ES1309791U - DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AND SUPPORTING THE SHOULDERS OF A PATIENT ON AN OPERATING TABLE (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (100) for supporting and holding the shoulders (H) of a patient (P) on an operating table (200), the device (100) comprising a support structure (110) intended to be attached to a operating table (200), and means for supporting and holding the patient's shoulders (130) arranged in said support structure (110), characterized in that the means for supporting and holding the patient's shoulders (130)) comprise: - a first support base (131) provided with a first soft element (132) intended to receive the upper part of an arm (B) of the patient (P); - a second support base (133) provided with a second soft element (134) intended to receive a shoulder (H) of the patient (P); - first means for regulating (140) the relative angular position (α) of the first and second support bases (131, 133); and - second means for regulating (160) the longitudinal position of the second support base (133) with respect to the support structure (110) along a second direction (Y1). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AND HOLDING A PATIENT'S SHOULDERS ON AN OPERATING TABLE

The present description relates to the securing of patients on operating tables. In particular, the present description relates to a device intended for supporting and securing the shoulders of a patient on an operating table, for example, during surgical interventions.

STATE OF THE ART

In surgical operations, patients may suffer traumatic injuries, bumps, scrapes, and pain if they move on the operating table during surgery. Movement of a patient on an operating table during surgery can cause severe injuries.

In an attempt to overcome this problem, some structures have been proposed in the art to hold the patient in a certain position. For example, in US20020157186 a device is proposed to hold the hip and shoulders of a patient on an operating table. The device includes padded holding assemblies that act as a stop for an upper part of the patient's shoulder.

Another example is the device described in WO2005107676A1 which comprises a plate having padding and which is attached to articulated bars for supporting the patient's shoulder on an operating table.

US10245201B2 shows a stretcher with a headrest and side pads intended to restrict movement on an operating table. The side pads are intended to rest on the patient's shoulder and are attached to movable bases which are attached to the table with Velcro to regulate position.

US2013312189 refers to a device for placing a patient in a certain position on an operating table, comprising a board to support the patient's back and shoulder support elements removable from the board.

The proposals that have been devised so far consist of structures that, although they can hold the patient in a certain position to a greater or lesser extent, do not do so in an effective manner, since in many cases the patient's support is carried out in a way that is uncomfortable for him or her and is not free from the risk of injury. In addition, in many cases, the proposals made so far result in complex, expensive and complicated devices to use.

The inventors have developed a new device for supporting and holding a patient's shoulders on an operating table which has been proven to provide effective and correct positioning, support and support of the patient, reducing the risk of injury and discomfort. The new device for support and holding also provides numerous advantages, as detailed below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present device described below is intended for supporting and holding the shoulders of a patient on an operating table in a comfortable and safe manner, which can be used in numerous specialties such as urology, gynecology, as well as surgery of any type, whether open, laparoscopic, robotic, etc. as well as general surgery, abdominal surgery, etc.

In this description, reference will be made interchangeably to the term operating table, table, bed, stretcher to refer to surfaces intended to support a patient in a suitable position for treatment, surgical intervention, surgery, and any type of operation in clinics, hospitals, etc.

When referring in this description to the patient's shoulder, it will be interpreted that said term may include other parts close to it, such as the upper part of the arm, the lower part of the neck, etc.

The present device comprises a support structure intended to be coupled to an operating table. The operating table can be arranged in any position, whether horizontal, such as in a supine position, inclined, such as in a Trendelenburg position, lithotomy, etc.

The present device also includes means for supporting and securing the patient's shoulders arranged on said support structure. Said support and securing means allow for proper adjustment to the patient's shoulder and upper arm area in order to prevent the patient from sliding on the operating table in forced positions, such as in the aforementioned Trendelenburg position.

Said means for supporting and securing the patient's shoulders comprise a first support base provided with a first soft element intended to receive the upper part of one of the patient's arms. The means for supporting and securing the patient's shoulders also comprise a second support base provided with a second soft element intended to receive one of the patient's shoulders and also a lateral area of the patient's neck.

The soft nature of the first and second elements is understood here to mean that said elements are made of any material that is, to some extent, elastic or spongy, and offers little resistance to pressure when receiving the patient's shoulder or parts close to it.

It is preferable that the first soft element and/or the second soft element be made of foam for contact with the patient. By using a material with a high capacity for pressure distribution, patient comfort and ergonomics are increased by reducing contact pressures in the support areas of the shoulders, upper arm, and lateral neck. The foam can be disposable foam. This reduces the risk of cross contamination. However, other types of soft elements may be used, such as elements made of a suitable padding material.

