Synchronized patient elevation and positioning apparatus for use with patient positioning support systems
AssigneeRoger P. Jackson
InventorsRoger P. Jackson, Lawrence E. Guerra, Michael A. Herron
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for transferring a supine patient to a prone position on a patient support structure, and for rotating such a prone patient between prone and supine positions without removing the patient from the patient support structure.
Claims26
A lifting subassembly for a patient positioning apparatus having a base and a patient support structure, comprising:
- a) a lifting subassembly reversibly attachable to the base and having first and second lifting positions with respect to the base, wherein:
- b) the lifting subassembly is adapted to move the patient support structure from the first lifting position to the second lifting position in a vertical direction above a floor;
- and
- c) the lifting subassembly is reversibly rotatably from the first lifting position to the second lifting position with respect to the base.
A patient positioning apparatus for positioning a patient on a patient support structure for a medical procedure, the patient support structure having a base supporting a removably attachable patient support frame above a floor and a rotation mechanism for rotating the patient support frame about a longitudinally extending roll axis and between first and second lifting positions with respect to the floor, the patient positioning apparatus comprising:
- a) a lifting subassembly reversibly attachable to the base and having a connection portion slidingly movable between the first and second lifting positions with respect to a length of the lifting subassembly;
- and
- b) a transfer table sized and shaped for receiving and supporting a patient thereon and reversibly attachable to the lifting subassembly.
A method of transferring a patient to a medical patient support structure in a prone position, the patient support structure including a base with spaced head-end and foot-end vertical support subassemblies, a patient support frame removably attached to and supported by the vertical support subassemblies, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the patient support frame about a longitudinally extending roll axis a distance of up to at least about ±180°, the method comprising:
- a) providing a patient positioning apparatus having head-end and foot-end lift subassemblies and a transfer table;
- b) releasably attaching the patient positioning apparatus to the patient support structure;
- c) orienting the patient positioning apparatus for patient transfer;
- d) placing a patient on the transfer table in a supine position;
- e) actuating the head-end and foot-end lift subassemblies so as to move the patient toward the patient support frame, such that the patient is snugly sandwiched between the transfer table and the patient support frame;
- f) rotating the patient support structure to a first position, such that the patient supported by the patient support frame in a prone position;
- and
- g) detaching the patient positioning apparatus from the patient support structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.