Abstract:
A radiolucent clip-on limb positioning system for X-ray cassettes maintains a patient&#39;s limb and/or extremities in a position on the X-ray cassette without requiring an attendant, thereby eliminating radiation exposure to the attendant. One or more pairs of radioluscent clip members are releasably engaged on the peripheral sides of an X-ray cassette at selective positions and receive and secure the free ends of resilient hold-down bands that extend across the patient&#39;s limb and/or limb extremities to resiliently maintain the limb or extremities in a position against the X-ray cassette while obtaining intraoperative radiographs.

Description:
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to apparatus for positioning a patient&#39;s limb or extremity during X-ray procedures, and more particularly to a radiolucent clip-on limb positioning system for X-ray cassettes that maintains a patient&#39;s limb and/or extremities in a position on an X-ray cassette without requiring an attendant, thereby eliminating radiation exposure to the attendant.  
         2. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
         [0002]    When taking X-rays of a patient&#39;s limb from the hip or shoulder proximally and/or remaining limb distally during surgical procedures (intraoperatively), it is common to place a sterile plastic bag over the X-ray cassette and position the limb and/or extremity on the X-ray cassette. In such situations the patient may be lying on an operating table and may not be conscious or may otherwise be incapable of holding his or her limb in a particular position to be X-rayed. Thus, the patient&#39;s limb is usually held still by the physician or an attendant while the X-ray is being taken. However, very often the physician or attendant will move the limb or extremity or hold it improperly to avoid radiation exposure to himself or herself, resulting in a poor or inaccurate X-ray.  
           [0003]    While holding the limb and/or extremity against the X-ray cassette, physicians and attendants are often exposed to radiation which, with repeated exposure over extended periods of time, is detrimental to their health.  
           [0004]    There are several patents which disclose various hold-down apparatus for use with X-ray cassettes or cassette holders.  
           [0005]    Malley, U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,912 discloses an X-ray poser having a sliding carriage to which a patient&#39;s forearm and hand may be strapped at a prescribed angle for evaluating carpal tunnel syndrome conditions. An X-ray cassette is removably received in a pair of L-shaped base members beneath the carriage.  
           [0006]    Brotzman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,926 discloses a frame-like support for an X-ray cartridge which includes a flat base plate to be placed under the leg of a patient that has a series of slots and projections and an L-shaped X-ray cartridge support formed of U-shaped channels at one end of the base plate that support an X-ray cartridge. A patient&#39;s foot is supported against the X-ray cartridge and the patient&#39;s leg is strapped to the base plate by a tie-down strap formed of a length of gauze or surgical sponge.  
           [0007]    The present invention is distinguished over the prior art in general, and these patents in particular by a radiolucent clip-on limb positioning system for X-ray cassettes that maintains a patient&#39;s limb and/or extremities in a position on the X-ray cassette without requiring an attendant, thereby eliminating radiation exposure to the attendant. One or more pairs of radioluscent clip members are releasably engaged on the peripheral sides of an X-ray cassette at selective positions and receive and secure the free ends of resilient hold-down bands that extend across the patient&#39;s limb and/or limb extremities to resiliently maintain the limb or extremities in a position against the X-ray cassette while obtaining intraoperative radiographs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a clip-on limb positioning system for X-ray cassettes which allows radiographs of limbs to be taken without the need of an attendant or physician to maintain the proper position and thereby completely eliminates radiation exposure to attendants, physicians, and other operating room personnel.  
           [0009]    It is another object of this invention to provide a clip-on limb positioning system which is easily and quickly installed on, and removed from, an X-ray cassette.  
           [0010]    Another object of this invention is to provide a clip-on limb positioning system for X-ray cassettes which is fully adjustable to allow selective and accurate positioning of a patient&#39;s limb or limb extremities relative to an X-ray cassette.  
           [0011]    Another object of this invention is to provide a radiolucent clip-on limb positioning system for X-ray cassettes which allows accurate and reproducible radiographs of limbs and extremities to be taken.  
           [0012]    A further object of this invention is to provide a radiolucent clip-on limb positioning system having a plurality of resilient bands selectively positionable across a patient&#39;s limb or the limb extremities for holding the limb and/or extremities on the top surface an X-ray cassette.  
