Abstract:
In accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a patient table is provided, the patient table comprising a patient support surface for supporting a patient during a medical procedure; a base supporting the patient support surface; a monitor displaying medical information relating to a medical procedure; and a pivot arm having a first end connected to the base and a second end connected to the monitor; a pivot release member provided on one of the monitor and the pivot arm for releasably securing the monitor and the pivot arm at predetermined angular positions with respect to the base.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    At least one embodiment of the present invention generally relates to an adjustable monitor for patient tables for supporting patients during medical procedures. More particularly, at least one embodiment of the present invention relates to a movable mechanism that allows the monitor to move to different desired positions and locks the monitor in place.  
           [0002]    Patient tables and monitors exist in a wide range of medical patient support systems for medical applications, each designed to be used for specific medical procedures. Medical patient support systems typically include two or three essential components, namely a patient support surface that is attached to a support apparatus. The support apparatus may include a mechanism for moving the patient table in various directions, including up and down, side to side, and/or into a sitting position. Typically monitors that are used in medical procedures are separate from the patient support system and are positioned on one side of the patient support system.  
           [0003]    Conventional urology patient support systems support the patient in two positions, lying on their back and sitting up. A Urologist often needs to view a monitor while treating a patient. In such conventional systems a monitor is on one side of the patient. Urology procedures often require the patient and/or the doctor to be in more than one position. The desired position of the monitor, however, depends on the procedure being performed and the orientation of the doctor and patient relative to the equipment. The monitor therefore may be in an undesirable position or may be difficult to reposition during a procedure. There is a need therefore for a system that allows the monitor to be moved to different positions depending on the position of the patient and/or doctor. Additionally, there is a need for a monitor that can be easily moved and locked in the desired position.  
           [0004]    Although monitors have been used with patient support systems, such monitors have not been easily movable to different positions. Prior systems also have not provided monitors that can be easily moved and locked into the desired position.  
           [0005]    A need, therefore, exists for an improved medical patient support system that provides a patient table and monitor that may be easily moved and locked into different positions.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0006]    In accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a patient table is provided, the patient table comprising a patient support surface for supporting a patient during a medical procedure; a base supporting the patient support surface; a monitor displaying medical information relating to a medical procedure; and a pivot arm having a first end connected to the base and a second end connected to the monitor; a pivot release member provided on one of the monitor and the pivot arm for releasably securing the monitor and the pivot arm at predetermined angular positions with respect to the base.  
           [0007]    One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a pivot release member with a handle section and a release trigger proximate one another to allow a user to grip the handle and release the trigger with the same hand to release the pivot arm and move the monitor relative to the base. Optionally the pivot release member is located on the end of the pivot arm proximate to the monitor.  
           [0008]    One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a pivot arm that includes a fixed arm connected to the first end of the pivot arm and to the base.  
           [0009]    One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a pivot release member further comprising a hydraulic spring for locking the pivot arm at predefined angular positions. Optionally the pivot release member further comprises a hydraulic spring for locking the pivot arm at the predefined angular positions and a hydraulic line extending between the hydraulic spring and a trigger proximate the monitor, the trigger selectively restricting the flow of hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic spring to lock the hydraulic spring at the predetermined angular positions.  
           [0010]    One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention the patient table is a urological table.  
           [0011]    One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is the patient table including a patient support surface which will support a patient in at least two examination positions for a medical procedure, the pivot arm orienting the monitor in a first predetermined angular position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the table and another position at a second predetermined angular position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the table.  
           [0012]    One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a patient table including a patient support surface which will support a patient in at least two examination positions, the pivot arm orienting the monitor at a predetermined angular position facing a side of the patient support surface and a second predetermined angular position facing an end of the patient support surface.  
           [0013]    One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a urology table comprising a patient support surface with opposed ends along a longitudinal axis with opposed sides transverse to the longitudinal axis; a monitor displaying medical information relating to a medical procedure; a movable support member having a first end mounted to the patient support surface and a second end mounted to the monitor, at least one of the ends being movable relative to a corresponding one of the monitor and patient support surface to move the monitor between a first and second viewing positions, the monitor facing one of the sides when in the first viewing position, the monitor facing one of the ends when in the second viewing position.  
