MXPA97005766A - Surface pillow system for a quirurg table - Google Patents
Surface pillow system for a quirurg tableInfo
- Publication number
- MXPA97005766A MXPA97005766A MXPA/A/1997/005766A MX9705766A MXPA97005766A MX PA97005766 A MXPA97005766 A MX PA97005766A MX 9705766 A MX9705766 A MX 9705766A MX PA97005766 A MXPA97005766 A MX PA97005766A
- Authority
- MX
- Mexico
- Prior art keywords
- pad
- patient
- bladder
- section
- cover
- Prior art date
Links
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a surface pad system for a surgical table, the surface pad system being characterized in that it comprises: a cover having a patient supporting surface, facing upward defining an inner region of the pad system of surface, a bag of vacuum beads received in the inner region, the bag of vacuum beads includes a flexible cover that defines an inner region containing compressed beads, a bladder received in the inner region of the cover and placed to be below of the vacuum bead bag, the bladder defines an inner region and is inflatable when pressurized fluid is received in the inner region of the bladder, so that the vacuum bead bag is adjustably coupled to the container on the surface of the bladder. container support when the bladder is inflated, and a layer of foam received in the inner region adjacent to a a of the bag of empty beads and the veji
Description
SURFACE PILLOW SYSTEM FOR A SURGICAL TABLE
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surgical table for use in an operating room of a hospital, and in particular, to a system of surface pad for a surgical table, the system of surface pad carried by a surface of the upper part of the table, which goes upwards, in general horizontal, of the surgical table and which is placed to be below the patient. More particularly, the present invention relates to a surface pad system that can regulate the temperature of the patient, assist in the positioning of the patient, and that minimizes the interfacial pressure between the patient and a patient support surface of the system. of surface pad, thus minimizing the occurrence of pressure ulcers and neuropathy caused by prolonged exposure of the patient at high interfacial pressures between the patient and the patient's support surface.
REF: 25343 It is known to provide surface covers for operating tables, to support patients above a surface of the upper part of the surgical table. Conventional surface covers typically include a foam rubber core surrounded by marker material. It is also known to provide a gel pad between the foam rubber and a panel of the top of the marker material that covers the foam rubber. In addition, these surface covers of the operating table are typically provided in the form of a set of pads that include a head pad that supports the patient's head, a body pad that supports the patient's torso, and a pad of feet that supports the lower legs and the feet of the patient. Occasionally, these sets include four pads placed longitudinally between the body pad and the footpad and supporting the patient's sacrum. It is also known to provide a support for the patient having a surface of the upper part that faces upwards, the temperature of which is controlled. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,402,542 to Viard, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a fluidized support for the patient having a temperature-controlled top surface supported by the patient. It is also known to provide inflatable bladders and inflatable cushions in mattresses that can be inflated and deflated to assist the caregiver when a patient rotates relative to the sleeping surface of the mattress. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,269,0302 to Pahno et al. Describes an apparatus and method for handling waste for patient care. The device that includes inflatable bags that help the patient to rotate to facilitate the cleaning of the patient. In addition, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,949,414 and 5,062,167 to Thomas et al., Assigned to the assignee of the present invention, describe a twofold and bi-modal method utilizing a mattress that includes a plurality of multi-chamber inflatable bags. What is needed is a surface pad system for a surgical table that can assist in the regulation of the patient's temperature on the patient's support surface, which can be placed by the patient, and which minimizes the interfacial pressure at the points of high pressure between the patient and the patient's support surface. The patient support surface of the surface cushion system should be comfortable to adapt to the contours of the patient and minimize the surface area of contact between the patient's support surface and the patient, thereby minimizing the interfacial pressure between the patient and the patient's support surface. The surface pad system should also be able to move or roll the patient from an initial position to a new position without requiring the surgical team members to reposition the anesthetized patient and without requiring the team members surgical stuffed pillows, towels, shims or other objects between the patient and the patient's support surface while manually retaining the patient in the new position to keep the patient in the new position after the members of the surgical team stop, retaining the patient. In addition, once the patient is moved to the new position, the surface pad system must rigidly support the patient in the desired position. Finally, the patient's support system should keep the patient at a comfortable temperature while the patient is awake, and once anesthetized, the patient's support system should help reduce the patient's temperature to the desired operating temperature, selected by the surgical team. In accordance with the present invention, a surface pad system for a surgical table is provided. The surface pad system includes a cover having a patient support surface, which faces upwards, the cover defining an interior region of the surface pad system. A bag of vacuum beads is received in the inner region of the surface pad system. The vacuum bead bag includes a flexible cover that defines an inner region containing compressible beads. A bladder is received in the inner region of the cover and placed to be located below the bag of vacuum beads. The bladder defines an inner region of the bladder and is inflatable when pressurized fluid is received in the inner region, so that the vacuum bead bag densely engages the patient on the patient's support surface when the bladder is inflated.
In preferred embodiments, the surface pad system includes a plurality of pad sections that are positioned to be located on the top of the table facing upward of a surgical table between the patient and the surgical table. The preferred surface pad system includes a head pad section positioned to be below the patient's head, a leg pad section longitudinally separated from the head pad section and positioned to be below of the lower legs and feet of the patient, and a body pad section positioned to be between the head pad section and the leg pad section, and a first and a second leg pad sections each one of which is positioned to be next to the pad section of the body and below a patient's arm. Each pad section of the surface pad system includes a pad core received by a cover of the pad section. Each pad core includes a plurality of pad core elements. Preferably, each pad core includes a foam backing layer, base made from high density foam which is positioned to be below the other pad core elements and which provides a structural base for the core of the pad. pad. Each preferred pad core also includes a bladder pad having one or more bladders in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid and which is inflatable at a first pressure to press the patient's support surface against the patient to conform to the Patient's shape when the bladders are inflated at the first pressure. In addition, selected bladders can be inflated to a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure. Each selected bladder can be arranged relative to the pad section, so that the bladder is inflated to the second pressure, the bladder and the patient's support surface return the patient from an initial position to a new position when lifting the portion of the patient's support surface above the bladder from its initial position to a higher position and repositioning the patient, for example, by causing the patient to tilt or roll up from the bladder. If desired, the bladder can subsequently be deflated to reduce the pressure in the bladder at the first pressure and cause the patient to return to the initial position. Also, each preferred pad section includes a vacuum bead bag that is preferably positioned to be on top of the bladder pad. The vacuum bead bag includes a sheath forming an inner region containing a plurality of tubes, each of which is filled with compressible beads. The inner region of the vacuum bead bag is in fluid communication with a vacuum source. When evacuated into the air from the inner region of the vacuum bag, the compressible beads are compressed with each other and deformed so that the beads remain immobile with respect to each other and the bag of vacuum beads Rigidly assumes the shape it is when the inner region is evacuated. The bag of vacuum beads according to the present invention includes a top layer of elongated tubes containing compressible beads, and a bottom layer of elongated tubes containing compressible beads. Each tube in the lower layer of the vacuum bead bag extends in a first direction. Each tube in the upper layer of the vacuum bead bag extends in a second direction. The second direction is different from the first direction, and preferably the second direction is generally perpendicular to the first direction. This "plywood" arrangement provides an extremely rigid support when the inner region of the vacuum bead bag is evacuated. By stratifying the tubes in the plywood arrangement, cross-linked, with "grain *" of each layer running in a generally perpendicular direction, provides support for the patient both in a longitudinal direction and in a lateral direction. Each pad section of the surface pad system also preferably includes a layer of pressure reducing foam made of foam rubber that is positioned to be on top of the vacuum bead bag. The pressure reduction foam layer is made from a thermally active "viscoelastic" foam rubber material. When the foam layer is at a warmer temperature, the foam is softer and more flexible and when the foam layer is at a colder temperature the foam is colder and maintains its shape..
When a patient is awake and the patient's support surface is maintained at a warm, comfortable temperature, the viscoelastic pressure reducing foam layer will tend to conform to the shape of the patient. After the patient is anesthetized and the temperature of the patient's support surface is decreased, the viscoelastic pressure reducing foam layer will tend to maintain its shape. In this way, if the position of the patient is changed during the course of a surgical procedure, once the patient moves back to their original position, the pressure reduction foam layer will have retained its original shape and overall shape. This way will be formed to receive the patient. Each pad section of the surface pad system also includes a heating pad that is preferably positioned to be above the pressure reduction foam layer. The heating pad is positioned to be above the pressure reduction foam layer to maximize the efficiency of the heat transfer between the heating pad and the patient's support surface and to minimize the impact of the reduction foam layer of pressure, thermally insulating in the transfer of heat between the heating pad and the patient's support surface. The heating pad includes a serpentine-shaped channel defined therein. A thermoregulation fluid is received in the channel and circulated through the channel to maintain the temperature of the heating pad and thereby maintain the temperature of the patient's support surface close to the temperature of the thermoregulation fluid. The channel is in communication for fluids with a heat exchanger, so that the temperature of the thermoregulation fluid, and thus the temperature of the patient's support surface, can be adjusted according to the wishes of the surgical team when using The heat exchanger to adjust the temperature of the thermoregulation fluid flowing through the channel. A gel pack is placed to be on the top of the heating pad. The gel pack includes a sheath containing a viscous material such as a silicon polymer of the type used to produce prosthetic devices. The viscous material will tend to flow from the points of high interfacial pressure and will tend to flow towards the points of low interfacial pressure, thus distributing more evenly the weight of the patient and floating the patient away from the points of high interfacial pressure, minimizing this mode the interfacial pressure between the patient and the patient's support surface at high interfacial pressure points. Preferably, a thermocouple is placed inside the gel in the gel pack to provide feedback to the heat exchanger that controls the temperature of the thermoregulation fluid. A cut-proof material is placed to be above the gel layer. The cut-proof material operates to protect the pad core, and particularly the gel layer, the heating pad, and the bladder from perforation due to fallen scalpels, fallen needles or other sharp objects. In addition, the cut-proof material is preferably placed along the sides of each pad section to provide additional protection against punctures and cuts. The cover is formed to include an inner region surrounding the pad core and which holds the pad core elements in place relative to each other. Preferably, the cover is made of a stretchable, bidirectional material that can be stretched both in a longitudinal direction and in a lateral direction. The use of a bidirectional stretch material eliminates folding of the cover material itself during the movement of the portions of each pad section relative to other portions of each pad sectionIn addition, the cover is preferably made from a liquid impervious material both to protect the core elements of the pad from exposure to fluids from the outside of the cover and to protect the patient from exposure to fluids from the core elements. of pad in the case of the rupture of the gel pack, the heating pad or one of the bladders. If desired, a fireproof stocking can be placed to be between the pad core elements and the cover to assist with fire extinction after the core elements of the pad are exposed to fire, a feature required by the regulations imposed by various regulatory authorities. The pad sections can be configured so that each pad section engages with another pad section, for example, the pad section of the head can be attached to the pad section of the body and the pad section of the body is can attach to the leg pad section and both of the arm pad sections. Preferably, the channels formed between the heating pads of each pad section are in fluid communication with one another so that the thermoregulation fluid circulates through the heating pads of each pad section. Circulating the thermoregulation fluid through the heating pad of each pad section allows the temperature of the thermoregulation fluid to be regulated by a single heat exchanger rather than including a separate heat exchanger for the heating pad of each heating section. pad. Similarly, the vacuum bead bag of each pad section may be in fluid communication with the vacuum bead bag of each different pad section. This coupling allows the use of only one vacuum source that is used to operate the vacuum bead bags of each pad section. Also, although the bladders in each of the pad sections are not in fluid communication with each other, the bladder pad in each pad section is formed to include an internally contained channel system that eliminates the need to include hoses connected to the pad. every bladder The channel system allows the use of a single pressurized fluid source that can inflate and deflate the bladders of each pad section. A controller for the surface pad system according to the present invention is provided. The controller is used to control the operation of the heat exchanger, the vacuum source, and the source of the pressurized fluid. The use of an individual controller to control each of the heat exchanger, the vacuum source and the pressurized fluid source allows the coordination of each of these systems. For example, the controller can be programmed to decrease the temperature of the patient's support surface during surgical procedures at a predetermined cooling rate. However, if the decrease in temperature is desired, it can be programmed to occur only after the bladders are inflated and after the air has been evacuated from the vacuum bead bags. In addition, a "chest expansion" bladder can be provided in the pad section of the body that can be pressurized to hyperextend the chest cavity of a patient during the surgical procedure. If desired, the controller can be programmed to allow this bladder expansion bladder inflation only to occur after the temperature of the patient's support surface is decreased to the desired operating temperature by the thermoregulation fluid in the heating pad. Objects, features and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art., in consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment that exemplifies the best mode of carrying out the invention as it is currently perceived.