           [0013]    A still further object of this invention is to provide a radiolucent clip-on limb positioning system for X-ray cassettes which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and rugged and reliable in operation.  
           [0014]    Other objects of the invention will become apparent from time to time throughout the specification and claims as hereinafter related.  
           [0015]    The above noted objects and other objects of the invention are accomplished by the present radiolucent clip-on limb positioning system for X-ray cassettes which maintains a patient&#39;s limb and/or extremities in a position on the X-ray cassette without requiring an attendant, thereby eliminating radiation exposure to the attendant. One or more pairs of radioluscent clip members are releasably engaged on the peripheral sides of an X-ray cassette at selective positions and receive and secure the free ends of resilient hold-down bands that extend across the patient&#39;s limb and/or limb extremities to resiliently maintain the limb or extremities in a position against the X-ray cassette while obtaining intraoperative radiographs. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an X-ray cassette, shown in dashed line, having a pair of clip members of the clip-on limb positioning system in accordance with the present invention installed thereon and a resilient hold-down band of the system shown above the clips.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a clip member in the uninstalled position with the jaws closed.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the clip member in the uninstalled position.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clip member shown from the rear end.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clip member shown from the front end.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the clip member shown with pressure applied to the finger grip portions and the jaws open.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing the hand and fingers of a patient secured palm down on the front surface of an X-ray cassette holder by a number of clips and hold-down bands.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 8 and 9 are top plan and side elevation views, respectively, showing a patient&#39;s foot secured to the front surface of an X-ray cassette by a number of clips and hold-down bands. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]    Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIG. 1, a conventional X-ray cassette  10  represented in dashed line. The conventional X-ray cassette  10  is a generally rectangular member having opposed top and bottom surfaces  10 A and  10 B, opposed side walls  10 C and  10 D, and opposed end walls  10 E and  10 F. The conventional X-ray cassette  10  may also have a raised shoulder  10 G or other protuberance that surrounds and extends a short distance above its top surface. In accordance with the present limb positioning system, a plurality of clips  11  and elastic hold-down bands  30  are provided for use with the conventional X-ray cassette holder  10 . In FIG. 1, a pair of the clips  11  are shown in the installed position removably engaged on the peripheral sides of the X-ray cassette  10 . Referring additionally to FIGS. 2, 3,  4 , and  5 , a preferred embodiment of a clip member  11  of the clip-on limb positioning system is shown in greater detail. Each clip  11  is formed as a unitary or one-piece construction by conventional means such as injection molding. The clips  11  are formed of a relatively rigid or semi-rigid radiolucent plastic material having a high modulus of elasticity and capable limited flexure. The clips  11  may also preferably be formed of such a plastic that is capable of being sterilized by autoclaving or other suitable sterilization methods.  
         [0025]    The clip  11  has a pair of elongate longitudinal lever portions  12 , 13  interconnected by a generally rectangular web portion  14  which is integrally formed with the lever portions and adjoined thereto at each end. The lever portions  12 ,  13  each have a flat generally rectangular finger grip portion  15 ,  16  at one end extending rearward from the web portion  14 , and a pair of parallel laterally spaced arms  17 ,  18  extending forward from the web portion.  
         [0026]    The inner facing surface of each arm  17 ,  18  extends forward a distance from the web portion  14  and terminates in a thicker clasping jaw portion  19 ,  20  defining a flat raised shoulder  21 ,  22  spaced a distance forward from the web portion. The shoulders  21 ,  22  extend transversely across the arms  17 ,  18 . The inner facing surface of each clasping jaw portion  19 ,  20  has a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending elevated ridges  23 ,  24  along its length.  
         [0027]    The rear portion or finger grip portion  17 ,  18  of each lever portion  12 ,  13  is sized to receive a thumb and forefinger of the user on their outer surfaces. The outer surfaces of the finger grip portions  17 ,  18  may optionally be provided with a rough surface texture to facilitate manual gripping and manipulation. The outer end of the finger grip portion  17  of one lever portion  12  is provided with a semicircular recess  25  and a central elongate V-shaped slot  26  extending longitudinally inward a distance from the recess. As best seen from the side in FIG. 2, when the clip  11  is a relaxed condition, the elongate lever portions  12 ,  13  converge angularly toward each other from the finger grip portions  17 ,  18  at their rear ends to the jaw portions  19 ,  20  at their forward ends and the web portion  14  is in a straight vertical disposition.  
