Patent ID: 9636266
Date: 2017-05-02
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61G

Claim:
1. A method of transferring a patient to a patient support structure in a prone position, the patient support structure supported by a base comprising spaced head-end and foot-end vertical support subassemblies, the patient support structure removably attached to and supported by the head-end and foot-end vertical support subassemblies, and the base comprising a rotation mechanism for rotating the patient support structure about a longitudinally extending roll axis a distance of up to at least about ±180°, the method comprising: a) providing a patient positioning apparatus having head-end and foot-end lift subassemblies and a transfer table; b) releasably attaching the patient positioning apparatus to the base; c) orienting the patient positioning apparatus for patient transfer; d) placing the patient on the transfer table in a supine position; e) actuating the head-end and foot-end lift subassemblies so as to move the patient toward the patient support structure, such that the patient is snugly sandwiched between the transfer table and the patient support structure; f) rotating the patient support structure to a first position, such that the patient supported by the patient support structure in a prone position; and g) detaching the patient positioning apparatus from the base.