           [0014]    One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a urology table comprising a patient support surface supporting a patient in at least two positions, a first position where the patient is lying horizontally on the patient support surface and the second position where the patient is sitting up vertically; a monitor displaying medical information relating to a medical procedure; a movable support member having a first end mounted to the patient support surface and a second end mounted to the monitor, at least one of the ends being movable relative to a corresponding one of the monitor and patient support surface to move the monitor between a first and second viewing positions, in a first viewing position the monitor facing one direction when the patient is vertical, and in the second viewing position the monitor facing perpendicular to the first viewing position when the patient is horizontal. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 illustrates a patient support system employing the monitor and moving mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 illustrates a monitor and moving mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 illustrates a urology patient support system according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 illustrates a urology patient support system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 illustrates a patient support system  100  with a patient support surface  110 , a base  120 , a monitor  130  and a moving mechanism  140 . The base  120  includes a support structure  125 , which supports the patient support system  100 . The patient support surface  110  is attached to and supported by the base  120 . The monitor  130  is attached to the base  120  by the moving mechanism  140 . The monitor  130  is preferably a flat screen monitor. The moving mechanism  140  supports the monitor  130 . The moving mechanism  140  allows the monitor  130  to be moved and locked into different desired positions.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 illustrates the monitor  130  and moving mechanism  140  formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The moving mechanism  140  includes a fixed arm  200  and a pivot arm  210 . The fixed arm  200  is connected to the base  120  of the patient support system  100  and may extend along a horizontal axis. The pivot arm  210  is angled, such as in an L-shape, and is connected at one end to the fixed arm  200  at the joint  220 . The monitor  130  is attached to a plate  230  at the end of the pivot arm  210 . A handle  240  is attached to the end of the pivot arm  210 . The pivot arm  210  rotates the monitor  130  about the pivot axis, which is perpendicular to the monitor  130  plane. The pivot arm  210  lies in the pivot plane which contains the pivot axis.  
         [0022]    A hydraulic spring  250  is located inside the fixed arm  200 . The first end  251  of the hydraulic spring  250  is attached to the fixed arm  200 . The second end  252  of the hydraulic spring  250  is connected to the joint  220  of the fixed arm  200  and pivot arm  210 . The hydraulic spring  250  locks the pivot arm  210  in discrete positions. A release control  260  releases the hydraulic spring  250 . When the hydraulic spring  250  is released the pivot arm  210  can move until the monitor  130  is in the desired position. As the monitor  130  is moved to the desired position, the hydraulic spring  250  is expanded or contracted. Once the release control  260  is released the hydraulic spring  250  locks the pivot arm  210 . As shown in FIG. 2, in a preferred embodiment the hydraulic spring  250  release control  260  is located on the handle  240 . The release control  260  is connected to a hydraulic line  270  which is routed through the pivot arm  210  and connected to the hydraulic spring  250  at the joint  220 .  
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment the moving mechanism  140  may contain wires or cables for the monitor  130  or moving mechanism  140  within the fixed arm  200  and pivot arm  210 . The joint  220  of the moving mechanism  140  may also be hollow to allow the wires or cables to remain within the moving mechanism  140 .  
         [0024]    In operation, the moving mechanism  140  is locked in place by the hydraulic spring  250 . The user presses the release control  260  to release or unlock the hydraulic spring  250 . As the user holds the release control  260  down the user may move the monitor  130  to the desired position. Once the monitor  130  is in the desired position the user releases the release control  260  and the hydraulic spring  250  locks the pivot arm  210  in place. The moving mechanism  140  therefore allows the monitor  130  to be moved and locked in any desired position with minimal effort.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 3 and 4 show, by way of example only, urology patient support systems  100  with two typical patient and doctor positions. In the first position, as shown in FIG. 3, the patient is laying down on the patient support surface  110  and the doctor is seated or standing near the legs of the patient. In this position, one desired monitor  130  location is over the patient&#39;s chest. In the second position, as shown in FIG. 4, the patient is sitting upright and the doctor is located at the patient&#39;s legs. In this position, one desired monitor  130  location is over the patient&#39;s head. A preferred embodiment of the present invention allows a doctor or another person to easily and safely move and lock the monitor  130  in multiple positions including the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.  
         [0026]    Optionally more than one fixed arm  200  and one pivot arm  210  may be used. Instead, additional fixed and/or pivot arms may be employed. For example, another pivot arm may be employed. In such a multi-pivot arm system, another hydraulic spring  250  may be included in the first pivot arm  210  to control and lock the additional pivot arm. In such a multi-pivot arm system, the release control  250  could control both pivot arms or another release control could be added so that each pivot arm  210  is released separately.  
         [0027]    Optionally, the monitor  130  may be permitted to move in a direction other than horizontal. For instance, the pivot arm  210  could move vertically. Alternatively, the first pivot arm  210  could move horizontally and a second pivot arm could be added and oriented to move vertically, or vice versa. Alternatively, the fixed arm  200  could also be a first pivot arm. In such a system, the first pivot arm would be connected to the base  120  by a joint  220 . In such a system, another hydraulic spring  250  may be included in the first pivot arm  210  to control and lock the first pivot arm  210 . Again, in such a system, the release control  250  may control both pivot arms or a second release control may be added so that each pivot arm  210  is released separately.  
         [0028]    Optionally, hydraulic springs  250  need not be used to lock the moving mechanism  140 . Numerous mechanical devices or methods could be used as the moving mechanism  140 .  
         [0029]    The present invention may also be used in connection with the invention disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, and applicants hereby incorporate by reference application Ser. No. _______ in its entirety.  
         [0030]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.