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The detailed description refers particularly to the appended figures, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a surface pad system according to the present invention with the separated portions showing a plurality of pad sections and a control unit positioned to be adjacent to the head end of the pad system. surface pad, the control unit that provides pressurized fluid, vacuum, and a temperature controlled thermoregulation fluid, to the pad sections, a head pad section adjacent to one end of the head of the surface pad system , a leg pad section longitudinally separated from the pad section of the head and positioned to be close to one end of the feet of the surface pad system, a body pad section positioned to be between the pad section of the pad. the head and the pad section of the legs, the pad section of the body that you a first and a second elongated, separated sides, a first and a second arm pad sections positioned to be adjacent to the first and second sides of the body pad section, respectively, ducts connecting the pad sections of the head of the body, legs, and arms to flow the fluid thermoregulation sections between them, and additional ducts that connect the pad sections of the head, body and legs to others to flow pressurized and empty fluid among them;
Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing a top, concave surface of the arm pad section, the arm pad section including a portion of the arm pad section. foam, ax base made from high density foam, a thermal pad formed to include a channel through which the thermoregulation fluid flows, the heating pad that is placed to be on top of the foam layer, base, and a gel pack placed on the top of the heating pad, the gel pack including a sheath containing viscous fluid that flows into the sheath to minimize the interfacial pressure between the patient and the top surface of the section of the arm;
Figure 3 is a side view with separate portions of the body pad section showing a cover defining an inner region of the body pad section, the inner region receiving a support layer, of base foam, made to from high density foam, a bladder pad positioned to be on top of the base foam layer, a vacuum bead pad positioned to be on top of the bladder pad and including a plurality of tubes containing compressible beads, the plurality of tubes defining an upper layer of tubes extending in a first longitudinal direction and a lower layer of tubes extending in a second transverse direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction, a layer of upper foam placed to be on the top of the bag of vacuum beads, a heating pad placed to be in the top of the top foam layer, and a gel pack sandwiched between the heating pad and the cover;
Figure 4a is a perspective view, with parts separation of the pad section of the body of the surface pad system of Figure 1 showing an ax cover from the marker material and defining an interior region of the cover that receives a core pad that includes the foam support layer, base placed below the bladder pad, and the vacuum bead bag, the top foam layer, the heating pad, and the gel pack, all the which are placed by arriving from the bladder pad;
Figure 4b is a bottom side view of the vacuum bead bag of Figure 4a showing that the longitudinally extending tubes of compressible beads are positioned to be below the transversely extending tubes of the compressible beads to produce a "plywood" effect;
Figure 4c is a bottom side view of the bladder pad of Figure 4a showing that the bladder pad is an integral pad formed to include channels on the underside of the bladder pad below the bladders in the bladder pad. the upper side of the bladder pad;
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1 showing the pad section of the body of the surface pad system, a person being positioned on a patient support surface of the system of surface pad, and separations formed between the patient's support surface and the patient;
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 of the surface pad system after the bladders have been inflated and extended, showing the patient's support surface pressed against the patient by the bladders and adjusting to the patient's shape to maximize the surface area of contact between the patient and the patient's support surface, and in order to more evenly distribute the patient's weight across the patient's support surface;
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 6 showing the vacuum bead bag after the air has been evacuated from the inner region of the vacuum bean bag, so that the compressible beads have been deformed to each other to become immobile in relation to one another, so that the vacuum bead bag is rigid and maintains the shape in which it is attached before it has the air evacuated from the inner region of the bag of empty accounts;
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the surface pad system after the air has been evacuated from the interior region of the vacuum bead bag and after the bladders have deflated, so that that the new vacuum bead bag causes the patient's support surface to maintain the shape that conforms to the shape of the patient that rests on the top of the patient's support surface while allowing the bladders to deflate to reduce the resilience of the surface pad system, so that the patient is firmly supported by the table to minimize vibration and rebound movement of the patient during surgical procedures;
Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing a double bladder on one side of the patient being inflated to tilt the patient away from the double bladder, the vacuum bead bag causing the patient's supporting surface to be adjustment to the shape of the patient, holding the patient to prevent the patient from sliding when the patient's support surface is tilted;
Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing a central bladder in the bladder pad that is inflated to hyperextend the patient's chest cavity;
Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a cavity formed in the bottom surface of the cover that receives a separate bladder that is not part of the bladder pad and that can be inflated to tilt the pad section and the patient's support surface;
Figure 12 is a schematic view of a patient that is located on the patient's support surface showing the positions of the bladders
(in dashed lines) of the surface pad system, illustrative below the patient;
Figure 13a is a schematic view illustrating the non-uniform interfacial pressure distribution of a patient resting on a conventional surface cover for a surgical table;
Figure 13b is a schematic view similar to Figure 13a illustrating the distribution of the interfacial pressure of a patient resting on the patient support surface of the surface cushion system according to the present invention before any of the bladders and before the air was evacuated from the bag of vacuum beads;
Figure 13c is a schematic view similar to Figure 13b showing the distribution of interfacial pressure between the patient and the patient support surface of the surface cushion system according to the present invention after the bladders have been inflated to cause the patient's support surface to adjust or conform to the shape of the patient, maximizing the surface area of contact between the patient and the patient's support surface and after the air has been evacuated from the patient's account bags. vacuum, so that the weight of the patient is distributed more evenly over the patient's support surface, thereby minimizing the high interfacial pressure points; and Figure 14 is a schematic view of a control system of the surface pad system showing pad sections coupled to the control system including a heat exchanger, a pressurized fluid source, a vacuum source, a keyboard numerical, thermocouples, and a controller to communicate with, and control the operation of, the other elements of the control system.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
A surface pad system 20 according to the present invention includes a plurality of pad sections 30 carried by an upwardly facing table top portion 22 of a surgical table as shown in Figure 1. The upper part 22 of the table includes one end 24 of the head, one end 26 of the feet, a first side
38, and a second side 40. As used in this description, the phrase "end 24 of the head" will be used to denote the end of any referred object that is positioned to be closer to the end 24 of the head of the part. upper 22 of the table and the phrase "end 26 of the feet" will be used to denote the end of any referred object that is placed to be closer to the end 26 of the feet of the top 22 of the table. Similarly, the phrase "first side 38" will be used to denote the side of any referred object that is placed to be closer to the first side 38 of the upper part 22 of the table and the phrase "second side 40" will be used to denote the side of any referred object that is placed to be closer to the second side 40 of the top 22 of the table. The surface pad system 20 includes a head cushion section 32 positioned to be at the end 24 of the head of the top 22 of the table, a leg cushion section 36 longitudinally spaced from the section 32 of head pad and positioned to be at the end 26 of the feet of the upper part 22 of the table, and a body pad section 34 positioned to be between them as shown in Figure 1. The pad system 20 The surface area further includes a first arm pad section 42 positioned to be adjacent the first side 38 of the body pad section 34 and a second arm pad section 44 positioned to be adjacent to the second side 40 of the body section 34. the body pad. The head pad section 32 is formed to include a top-facing surface 46, the pad section 34 of the body is formed to include a surface 48 of the upper portion that faces upwards, the section 36 of the leg pad is formed to include a top-facing surface 50, which faces upwards, the first arm pad section 42 is formed to include a surface 52 of the top portion that faces upwards, and the second arm pad section 44 is formed to include a surface 54 of the upper portion that faces upwards. The surfaces 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 of the upper part are separated from the upper part 22 of the surgical table by generally equivalent distances and are generally coplanar, so that the surfaces 46, 48, 50, 52 from the upper part cooperate to define a support surface 56 of the patient, which faces upward, in general horizontal, of the surface pad system 20. The pad sections 30 are connected to each other by conduits 60 which include a thermoregulation fluid supply conduit 62, a thermoregulation fluid return conduit 64, a pressurized fluid conduit 66, and a vacuum conduit 68 as shown in Figure 1 and as shown schematically in Figure 14. The thermoregulation fluid supply conduit 62 places the surface pad system 20 in fluid communication with a heat exchanger 372 contained in a system control housing 74 20 of surface pad. The thermoregulation fluid return or return conduit 64 also places the surface pad system 20 in fluid communication with the source of the temperature control fluid and the return conduit 64 cooperates with the supply conduit 62 to circulate the fluid of the fluid. thermoregulation through the surface pad system 20. The pressurized fluid conduit 66 places the surface pad system 20 in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid 374. The pressurized fluid is preferably pressurized air, although the pressurized fluid may include pressurized water, treated water, pressurized water that is pressurized. it is, for example, to have a higher viscosity of the untreated water, or any other gaseous or liquid, generally inert fluid that can be used as described below to operate the surface pad system 20 without the scope of the invention as it is currently perceived. The vacuum conduit 68 places the pad sections 30 of the surface pad system 20 in fluid communication with a vacuum source 376. The vacuum source 376 can be manipulated to evacuate air from the desired portions of the pad sections 30 as described below and to allow air or any other selected gas that is generally inert to return to the evacuated portions of the sections. 30 of pad. Each pad section 30 may be provided with cut-proof material 70 as shown in Figure 1, to protect the pad sections 30 from piercing or penetration by sagging scalpels, dropped needles, or other sharp objects that may enter inadvertently contact with the pad portions 30. Preferably, the cut-off material 70 is placed below the patient support surface 56 adjacent the sides 38, 40 of the pad sections 30 and along other portions of the patient support surface 56. which are unlikely to be coupled by a patient resting on the patient's support surface 56, but who may be susceptible to contact damage. In addition, the cut-proof material 70 can be placed along generally extending vertical side walls of the pad sections 30 for additional protection. The surface pad system 20 also includes the control housing 74 as shown in Figure 1, which contains a controller 370 for controlling the heat exchanger 372, the source of the pressurized fluid 374, and the vacuum source 376, shown schematically in Figure 14. Also a numeric keypad 378 is carried by the control housing 74 and is coupled to the controller 370. Preferably, the ducts 62, 64 for supply and return of the thermoregulation fluid, the duct 66 for pressurized fluid, and the vacuum duct 68 all extend from the control housing 74 to the cushion sections 30 through a single hose 76 as shown in Figure 1. Preferably, the hose 76 is connected to the surface pad system 20 near the end 24 of the head of the surface pad system 20 and adjacent a needle pocket 78. The needle pocket 78 contains a means 80 such as foam rubber, metal fiber, or some other porous material that can receive needles. The needle pocket 78 provides a convenient storage location for anesthetists and other members of the surgical team for storing needles so that members of the surgical team can store needles in the needle pocket 78 instead of using the pad sections 30 for storing needles that present the risk of piercing the pad sections 30. The arm pad sections 42, 44 are pivotally mounted to the pad section 34 of the body as shown in Figure 1 so that the arm pad sections 42, 44 can be pivoted away from the sides 38, 40 of section 34 of the body pad. The pivotal mounting of the arm pad sections 42, 44 away from the sides 38, 40 of the body pad section 34 provides that the members of the surgical team have greater access to the patient carried on the patient support surface 56 .
