Abstract:
There is provided a pad for a medical patient to be placed in a supine position thereon during a medical procedure which requires the use of cable in monitoring the patient during the procedure. The pad includes a cushioned substrate having a top surface adapted to contact the patient and a bottom surface adapted to contact a procedure table. The substrate has an outer edge about its periphery. An elongated channel is attached to the substrate along a portion of the outer edge. The channel is adapted to house a portion of cable which is used during a medical procedure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/310,174, filed Aug. 3, 2001, is claimed. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to pads for patients who are undergoing a medical procedure. More particularly it relates to cardiac catherization laboratory table pads.  
           [0003]    While performing a cardiac catherization on a patient, it is essential that the patient&#39;s EKG be monitored at all times. A cardiac catherization procedure can last for 2-3 hours and it is essential that the patient lie still during the duration of the procedure. A table is used during the procedure. An elongated pad, approximately ½ inch thick, is placed on top of the metal table. The patient is placed in a supine position on the pad.  
           [0004]    During the catherization procedure, radiation is used and is administered passing the radioactive source, in the form of a fluoroscopy tube, around portions of the patient. EKG monitors utilize a plurality of electrical cables which connect electrical sensors, which are applied to the patient, to the monitor. These cables are unorganized. Often the rotating fluoroscopy tube becomes tangled with EKG cables, resulting in abrupt and unwanted removal of the leads from the patient or disconnection of the leads from the EKG monitor. This produces an untimely loss of the EKG signal. The EKG monitor is an essential tool for monitoring the patient in cardiac rhythm.  
           [0005]    Since radiation is used while performing this procedure, the staff must be protected. Each member of the medical staff must wear a leaded vest, skirt, thyroid collar and glasses. This can weigh 40 pounds or more. In addition, staff wears a gown, mask, hat and gloves. When the EKG cables become disconnected or the patient becomes uncomfortable, addition time is required for the procedure, thereby placing staff members at higher risks for increased radiation and adding to the stress of the patient.  
           [0006]    In addition, longer procedures result in increased use of energy since the temperature of the room is normally maintained at around 60° to prevent overheating and potential shutdown of the equipment.  
           [0007]    Also, it has been found that unorganized cables can interfere with the quality of the images from the fluoroscopy tube.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is therefore one object of this invention to provide an improved medical procedure patient pad.  
           [0009]    It is another object of this invention to provide a medical procedure patient pad which maintains cables in an organized fashion.  
           [0010]    It is still another object to provide cardiac catherization laboratory table pad which prevents EKG cables from being disconnected and/or removed from the patient.  
           [0011]    It is yet another object to provide quick access to monitor cable used during a medical procedure.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    In accordance with one form of this invention there is provided a pad for a patient to be placed in a supine position thereon during a medical procedure which requires the use of cable in monitoring the patient. The pad includes a cushioned substrate. The substrate has a top surface adapted to contact the patient. A cable organizer mechanism, preferably a channel, is attached to the substrate. The channel is adapted to house a portion of cable which is used during a medical procedure. Preferably, the channel is elongated and is attached to a portion of the outer edge of the substrate. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The subject matter which is regarded as the invention as set forth in the appended claims, the invention itself however, together with further objects and advantages thereof may be better understood in reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the pad of the subject invention resting on a medical procedure table.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the pad of FIG. 1 showing a patient in a supine position on the pad and connected to EKG cable.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a partial side view showing a portion of the channels which form part of the pad in detail.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a partial side view of a portion of the pad of FIG. 1, however, with the channels in the open position.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a partial side view of one edge of the pad of FIG. 1 showing the channels in the open position.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the one edge of pad of FIG. 1 showing the channels in the closed position. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is provided medical patient pad  10  resting on the upper surface  12  of medical procedure table  14 . Table  14  is shown to be rectangular with legs about the periphery for illustration purposes only. Table  14  would be shaped like pad  10  and would be mounted on a central pedestal. Pad  10  includes substrate  16  and a cable organizer section  18  attached thereto. As used herein, the word “cable” includes insulated electrical conductors, electrical cable, pneumatic tubing, and other elongated apparatus used during medical procedures.  
         [0021]    Substrate  16  preferably includes a cushiony or gel core  17  made of a material, such as foam rubber, covered by a nonabsorbent washable material, such as soft vinyl  19 , as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.  
         [0022]    Substrate  16  includes upper portion  20  adapted to receive the patient&#39;s head and torso, and lower portion  22  adapted to receive the patient&#39;s legs and feet.  
         [0023]    Pad  10  of the subject invention is particularly adapted to be used during cardiac catherization procedures. During that procedure, the patient&#39;s EKG, blood pressure and blood oxygen content are continuously monitored. This results in a substantial number of unorganized wires, cable and tubing which can interfere with the catherization procedure. Substrate  16  has been modified by the addition of cable organizer section  18  which is connected around about a portion of the outer edge  24  of the substrate.  
