# US 2014/0150178 A1 · Patient Rotation Apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150178 A1 - Document ID: US20140150178A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/776,576 - Filed: 2013-02-25 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-01 - Assignees: Operating Room Safety Enterprises, LLC - Inventors: Lewis Sharps; Alan Dean Romig - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150178A1 ## CPC - A61G 7/008: tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling - A61G 7/001: {with means for turning-over the patient} - A61G 7/018: Control or drive mechanisms - A61G 7/1019: {Vertical extending columns or mechanisms} - A61G 7/1046: {Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels} - A61G 7/1057: {Supported platforms, frames or sheets for patient in lying position} - A61G 13/04: tiltable around transverse or longitudinal axis - A61G 13/06: raising or lowering of the whole table surface (A61G13/04 takes precedence) - A61G 7/1084: {Head or neck} - A61G 7/1086: {Upper body} - A61G 7/1088: {Back} - A61G 7/109: {Lower body, e.g. pelvis, buttocks} - A61G 7/1092: {the arms} - A61G 7/1094: {Hand or wrist} - A61G 7/1096: {Knee, upper or lower leg} - A61G 7/1098: {Ankle or foot} - A61G 2200/32: lying - A61G 2200/325: prone - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) ## Abstract A system for turning a person from a supine position to a prone position and vice versa includes opposing patient support platens each coupled to a corresponding end of a first and a second COG assembly, the first and second COG assemblies each coupled to a corresponding one of a pair of spindles, each one of the spindles disposed on a corresponding lift column. In yet another embodiment, registration plates, coupled to the system, conveniently align the attachment mechanisms of each COG assembly with distal ends of one or more platens. The registration plates allow for medical staff to align the system so that it straddles the operating table with the attachment mechanisms of the COG assembly in alignment with platen tubes (or other complimentary attachment mechanisms) located at the distal ends of the anterior platen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for turning a patient from a supine to prone position and from a prone to supine position, comprising: a first lifting column having a top end and a bottom end; a second lifting column having a top end and a bottom end; a rotation system that straddles an operating table comprising: a first spindle assembly adjacent the top end of the first lifting column; a first center of gravity (COG) assembly including a first self-centering assembly coupled to the first spindle assembly; a second spindle assembly adjacent the top end of the second lifting column; and, a second COG assembly including a second self-centering assembly coupled to the second spindle assembly; a posterior platen having a first frame assembly and a first patient support area; and, an anterior platen having a second frame assembly and a second patient support area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first self-centering assembly and the second self-centering assembly each comprise dual rack and pinion assemblies. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first self-centering assembly and the second self-centering assembly each comprise ratchet and pawl assemblies. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a safety belt system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first caster base coupled to the bottom end of the first lifting column; and a second caster base coupled to the bottom end of the second lifting column. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a drawbar coupled between the first caster base and the second caster base; wherein the drawbar is operable to maintain the coupling of the first and the second lifting columns while changing the distance between the first and the second lifting columns by telescoping. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lifting column and the second lifting column are each electrically powered. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first frame assembly includes two telescoping shafts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second frame assembly includes two telescoping shafts. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the two telescoping shafts of the first frame assembly are in an outwardly extending configuration to couple with the first COG assembly and the second COG assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the telescoping shafts of the posterior platen extend outwardly from the first patient support area by a distance suitable to provide a safe distance away from the first and the second COG assemblies for the patient. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the telescoping shafts of the anterior platen extend outwardly from the second patient support area by a distance suitable to provide a safe distance away from the first and the second COG assemblies for the patient. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for turning a patient from a supine to prone position and from a prone to supine position, comprising: a first lifting column having a top end and a bottom end; a second lifting column having a top end and a bottom end; a rotation system including a first center of gravity (COG) assembly mounted on the first lifting column, and a second COG assembly mounted on the second lifting column; a first registration plate mounted on an inboard portion of the first lifting column below the first COG assembly; and a second registration plate mounted on an inboard portion of the second lifting column below the second COG assembly, wherein the first and second registration plates align the apparatus above an operating table; and a posterior platen having a first frame assembly and a first patient support area; and an anterior platen having a second frame assembly and a second patient support area. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first and second COG assemblies each include a self-centering ratchet and pawl system and shock absorber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a rotation axis of the rotation system intersects the first lifting column and the second lifting column. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first and second COG assemblies each include a latch for engaging at least one of the posterior platen or the anterior platen. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a control element configured to raise and lower the posterior platen and the anterior platen with respect to the operating table. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first and second lifting columns are configured for activation simultaneously via the control element. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first and second COG assemblies each include a dual rack and pinion system that is configured to adjust longitudinally outwardly telescoping shafts of the posterior and anterior platens to accommodate a size of a patient. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each of the dual rack and pinion systems is coupled to a ratchet and pawl assembly.