In addition, the surface 52, 54 of the upper part of the first and second arm pad sections 42, 44 each have a concave shape that provides an elongated channel 82 that cooperates with a pair of elongated, outer flanges 84 to protect the arms of the patient carried on the patient support surface 56. In this way, the first and second arm pad sections 42, 44 lift the patient's arms to a position spaced above the upper portion 22 of the surgical table, the same distance as the surfaces 46, 48, 50 of the upper part of the sections 32, 34, 36 of the head, body and leg cushions are separated from the upper part 22 of the table, different from some conventional covers for surgical tables that allow the patient's arms hang next to the deck. In addition, the ridges 84 cooperate with the channel 82 of the surfaces 52, 54 of the upper portion of the arm pad sections 42, 44 to hold the patient's arms in the first and second arm pad sections 42, 44. , respectively. Each pad section 30 includes a cover 86 defining an interior region 88 that receives a pad core 90 that includes a plurality of pad core members 92 as best shown in Figures 2-4a. For example, the pad core 90 of the second arm pad section 44, illustrative, includes a support layer 110, base, high density foam, a thermal pad 260 which couples a surface 112 of the upper part of the arm. support layer 110, a gel package 310 positioned to be on top of the thermal pad 260, and an average 130 for the fire surrounding the support layer 110, the thermal pad 260, and the gel pack 310 within of the inner region 88. The surface 112 of the upper part of the supporting layer 110 has a concave shape and is bent downwards, so that the surface 54 of the upper part of the second arm pad section 44 has the concave shape to protect the patient's arm on the patient support surface 56. The thermal pad 260, the gel pack 310, the stocking 130 for fire, and the cover 86 generally conform to the shape of the surface 112 of the upper part of the support layer 110 as shown in Figure 2 Although the pad core 90 of the second arm pad section 44 includes only the elements 92 of the pad core of the high density foam, base support layer 110, the thermal pad 260, the gel pack 310 , and the mean 130 for fire, other pad core elements 92 may be added to the pad core 90 without exceeding the scope of the invention as is currently perceived, as shown, for example, in Figures 3 and 4a that show the pad core elements 92 included in the pad core 90 of the body pad section 34, illustrative. The pad core 90 of the body pad section 34 illustratively includes the high density foam base support layer 110 received in an inner region 132 of the mean 130 for fire that is received in the inner region 88 of the cover 86. Support layer 110 engages stocking 130 for fire adjacent to bottom 94 of cover 86 as shown in Figure 3. Bladder pad 140 having bladder 146 for adjusting the support and firmness characteristics of the section. 34 of the body pad is received in the inner region 88 and is positioned to be in 1 uppermost part of the supporting layer 110. A bag 180 of vacuum beads that can be manipulated between a flexible state and a rigid state that retains its shape, is received in the inner region 88 is positioned to be on top of the bladder pad 140 and a layer 220 of pressure reducing foam is received in the inner region 88 and is positioned to be in the upper part of the bag 180 of vacuum beads. The heating pad 260 is received in the inner region 88 and is positioned to be in the upper part of the pressure reducing foam layer 220 and the gel pack 310 is received in the inner region 88 and is sandwiched between the heating pad 260 and a top ^ 6 of the cover 86. The surface pad system 20 can thus include the pad sections 30 having the pad core 90 that includes the pad core elements 92 such as the stocking 130 for fire, the support layer 110, the bladder pad 140, the vacuum bead bag 180, the foam layer 220, the heating pad 260, the gel pack 310, or combinations thereof, without exceeding the scope of the invention as it is currently perceived. When a patient is initially placed on the patient's support surface 56, the room and the patient support surface 56 are typically hot to maximize patient comfort, so that the patient can relax. The support layer 110, the pressure reduction foam layer 220, and the gel pack 310 may be somewhat deformed to join the contours of the patient's body, particularly at the warmer temperature. A member of the surgical team can use the numeric keypad 378 to provide an instruction to the controller 370 which drives the bladder pad 140 and pushes the patient support surface 56 upward to further adjust to the contours of the patient's body and minimize high interfacial pressure points between the patient and the patient support surface 56. Another command can be provided to the keypad 378 which causes the vacuum bag 180 to change from a flexible state to a rigid state that maintains the shape that the vacuum bag 180 maintains when the order is provided. Once the vacuum bead bag 180 is rigid, the bladder pad 140 can be deactivated by providing an order through the numeric keypad 378, without the patient support surface 56 having to lose its shape against the contours of the patient. Patient's body In reality, the rigid vacuum bag 180 will cause the support surface 56 to maintain its shape against the contours of the patient's body. If the surgical procedure to be performed on the patient requires that the patient's temperature be reduced, an instruction can be provided through the numeric keypad 378 which will cause the temperature of the thermal pad 260 to decrease, removing heat from the surface 56 of patient support until the patient support surface 56 is at the desired temperature. If, during the course of the procedure, the patient is to be repositioned, before the members of the surgical team have to reposition the patient manually and place shims, rolled towels, or other objects under the patient to keep the patient in the new position, and then remove those objects later, an instruction can be provided through the numeric keypad 378 which will activate the selected portions of the bladder pad 140 to reposition the patient. Once the procedure is completed, the selected portions of the bladder pad 140 can be deactivated to return the patient to the desired position.
The body pad section 34 includes the cover 86 and the pad core elements 92 as shown illustratively in Figure 4a. Although Figure 4a illustratively shows the body pad section 34, the description below with respect to the body pad section 34 generally applies to each pad section 30 and the pad core elements 92 of each section. of pad. As such, the description below with respect to the body pad section 34 is to be taken as descriptive of each preferred pad section 30 and the pad core elements 92 unless specifically noted otherwise. The elements 92 of the pad core of the body pad section 34 preferably include the mean 130 for fire received in the inner region 88 of the cover 86 and which defines an inner region 132 that surrounds the other elements 92 of the pad core. as shown in Figure 4a. Certain regulatory authorities require that articles such as the surface pad system 20 be self-extinguishing and the inclusion of the fire stock 130 improves the self-extinguishing characteristics of the pad core elements 92. The preferred fire average 130 is made from the FIREGARD® SENTRYSAK ™ material manufactured by Spring Industries, Inc. The elements 92 of the section 34 of the body pad also illustratively include the support layer 110, of base foam, high density which is preferably placed on the bottom of the pad core 90 as shown illustratively in Figure 4a. The support layer 110 is preferably a viscoelastic, shock-absorbing, thermally active polyester foam, such as the foam number SAF 50 50 model produced by Fritz Nauer Limited of Switzerland. The support layer 110 forms a base of the pad core 90 and the pad section 34 of the body providing the support for the pad core elements 92 positioned to be on the surface 112 of the top of the support layer 110 . If desired, the surface 112 of the upper part of the high density foam support layer 110 can be formed as shown in Figure 2 for the second arm pad section 44, to contour the surface 48 of the part upper of the body pad section 34. As can be seen, each element 92 of the pad core resting on the support layer 110 initially assumes the general shape of the surface 112 of the upper part of the support layer 110, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The preferred support layer 110 is formed from thermally active viscoelastic foam as mentioned above. The viscoelastic foam is formulated, so that the characteristics of firmness and support of the foam vary with the temperature of the foam, different from the conventional foam that maintains a durometer hardness in general constant and that provides the same characteristics of support and firmness at each operating temperature. The preferred visco-elastic foam of the support layer 110 is softer or softer and more flexible at warmer temperatures and is firmer and tends to maintain its shape at cooler temperatures. In this way, the support layer 110 will easily conform to the shape of the patient carried on the patient support surface 56 at warmer temperatures, and if subsequently cooled, will tend to maintain its shape even after the patient is removed. of the patient support surface 56 or when the patient's position or the patient's support surface 56 is temporarily changed.