The first soft element and/or the second soft element can be coupled to the corresponding first and second support base by means of a suitable self-adhesive sheet, preferably one that can adhere to the corresponding support base and be easily removed from it.

The means for supporting and securing the patient's shoulders also comprise first means for regulating the relative angular position of the first and second support bases.

That is, the first regulating means allow the angle formed by the first and second support bases to be adjusted.

Second means are also provided for regulating the longitudinal position of the second support base with respect to the support structure along a first direction.

The second soft element may have a curved edge to properly accommodate the patient's neck.

Third means may be provided for regulating the longitudinal position of the first support base relative to the support structure along a second direction.

The means for supporting and securing the patient's shoulders may also include fourth means for adjusting the linear position of the first and second support bases relative to an upper surface of the operating table along a third direction. Said fourth adjustment means allow the height of the assembly to be adjusted relative to the operating table. Preferably, said third direction is substantially perpendicular to the plane formed by the first direction and the second direction.

One or more of said first, second, third, and fourth adjusting means may be configured to establish a plurality of preset or predetermined relative positions. For this purpose, one or more of said adjusting means may include a toothed mechanism to establish different preset or predetermined linear and/or angular positions of the shoulder support and holding means.

In one example, the support structure is made of a material that can be properly cleaned and disinfected so that it is reusable. In particular, the support structure may comprise a first bar, a second bar, and a third bar. Each of said first, second, and third bars may have a different configuration or be the same. The term bar should be interpreted here to include any structural support element intended to be attached to an operating table and capable of supporting and securing means for the shoulders of the patient.

The first support base may be movable relative to the first bar along said second direction. The second support base is movable relative to the second bar along said first direction. This configuration allows the position of the first support base with its first soft element and the second support base with its second soft element to be adjusted on the plane of the operating table.

In some cases, if necessary, at least one of the first and second support bases may be pivotally mounted on the corresponding first and second bars. This configuration increases the adaptability of the device to a plurality of different patient anatomies.

The device includes a support element configured for coupling to an operating table, for example, through a standard clamping mechanism of a conventional operating table. Said support element may form part of the fourth adjustment means described above.

At least one of the first and second bars of the support structure is rotatably mounted on the third bar. The third bar can slide relative to said support element along said third direction.

The first bar and the second bar are hinged to each other. That is, the first bar and the second bar can rotate relative to each other to vary the relative angular position of the first and second support bases. In practice, the first bar could be fixed and the second bar could rotate relative to the first bar or vice versa, or the first bar and the second bar could both be rotatable relative to each other, as required.

Locking means may be provided to lock one or more of the first regulating means, the second regulating means, the third regulating means, and the fourth regulating means.

Such locking means, if provided, may comprise one or more of the following:

-a first locking element adapted to fix the relative angular position of the first support base and the second support base;

- a second locking element adapted to fix the relative position of the second support base with respect to the second bar of the support structure along said first direction;

- a third locking element for fixing the relative position of the third bar along said third direction; and

- elastic means to regulate the locking action.

Elastic means may be provided to facilitate the locking action of any such locking means. Such elastic means may comprise, for example, a spring, although it could be any other suitable type of elastic means.

As mentioned above, the device can be coupled to the operating table via a standard coupling means already present on the standard operating table itself, namely an auxiliary side bar. For this purpose, a support element is provided, as mentioned above, which is suitably configured to be coupled to the auxiliary side bar of the operating table and relative to which the third bar of the device can slide along the third adjustment direction. The support element can also be coupled to the auxiliary side bar of the operating table so that it can also slide relative to it in one direction along the operating table. This adjustment allows the device to be positioned closer to the patient's head or closer to the patient's feet.

This support element allows the device to be anchored to a standard operating table in a simple, effective and economical way.

The described device may further comprise means for locking the relative position of the third bar along said third adjustment direction.

In one example, said locking means may comprise a locking element configured to fix the third bar in a determined position along said third direction of adjustment. In practice, the locking element may be a threaded knob, although other suitable mechanical means may be used.

A device such as the one described is very effective for the applications for which it is intended, it is compact, low cost, easy to use by healthcare personnel or any other field, and is very comfortable for the patient thanks to the specific geometry for supporting the arms, shoulder, and neck.

