Limb positioning apparatus and methods of use thereof
AssigneesSmith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited
InventorsDaniel Zahynacz, William D. Obendorf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A limb positioning apparatus comprises a vertical post connected to the operating table near the shoulder of the patient and a boom member connected to the vertical post through a hinge. The hinge allows the angle between the vertical post and the boom member to be adjusted with assistance from a lockable gas spring attached to the hinge. The vertical post and the boom member house the internal cables for transferring the primary traction load to the operative limb.
Claims20
A limb positioning apparatus comprising:
- a support member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end configured to be attached to a table adjacent a shoulder of an arm of a patient;
- a boom member extending above and moveable relative to the support member via a hinge assembly coupled between the distal end of the support member and a proximal end of the boom member, the boom member configured to extend along the arm of the patient;
- a cable/traction system extending through the support member and the boom member, a distal end of the cable system configured to be attached to the arm of the patient and a proximal end of the cable system configured to be attached to a weight for providing traction to the arm of the patient;
- and
- a gas spring operatively connected between the support member and the boom member, the gas spring configured to assist with the movement of the boom member relative to the support member.
A method of positioning a limb during surgery, comprising:
- attaching an arm of a patient to a limb positioning apparatus, the limb positioning apparatus comprising:
- a support member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end configured to be attached to a table adjacent a shoulder of the arm of the patient;
- a boom member extending above and moveable relative to the support member via a hinge assembly coupled between the distal end of the support member and a proximal end of the boom member, the boom member configured to extend along the arm of the patient;
- a cable/traction system extending through the support member and the boom member, a distal end of the cable system configured to be attached to the arm of the patient and a proximal end of the cable system configured to be attached to a weight for providing traction to the arm of the patient;
- and
- a gas spring operatively connected between the support member and the boom member;
- and
- moving the boom member relative to the support member such that the operative limb of the patient is placed in a pre-selected position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.