The support layer 110 is preferably sculpted from a piece of unitary foam to form the support layer 110 for use in the pad sections 30. The support layer 110 of the body pad section 34 is formed illustratively as shown in Figure 4a and includes small cuts 114 and a cavity 116. The cuts 114 are configured to receive vs and couplings that couple the cushion sections 30 jointly, so that these coupling valves do not interfere with the support and firmness characteristics of the patient support surface 56. Table 116 provides the surgical team with access to the patient as necessary for certain medical procedures. If desired, the surface 112 of the upper part of the support layer 110 can also be formed without exceeding the scope of the invention as currently perceived, for example, to include a cavity such as an elongated channel and extends transversely adjacent the patient's heels to reduce the interfacial pressure between the patient support surface 56 and the patient's heels. Although the preferred support layer 110 is sculpted from a unitary block of viscoelastic foam, it is within the scope of the invention as it is currently perceived to form the support layer 110 from a plurality of foam blocks, for example, the Support layer 110 may include foam blocks which have relatively floppy support and firmness characteristics adjacent to the patient's heel on the patient support surface 56 to minimize pressure ulcers in the patient's heels. The elements 92 of the pad core of the body pad section 34 also illustratively include the pad 140 of bladders as shown in Figures 4a and 4c. Figure 140 of bladders includes a sheet 142 of the upper part facing upwards and a sheet 144 of the bottom facing down which couples the surface 112 of the upper part of the layer 110 of high density foam. A plurality of bladders 146 are added to the surface 142 of the upper part and strategically placed to provide firmness and support characteristics, adjustable for the patient on the patient support surface 56 when the bladders 146 are inflated and deflated. The bottom sheet 144 is added to the sheet 142 of the top portion of the bladder pad 140 and cooperates therewith to define a plurality of channels 148 of a channel system 150 below the sheet 142 of the upper part as shown in FIG. shows better in Figure 4c. The bladder pad 140 also includes a plurality of connectors 152 that are in fluid communication with the source of the pressurized fluid 374. The connectors 152 are in fluid communication with the channels 148 of the channel system 150. Each bladder 146 is formed to include an interior region 156 and each channel 148 is in fluid communication with the interior region 156 of at least one of the bladders 146. In this way, the channels 154 of the channel system 150 are integrally added to the pad 140 of bladders and eliminate the need to include a series of hoses or other fluid-impermeable conduits to put the connectors 152 in fluid communication with the inner regions 156 of the bladders 146. The sheet 142 of the upper part of the Bladder pad 140 is formed to form an opening (not shown) that extends through it. The bladder 146 is added to the sheet 142 of the upper part and is formed to include an opening (not shown) in fluid communication with the opening of the sheet 142 of the upper part, so that the opening of the sheet 142 of the upper part is in fluid communication with the inner region 156 of the bladder 146. The opening of the sheet 142 of the upper part is also in fluid communication with one of the channels 148 of the channel system 150, so that the Pressurized fluid received in the channel is communicated to the inner region 156 of the bladder 146 through the opening in the lamina 142 of the upper part and the opening in the bladder 146 to inflate the bladder 146. Similarly, the pressurized fluid in the region 156 of bladder 146 can be communicated to the channel through the opening of bladder 146 and the opening of lamina 142 of the upper part when bladder 146 is deflating. The inclusion of the bladders 146 as an element 92 of the pad core of the surface pad system 20 allows the surgical team to maximize the contact surface area between the patient and the patient support surface 56, thereby minimizing the pressure of the high interfacial pressure points between the patient support surface 56 and the patient, thereby minimizing the possibility of forming pressure ulcers, neuropathy, or other disorders and conditions resulting from prolonged exposure to the high interfacial pressure between the patient and the surface 56 of the patient's support. In addition, the inclusion of the bladders 146 in the pad sections 30 allows the surgical team to manipulate the position of the patient on the patient support surface 56 without attempting the arduous task of manual re-positioning of the anesthetized patient and the simultaneous placement of the patient. a roll of foam, a roll of gel, a rolled towel or another object under the anesthetized patient and placed manually to keep the patient in the newly desired position. In contrast, to manipulate the position of the patient on the patient support surface 56 of the surface pad system 20 according to the present invention, the surgical team needs only to inflate or deflate a desired bladder 146 as described in more detail below at the moment. Illustrative and preferred bladder pad 140 is of unitary construction and is made from polyurethane reinforced with nylon mesh. Illustrative bladder pad 140 is made from the supported polyurethane film, with a thickness of 0.33 mm (13 mils) produced by Cooley Inc., of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The channel system 150 can be formed when welding by R.F. the sheet 144 of the bottom to the sheet 142 of the upper part. A free-flowing connector 152 is preferably added to the ends of each channel 148 to keep the channel open, so that pressurized fluid can flow through it. The elements 92 of the pad core of the body pad section 34 also illustratively include the vacuum bead bag 180 which is received in the inner region 88 of the cover 86 and is positioned to be on the top of the pad 140 of bladders as shown in Figures 4a and 4b. The vacuum bead bag 180 includes an outer sheath 182 defining an interior region 184 in fluid communication with the vacuum source 376 through the mounts 196 and the vacuum conduit 68. In this way, the atmosphere in the inner region 184 of the sheath 182 can be evacuated by the vacuum source 376 or can be replaced through the assemblies 196 and the conduit 68. The inner region 184 of the bag 180 of beads The vacuum receives a lower layer 186 of compressible beads 194 and an upper layer 188 of compressible beads 194 as best shown in Figures 4a, 4b and 7. The lower and upper layers 186, 188 include each plurality of elongated tubes 190 and each Tube 190 is made from a flexible material that defines an interior region 192 of the tube 190 as best shown in Figure 7. The flexible tubes 190 are preferably made from a nylon mesh material having an aperture size. which is small enough to contain the compressible beads 194 within the interior regions 192 of the tubes 190 while allowing passage of the air or other gas comprising the atmosphere within the region rior 184 of the bag 180 of empty beads through these. Although in the preferred embodiments, the elongated tubes 190 are made from nylon mesh, it can be used without exceeding the scope of the invention as is currently perceived any semipermeable material having an aperture size small enough to hold the beads 194 compressible therein while permitting free passage therethrough of air or any other gas comprising the atmosphere of the inner region 184 of the bag 180 of vacuum beads. In the preferred embodiments, the compressible 194 beads are white polystyrene beads made by Huntsman Chemical Corporation of Chesapeake, Virginia and the beads preferably have a diameter between 1.5 and 2.5 mm (0.06-0.1 inches). Preferably, the polystyrene beads 194 are allowed to purify gases (draw air) prior to incorporation into the surface pad system 20 in accordance with the present invention, so that the beads 194 are firmer than the beads. of polystyrene that have not been purified of gases. Although the preferred beads 194 are made from polystyrene, it is within the scope of the invention as is presently perceived to provide the beads 194 for the bag 180 of vacuum beads made from any compressible material that will allow the beads 194 to be deformed as described below with reference in Figure 7. The lower layer 186 of the vacuum bead bag 180 includes a plurality of longitudinally extending tubes 190, each tube 190 being filled with compressible beads 194, as shown for example , in Figure 7 and each tube 190 extending in a direction generally parallel to the direction that each tube 190 different from the lower layer 186 extends as shown in Figure 4b. The upper layer 188 of the vacuum bead bag 180 also includes a plurality of tube 190. The tubes 190 of the upper layer 188 extend in a transverse direction, each tube 190 being filled with compressible beads 194 and each tube 190 of the upper layer 188 extending in a direction generally parallel to the direction in which each tube 190 different from the upper layer 188 extends. The tubes 190 of the upper layer 188 rest on the upper part of the tubes 190 of the lower layer 186 as shown in Figures 4a, 4b, and 7. The vacuum bag 180 includes thus the lower layer 186 which has a plurality of tubes extending in one direction and the upper layer 188 having a plurality of tubes extending in a second direction. Preferably, the second direction is generally perpendicular to the first direction to provide the bag 180 of vacuum beads with a "plywood effect". The plywood effect of the upper and lower layers 188, 186 provides increased strength and support to the bag 180 of vacuum beads when the air is evacuated from the interior region 184 and thus to the patient support surface 56. which would be provided by a conventional vacuum account bag (not shown) that has an individual layer of accounts. The elements 92 of the pad core of the body pad section 34 further include the pressure reduction foam layer 220 that is received in the inner region 88 of the cover 86 and is positioned to be above and which engages the bag. 180 of vacuum counts as shown in Figure 4a. The pressure reduction foam layer 220 provides pressure reduction to assist in reducing the pressure of the interfacial high pressure points between the patient and the patient support surface 56. The illustrative and preferred pressure reducing foam layer 220 is made from a thermally active, shock absorbing polyester foam which is formulated as a visco-elastic foam, Model No. SAF 65180 foam produced by Fritz Nauer Limited of Switzerland . In this way, the support and firmness characteristics of the pressure reduction foam layer 220 vary with the temperature of the foam in a manner similar to that described above with reference to the support layer 110. The layer 220 of pressure reduction foam is softer or softer and more flexible at warmer temperatures and is firmer and tends to maintain its shape at colder temperatures. In this way, the pressure reducing foam layer 220 will easily conform to the shape of the patient carried on the patient support surface 56 at warmer temperatures., and if subsequently cooled, will tend to maintain its shape even after the patient is removed from the patient support surface 56 or when the patient's position or the patient's support surface is temporarily changed. In preferred embodiments, the pressure reduction foam layer 220 is sculpted from a block of unitary foam to form the reduction and pressure foam layer 220 for use in the pad sections 30. The pressure reduction foam layer 220 of the body pad section 34 is formed to include small cutouts 222 for receiving portions of couplings, assemblies, or valves, so that the couplings, assemblies, or valves do not interfere with the characteristics of support and firmness of the pad sections 30. In addition, the pressure reduction foam layer 220 is sculpted to include a cavity 224 that is configured to provide access to the surgical equipment to the desired portions of the patient on the patient support surface 56 during the selected medical procedures. If desired, the pressure reduction foam layer 220 may also be formed to include a cavity such as, for example, an elongate channel and which extends transversely adjacent the patient's heels to reduce the interfacial pressure between the surface 56 of patient's support and patient's heels without exceeding the scope of the invention as it is currently perceived. Although the preferred pressure reducing foam layer 220 is sculpted from a unitary block of viscoelastic foam, it is within the scope of the invention as it is currently perceived to form the pressure reduction foam layer 220 from a plurality. of foam blocks. For example, the pressure and reduction foam layer 220 may include foam blocks having relatively floppy support and firmness characteristics adjacent the patient's heel on the patient support surface 56 to minimize pressure ulcers in the patient's heels. The cushion core elements 92 of the body pad section 34 additionally include a thermal pad 260 received in the interior region 88 of the cover 86 and positioned to be on top of the pressure reduction foam layer 220 as shown in Figure 4a. The thermal pad 260 includes a top sheet 262 which cooperates with a bottom sheet 264 to define a serpentine-shaped channel 266, which generally extends longitudinally therebetween. The illustrative and preferred top and bottom sheets 262 and 264 are made from urethane sheets reinforced with nylon mesh such as the supported polyurethane film with a thickness of 0.33 mm (13 mils) produced by Cooler Inc., of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The sheet 262 of the upper part and the sheet 264 of the bottom are welded by R.F. to form channel 266 between them. Thermoregulation fluid is received in channel 266 and circulated between channel 266 of heating pad 260 and heat exchanger 372 which is housed within control housing 74 for controlling the temperature of the temperature control fluid in channel 266. The heat exchanger 372 controls the temperature of the thermoregulation fluid circulating through the channel 266 so that the thermal pad 260 can heat or cool the patient's support surface 56 to a desired temperature, selected by the members of the surgical team. As described above, the heating pad 260 is positioned to be on top of the pressure reduction foam layer 220 that is above the vacuum bead bag 180 and the bladder pad 140 as shown in FIG. Figure 4a. The pressure reduction foam layer 220 is a thermal insulator that will prevent heat transfer between the heating pad 260 and the patient support surface 56., if the pressure reduction foam layer 220 is interposed between the heating pad 260 and the patient support surface 56, so that the placement of the pressure reduction foam layer 220 below the thermal pad 260 removed this prevents the transfer of heat. Furthermore, as described above, the inflation of the bladders 146 maximizes the surface area of contact between the patient and the patient support surface 56. The maximization of the contact surface area also maximizes the conductive thermal transfer between the support surface 56 of the patient and the patient. Placing the heating pad 260 above the bladders 146 causes the bladders 146 to press the heating pad 260 upward toward the upper part 96 of the cover 86 to maximize conductive heat transfer from the heating pad 260 to the upper part 96 of the cover 86 and thus to the support surface 56 of the patient. The pad core elements 92 of the pad core 90 of the body pad section 34, illustrative also include the gel pack 310 which is received in the inner region 88 of the cover 86 and which is positioned to be in the upper of the thermal pad 260 as shown in Figure 4a. The gel pack 310 includes a sheath 312 that receives a viscous fluid 314. The viscous fluid 314 flows away from the high interfacial pressure points and toward the low interfacial pressure points to float the patient on the patient support surface 56 around the high interfacial pressure points, minimizing the interfacial pressure between the patient and the patient support surface 56 at the high interfacial pressure points. The sleeve 312 of the gel pack 310, preferred is made from a light weight urethane having a thickness of 0.15 mm (6 mil) such as the polyurethane film No. of Model EXR-625FS, natural film, made by JB Elstometrics Corporation of North Hampton, Massachusetts. In addition, the viscous fluid 314, illustrative and preferred is made from silicone-based polymer material such as that used for prosthetic devices including Oasis manufactured by TRU-LIFE of Dublin, Ireland. As described above, the elements
92 of pad core are received in the inner region 88 of the cover 86 as shown in Figure 4a. The preferred cover 86 is made from a bi-directional, stretchable marker material which, different from conventional marker materials, can be stretched both in a longitudinal direction and in a lateral direction. The use of the bidirectional stretch material allows the cover 86 of the body pad section 34 to move and bend without folding against itself. The preferred marker material is a dual coated polyester that includes a dual coated urethane network or membrane such as Via Tex 2 material, Manufacturing Quality No. T5793 made by Pen-Nyla of Nottingham, England.
