US3817509A

US3817509A - Patient positioner device

Info

Publication number: US3817509A
Application number: US00293570A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Komline
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-09-29
Filing date: 1972-09-29
Publication date: 1974-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-18

Abstract

A device for raising a patient resting on a tabletop from a flat position to a desired angular position for aiding in photographic and examination procedures. The device, located beneath the patient, includes a flexible belt secured about the table and a lever pivotally attached to the belt at one end. A lever support means maintains the lever pivoted upwardly and the patient angularly positioned as desired.

Description

I United States Patent [191 [111 3,817,509 Komline June 18, 1974 PATIENT POSITIONER DEVICE Prima ExaminerRo Lake 76 l t Th R.K P k,N.. 1 men or 3% omhne eapac J Assistant Examiner-Craig R. Femberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Watson, Cole, Grindle & [22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1972 Watson [21] Appl. No.: 293,570

[57] ABSTRACT [52 vs. C! 269/322, 269/323, 269/328 A device for raising a Patient resting on a tabletop 51] Int. Cl A6lg 13/00 from a flat Position to a desired angular Position for 58 Field 6: Search 269/322, 323, 324, 325, aiding Photographic and examination Procedures- 269/326, 327, 328 The device, located beneath the patient, includes a flexible belt secured about the table and a lever pivot- [56] Referencw Cited ally attached to the belt at one end. A lever support UNITED STATES PATENTS means maintains the lever pivoted upwardly and the patient angularly positioned as desired. 2,339,828 1/1944 Worth 269/322 3,565,419 2/l97l Allard 269/328 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures sis-1115099 PATENI'EDM I a ram PATIENT POSITIONER DEVICE This invention relates generally to a devieefor aiding in various anatomical photographic and examination procedures and'more particularly to such a device capableof angularly positioning a patient for more effectively carrying out such procedures.

While conducting various anatomical photographic and examination procedures with the patient in a horizontal position, it becomes essential that photographs be taken not only frontally but at angles thereby requiringthat'thepatient be moved to afford the best possible position for the camera. The patient cannot be effectively propped into a proper position for the camera by an attendantorattendants without avoiding subsequent movement, especially during lengthy examination procedures. For example, aheart catheterization procedure is generally carried out by inserting a catheter into the artery in the area-of the groin with consequent numerouspictures thereafter taken of the heart from variousangles. In this procedure, itis necessary that the hips offthe patient be constrained and that the spine thenbevtwisted sufficiently to obtain the proper relationship betweenthe camera and the heart to assure utmost'clarity of the photos.

Previous devices in this fieldmake use of either a rotating: table or some type of upper body harness designed to give the attendant a-better opportunity to po sition thepatient. Such devices, however, often obstruct the camera so thatit cannot be effectively placed in the most'advantageous position: Moreover, many of theseprior'art devices are rather complicated in their designso'that both capital expense and cost of operation become important factors.

In accordance with the'present invention, a highly practicaland economicaldevice is provided for movementiof the patient to a desired angular position and maintaining the patient propped in suchposition. This is theprincipal object of the invention.

Another'object is top'rovide such device which is located beneath the patient and includes a flexible-belt securedabout theexamination table with a lever being pivotallyattachedto the belt at one end. The patient may thereforebe easily shifted into a desiredangular position as the lever is pivoted upwardly.

Afurtherobject of this invention is to provide such aidevice wherein the lever is pivotally attached at one endto the topportion of the flexible beltnear one side ofthe table with the free end of the lever extending outwardly ofthe other side of the table.

Otherobjects, advantages and novel features of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following. detailed description of the invention when considered in" conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is aperspective view showing a patient lying onanexamination table with a pair of positioning devices of the present invention located beneath his upper'torso;

FIG. 2lis a sectional view taken along the line 2- ofFIG. 1* showingoperation of the positioning device; and:

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FlG. l without a showingof the patient.

Tumingnow to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, a patient P is shown in FIG. 1 lying in a flat and horizontal position on the top surface of an examination table 10. This table includes a support surface 11, legs 12 and a foam or similar type of pad 13. The patient positioner device of the invention, generally designated 14, is located beneath the patients upper torso so that this portion of the patients body may be angularly adjusted in relation to the camera during a heart catheterization procedure, for example. During such procedure, the hips of the patient may be constrained as by means of a strap or belt, not shown in the drawings.

Device 14 is more clearly shown in FIG. 2 as comprising a flexible belt 15, of durable fabric or similar material, wrapped about the support 11 and pad 13 and secured in place as by means of a Velcro type fastener provided at the free end l6of the belt. Of course, other types of securing means may be used as well; for example, a buckle, a clamp, snap fastener, etc.

A lever member 17 is pivotally attached at one end to the top surface 18 of the belt near one side of the table. The free end 19 of lever 17 extends outwardly beyond the opposite side of the table as clearly shown in FIG. 1. The lever is pivotally attached by means ofa flexiblesleeve element 21 of a durable fabric or similar material as that used for the belt, and is secured at one end thereof as by stitching 22 to the top surface l8-of the belt. The open end of sleeve element 21 receives a portion of lever 17, the sleeve opening being dimensioned in such a manner as to snugly receive lever 17 without the need for any securing means therefor.

A support means in the form of a short rod'member 23 is provided for maintaining lever 17 and the upper torso of patient P in the desired angular position. Rod

23 is simply hinged to the levers under surface asat lever-'24 with its free end bearing against the top surface l8of the belt during this propped up position of the lever.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen that a pair of contiguous patient positioner devices 14 are used so that one of the devices nearest the patients head, for example, may be propped up at a greater angle as compared to the other of such devices to effect and maintain a twist of the patients spine while his hips are constrained during a catheterization procedureDevices l4'are shown in FIG. l as designed for elevating the right shoulder of the patient although these devices can be also used as well for the left shoulder by simply arranging the device on the table in themanner as shown in phantom in FIG. 2. Moreover, should it become necessary to angularly position the patients entire body, the devices 14 could be easily spaced apart with one of them positioned under the shoulder of the patient and the other positioned under his hips.

It should be pointed out that a chock block or the like could be provided in lieu of rod member 23 for the pur pose of propping up lever 17 to a desired angular position.

It can be seen from the foregoing description that a simple and economical, yet highly effective, device is provided for conveniently moving all or a portion of the patients body into a preferred angular position and maintaining it as such during some anatomical procedure. One or more of these devices may be used and positioned beneath various portions of the patients body so as to raise one of his shoulders as described, one of his hips, a rib or some portion of the knee or even the head.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A device for raising a patient resting on the top surface of a table from a flat to an angular position for aiding in photographic and examination procedures, comprising at least one flexible belt secured about said table and having a top portion lying fully in contact against said top surface, at least one sleeve element attached at one end to said top portion near one side of said table, an elongated lever member located within said sleeve, the free end of said lever member extending outwardly of the other side of said table, and a lever support means on said lever so that, as said free end is pivoted upwardly about said one end, said lever is maintained at a desired angular position for likewise angularly positioning the patient.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said lever support means comprises a rod member hingedly secured at one end to the undersurface of said lever member.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein two of said flexible belts are provided, each said belt being secured about said table and each having a top portion lying fully in contact against said top surface, and wherein two of said elongated lever members are provided one for each said belt.