As described, the device is adjustable transversely across the width of the operating table in a first direction, as well as longitudinally along the operating table in a second direction, and is also adjustable in height relative to the operating table in a third direction. The device is also angularly adjustable to suitably adapt to any relative angular position of the patient's shoulder and arm.

Thanks to the multiple adjustment capabilities of the device, an optimal fit is possible for the upper arm, shoulder, and neck of the patient on the operating table. The described device holds and stops the shoulders, preventing unwanted longitudinal and transverse movements and displacements during operations on the operating table, especially in the Trendelenburg position.

Compared with other rigid and non-ergonomic shoulder restraints used to date, which do not allow for adaptation to the patient's anatomy, the described configuration has been shown to significantly reduce problems such as traumatic injuries, for example, to nerves and soft tissues in the shoulder and neck area, as well as the risk of brachial plexopathy by limiting arm abduction during laparoscopic procedures.

Other objects, advantages and features of embodiments of the present device will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the description, or will be derived by practicing the present description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A particular example of the present device will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are general perspective views of an example of the device for supporting and securing a patient's shoulders on an operating table; and

Figure 3 is a general perspective view of a patient on an operating table with the shoulders secured using the device in Figures 1 and 2.

DETAILED EXHIBITION OF AN EXAMPLE

According to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a device is described, designated as a whole by reference 100, for supporting and holding the arms B of a patient P on an operating table 200, for example, during a surgical intervention.

In the non-limiting example illustrated in the figures, the patient P is shown on a stretcher or operating table 200 in the supine or dorsal decubitus position. However, the device 100 is intended to be used in an equally advantageous manner in many other positions such as, for example, in the Trendelenburg position, lithotomy position, etc.

From now on, the term operating table, table, bed, stretcher will be used interchangeably to refer to surfaces intended to support a patient in a suitable position for treatment, surgical intervention, surgery, and any type of operation in clinics, hospitals, etc. In Figure 3, the operating table has been designated as a whole by reference 200.

Furthermore, when referring in this description to the shoulder H of patient P, it will be interpreted that it may include other parts close to it, such as the upper part of the arm B, the lower part of the neck C, etc.

The device 100 comprises a support structure 110 intended to be coupled to the operating table 200. The support structure 110 is made of a material that can be properly cleaned and disinfected for reuse in other interventions.

In the non-limiting example shown in the figures, the support structure 110 comprises a first bar 135, a second bar 136, and a third bar 137.

In the example shown, the third bar 137 extends vertically and its upper end is extended horizontally forming the second bar 136. Both bars 136, 137 are therefore in one piece. However, the second bar 136 could be an independent piece and be fixedly attached to the third bar 137.

For its part, the first bar 135 is articulated to the assembly formed by the second bar 136 and the third bar 137, so that it can rotate to vary the angle formed between the first and second bars 135, 136.

The third bar 137, and therefore the first and second bars 135, 136, can slide along a third direction Z. In this way, it is possible to regulate the height of the device 100 relative to an upper surface 210 of the operating table 200, as will be detailed below. In the example shown, the third direction Z is vertical, that is, substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the first direction Y1 and the second direction Y2.

The assembly formed by the support bases 131, 133 and their corresponding soft elements 132, 134, can slide along a third direction Y3, corresponding to a longitudinal direction of the operating table 200. The third direction Y3 is perpendicular to the first direction Y1, and is located in the same plane defined by the first direction Y1 and the second direction Y2. This adjustment allows the support and fastening means 130 of the shoulders H of the patient P to be placed closer to the head or closer to the feet of the patient P.

The illustrated device 100 also comprises support and holding means 130 for the shoulders H of the patient P. The support and holding means 130 are arranged on the support structure 110 and are intended to arrange the device 100 holding the shoulder H and the upper arm area B of the patient P in order to prevent it from sliding on the operating table 200 in forced positions, such as in the aforementioned Trendelenburg position.

More particularly, said support and fastening means 130 of the shoulders H of the patient P comprise a first support base 131 which can be fixed or movable relative to the first bar 135 along a second direction Y2. The first support base 131 is provided with a first soft element 132. Said first soft element 132 is intended to receive the upper part of an arm B of the patient P.

The support and holding means 130 for the shoulders H of the patient P also comprise a second support base 133 movable relative to the second bar 136 along a first direction Y1. The second support base 133 is provided with a second soft element 134. Said second soft element 134 is intended to receive a shoulder H of the patient P.

The first support base 131, or the second support base 133, or both, may be tiltably mounted on the corresponding first and second bars 135, 136 of the support structure 110.

