mechanism positioned opposite the base end first rotating mechanism, the elongated height adjustable subassembly comprising:

• a head-end portion height adjustable subassembly removably attached to the base end first rotating mechanism;
• and
• a foot-end portion height adjustable subassembly removably attached to the base end second rotating mechanism, wherein each of the head-end portion height adjustable subassembly and the foot-end portion height adjustable subassembly comprises:
• a vertical support member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end coupled, respectively, to one of the base end first rotating mechanism or the base end second rotating mechanism,
• a carrier member coupled to the vertical support member between the first end and the second end,
• a manual mechanism configured to move a vertical position of the carrier member along the vertical support member between the first end and the second end so as to adjust a height of the patient support structure above the floor,
• wherein the head-end portion height adjustable subassembly is a mirror image of the foot-end portion height adjustable subassembly,
• wherein the first outer end of the patient support structure is releasably coupled to the head-end portion height adjustable subassembly, and the second outer end of the patient support structure is releasably coupled to the foot-end portion height adjustable subassembly, and
• wherein the height of the patient support structure above the floor is adjustable without decoupling the opposed outer ends of the patient support structure from the vertical support member.

A pair of removable height adjustable subassemblies for a patient positioning apparatus used for positioning a patient above a floor during a medical procedure, the patient supported on a patient support structure supported by a dual-column base comprising a base end first rotating mechanism and a base end second rotating mechanism, wherein the base end second rotating mechanism is spaced opposite the base end first rotating mechanism, each

• removable height adjustable subassembly is releasably coupled to the base end first rotating mechanism and the base end second rotating mechanism, respectively, and comprising:
• a vertical support member having a first end and a second opposite end, wherein each first end of the vertical support member is coupled to the respective base end first rotating mechanism and the base end second rotating mechanism,
• a screw extending parallel to the vertical support member,
• a carrier member coupled to the vertical support member between the first end and the second opposite end, the screw extending through opposite top and bottom surfaces of the carrier member,
• a nut positioned within the carrier member,
• a gear having teeth that engage teeth of the nut such that rotation of the gear causes the nut to translate along the screw to move the carrier member along the vertical support member, and
• a manual actuator configured to adjust a position of the carrier member along the vertical support member between the first end and the second opposite end;
• wherein the patient support structure is releasably coupled to the carrier member at opposed outer ends of the patient support structure and wherein a height for the patient support structure above the floor can be adjusted without decoupling the patient support structure with respect to the carrier member at the opposed outer ends thereof.

A pair of removable height adjustable subassemblies supported on a floor for positioning a patient on a patient positioning apparatus above the floor during a medical procedure, the patient supported on a fixed, integral patient support structure with a first outer end and a second outer end opposite each other, the patient support structure supported by a dual-column base portion of the patient positioning apparatus, the dual-column base portion having a base end first rotating mechanism and a base end second rotating mechanism positioned opposite the base end first rotating mechanism, each removable height adjustable subassembly comprising:

• a vertical support member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end coupled, respectively, to one of the base end first rotating mechanisms or the base end second rotating mechanism,
• a screw extending parallel to the vertical support member,
• a carrier member coupled to the vertical support member between the first end and the second end, the screw extending through opposite top and bottom surfaces of the carrier member,
• a nut positioned within the carrier member,
• a gear having teeth that engage teeth of the nut such that rotation of the gear causes the nut to translate along the screw to move the carrier member along the vertical support member, and
• a manual mechanism configured to move a vertical position of the carrier member along the vertical support member between the first end and the second end so as to adjust a height of the patient support structure above the floor,
• wherein a first outer end of the patient support structure is releasably coupled to the carrier member of one of the height adjustable subassemblies, and a second outer end of the patient support structure is releasably connected with the other carrier member of the height adjustable subassemblies, and
• wherein the height of the patient support structure above the floor is adjustable without decoupling the opposed outer ends of the patient support structure with respect to the carrier member.