Abstract:
A small surgical table which can be attached directly to a C-arm X-ray machine. A flat plate of X-ray transparent material is provided as a surface on which surgical procedures can be performed. Clamping features are provided on the underside of this plate to allow its attachment to an image intensifier or an emitter of a C-arm machine. The clamping features are preferably made readily adjustable in order to allow the attachment of the surgical table to a wide variety of X-ray machines. The invention is particularly suited for surgeries involving a small portion of the anatomy—such as the hand. The direct attachment of the surgical table to the X-ray machine allows the surgeon to conveniently visualize the internal placement of orthopaedic hardware and other features both before and during the surgery.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to the field of medicine. More specifically, the invention comprises a surgical table which can be attached directly to a common type of X-ray machine.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     X-ray machines have been used in the practice of medicine for many decades. One such machine in common use is referred to as a “C-arm” machine.  FIG. 1  depicts one example of such a machine. Those skilled in the art will know that a wide variety of such machines are in use. They generally share the same major components, however.  
         [0005]     C-arm machine  10  is supported by base  12 , which is typically furnished with lockable castors so that the machine can be easily moved to a desired location and fixed. Main housing  14  attaches to the base. This element provides structural support and also often houses the necessary electronic equipment. Sliding joint support  16  protrudes upward and forward from main housing  14 . Pivot joint  18  rotatably attaches C-arm support  30  to sliding joint support  16 . C-arm  22  is slidably attached to sliding joint support  16  by sliding joint  20 . In the particular type of machine illustrated, pivot joint  18  and sliding joint  20  can be adjusted as desired—then locked into position.  
         [0006]     The reader should be aware that not all C-arm machines have the adjustment features described. Simpler machines may be fixed in the position shown. The invention described hereinafter typically employs the C-arm machine in the position shown. Thus, the various adjustment features which a particular machine may possess are not significant to the present invention.  
         [0007]     C-arm machine  10 , like most X-ray devices, includes an emitter  24  and image intensifier  26 . Though a discussion of X-ray machine technology is beyond the scope ofthis disclosure, those skilled in the art will know that emitter  24  generates X-rays and image intensifier  26  is generally configured to receive these rays and provide a useable image. Those skilled in the art will also know that the position of emitter  24  and image intensifier  26  may be reversed. Some image intensifiers  26  include a lip  64 , which may assume the form of a gripping handle.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention comprises a small surgical table which can be attached directly to a C-arm X-ray machine. A flat plate of X-ray transparent material is provided as a surface on which surgical procedures can be performed. Clamping features are provided on the underside ofthis plate to allow its attachment to an image intensifier or an emitter of a C-arm machine. The clamping features are preferably made readily adjustable in order to allow the attachment of the surgical table to a wide variety of X-ray machines.  
         [0009]     The invention is particularly suited for surgeries involving a small portion of the anatomy—such as the hand. The direct attachment of the surgical table to the X-ray machine allows the surgeon to conveniently visualize the internal placement of orthopaedic hardware and other features both before and during the surgery. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view, showing a prior art C-arm X-ray machine.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view, showing the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view, showing the present invention from a different perspective.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an isometric detail view, showing the features attaching the invention to the X-ray machine.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an isometric detail view, showing the features attaching the invention to the X-ray machine.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is an isometric detail view, showing the features attaching the invention to the X-ray machine.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view, showing the attachment of the invention to an X-ray machine.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view, showing the attachment of the invention to an X-ray machine.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view, showing the attachment of the invention to an X-ray machine.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view, showing the invention configured for use.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view, showing an alternate embodiment of the invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is an isometric view, showing an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 C-arm machine 
                 12 
                 base 
               
               
                 14 
                 main housing 
                 16 
                 sliding joint support 
               
               
                 18 
                 pivot joint 
                 20 
                 sliding joint 
               
               
                 22 
                 C-arm 
                 24 
                 emitter 
               
               
                 26 
                 image intensifier 
                 28 
                 mounting surface 
               
               
                 30 
                 C-arm support 
                 32 
                 surgical table 
               
               
                 34 
                 main plate 
                 36 
                 track 
               
               
                 38 
                 slider 
                 40 
                 jaw 
               
               
                 42 
                 locking lever 
                 44 
                 toggle slider 
               