The cover 86 is formed to include openings 330 that allow passage of conduit 60 therethrough and is formed to include an opening (not shown) to allow passage of the pad core 90 in and out of the interior region 88 of the cover 86. A zipper 332 encircles the opening to allow passage of the pad core 90 and the zipper can be opened and closed to open and close the opening as shown in Figure 4a. The cover 86 is further formed to include a flap 334 that covers the zipper 332. The flap 334 is added to a portion of the cover 86 above the zipper 332 and flap 334 is attached to one side of the cover 86 by down the rack 332 by fasteners 336 type hook and eye. In addition, the illustrative and preferred cover 86 also includes hook-and-eye fasteners (not shown) fixed to the bottom 94 of the cover 86 for attaching the pad section 34 of the body to the top 22 of the surgical table. When a patient is initially in the body pad section 34, the gel pack 310 will be deformed by causing the viscous fluid 314 to flow into the sheath 312 far downward projecting the patient portions, which results in high points. interfacial pressure between the patient and the patient support surface 56. This movement of the viscous fluid 314 away from the high interfacial pressure points and toward the low interfacial pressure points operates to increase the surface area of contact between the patient and the patient's support surface as shown in Figure 5. In addition, both the pressure reduction foam layer 220 and the high density foam layer 110 will deform in a similar manner to minimize the interfacial pressure at the high interfacial pressure points between the patient and the patient support surface 56. However, the separations 350 will still typically be between the patient and the patient's support surface and points of relatively high interfacial pressure will still exist between the patient and the patient support surface 56 as described below with reference to the Figures 13a, 13b and 13c. As described above, the support layer 110 and the pressure reduction foam layer 220 are both made from a thermally active viscoelastic foam that is more flexible and more easily fits the patient's shape at warmer temperatures than what it does at colder temperatures. The viscoelastic foam of the support layer 110 and the layer 220 of pressure reduction foams cooperate with the gel pack 310 to cause the patient support surface 56 to deform and move away from the high interfacial pressure points between the patient and the patient support surface 56, thereby increasing the surface area of contact between the patient and the surface 56 of the patient's support and reducing the interfacial pressure at high interfacial pressure points between the patient and the surface 56 of patient support, particularly when the patient first enters the patient support surface 56 and the temperature of the surface 56 of the patient support is warmer improving the patient's comfort. Once the patient is resting on the patient support surface 56 and the layers 110, 220 of viscoelastic foam and gel pack 310 have been reformed in response to patient weight, and bladders 146 of bladder pad 140 can be inflated as shown in Figure 6. Inflation of bladders 146 operates for pressing the patient support surface 56 upwards against the patient and in the separations 350 formed between the patient and the patient support surface 56, thereby minimizing the separations therebetween. The minimization of the gaps 350 between the patient and the patient support surface 56 maximizes the surface area of contact between the patient and the patient support surface 56, thereby evenly distributing the patient's weight across the patient's body. surface 56 of the patient support and minimizing the interfacial pressure of the points with an interfacial pressure that remains highest between the patient and the patient support surface 56. The maximization of the contact surface area between the patient and the patient support surface 56 also maximizes the conductive thermal transfer between the patient and the patient support surface 56. The inflation of the bladders 146 to press the patient support surface 56 against the patient and to more evenly distribute the patient's weight across the patient support surface 56 also maximizes the efficiency of the patient's pack 310. gel as shown in Figure 6. Before the bladders 146 are inflated, as shown in Figure 5, a wall 316 of the upper part of the cover 312 is pressed against a bottom wall 318 of the cover 312 in several locations that indicate that additional relief of high interfacial pressure points is needed. Uniform distribution of the patient's weight across the patient support surface 56 upon inflating the bladders 146 also operates to more evenly distribute the viscous fluid 314 through the sheath 312 of the gel package 310 to minimize the area of the locations in which the wall 316 of the upper part of the cover 312 couples the bottom wall 318 of the cover 312. The minimization of the coupling between the wall 316 of the upper part and the wall 318 of the bottom maximizes the efficiency of the package 310 of gel and minimizes the interfacial pressure of the points with a higher interfacial pressure between the position and the support surface 56 of the patient. Inflation of the bladders 140 also causes the pad core elements 92 positioned between the bladder 140 and the patient support surface 56, including the bag 180 of vacuum beads, to conform to the shape of the support surface 56 of the patient as shown in Figure 6. Once the bladders 146 have been inflated, the push of the patient support surface 56 against the contours of the patient's surface engaging the patient support surface 56 and the filling of the separations 350 that were initially formed between the patient and the patient support surface 56, the air can be evacuated from the interior region 184 of the sleeve 182 of the vacuum count bag 180. Evacuation of the air from the vacuum bag 180 causes the sleeve 182 to be compressed and causes the compressible beads 194 to compress each other as best shown in Figure 7. Compression of the beads 194 together removes the capacity of the beads 194 to move relative to each other, thereby causing the vacuum bag 180 to rigidly assume the shape maintained by the bag 180 of vacuum beads when air is evacuated from the interior region 184 of the sleeve 182. Vacuum bag 180 will thus rigidly hold the shape that conforms to the shape of patient support surface 56 shown in Figure 6 while air remains evacuated from bag 180 of vacuum beads. further, by forming the bags 180 of vacuum beads to include the lower layer 186 having a plurality of longitudinally extending tube 190 and the upper layer 188 having a plurality of elongated, transversely extending tubes 190 results in the effect of plywood in which the vacuum bead bag 180 provides a rigid support in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. Once the air is evacuated from the bag 180 of vacuum beads, the bladders 146 can deflate as shown in Figure 8. Because the bag 180 of vacuum beads rigidly assumes the shape it has immediately before it air is evacuated from the interior region 84, and because the vacuum bag 180 is positioned to be in the interior region 88 of the cover 86 on the top of the bladder pad 140 and the bladders 146, the Disinflation of the bladders 146 does not affect the adjustment achieved between the patient and the patient support surface 56. However, by deflating the bladders 146, the patient is supported more firmly and solidly than when the patient is resting on the inflated bladders that can act as resilient "balloons" allowing the patient to vibrate or rebound. Once the patient and the surface pad system 20 are both properly positioned and configured as shown in Figure 8, the patient can be anesthetized, and if desired, the surface pad system 20 can be used to decrease the temperature of the patient support surface 56. As described above, the thermoregulation fluid circulates between the channels 266 of the thermal pads 260 and the heat exchanger 372 carried in the control housing 74. The temperature of the thermoregulation fluid and, thus, of the heating pad 260 and the patient support surface 56 is adjusted by adjusting the amount of heat added or removed from the thermoregulation fluid by the heat exchanger 372. The control of the heat exchanger 372 is described in more detail below with reference to Figure 14. Preferably, heat exchanger 372 is a so-called "Peltier device" for heating and cooling the regulating thermal fluid and does not contain freon or other chlorofluorocarbons ( CFC) or other ozone-depleting chemicals. In the preferred embodiments, the thermoregulation fluid is water circulating between the Peltier device and the channels 266 of the thermal pads 260, although any generally inert fluid having suitable thermal capacity and viscosity characteristics, such as the thermoregulation without exceeding the scope of the invention as it is currently perceived. Also in the preferred embodiments, the thermocouple 382 is received in the gel pack 310 and is carried inside the sheath 312 together with the viscous fluid 314. The thermocouple measures the temperature of the viscous fluid 314 of the gel pack 310 and provides a signal of temperature input in response to it. The temperature input signal is received by the controller 370 which is carried in the control housing 74 as shown schematically in Figure 14. The controller 370 receives the temperature input signal and provides an output signal and heat exchange in response to the temperature input signal. The heat exchanger 372 receives the heat exchange output signal from the controller and adjusts the temperature of the thermoregulation fluid until the thermocouple temperature input signal indicates that the thermocouple has reached a desired temperature. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that although the temperature input signal indicates the temperature of the viscous fluid 314 in the gel pack 310, the proximity of the gel pack 310 to the patient support surface 56 makes the measurement of the temperature of the gel package 310 a suitable estimate of the temperature of the patient support surface 56 and the difference between them can be adequately compensated by the controller 370. Once the temperature of the patient support surface 56 and the patient have reached the desired temperature, the surgical procedure can be started. If desired, the surface pad system 20 can be manipulated for repositioning of the anesthetized patient after the surgical procedure has begun. For example, when a necessary section is performed, it is common practice for the surgical team to place a roll or shoe, or some other object under the mother's left hip, to change the weight of the baby by moving the mother on her right side. . Before members of the surgical team have to manually reposition the mother, the surface pad system 20 according to the present invention can include a second lateral bladder 158 positioned to be on top of a first lateral bladder 160, both of which are added to the bladder pad 140 as shown in Figure 9. When the surgical team wishes to relocate the mother, a member of the surgical team can simply provide a user input from the keypad 378 to the controller 370 that it will activate the source of pressurized fluid as well as regulate by valves the valve manifold 384 as necessary to direct the pressurized fluid to the first and second side bladders 158, 160 to inflate the side bladders 158, 160 as shown in Figure 9. The inflation of both side bladders 158, 160 operates to roll the patient aside as shown in Figure 9. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that using the surface pad system 20 according to the present invention to reposition the patient is advantageous for the patient since a more controlled repositioning can occur than when the members of the surgical team manually reposition the patient. patient. In addition, the patient support surface 56 holds the patient to firmly hold the patient in place relative to the patient support surface 56 and to prevent the patient from sliding relative to the patient during repositioning and the surface 56 of patient support. Once the baby is removed from the mother, the first and second lateral bladders 158,160 can be easily deflated to reposition the patient support surface 56 to the generally horizontal position shown in Figure 8. In the preferred embodiments , the pad
140 of bladders also includes a support bladder 162, centrally extending longitudinally below the patient's spine on the patient support surface 56 as best shown in Figures 10 and 12. Bladder 162, central support it can be inflated to a first pressure as shown in Figure 6 to press the patient support surface 56 against the patient to fill the gaps 350 between the patient and the patient support surface 56 as described above. Additionally, the central support bladder 162 can be inflated to a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure to inflate the support bladder 162, centrally enough to press the patient's spine upward and hyperextend the patient's chest as is shown in Figure 10. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the use of the surface pad system 20 to hyperextend the patient's chest cavity on the patient support surface 56 for certain surgical procedures such as cardiovascular procedures is preferable. to the common practice of placing a shim, a package of rolled gel, a rolled towel or other object under the anesthetized patient during the procedure. In addition, once the procedure is completed, before having to remove the underside of the anesthetized patient, the use of the surface pad system 20 allows a more controlled descent of the patient by simply deflating the central support bladder 162. . The cover 86 can be formed to include first and second second elongated cavities 338 positioned to be adjacent the first side 38 of the body pad section 34 and the second side 40 of the body pad section 34, respectively as shown in Figure 11. The cavities 338 may each contain bladders 340 that do not connect to the pad 140 of bladders, but which can be inflated to tilt the patient support surface 56 as shown in Figure 11. It is advantageous in certain surgical procedures to tilt the upper part 22 of the surgical table. The bladders 340 are particularly useful during these procedures for "fine-tuning" the orientation of the patient support surface 56. The illustrative and preferred surface pad system 20 includes pad sections 30 containing pad 140 of bladders having bladders 146 that are preferably configured and positioned to be as shown in Figure 12 (in dashed lines) relative to patient on the surface 56 of patient support. As described above, the surface pad system 20 includes first side bladders 160 positioned to be on both sides of the patient, at least one second side bladder 158 positioned to be above one of the first side bladders 160, and the support bladder 162, central that supports the spine of the patient. In addition, the bladders 146 include a lumbar bladder 164 that supports the lumbar region of the patient's back, a bladder 166 of the sacrum supporting the sacrum of the patient, and three bladders 168 for supporting the legs, one of which is placed for be between the patient's legs and the others of which are placed to be on the outside of the patient's legs. Although the illustrative and preferred surface pad system 20 includes side bladders 158, 160, support bladder 162, central bladder, lumbar bladder 164, sacrum bladder 166, and bladder support legs 168 as described above with reference to Figure 12, the shapes and portions of the bladders 146 within the surface pad system 20 relative to the patient can be varied without the scope of the invention being exceeded as currently perceived. For example, the bladders 146 can include a bladder in general in the form of a "donut" to support the head of the patient, the bladder that can be in the form of a ring with an opening formed therein, so that the lower portion in the head of the patient is adjacent the opening to minimize the interfacial pressure against the patient's head as well as to stabilize the patient's head. The use of the surface pad system 20 according to the present invention minimizes the interfacial pressure of the high interfacial pressure points between the patient and the patient support surface 56 as shown schematically in Figures 13a, 13b and 13c. Each of Figures 13a, 13b, and 13c are schematic representations indicating the interfacial pressure between the patient and the patient support surface 56.