         [0024]    In the preferred embodiment, cable organizer section  18  includes channel  26  and channel  28 . As used herein, channel means conduit, a tray, a pocket, straps and open loops, as well as other mechanisms for organizing cable. Channels  26  and  28  extend about at least a portion of outer edge  24  of substrate  16 . In the preferred embodiment, channels  26  and  28  are attached to portion  30  of one of the long edges of substrate  16  and is further attached to portion  32  of the curved top edge of substrate  16 .  
         [0025]    As can be seen by FIGS. 4, 5 and  6 , channel  26  is formed from flap  34 , which is attached to the upper portion  36  of edge  24 , preferably by sewing. Preferably, hook and loop type connectors, such as Velcro connectors, are used to form channels  26  and  28 . An elongated hook connecter  38  is attached to the outer portion of the inside of flap  34 , and an elongated strip of loop connecters  40  is attached to the inner portion of the inside of flap  34 . Channel  26  is formed by bending flap  34  into a curved shape, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and attaching hook the connector  38  to loop connector  40 .  
         [0026]    As can be seen by FIGS. 4, 5 and  6 , channel  28  is formed from flap  42 , which is attached to the lower portion of edge  34 , preferably by sewing. Hook connecter  46  is attached to the outer portion of the inside of flap  42 , and loop connecter  48  is attached to the inner portion of the inside of flap  42 . Channel  28  is formed by bending flap  42  into a curved shape, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and attaching the hook connector  46  to loop connector  48 .  
         [0027]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, channel  26  preferably houses EKG cables while channel  28  preferably houses blood pressure cuff cable (i.e., a pneumatic tube) and blood oxygen sensor cable. By housing these cables within channels  26  and  28 , the cable is “managed” so that it will not interfere with the medical procedure, such as a heart catherization procedure.  
         [0028]    Channel  26  includes first slit or opening  48  and second slit or opening  50  along the top edge  32  of substrate  16 .  
         [0029]    EKG cable  52 , which has sensor  54  attached thereto, passes through slit  48 , and EKG cable  56 , which has sensor  58  attached thereto, passes through slit  50 . As can be seen in FIG. 2, sensors  54  and  58  are affixed to the patient&#39;s chest. Other portions of cables  52  and  56  are received inside channel  26 . Channel  26  also includes slit  60  located along long edge  30  of substrate  16 . Three EKG cables  62  having sensors  64  attached thereto, which are adapted to be attached to the lower portion of the patient, pass through slit  60 . Additional portions of cables are received in the inside of channel  26 . These five EKG cables  52 ,  56  and  62  pass out through open end  66  of channel  26  into pocket  68 , which is attached to substrate  16 . The individual cables  52 ,  56  and  62  are formed into a single larger cable  70 , which is attached to the EKG box, which is under table  14  (not shown).  
         [0030]    Channel  28  includes slit or opening  72 . Blood pressure tube  75 , which is attached to blood pressure cup  76 , passes through slit  72 . Additional portions of tube  75  are received inside channel  28 . Cable  78 , which is attached to blood oxygen sensor  80 , also passes through slit  72 . Additional portions of tube  75  and cable  78  are received in channel  28  and exit channel  28  at its open end  82  and are respectively connected to a blood pressure monitoring device (not shown) and a blood oxygen sensor device (not shown).  
         [0031]    The improved pad  10  permits EKG cables to be held securely within channel  26 , and blood pressure tubing and blood oxygen sensor cable to be held securely within channel  28 . Loss of EKG and other monitoring is prevented, which is often caused by the moving fluoroscopy tube becoming entangled with the cable. The cable is prevented from coming into view of the imaging apparatus in the case of a cardiac catherization procedure. Damage to the cable is prevented. Inaccessibility to the cables is avoided since the cables are organized. In addition, damage from blood or bodily fluid is also prevented.  
         [0032]    By organizing EKG cables in channel  26 , which can be readily opened and closed, quick assessment and quick accessibility of the EKG is permitted. Pad  10  will prevent unwanted disconnections of the EKG during a procedure, which posses a potential danger to the patient should the catheter be engaged in the coronary and EKG is lost. The EKG cable will be protected from undue damage that might result from being removed abruptly by the equipment during the examination. Because the cable is housed in channel  26 , placing tension on the cable is avoided, which could cause irritation and discomfort to the patient&#39;s skin. Because of the integrity of the EKG, the length of the procedure should be decreased. Frustration and stress of monitoring a patient appropriately by both the physician and the staff is diminished greatly. This system allows for quick application of EKG leads in both routine and emergency situations. The use of the new pad  10  decreases potential radiation exposure to the staff members involved in the procedure.  
         [0033]    From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that many modifications may be made therein. It should be understood however, that the embodiment of the invention is an exemplification of the invention only and that the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the invention is not only useful for cardiac catherization procedures, but for any other medical procedure in which cables may be used to connect the patient to equipment. It is to be understood therefore that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.