# US 2014/0190488 A1 · Device and method for pelvic elevation and stabilization of surgical patient > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190488 A1 - Document ID: US20140190488A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/736,742 - Filed: 2013-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: Bone Foam, Inc. - Applicants: Bone Foam Inc - Inventors: Chad L. Robran; Douglas Parsell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190488A1 ## CPC - A61G 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass - A61F 5/01: Orthopaedic devices, e.g. long-term immobilising or pressure directing devices for treating broken or deformed bones such as splints, casts or braces - A61G 13/123: {Lower body, e.g. pelvis, hip, buttocks} - A61B 6/0421: {with immobilising means} - A61B 6/0442: {made of non-metallic materials} - 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) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Devices and methods for supporting and elevating the pelvis of a patient in a supine position during surgery are disclosed. The device comprises a generally flat main body configured to extend from the patient's lower back to the patient's upper legs, a proximal upper surface with a downward slope towards the proximal end, a distal upper surface with a downward slope towards the distal end, and vertically extending ridges on an upper surface of the device for partially containing one or more portions of the patient's body. In use, the device is positioned on a surgical platform beneath the iliosacral region of the patient. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for supporting and elevating the pelvis of a patient in a supine position, comprising: a generally flat main body comprising: a proximal end section having a proximal upper surface configured to be positioned beneath the patient's lower back, a distal end section having a distal upper surface configured to be positioned beneath the patient's upper legs, and a medial section having a medial upper surface configured to be positioned beneath the patient's buttocks, the medial section having a smaller cross-wise width than cross-wise widths of the proximal end and distal end sections; and at least one ridge extending vertically from an upper surface of the main body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the proximal upper surface has a downward slope declining towards a proximal end; and at least a portion of the distal upper surface has a downward slope declining towards a distal end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one ridge comprises two spaced-apart distal-lateral ridges extending along or near lateral edges of the distal upper surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one ridge comprises two spaced-apart proximal-lateral ridges extending along or near lateral edges of the proximal upper surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one ridge comprises two spaced-apart distal-lateral ridges extending along or near lateral edges of the distal upper surface and two spaced-apart proximal-lateral ridges extending along or near lateral edges of the proximal upper surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, wherein at least one ridge comprises a distal-central ridge extending vertically from the upper surface of the main body and positioned along a mid-line of a major axis of the main body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, wherein the main body comprises open cell polymer foam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A device as in claim 7, wherein the polymer foam is coated with a flexible, fluid-impermeable polymer coating. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, wherein the device comprises radiolucent material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, wherein the main body has a height and/or flexibility, coupled with sufficient firmness, so as to maintain a minimum elevation of the patient's pelvis of one inch, from the upper surface of the surgical table, during use. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A device as in claim 10, wherein the main body has a firmness with sufficient yield to reduce pressure at and provide a comfortable support for high-pressure, soft-tissue areas. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, wherein the main body is contoured to approximately fit against the upper legs, bicurved buttocks, flat tailbone region, and back and flank of a patient. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A device as in claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary pad configured to be positioned directly beneath the main body to further elevate a patient's pelvis during use. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method for elevating a patient's pelvis during a surgical procedure, comprising: providing a surgical platform; placing the device of claim 1 on an upper surface of the surgical platform; and positioning the device underneath the iliosacral region of the patient, thereby elevating the pelvis of the patient. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method as in claim 14, further comprising exposing the posteriolateral buttocks of the patient. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A method as in claim 14, wherein the surgical procedure involves treatment of one or more pelvic or acetabular fractures. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method as in claim 16, wherein the surgical procedure provides percutaneous internal fixation with screws for the one or more pelvic or acetabular fractures. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A method as in claim 14, wherein the surgical platform comprises a radiolucent surgical table. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) A method as in claim 14, the method further comprising placing an auxiliary pad above the surgical platform and beneath the main body of the device, thereby further elevating the pelvis of the patient. ### Claim 20 A device for supporting and elevating the pelvis of a patient in a supine position, comprising: a generally flat main body at least partially formed from a polymer foam and comprising: a proximal end section having a proximal upper surface configured to be positioned beneath the patient's lower back, a distal end section having a distal upper surface configured to be positioned beneath the patient's upper legs, and a medial section having a medial upper surface configured to be positioned beneath the patient's buttocks, the medial section having a smaller cross-wise width than cross-wise widths of the proximal end and distal end sections; two distal-lateral ridges extending vertically from the distal upper surface of the main body and positioned along distal-lateral edges of the distal upper surface; two proximal-lateral ridges extending vertically from the proximal upper surface of the main body and positioned along proximal-lateral edges of the proximal upper surface; and a distal-central ridge extending vertically from an upper surface of the main body along a mid-line of a major axis of the main body.