WO1999023965A1

WO1999023965A1 - Apparatus for supporting the surgeon's arm and instruments during surgery

Info

Publication number: WO1999023965A1
Application number: PCT/GB1998/003353
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Smith
Original assignee: David Smith
Priority date: 1997-11-07
Filing date: 1998-11-09
Publication date: 1999-05-20
Also published as: AU1043599A

Abstract

Apparatus for attachment to a surgical operating table comprises a support member for supporting a surgeon's arms and attachment means to hold the support member spaced from and above the operating table. The attachment means may be angularly adjustable to enable the support member in use to be maintained above a selected part of a patient lying on the table irrespective of the tilt position of the table about a transverse axis. The support member may include means to hold surgical instruments and may be provided with end plates to provide a protective shield over the patient.

Description

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING THE SURGEON'S ARM AND INSTRUMENTS DURING SURGERY

This invenϋon relates to surgical apparatus land especially provides apparatus for attachment to a surgical operaung table to support surgical instruments in a convenient position of use dunng surgery and to support the surgeon's arms away from the patient while carrying out surgical procedures.

Modem surgical techniques, especially those falling under the general

description of "keyhole surgery", require the surgeon to manipulate probe-like instruments with great accuracy and dexterity from outside the pauent's body, the

working head of the instrument being inserted through a small incision to gam access to the target organ and being remotely controlled by the surgeon with reference to a television screen displaying a movmg picture of ithe operation site via a miniature camera also inserted through the incision. It is clearly necessary for the surgeon to have

steady hands, especially since for certain surgical procedures the working head may be

heated to a temperature which would damage tissue in the event of inadveπent contact. Conventionally, the surgeon will often use the patient's body to steady his hands and

will place his instruments or parts of apparatus on or next to the patient, with consequential risk of accidental injury occurring. It is an object of the present invention to provide a support for the surgeon's arms and preferably also for holding surgical instruments in an accessible position for

use during a surgical operation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, apparatus for attachment to a

surgical operating table comprises a support member for supporting a surgeon's arms and attachment means to hold the support member spaced from and above the operating table. Preferably, the attachment means is angularly adjustable to enable the support member in use to be maintained above a selected part of a patient lying on the table

irrespective of the tilt position of the table about a transverse axis. The attachment means may be located at any desired position along trie operating table.

The support member is primarily for supporting the surgeon's hands or forearms to act as a steadying aid while performing delicate procedures but the support member conveniently also includes means to hold surgical instruments such as diathermy

probes. However, in a preferred arrangement the support member comprises a horizontal working surface and optionally depending end plates, the working surface not only functioning as a support for the surgeon's I hands and as a table for holding instruments but also providing a protective shield over and on each side of the patient. The support member may be formed from a. hard plastics material for ease of cleaning and sterilisation: preferably the material is a transparent plastics material such as "Perspex". The attachment means may comprise legs which extend downwardly from the support member and in use are attached to the sides of the operating table by

means of rotary clamps, to enable the legs to be positioned in an upright orientation irrespective of the angular orientation of the table.

The attachment means and end plates, if present, may be foldable for ease of storage and transportation. Preferably, the attachment means are offset to enable them to be folded inwardly without interference. The attachment means may be retractable or telescopic.

Embodiments of the mvenuon will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows ischemancally a perspective view

of one form of apparatus for holding instruments and for protecting the patient.

As shown in the drawing, the apparatus consists essentially of a flat plate 11 defining a working surface of rectangular shape and with depending end plates 12, 13 to

which are attached legs 14, 15 comprising metal rods for attachment to the side bars of an operating table by means of rotary clamps (not showm). The plates 11, 12 and 13 are formed from clear "Perspex" acrylic sheet and include holes 16 for receipt of attachments and comer rings 17 for holding for example telescopic diathermy

scabbards.

In use, the legs are attached to the operating table at any convenient position in relation to the patient, in many cases so that the patient's face is below the plate 11, and

instruments or other items of apparatus are attached or placed on the plate 11 in readiness for the operation. The surgeon may use the lapparatus to steady his hands and the plates act as a protective shield to the patient to prevent instruments or such items as tubes or cables from accidentally contacting the head or other vulnerable part.

The end plates 12, 13 may be hinged to the plate 11 to allow them to be folded inwardly; if the depth of the end plates is greater than half the width of the plate, the hinge for plate 13 may be disposed lower (with reference to the plate) than the hinge for plate 12, to allow plate 12 to be folded first and plate 13 to overlie plate 12 in the folded configuration. The legs 14, 15 may be retractable and or offset by being

displaced on either side of the centre line of the end plates, as shown in dashed outline at 14A, 15A, to allow them to lie side by side when lthe end plates are in the folded configuration without mutual interference.

Claims

1 Apparatus for attachment to a surgical operaung table, the apparatus compπsing a support member for supporting a surgeon's arms and attachment means to hold the support

member spaced from and above tne operating table.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the attachment imeans is angularly adjustable to enable the support member m use to be maintained above, a selected part of a patient lying on the table irrespective of the nit position of the table about a transverse axis.

3 Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the support member includes means

to hold surgical instruments.

4. apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the support member comprises a horizontal working surface and depending end plates.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, m which the attachment means compose legs which extend downwardly from the support member and include rotary clamps for attachment to the sides of the operating table.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the attachment means and end plates are foldable for ease of storage and transportation.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which the attachment means are offset to enable them to be folded inwardly without interference.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, m which the attachrrient means are retractable or telescopic.