Each diagram includes points 380, the density of which indicates the magnitude of the interfacial pressure between the patient and the patient support surface 56. The portions in each of Figures 13a, 13b, 13c showing a high dot density 380 indicate high interfacial pressures between the patient and the patient support surface 56 on those portions of the patient support surface 56. Likewise, the portions of Figures 13a, 13b and 13c showing a low dot density 380 or none of the points 380 indicate low interfacial pressures between the patient and the patient support surface 56 or even no interfacial pressure between them, which indicates that the patient does not attach to those portions of the patient support surface 56. The weight of a patient supported on a conventional surface covering for a surgical table is supported primarily by the head, shoulder blades, sacrum, and heels of the patient as shown schematically in Figure 13a. The portions indicated above of the patient are the extremities extending downward from the patient when resting on a conventional surface covering for a surgical table and as a result, these patient's extremities support most of the patient's weight and experience the highest interfacial pressure. between the patient and the patient support surface 56. It can also be seen in Figure 13a that several portions of the patient have low interfacial pressures against the patient support surface 56 and still no contact with the patient support surface 56 as indicated by the portions of Figure 13a that do not have 380 points associated with these. In this way, it can be seen that the patient's weight is not evenly distributed through the conventional surface cover for a surgical table. When the patient rests on the patient support surface 56 of the surface pad system 20 according to the present invention as shown in Figure 5 before the bladders 146 are inflated and before the air is evacuated from the Inner region 184 of vacuum bag 180, high density foam layer 110 and pressure reduction foam layer 220, both of which are made of thermally active viscoelastic foam, cooperate with package 310 of gel for distributing the patient's weight through the patient support surface 56 as shown schematically in Figure 13b. As can be seen, the high density of the points near the patient's head, shoulder blades, sacrum and heels indicate that although the patient's weight is distributed more evenly across the patient support surface 56 than the patient's which is distributed with the original surface cuvette for a surgical table shown in Figure 13a, there are still some points with a relatively high interfacial suppression between the patient and the patient support surface 56. As indicated above with respect to Figure 6, inflation of the bladders 146 causes the patient support surface 56 to be adjustably adjustable to the patient and maximizes the surface area of engagement between the patient of the support surface 56 of the patient. patient thus minimizing the occurrence of high interfacial pressure points between the patient and the patient support surface 56 as shown schematically in Figure 13c. By minimizing these high interfacial pressure points between patient and patient support surface 56, the use of surface pad system 20 in accordance with the present invention minimizes pressure ulcers, neuropathy, and other nerve disorders and damage to others. groups of nerves that can result from prolonged exposure at high interfacial pressures. further, as described above, the surface pad system 20 allows the surgical team to manipulate and adjust the temperature of the patient support surface 56 and thus the patient. The use of bladder 146 to press the patient support surface 56 into patient-friendly engagement and placement of the thermal pad 260 above the bladder pad 140 so that the heating pad is equally pressed up and toward the patient. patient, operates to maximize heat transfer between the heating pad 260 and the patient through the gel pack 310 and the top portion 96 of the cover 86. The surface pad system 20 also allows an automatic positioning to the controlled patient with relationship to the top 22 of the surgical table while improving patient stability during repositioning operations. Instead of the members of the surgical team having to reposition the anesthetized patient manually and simultaneously try to hold the patient in the new position using shims, cushions, or other objects that are pushed between the patient and the tops of the conventional covers, the The surface pad system 20 automatically and controllably repositions the patient when instructed to do so by a member of the surgical team, simply by inflating or deflating the bladders 146 as required. The use of internal bladders 146 to reposition the patient eliminates the need to use rolled towels, cushions, or other objects to support the patient in the new position. These objects, which are placed between the patient and the patient support surface 56, are typically thermal insulators, so that illumination of the use of these objects eliminates an impediment to the transfer of heat between the patient support surface 56 and the patient. As described above, the surface pad system 20 according to the present invention includes the control housing 74 containing the controller 370, the heat exchanger 372, the pressurized fluid source 374, the vacuum source 376, and a valve manifold 384 as shown schematically in Figure 14. The controller 370 receives the user input signals from the keypad 378 and the temperature input signal as described above from the thermocouple 382 placed in the package 310 of gel of section 34 of body pad. In addition, the controller 370 receives the temperature input signals from the thermocouples 382 placed in the gel packs 310 of each pad section 30 including the thermal pads 260. The controller 370 receives the input signals from the user of the temperature input signals and provides a heat exchange output signal for the heat exchanger 372, a vacuum output signal for the vacuum source 376, a signal of pressurized fluid outlet for the source 374 of pressurized fluid, and a valve positioning signal for the valve manifold 384 in response thereto. The heat exchanger 372 operates to heat and cool the circulating thermoregulation fluid in response to the output signal from the heat exchanger to maintain the temperature of the thermocouples 382 at the desired temperature. In preferred embodiments, the channels 266 of the thermal pads 260 of all of the pad sections 30 are coupled together and are in fluid communication with each other through the thermoregulation fluid supply conduit 62 and the fluid return conduit 64. thermoregulation. In this manner, the thermoregulation fluid flows from the heat exchanger 372, through each pad section 30, in series, then returns to the heat exchanger 372. Accordingly, a heat exchanger 372 can control the temperature of the thermal pads 260 of each pad section 30. Vacuum source 376 operates to evacuate the atmosphere of the interior region 184 from the bags 180 of vacuum beads or to allow air or other generally inert gas to flow into the interior region 184 of the bag 80 of vacuum beads through the conduits 68 in response to the vacuum output signal of the controller 370. In the preferred embodiments, the interior regions 184 of the vacuum count bags 180 of all the cushion sections 30 are coupled together and are in communication for fluids to each other through the vacuum conduit 68. In this way, when air is evacuated from conduit 68, air flows from each interior region 184, through conduit 68, to vacuum source 376 forcing compressible beads 194 to compress each other and deform, becoming thus immobile with respect to each other and forcing the bag 180 of empty beads to its rigid condition. Likewise, when the air is allowed to return to the interior regions 184, air flows from the vacuum source 376, through the conduit 68, to the interior regions 184 allowing the bags 180 of vacuum beads to once again arrive to be flexible. The pressurized fluid source 374 operates to supply pressurized fluid to the selected bladders 146 at a pressure in accordance with the pressurized outlet signal and the valve placement signal of the controller 370 or to allow the pressurized fluid to escape from the selected bladders 146 in response to the pressurized fluid output signal and the valve positioning signal of the controller 370. In the preferred embodiments, the valve manifold 384 includes a plurality of valves (not shown), which includes a valve (not shown) associated with each pressurized fluid conduit 60 that is associated with each bladder 146. When a user input signal requires any of the bladders 146 to be inflated, the source 374 of pressurized fluid provides pressurized fluid to the valve manifold 384 and associated valve with the bladder 146 selected it is opened, so that the pressurized fluid can flow along the conduct or 66 associated with the bladder 146 selected to fill and inflate the selected bladder 146. When a user input signal requires that one of the bladders 146 be deflated, the pressurized fluid is removed from the valve manifold 384 and the valve associated with the selected bladder is opened, so that the pressurized fluid can flow along the duct 66 associated with the bladder 146 selected from the bladder 146 selected towards the valve manifold 384, thereby allowing the selected bladder 146 to deflate. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the use of the valve manifold 384 allows the surface pad system 20 to include only one source of pressurized fluid 374 to service all of the bladders 146 before a separate source of fluid is required. pressurized fluid for each bladder 146. As mentioned above, the preferred pressurized fluid is air, although any generally inert fluid such as nitrogen, water, or any other suitable liquid or gas can be used as the pressurized fluid to inflate the bladders 146 Therefore, it is within the scope of the invention as is currently perceived for the pressurized fluid source to include an air or water tank, an air compressor, a "domestic" compressed air or another line of compressed gas, a line of water from a hospital or other means, or any other suitable source of pressurized fluid. Each of the bag 180 of vacuum beads, bladders 146, and thermal pad 260 controlled by the controller 370 each provides a convenient source, individual information for the data that record the parameters such as the amount of time a patient is in an individual position, the amount of time a patient is in the surface pad system 20 and thus on the top 22 of the surgical table, the amount of time the patient spends at a particular temperature, and other parameters related to the operation of the surface pad system 20. In addition, the controller 370 can coordinate the operation of the bladders 146, the vacuum bag 180, and the heating pad 260, for example, to control the sequence of operations such as providing that the bladders 146 are inflated before they are evacuate the air from the interior region 184 of the bag 180 of vacuum beads, provide for the air to be evacuated from the bladders 146 before the patient's temperature is reduced for surgery, as well as to provide computer control for these task as the temperature of the patient and the patient support surface 56 is controlled for surgical proces performed at reduced temperatures. If desired, the controller 370 can also be programmed to automatically adjust the bladders 146, the vacuum bead bag 180, and the heating pad 260. Although the surface pad system 20, illustrative includes the pad section 32 of the head, the body pad section 34, the leg pad section 36, the first arm pad section 42 and the second arm pad section 44, the number of pad sections 30 and the arrangement of the sections 30 of pad can be varied without exceeding the scope of the invention as it is currently perceived. For example, the head pad section 32 can be removed from the surface pad system 20 and replaced with a conventional head pad for a surgical surface such as a "donut-shaped" pad commonly used to support the head cushion. fall of a patient. For example different, if it is. As desired, the surface pad system 20 may include an additional pad section (not shown) that is positioned to be between the pad section 34 of the body and the leg pad section 36. In the illustrative and preferred surface pad system 20, the pad sections 30 are removably coupled together so that each pad section 30 can operate independently of the other pad sections 30. The conduits 60 are provided with quick disconnect coupling 72 as shown in Figure 1 to facilitate disconnection of one of the pad sections 30 from the other of the pad sections 30 and to collect yet another of the pad sections 30 other couplings 62 of the hose 76. For example, the surface pad system 20 can be operated using the pad section 34 of the body, the leg cushion section 36, and the arm pad sections 42, 44 that They have the patient's head that rests on a conventional cushion. For example different, the surface pad system 20 can be operated using only the body pad section 34 and the leg pad section 36 with the patient's head supported with a conventional cushion and the patient's arms resting on it. the upper part 22 of the table or the upper part of the patient. As can be seen, in the specific configuration or the number of pad sections 30 of the surface pad system 20 can be varied without the scope of the invention being exceeded as currently perceived. Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment, further variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
Claims (48)
1. A surface pad system for a surgical table, the surface pad system is characterized in that it comprises: a cover having a patient supporting surface, which faces upwardly defining an inner region of the surface pad system, a bag of vacuum beads received in the inner region, the bag of empty beads that includes a flexible cover that defines an inner region containing compressible beads, and a bladder received in the inner region of the cover and placed to be below the vacuum bead bag, the bladder that defines an inner region and which is inflatable when pressurized fluid is received in the inner region of the bladder, so that the vacuum bead bag adjustably couples the patient to the surface of the bladder. Patient's support when the bladder is inflated.