With the configuration described, the device 100 allows the set formed by the support bases 131, 133 and their corresponding soft elements 132, 134 to be adjusted in multiple positions, either transversely across the width of the operating table 200 along said first direction Y1, as well as longitudinally along the operating table 200 along said second direction Y2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. This allows a great capacity for adaptation to a large number of different patient anatomies.

The first soft element 132 and the second soft element 134 are made of foam for contact with the shoulder H, the arm B, and the neck C of the patient P. The foam is of the disposable type. In this way, the contact pressures in said areas H, B, C of the patient P are reduced and the risk of cross contamination is decreased. In the example shown, the second soft element 134 has a curved edge 138 to properly receive the neck C of the patient P.

The first soft element 132 and the second soft element 134 are coupled to the first support base 131 and the second support base 133, respectively, by means of a self-adhesive sheet 139.

The support and fastening means 130 of the shoulders H of the patient P also comprise, in the example shown, first adjustment means 140, second adjustment means 160, third adjustment means 150, and fourth adjustment means 170.

The first adjustment means 140 allow the angle between the first support base 131 and the second support base 133, and the respective soft elements 132, 134 that they incorporate to be adjusted.

The second regulating means 160 allow the longitudinal position of the second support base 133 to be adjusted with respect to the support structure 110 along a first direction Y1.

The first support base 131 is fixed with respect to the third bar 135. However, if the aforementioned third adjustment means 150 are provided, the longitudinal position of said first support base 131 with respect to the support structure 110 could be adjusted along a second direction Y2.

The fourth adjustment means 170 allow the linear position of the first support base 131 and the second support base 133 to be adjusted relative to an upper surface 210 of the operating table 200 along the third direction Z, vertical in the example shown. Said fourth adjustment means 170 thus allow the height of the set of support bases 131, 133 to be adjusted with their corresponding soft elements 132, 134 relative to said upper surface 210 of the operating table 200. The fourth adjustment means 170 comprise, in the illustrated example, a support element 171 in the form of a hollow block configured to be coupled, by means of a standard clamping mechanism, to the operating table 200. The support element or hollow block 171 has a first inner passage through which the third bar 137 can slide vertically up and down along the third direction Z.

In addition, block 171 may be advantageously configured to engage an auxiliary side bar, not shown, typically present on an operating table 200. In particular, in the example shown in the figures, block 171 has a second inner passage through which the auxiliary side bar can slide along a direction Y3 along the operating table 200, as shown in the figures of the drawings. Direction Y3 is parallel to the second direction Y2. If the angle <a> between the first and second bars 135, 136 is 90°.

As already indicated above, this configuration allows additional regulation of the position of the entire assembly formed by the support bases 131, 133 and their corresponding soft elements 132, 134 along the operating table 200 in said regulation direction Y3.

Advantageously, with the same fourth adjustment means 170, the position of the support bases 131, 133 and their soft elements 132, 134 can be adjusted both in height, that is, vertically upwards and downwards along the third direction Z, and also along the operating table 200, in the adjustment direction Y3.

As described, the first, second, third and fourth regulating means 140, 160, 150, 170 allow a plurality of positions of the support bases 131, 133 and their corresponding soft elements 132, 134 to be established. This regulation can be carried out continuously or according to a certain series of pre-established positions. To this end, one or more of said regulating means 140, 160, 150, 170 could incorporate a toothed type mechanism, not shown, to establish various pre-established or predetermined linear and/or angular positions of the shoulder support and fastening means 130.

In order to hold the adjustable elements of the device 100 in position, i.e. the support bases 131, 133 with their corresponding soft elements 132, 134 relative to the operating table 200, corresponding locking means 141, 161, 151 are provided, which are described below.

More specifically, locking means 141 of the first regulating means 140 are provided to fix the angle between the support bases 131, 133.

Locking means 161 of the second regulating means 160 are also provided for fixing the position of the second support base 133 with its soft element 134 in the first direction Y1. In particular, the locking means 161 make it possible to fix the relative position of the second support base 133 so that it cannot move in said first direction Y1 along the second bar 136 of the support structure 110.