               
                 46 
                 toggle lever 
                 48 
                 thrust link 
               
               
                 50 
                 gripping pad 
                 52 
                 cylindrical surface 
               
               
                 54 
                 conventional table 
                 56 
                 head support 
               
               
                 58 
                 spring clip 
                 60 
                 swivel slider 
               
               
                 62 
                 swivel jaw 
                 64 
                 lip 
               
               
                 66 
                 protrusion 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows prior art C-arm machine  10 . It is generally used to X-ray specific regions of a patient&#39;s anatomy. Base  12  is provided with castors which allow the machine to be rolled into a desired location. Pivot joint  18  can be rotated to angularly displace the plane in which C-arm  22  resides. Sliding joint  20  can be unlocked to allow C-arm  22  to slide along the arc of its curvature. Thus, C-arm  22  is ultimately adjustable in roll and pitch.  
         [0024]     C-arm  22  structurally mounts emitter  24  and image intensifier  26 . Emitter  24  controllably emits a stream of X-rays toward image intensifier  26 . Image intensifier  26  receives the stream of X-rays and enhances them for visualilation, which is typically accomplished through a computer monitor. The anatomical features to be X-rayed must generally be placed proximate a line drawn between emitter  24  and image intensifier  26 .  
         [0025]     Many types of C-arm machines are in common use. The relative location of the emitter and image intensifier may be reversed on some machines. The mounting and positioning features of other machines are also different from the one shown in  FIG. 1 . The present invention is suitable for use with a wide variety of machines, and should not be viewed as limited to any one particular type.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows the present invention. Main plate  34  is its primary structural component. The upper surface of main plate  34  serves as a surgical site. The lower surface contains mounting features. Main plate  34  is made of a material which allows the free transmission of X-rays with minimal absorption or distortion.  FIG. 3  shows the lower side of the invention. Three tracks  36  are provided. These tracks are angularly displaced in 120 degree increments, with the outer extreme of each track being proximate an edge of main plate  34  and the inner extreme of each track being proximate the center of main plate  34 .  
         [0027]     Two tracks are equipped with sliders  38 . Each slider  38  has a jaw  40  and a locking lever  42 . Each slider  38  is free to slide within its track  36  until its locking lever  42  is pulled downward, at which point the locking lever  42  toggles into a locked position and locks the slider  38  in its track  36 . The third track  36  is occupied by toggle slider  44 . Toggle slider  44  is likewise free to slide within its track until toggle lever  46  is pressed upward.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows track  36  and slider  38  in greater detail. The reader will observe that track  36  is cut in the shape of a dovetail—as is the upper portion of slider  38 . Track  36  also exits an edge of main plate  34 . This allows slider  38  to be easily removed from main plate  34  for sterilization or other purposes. Jaw  40  descends from slider  38 . This feature is intended to actually engage a portion of the X-ray machine. Locking lever  42  is pivotally mounted to slider  38 . When it is rotated downward, slider  38  is locked in position within track  36 . A variety of mechanisms can be employed to achieve this function. Other features could also be substituted for locking lever  42 . As such mechanical locking features are well known, they have not been illustrated in detail.  
         [0029]     The reader will observe the position and nature of protrusion  66 . It is intended for use with a C-arm machine having a lip  64 . For C-arm machines not having a lip  64 , protrusion  66  can be omitted (as will be explained in more detail subsequently).  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  shows toggle slider  44  in detail. Its upper portion is also formed in the shape of a dovetail in order to engage a track  36 . Jaw  40  is identical to the one found on slider  38  (including the optional addition of a protrusion  66 ). Toggle lever  46  is pivotally mounted on toggle slider  44 . Thrust link  48  is pivotally mounted on toggle lever  46  (to preferably form a classic “four bar” linkage). When toggle lever  46  is pushed upward, two things occur: (1) toggle slider  44  is initially stopped in its place within its track  38 , and (2) The upper extreme of thrust link  48  bears against main plate  34  and thrusts toggle slider  44  slightly forward (to the left in the view as shown). This action provides significant clamping force, as will be explained subsequently.  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  shows slider  38  from another perspective. Gripping pad  50 —made of a resilient material—is preferably placed on the inward facing surface of jaw  40  in order to prevent marring a surface against which jaw  40  rests. If a protrusion  66  is included, it is likewise given a non-marring face.  