         [0028]    As shown in FIG. 6, to install the clips  11 , the user holds the finger grip portions  17 ,  18  between their thumb T and forefinger F and applies pressure thereto, causing the lever portions  12 ,  13  to pivot about the web  14 , which flexes slightly, thereby forcing the jaw portions  19 ,  20  apart to an open position to receive the outer edge of the X-ray cassette  10  therebetween. Removal of the pressure on the finger grip portions  19 ,  20  causes the clip  11  to tend to resume its natural shape thereby allowing the lever portions  12 ,  13  to pivot about the web  14 , which tends to straighten, so that the finger grip portions  17 ,  18  move apart and the jaw portions  19 ,  20  engage and grip the top and bottom surfaces  10 A,  10 B of the X-ray cassette  10  (FIG. 1). Pairs of the clips  11  may be installed in selected locations along the opposed outer sides and/or ends of the X-ray cassette  10 .  
         [0029]    The hold-down bands  30  are elongate resilient members, such as a length of surgical tubing which is larger in cross section than width of the V-shaped slot  26  in the rear portion of the lever portion  12  of the  11 . The hold-down bands  30  may be disposable.  
         [0030]    The clip-on limb positioning system is particularly suited for use in taking X-rays in a sterile environment such as an operating room during surgical procedures while a patient is on an operating table. In such situations, the patient may be incapable of holding his or her limb in a particular position to be X-rayed.  
         [0031]    After a pair of clips  11  have been installed on the X-ray cassette  10 , the patient&#39;s limb or extremity to be X-rayed is placed on the face or front surface  10 A of the X-ray cassette. The free end of an elastic band  30  is positioned adjacent to the curved recess  25  of one of the clips  11  and then pulled into the narrow V-shaped slot  26  to become wedged therein. The hold-down band  30  is then stretched across the patient&#39;s limb or extremity and its free end is pulled into the slot  26  of the other one of the clips  11  to wedge it therein. The clips  11  may be repositioned as required and any number of pairs of clips with a hold-down band for each pair may be used. The tension or tightness, of the band  30  can be adjusted to the particular hold-down requirements by pulling one end of the band out of the slot  26  and stretching or loosening the band and then pulling it back into the slot to wedge it therein. Thus, the hold-down bands  30  stretched across a patient&#39;s limb or extremity resiliently bias the limb or extremity against the face or front surface  10 A of the X-ray cassette  10 , and hold it in the desired position while the X-ray or radiograph is taken.  
         [0032]    The longitudinally extending elevated ridges  23 ,  24  along the length of the inner facing surface of each clasping jaw portion  19 ,  20  reduces slippage and if the X-ray cassette  10  has a raised shoulder  10 G or other protuberance that surrounds and extends a short distance above its top surface, the raised shoulders  21 ,  22  spaced a distance forward from the web portion  14  will engage the raised shoulder or protuberance on the cassette to prevent the clip from being dislodged accidentally.  
         [0033]    It should be noted that once the limb or extremity is properly positioned and secured, it is not necessary for an attendant or physician to hold the limb or extremity against the X-ray cassette while the X-ray or radiograph is taken. Thus, the present clip-on limb positioning system completely eliminates radiation exposure to the attendant or physician.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 7, 8, and  9  illustrate typical examples of how limbs and extremities may be positioned.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 shows the hand H of a patient secured palm down on the front surface  10 A of the X-ray cassette  10  with the fingers spread apart by a plurality of clips  11  and resilient hold-down bands  30 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 8 and 9 are front and side elevation views, respectively, showing a patient&#39;s foot F 2  maintained on the front surface  10 A of the X-ray cassette  10  by a number of clips  11  and bands  30 .  
         [0037]    While this invention has been described fully and completely with special emphasis upon preferred embodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.