# US 2014/0196212 A1 · Patient positioning support structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196212 A1 - Document ID: US20140196212A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/218,599 - Filed: 2014-03-18 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2005-02-22 - Inventors: Roger P. Jackson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196212A1 ## CPC - A61G 13/08: the table being divided into different adjustable sections - A61B 6/0407: {Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body} - A61B 6/0421: {with immobilising means} - A61B 6/0487: {Motor-assisted positioning} - A61G 7/001: {with means for turning-over the patient} - A61G 7/008: tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling - A61G 13/0018: {Physician's examining tables} - A61G 13/0036: {Orthopaedic operating tables (devices for stretching fractured limbs A61F5/04)} - A61G 13/0054: {specially adapted for back or spinal surgeries} - A61G 13/02: Adjustable operating tables; Controls therefor - 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: 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A patient support system includes independently adjustable columns supporting a hinged bending or breaking patient support structure. At least one column includes at least two sections. A coordinated drive system provides for upwardly breaking and downwardly breaking orientations of the two sections in various inclined and tilted positions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical table comprising: a first vertical support and a second vertical support spaced-apart from the first vertical support; and a patient support extending between the first and second vertical supports and configured to articulate intermediate a length of the patient support and comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein each end of the first and second ends is operably coupled to its respective vertical support of the first and second vertical supports to: i) pivot in a direction transverse to the length of the patient support; and ii) both pivot relative to the respective vertical support about an axis transverse to the length of the patient support and displace relative to the respective vertical support in a direction of the length of the patient support when the patient support articulates intermediate its length. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical table of claim 1, wherein the patient support comprises a joint intermediate the length of the patient support and about which the patient support articulates. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical table of claim 2, wherein the patient support comprises a first segment extending between the first end and the joint and a second segment extending between the second end and the joint, the first and second segments both comprising an open-frame configuration defined by transversely spaced-apart longitudinally extending frame members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The surgical table of claim 2, further comprising a drive system that actively drives the joint in articulating the patient support about the joint. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical table of claim 1, wherein a coupling arrangement responsible for operably coupling each end and its respective vertical support comprises a rotation assembly and an angulation assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The surgical table of claim 5, wherein the angulation assembly is responsible for each end both pivoting about the axis transverse to the length and displacing in the direction of the length of the patient support, and the rotation assembly is responsible for each end pivoting in the direction transverse to the length. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surgical table of claim 6, wherein the rotation assembly pivotally couples the angulation assembly to the respective vertical support. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The surgical table of claim 6, wherein the rotation assembly is located between the respective vertical support and the angulation assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical table of claim 1, wherein, when displacing relative to the respective vertical support in a direction of the length of the patient support when the patient support articulates intermediate its length, each end moves away from its respective vertical support when the patient support articulates into an increasingly folded configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The surgical table of claim 1, wherein, when displacing relative to the respective vertical support in a direction of the length of the patient support when the patient support articulates intermediate its length, each end moves towards its respective vertical support when the patient support articulates into a decreasingly folded configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The surgical table of claim 1, further comprising a first pivot shaft located between the first end and first vertical support, the first pivot shaft enabling the first end to pivot in the direction transverse to the length of the patient support. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The surgical table of claim 11, further comprising a second pivot shaft located between the second end and second vertical support, the second pivot shaft enabling the second end to pivot in the direction transverse to the length of the patient support. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The surgical table of claim 12, wherein each shaft of the first and second pivot shafts extends directly from the respective vertical support. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The surgical table of claim 1, wherein the surgical table is configured such that each end of the first and second ends is independently adjustable with respect to height. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The surgical table of claim 1, wherein each vertical support of the first and second vertical supports is independently adjustable with respect to height so as to cause each end of the first and second ends to be independently adjustable with respect to height. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The surgical table of claim 14, wherein each vertical support of the first and second vertical supports comprises a telescopic configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The surgical table of claim 1, further comprising a coupling arrangement at each of the respective vertical supports, the coupling arrangement being at least partially responsible for operably coupling each end and its respective vertical support, the coupling arrangement comprising a pivot pin coaxial with the axis transverse to the length of the patient support and about which each end respectively pivots. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The surgical table of claim 17, wherein the coupling arrangement further comprises a member including a slot in which the pivot pin is received, the slot displacing along the pivot pin as each end displaces relative to the respective vertical support in a direction of the length of the patient support when the patient support articulates intermediate its length. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The surgical table of claim 1, wherein, when each end is operably coupled to its respective vertical support to pivot in a direction transverse to the length of the patient support, the end is capable of a complete rotation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The surgical table of claim 1, wherein, when the patient support articulates intermediate the length of the patient support, a distance between the first and second vertical supports does not change.