2. The surface pad system according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum bead bag includes a lower layer of compressible beads of an upper layer of compressible beads separated from the lower layer of compressible beads by a membrane made of a material flexible.
3. The surface pad system according to claim 2, characterized in that the membrane is formed to include a plurality of elongated tubes, each tube defining an inner region that receives a bag of vacuum beads, each layer including a plurality of tubes adjacent parallels.
4. The surface pad system according to claim 3, characterized in that the tubes comprising the upper layer extend in a transverse direction and the tubes comprising the lower layer extend in a longitudinal direction.
5. The surface pad system according to claim 3, characterized in that the tubes comprising the upper layer extend in a longitudinal direction, and tubes comprising the lower layer extend in a longitudinal section.
6. The surface pad system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a pad of bladders received in the interior region and including a wall of the upper part having a top surface, a bottom wall and an inlet orifice. of fluid in communication with a source of compressed fluid, the bladder that is added to the upper surface, and the bottom wall that is formed to include a channel in communication for fluids with the bladder and with the fluid inlet orifice, so that the fluid can be communicated from the source of compressed fluid to the bladder through the fluid inlet orifice and the bladder inflate channel.
7. The surface pad system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a thermal pad received in the inner region, the thermal pad which includes a means for selecting and maintaining the temperature of the patient's support surface and which is placed to be above the bag of empty beads and bladder.
8. The surface pad system according to claim 1, characterized in that the bladder is positioned to be below the supporting surface of the patient supporting the patient between the shoulder blades of the patient to minimize the interfacial pressure between the pallets of the patient's shoulders and the patient's support surface when the bladder is inflated to a new pressure.
9. The surface pad system according to claim 8, characterized in that the bladder can be inflated to a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure and the bladder lifts the patient's support surface adjacent to the bladder sufficiently to hyperextend The thorax of the patient when the bladder is inflated to the second pressure.
10. The surface pad system according to claim 1, characterized in that the bladder is a longitudinally extending, elongated first bladder, positioned to be below the supporting surface of the patient supporting the patient between the lower legs of the patient and further comprising first and second bladders extending longitudinally, and elongated, transversely spaced from each other and spaced from the first bladder, the first bladder which is positioned to be between the second and third bladders so that the first bladder cooperates with the second and third bladders to float the patient's calves and heels when the first, second and third bladders are inflated.
11. The surface pad system according to claim 1, characterized in that the bladder is positioned to be below the patient's support surface supporting the sacral area of the patient to minimize the interfacial pressure between the sacrum of the patient and the surface of patient support.
12. The surface pad system according to claim 1, characterized in that the bladder is positioned to be below the support surface of the patient supporting the lumbar area of the patient to minimize the interfacial pressure between the patient's support surface and the upper back and sacrum of the patient.
13. The surface pad system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a controller coupled to the vacuum source for controlling the pressure in the inner region of the vacuum bead bag and a source of pressurized fluid in fluid communication with the bladder, the controller that engages the source of pressurized fluid to control the pressure in the inner region of the bladder so that the controller can coordinate the operation of the vacuum bead bag and the bladder.
14. The surface pad system according to claim 13, further comprising a thermal pad received in the interior region of the cover and a heat exchanger coupled to the heating pad, the heating pad including a channel in communication for fluids with the heat exchanger and receiving thermoregulation fluids therefrom, the controller which is coupled to the heat exchanger to control the temperature of the thermoregulation fluid, thereby controlling the temperature of the patient's support surface.
15. The surface pad system according to claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises a layer of gel received in the interior region and placed to be on top of the vacuum bead bag, the gel layer including a sheath which defines an inner region containing a viscous fluid, and a temperature sensor received in the inner region of the gel layer and coupled to the controller to provide an input signal to the controller in response to the temperature of the gel layer, controller that provides an output signal to the heat exchanger in response to the input signal, the heat exchanger that controls the temperature of the thermoregulation fluid in response to the output signal.
16. A surface pad system for a surgical table, the surface pad system is characterized in that it comprises: a pad section in the head having a top surface positioned to be below the patient's head, a section of the leg pad longitudinally separated from the pad section of the head and having a top surface positioned to be below the lower legs and feet of the patient, a pad section of the body positioned to be between the section of head pad and leg pad section and having a top surface positioned to be below the torso and thighs of the patient, the pad section of the body having first and second elongated, separated sides, and a first and second arm pad sections, the first arm pad section being positioned to be located adjacent to the first side of the arm. body pad section and the second arm pad section which is positioned to be located adjacent to the first side of the body pad section, each of the first and second arm pad sections having a surface of the arm pad. upper part, the surface of the upper part of the head section, the leg section, the body section, and the first and second sections of the arm pad defining a generally flat patient support surface.
17. The surface cushion system according to claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises a temperature means coupled to the body pad section for selecting and maintaining the temperature of the body pad section and the arm pad sections thereof. they couple to the temperature medium so that the temperature medium also maintains the arm pad sections at the selected temperature.
18. The surface pad system according to claim 16, characterized in that the top surface or the top of each arm pad section is bent so that the surface of the upper part of each arm pad section forms a longitudinally extending fork positioned to be between a pair of longitudinally extending vertical flanges, the fork cooperating with the shoulders to hold each patient arm in its pad section of the respective arm.
19. A surface pad system according to claim 16, characterized in that the body pad section includes a head end adjacent to the pad of the head section and each arm pad section includes a shoulder end adjacent to the head pad. the head pad section and a finger end longitudinally separated therefrom and the shoulder end of the first arm pad section is engaged pivotally to the first side of the pad section of the body adjacent to the end of the head. head and the second arm pad section is engaged pivotally mounted to the second side of the pad section of the body adjacent to the head end so that each of the first and second arm pad sections can rotate outwardly away of the body section pad to provide greater access to the patient on the supporting surface of the patient.
20. The surface pad system according to claim 16, characterized in that the body pad section and the leg pad section each are formed to include an inner region and further comprise a first thermal pad received in the region. interior of the body pad section, the first heating pad that is formed to include a channel receiving thermoregulation fluid, a second heating pad received in the inner region of the leg pad section, the second heating pad that is form to include a channel receiving thermoregulation fluid and the pad section of the body that engages the leg pad section having the channel of the first heating pad in fluid communication with the channel of the second heating pad so that the thermoregulation fluid circulates through both the sec body pad as the leg pad section.
21. The surface pad system according to claim 20, characterized in that the first and second arm pad sections are each formed to include an interior region and further comprise a third thermal pad received in the interior region of the first arm pad section, the third heating pad that is formed to include a channel receiving a thermoregulation fluid, and a fourth thermal pad received in the inner region of the second arm pad section, the fourth thermal pad that is formed to include a channel receiving a thermoregulation fluid, and the first and second arm pad sections are attached to the pad of the body section having the channel of the third heating pad in fluid communication with the channel of the body. first heating pad and the channel of the fourth thermal pad in communication pair to fluids with the channel of the first heating pad so that the thermoregulation fluid circulates through the body pad section, the leg pad section, the first arm pad section, and the second pad section from the arm.
22. The surface pad system according to claim 20, characterized in that it further comprises a first bag of vacuum beads having an interior region in fluid communication with a vacuum source and which is received in the interior region of the vacuum section. body pad and a second vacuum bead bag having an inner region in fluid communication with a vacuum source and received in the inner region of the leg pad section, the pad section of the body being it engages the leg pad section so that the inner region of the first bag of vacuum beads is in fluid communication with the inner region of the second bag of vacuum beads.
23. A surface pad system for a surgical table, the surface pad system is characterized in that it comprises: a cover defining an interior region, and a layer of foam received in the interior region, the layer of foam that is made from of a thermally active viscoelastic foam having a lower indentation load deflection when the foam is warmer and a higher indentation load deflection when the foam is colder, so that the surface cushion system easily adjusts to the patient at warmer temperatures and maintains its shape at lower temperatures.