         [0032]     The installation and use of the invention are explained in  FIGS. 7 through 10 . The invention is typically installed on the image intensifier of a C-arm X-ray machine In  FIG. 7 , surgical table  32  is shown near image intensifier  26 . It is preferably mounted directly over mounting surface  28 . It should be mounted very nearly parallel with mounting surface  28  in order to provide the best possible X-ray images.  
         [0033]     The user typically retracts the two sliders  38  and toggle slider  44  to positions near the edges of main plate  34 . Main plate  34  is then placed atop mounting surface  28 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . Main plate  34  is maneuvered into a desired position. The two sliders  38  are then pushed forward in their respective tracks  36  until the two jaws  40  rest against cylindrical surface  52 . The two locking levers  42  are then rotated downward to lock the two sliders  38  in position.  
         [0034]     In the case of a C-arm machine having a lip  64  (the version actually shown in the drawings), the mechanical interface will be different. The jaws  40  actually clear the outer perimeter of lip  64 . Protrusions  66  then actually bear against cylindrical surface  58 .  
         [0035]     Turning now to  FIG. 9 —toggle slider  44  is advanced until its jaw  40  (or protrusion  66 , in the case of a machine having a lip) likewise rests against cylindrical surface  52 . Toggle lever  46  is then rotated upward as shown. This action pushes toggle slider  44  forward with respect to its track and then locks it in place (such as by the action of toggling a four bar linkage over center or other known mechanical means). Thus, the three jaws  40  (or protrusions  66 ) are drawn tightly against cylindrical surface  52 , thereby affixing main plate  34  atop mounting surface  28 .  
         [0036]     The result is a small surgical table affixed directly to the C-arm machine. This allows the surgeon to perform surgical procedures directly over the X-ray image intensifier. Accurate X-ray visualization of the anatomy proximate the surgical site is therefore enhanced.  
         [0037]     Surgical table  32  is preferably used in conjunction with prior art devices for holding the patient in position.  FIG. 10  shows one possible configuration. C-arm machine  10  with attached surgical table  32  is placed next to conventional table  54  with head support  56 . The patient is placed face-up on conventional table  54 . The patient&#39;s right arm would then be extended out to the patient&#39;s right, where the patient&#39;s hand/wrist area could be secured to surgical table  32 . The surgeon would then perform a procedure on the patient&#39;s hand while it remains affixed to surgical table  32 .  
         [0038]     As one example—the surgeon may need to place orthopaedic hardware in the patient&#39;s hand to repair a fracture. X-ray images can be taken before, during, and after the placement of the hardware to ensure the surgeon&#39;s satisfaction with the placement.  
         [0039]     The adjustable features shown on surgical table  32  allow its use with a variety of different machines. Much simpler hardware can be used to attach the table to a particular type of machine.  FIG. 11  shows main plate  34  with four descending resilient spring clips  58 . These are fixed in place for use with an image intensifier having a known diameter. The elastic nature of these spring clips  58  allow them to grip cylindrical surface  52  on image intensifier  26  and hold surgical table  32  in place. Simpler fastening hardware can also be employed if the modification of the X-ray machine is allowed (such as screws, screw clamps, and the like).  
         [0040]     It is also possible to attach the surgical table to the X-ray emitter rather than the image intensifier. Returning briefly to  FIG. 1 , the reader will observe that emitter  24  assumes a generally rectangular shape. The three jaw clamping system depicted in  FIG. 3  is ill suited for mounting on this geometry.  FIG. 12  shows a second alternate embodiment configured for mounting on an emitter. Four jaws are used instead of three. Four swivel slider  60  each adjustably slide within four tracks  36 . Each swivel slider  60  has a pivotally mounted swivel jaw  62 . Swivel jaws  62  are capable of swiveling to bear against irregular surfaces when the fourth swivel sliders  60  are advanced to lock main plate  34  in position over an emitter. Four locking levers  42  are provided to lock the swivel sliders in position. One or more toggle levers may also be provided to give added clamping force. As for the prior examples, protrusions  66  can be added for each of the swivel jaws  62  in order to accommodate the presence of a lip on the C-arm machine.  
         [0041]     The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It is should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.