Locking means 151 of the third adjustment means 150 are also provided to fix the third bar 137 in a given position along the third direction Z, thus fixing the height of the support bases 131, 133 with their corresponding soft elements 132, 134 with respect to the upper surface 210 of the operating table 200. The locking means 151 also allow the support element or hollow block 171 to be fixed to the auxiliary side bar of the operating table 200, not shown. As shown in the figures, by loosening the knob of the locking means 151, the block 171 can slide along the auxiliary bar of the operating table 200, thus allowing an adjustment in length, and in turn, the third bar 137 can slide along the block 171, thus allowing an adjustment in height. By tightening the knob of the locking means 151, the block 171, the third bar 137, and the auxiliary bar of the operating table 200 are fixed relative to each other in determined positions. Therefore, with a single adjustment means 170 the assembly is adjusted on two axes Z, Y3.

The locking means 141, 151, 161 may be, for example, threaded knobs, as shown in the example of Figures 1 and 2. The locking action of any of said locking means 141, 151, 161 is facilitated by the provision of elastic means, such as a compression spring 120.

Although a particular example of the present device 100 has been described here for supporting and securing the shoulders H of a patient P on an operating table 200, for example, during a surgical procedure, in the supine position, the illustrated device 100 can be advantageously used also in many other positions such as, for example, in the Trendelenburg position, lithotomy position, etc.

The person skilled in the art will understand that other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the present device 100 are possible as well as obvious modifications and equivalent elements thereof. The present description covers all possible combinations of the particular example described herein.

Reference signs in parentheses relating to drawings in the claims are intended only to enhance understanding of the claim, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the claim.

The scope of the present description should not be limited to the specific embodiments described, but should be determined solely by a proper reading of the appended claims.

Claims (19)

1. Device (100) for supporting and holding the shoulders (H) of a patient (P) on an operating table (200), the device (100) comprising a support structure (110) intended to be coupled to an operating table (200), and means for supporting and holding the patient's shoulders (130) arranged on said support structure (110), characterized by the fact that the means of supporting and holding the patient's shoulders (130) comprise: - a first support base (131) provided with a first soft element (132) intended to receive the upper part of an arm (B) of the patient (P); - a second support base (133) provided with a second soft element (134) intended to receive a shoulder (H) of the patient (P); - first means for regulating (140) the relative angular position (<a>) of the first and second support bases (131, 133); and - second means for regulating (160) the longitudinal position of the second support base (133) relative to the support structure (110) along a second direction (Y1). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes: - third means of regulating (150) the longitudinal position of the first support base (131) with respect to the support structure (110) along a first direction (Y2). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for supporting and holding the patient's shoulders (130) also include: - fourth means of regulation (170) of the linear position of the first and second support bases (131, 133) with respect to an upper surface (210) of the operating table (200) along a third direction (Z). 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the second direction (Y1) and the first direction (Y2) lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to the third direction (Z). 5. Device according to any of claims 2-4, characterized in that the support structure (110) comprises a first, a second, and a third bar (135, 136, 137), wherein the first and second support bases (131, 133) are movable relative to the first and second bars (135, 136) along said second and second directions (Y2, Y1), respectively. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the first and second bars (135, 136) of the support structure (110) is rotatably mounted on the third bar (137). 7. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the first and second bars (135, 136) are articulated with each other to vary the relative angular position (<a>) of the first and second support bases (131, 133). 8. Device according to any of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that it includes locking means (141, 161, 151) of one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth regulating means (140, 160, 150, 170). 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking means comprise a first locking element (141) adapted to fix the relative angular position (<a>) of the first and second support bases (131, 133). 10. Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the locking means comprise a second locking element (161) adapted to fix the relative position of the second support base (133) with respect to the second bar (136) of the support structure (110) along the second direction (Y1). 11. Device according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the locking means comprise a third locking element (151) for fixing the relative position of the third bar (137) along the third direction (Z). 12. Device according to any of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that said locking means (141, 161, 151) include elastic means (120) for regulating the locking action. 13. Device according to any of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the fourth regulating means (170) comprise a support element (171) intended to be coupled to the operating table (200) and relative to which the third bar (137) can slide along the third direction (Z). 14. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second soft element (134) has a curved edge (138) to receive the neck (C) of the patient (P). 15. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said first and second soft elements (132, 134) is made of foam for contact with the patient (P). 16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the foam of at least one of said first and second soft elements (132, 134) is a disposable foam. 17. Device according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the foam of at least one of said first and second soft elements (132, 134) includes a self-adhesive sheet (139) for coupling to the corresponding first and second support base (131, 133). 18. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the first and second support bases (131, 133) is tiltably mounted on the corresponding first and second bars (135, 136). 19. Device according to any of claims 3-18, characterized in that one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth regulating means (140, 160, 150, 170) are configured to establish a plurality of predetermined relative positions.