Patient positioning support structure with trunk translator

摘要

A patient support structure includes a pair of independently height-adjustable supports, each connected to a patient support. The supports may be independently raised, lowered, rolled or tilted about a longitudinal axis, laterally shifted and angled upwardly or downwardly. Position sensors are provided to sense all of the foregoing movements. The sensors communicate data to a computer for coordinated adjustment and maintenance of the inboard ends of the patient supports in an approximated position during such movements. A longitudinal translator provides for compensation in the length of the structure when the supports are angled upwardly or downwardly. A patient trunk translator provides coordinated translational movement of the patient's upper body along the respective patient support in a caudad or cephalad direction as the patient supports are angled upwardly or downwardly for maintaining proper spinal biomechanics and avoiding undue spinal traction or compression.

主权项

1. An apparatus for supporting a patient during a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising:
a. first and second opposed end supports; b. first and second patient supports, each having an outboard end pivotally connected to a respective one of said end supports and an inboard end, the inboard ends forming an articulation; c. a patient trunk translator engaged with one of said first and second patient supports, the trunk translator having a trunk actuator operable for selective positioning of the trunk translator along a length of the patient support, said trunk actuator including a trunk sensor for sensing a position of the trunk translator and transmitting position data; and d. a computer interfaced with said trunk actuator and said trunk sensor for receiving angular orientation and position data and sending a trunk actuator control signal to said trunk actuator in response to a change in said angular orientation to thereby coordinate a position of said trunk translator with said angular orientation.