24. The surface pad system according to claim 23, characterized in that the foam layer is elongated and formed to include a surface of the upper part that faces upwards and the surface of the upper part is concave, so that the The foam layer and the cover cooperate to define the longitudinally extending spaced flanges and a longitudinally extending channel therebetween.
25. The surface pad system according to claim 23, characterized in that it further comprises a thermal pad received in the interior region and positioned to be above the foam layer.
26. A surface pad system for a surgical table, the surface pad system is characterized in that it comprises: a pad core, and a cover defining an inner region that receives the pad core, the cover that is made from a material that can be stretched from a first length to a second length that is longer than the first length in a first direction and that can be stretched from a third length to a fourth length that is longer than the third length in a second direction , the second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction.
27. The surface pad system according to claim 26, characterized in that the cover is made from a material that is impervious to liquids to protect the pad core from the liquids of the exterior of the surface pad system and to prevent the leakage of liquids from the interior region of the cover.
28. A surface pad system for supporting a patient above a surgical table, the surface pad system is characterized in that it comprises: a pad having a core and a cover surrounding the core, and a fixed needle pocket with relation to the rods and positioned to be adjacent to the pad, the needle pocket including an outer cover that is formed to include an opening for receiving needles, the outer cover that protects the pad cover from penetration by a needle.
29. The surface pad system according to claim 28, characterized in that the surface pad system includes an end of the head adjacent to the patient's head when the patient is supported by the surface pad system and the pad of the pocket. of needles are placed to be adjacent to the head end of the surface pad system.
30. A surface pad system for a surgical table, the surface pad system is characterized in that it comprises: a pad core, a cover defining an inner region that receives the pad core, the cover having a top portion positioned for being above the pad core, and a layer of cut-proof material positioned to be between the pad core and the top of the cover, so that the pad core is protected against penetration by sharp objects such as scalpels or needles that penetrate the top of the cover.
31. The surface pad system according to claim 30, characterized in that the upper part of the cover includes a parametrial edge and the cover includes sides that extend generally vertically added to the parametrial edge of the upper part of the cover and that they extend downwardly therefrom and the layer of cut-proof material includes side portions positioned to be between the pad core and the sides of the cover.
32. A surface pad system for a surgical table, the surface pad system is characterized in that it comprises: a pad section of the body having one end of the head, one end of the feet, and a first and second sides spaced apart from each other; they, the body pad section that is positioned to be below the patient's torso, the body pad section that includes a pad core and an outer shell that defines an inner region that receives the pad core, the cover outer having an upper part and a bottom separated from the upper part and placed to be below the pad core, and an elongated bladder attached to the bottom of the cover and positioned to be outside the inner region of the outer cover, the bladder that is placed to be adjacent to the first side and that is inflatable between a deflated position in which the bottom of the cover is in general parallel to the surface of the surgical table and an inflated position in which the first side of the bottom cover is lifted above the surface of the surgical table so that the body pad section is inclined relative to the surface of the surgical table when the bladder is inflated.
33. A surface pad system for a surgical table, the surface pad system is characterized in that it comprises: a pad section of the body positioned to be below the torso of the patient and which includes a pad core and a cover defining a inner region receiving the pad core, the pad core including a heating pad having a sheath defining a channel receiving the thermoregulation fluid, and a leg pad section longitudinally separated from the body pad section and positioned to be below the lower legs and feet of the patient, the leg cushion section that engages the pad section of the body and that includes a pad core and a cover defining an inner region receiving the pillow core, the core pad that defines a heating pad that has an defining a channel that receives the thermoregulation fluid, the channel of the heating pad of the leg pad section that is in fluid communication with the channel of the heating pad of the body pad section, so that the thermoregulation fluid can pass between them.
34. The surface pad system according to claim 33, characterized in that the body pad section includes a separate first and second side and further comprises a first arm pad section adjacent to the first side of the pad section of the arm. body and a second arm pad section adjacent to the second side of the body pad sectioneach of the first and second arm pad sections that engage the pad section of the body and which includes a pad core and a cover defining an inner region that receives the pad core, the pad core each arm pad section including a heating pad having a sheath defining a channel that receives the thermoregulation fluid, the thermal pad channel of each arm pad section that is in fluid communication with the channel of the arm Thermal pad of the body pad section and the thermal pad channel of the leg pad section so that the thermoregulation fluid can pass between them.
35. A surface pad system for a surgical table, the surface pad system is characterized in that it comprises: a cover defining an interior region and including an upwardly facing upper portion placed below the patient, and a pad core received in the inner region of the cover, the pad core including a bladder positioned to be adjacent to the top of the cover, the bladder being inflatable at a first pressure to adjust the support and firmness characteristics of the pad system of surface adjacent to the bladder, so as to minimize the interfacial pressure of the high interfacial pressure points between the patient and% the patient's support surface.
36. The surface pad system according to claim 35, characterized in that the bladder is inflatable at a second pressure to adjust the position of the patient.
37. The surface pad system according to claim 35, characterized in that the bladder is a first bladder and further comprises a second bladder placed to be adjacent to the upper part of the cover, the second bladder being inflatable to adjust the characteristics of the bladder. of support and firmness of the surface pad system adjacent to the second bladder, the second bladder which is inflatable and deflatable independently of the first bladder.
38. A surface pad system for a surgical table, the surface pad system is characterized in that it comprises: a body pad section positioned to be below the patient's torso and thighs, the body pad section including a upper surface facing upward and first and second sides elongated, spaced apart, and first and second sections of arm pad extending longitudinally, positioned to be adjacent to the first and second sides of the cushion section of the body and positioned to be below the patient's arms, each arm pad section including a top surface which is in general coplanar with the surface of the upper part of the body pad section.
39. The surface pad system according to claim 38, characterized in that the top surface of each arm pad section is concave to form a longitudinally extending channel to float the patient's arms, the channel that is positioned to be between the first and the second flanges extending upwards and cooperating with it to hold each arm of the patient in its respective arm support.
40. A surface pad system for a surgical table, the surface pad system is characterized in that it comprises: a cover defining an interior region, an upper part having a patient supporting surface, which faces upwards, and a bottom having a bottom surface facing downwardly separated from the patient's support surface, a first layer of high density foam support received in the inner region and engaging the bottom of the cover, a bladder received in the inner region and coupling the first support layer, a lower layer of placement beads received in the inner region and which couples the bladder, the lower layer of placement beads that includes a plurality of transversely extending elongated tubes, made of a material flexible, each tube that defines an internal region that receives accounts, a top layer of placement accounts received in the region inside and engages the lower layer of the placement beads, the upper layer of placement beads that includes a plurality of longitudinally extending elongated tubes made of a flexible material, each tube defining an inner region receiving beads, a second layer of high density foam support received in the inner region and coupling the upper layer of placement beads, a thermal pad received in the inner region and coupled to the second support layer, the thermal pad having a sheath defining a serpentine channel that receives a thermoregulation fluid at a selected temperature, a layer of gel received in the inner region and which couples the thermal pad, the gel layer which includes a sheath defining an inner region containing a viscous fluid, and a stratified shear-proof material between the gel layer and the top of the sheath to prevent penetration of the gel layer by objects penetrating the part top of the cover.
41. The surface pad system according to claim 40, characterized in that the bottom of the cover includes a first and a second longitudinal side, separated and the cover is formed to include a cavity placed to be adjacent to the first side below the bottom of the cover, the cavity defining a cavity interior, comprising a bladder received by the cavity, the bladder that can be inflated and deflated to move the operating surface from a generally horizontal position when the bladder is deflated to a position inclined when the bladder is inflated.
42. In addition, it comprises a heat exchanger that regulates the temperature of the thermoregulation fluid provided to the channel of the heating pad, a vacuum source for evacuating the air from the upper layers, and bottom of the placement beads, a source of pressurized air to provide pressurized fluid to the bladder, and a controller to control and coordinate the operation of the heat exchanger, the vacuum source and the pressurized fluid source.
43. The surface pad system according to claim 40, characterized in that the cover is made of a stretchable, bidirectional material that is stretchable both transversely and longitudinally, so that the cover is stretched rather than folded when the cover is moved. cover.
44. A bag of vacuum beads for use in a surface pad system for a surgical table, the bag of vacuum beads is characterized in that it comprises: a sheath having an inner region, a plurality of elongated, flexible tubes received in the inner region of the sheath, each tube defining an inner region of the tube, and a plurality of compressible beads, each tube receiving beads from the plurality of compressible beads in the inner region of each tube, wherein a first set of tubes the plurality of tubes includes tubes that extend in a first direction and a second set of tubes of the plurality of tubes is positioned to be above the first set of tubes, the second set of tubes including tubes that extend in a second direction, the second direction which is generally perpendicular to the first direction.
45. A bladder pad for use in a surface pad system for a surgical table, the bladder pad is characterized in that it comprises: a first sheet having a first surface that faces a first surface that faces a first direction and a second surface that gives a second direction that is opposite to the second direction, the sheet that is formed to include an opening extending therethrough, a bladder added to the first surface and that is formed to include an interior region and an opening in communication for fluids both with the inner region of the bladder and the opening formed in the sheet, and a second sheet added to the second surface or the first sheet and cooperating therewith to define a channel for receiving pressurized fluid, the channel that is formed to include an opening in communication for fluids with the opening of the sheet, so that the channel is in communication with ion for fluids with the canal and the inner region of the bladder.
46. A control system for use with a surface pad system for a surgical table, the control system is characterized in that it comprises: a numeric keypad to provide a user's temperature input signal, a user's vacuum input signal , and a user bladder input signal in response to user inputs, a heat exchanger means for maintaining the temperature of a thermoregulation fluid at a predetermined temperature in response to an output signal from the heat exchanger. , a vacuum means for evacuating the air and replacing the air in a fluid communication chamber with the vacuum medium in response to the vacuum output signal, a pressurized fluid medium for providing pressurized fluid to, and evacuating fluid pressurized from, a bladder in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid medium in response to a pressurized fluid outlet signal and a controller coupled to the numeric keypad, the heat exchange medium, the vacuum medium, and the fluid medium pressurized, the controller including a temperature means for providing the output signal of the heat exchanger to the heat exchanger means in response to the user's temperature input signal, a means for providing the output signal of vacuum to the medium of vacuum in response to the vacuum input signal of the user, and a means for providing the output signal of pressurized fluid to the fluid medium. resurfaced in response to the user's bladder input signal.
47. The control pad system according to claim 46, characterized in that it further comprises a thermocouple coupled to the controller and that provides a temperature signal of the fluid in response to the temperature of the thermocouple, the temperature medium of the controller that provides the signal of output of the heat exchanger in response to the fluid temperature signal and the input signal at the user's temperature.
48. The control system according to claim 46, characterized in that the numeric keypad can be moved relative to the controller.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/691,573 US5966763A (en) | 1996-08-02 | 1996-08-02 | Surface pad system for a surgical table |
| US08691573 | 1996-08-02 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| MX9705766A MX9705766A (en) | 1998-08-30 |
| MXPA97005766A true MXPA97005766A (en) | 1998-11-12 |
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