Abstract:
A medical device comprising a medical procedure patient platform having a peripheral edge, a length of the peripheral edge having a substantially rigid male connecting member; and, an extension having a substantially and permanently rigid female connecting member, the female connecting member configured for rotational mating attachment with male connecting member. In a particular embodiment, the device further provides that the female connecting member is configured to maintain the extension in a horizontal arrangement upon attachment to the male connecting member. In another embodiment, the female connecting member is configured to attach to the patient platform at any location along the length of the peripheral edge.

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/981,209, filed Nov. 4, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,272,866, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/427,546, filed May 1, 2003, now abandoned, the disclosures of each are herein incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Description of the Related Art 
   In the medical field it is known for medical practitioners to utilize tables for various medical procedures. In one application, imaging tables are used to scan the interior of the human body for any number of medical conditions. One such application may include X-raying a patient for diagnosis of a physical or medical condition. It is also known in the medical arts to place a patient on a stationary table and maneuver an imaging device around the patient. Yet, certain examining energy rays, such as X-rays, may be blocked, that is to say absorbed, by the patient platform itself. 
   In the medical art it is also known to utilize medical equipment or accessories on or about the procedural tables. This may include catheters, surgical equipment, and the like. Such equipment is needed in close proximity to the patient and the region of the body being examined or treated. For example, someone&#39;s arm may need to be extended to insert an IV. It would be advantageous to have an extension suited for supporting the person&#39;s arm while the IV is being inserted. Alternately, an extension may be useful in checking for shoulder movement during diagnosis while the patient is positioned on the examining table. 
   Therefore, an apparatus and method for extending accessories of various types is needed for use with medical procedure and surgical patient platforms that can be conveniently and quickly placed into, and removed from, various positions. It is also advantageous to have accessory extensions that do not affect examining energy rays. The subject invention obviates the aforementioned difficulties. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Particular embodiments of the present invention include apparatus and methods for providing and attaching an extension to a medical procedure patient platform. Particular embodiments of the present invention a medical device. Such medical devices include a medical procedure patient platform having a peripheral edge, a length of the peripheral edge having a substantially rigid male connecting member; and, an extension having a substantially and permanently rigid female connecting member, the female connecting member configured for rotational mating attachment with male connecting member. 
   Particular embodiments of the present invention further include an extension for attachment to a medical procedure patient platform. Such extensions include a substantially and permanently rigid female connecting member, the female connecting member configured for rotational mating attachment with a substantially rigid male connecting member located along a length of a peripheral edge of a medical procedure patient platform. 
   Particular embodiments of methods of the present invention, that are methods for extending a medical procedure patient platform, have steps that include providing a medical procedure patient platform having a peripheral edge, a length of the peripheral edge having a substantially rigid male connecting member, and providing an extension having a substantially and permanently rigid female connecting member, the female connecting member configured for rotational mating attachment with male connecting member. Other steps include placing a portion of the female connecting member in contact with a top portion of the male connecting member and rotating substantially the entire extension downward, thereby interlocking the interlocking member with the connecting portion. 

   
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more detailed descriptions of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numbers represent like parts of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, at least one embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a medical procedure patient platform table with an energy ray imaging device; 
       FIG. 2   a  is an isometric view of a medical procedure/surgical table top (patient platform) with an extension attached thereto; 
       FIG. 2   b  is a cross-sectional view of a medical procedure/surgical table top (patient platform) with an extension attached thereto; 
       FIG. 3  is a close up cross-sectional view of the extension interlocked to the medical procedure/surgical table top (patient platform); 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the extension interlock for the medical procedure/surgical table top (patient platform); 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the bracket assembly for the extension; and, 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the extension with receiving edge. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating at least one embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same,  FIG. 1  depicts a medical procedure table  1  with patient platform (top) shown generally at  2 . The medical procedure patient table  1  or medical patient table  1  may support a patient, not shown, for use with various medical examining or treatment procedures. It is understood for the subject invention that the medical patient table  1  may be used for any medical purpose including, but not limited to, surgery, minimally invasive surgical procedure, diagnoses of medical conditions, treatment of medical conditions, X-raying, and the like.  FIG. 1  depicts one application of the medical patient table  1  used with an energy ray imaging device  3 , which may be an X-ray machine  3 . The energy ray imaging device  3  may be maneuvered about the medical patient table  1 . In this manner, when a patient is placed on the medical patient table  1  the imaging device  3  and/or patient platform  2  may be translated through various axes of movement taking images of the patient at various places and angles without having to move the patient independently of the patient platform  2 . Since the medical patient platform  2  may at times reside between the imaging device  3  and the patient, the medical patient platform  2  may be constructed from materials that do not block or absorb the energy examining rays, thus allowing the rays to pass through the patient platform  2  and into the patient. If the medical patient platform  2  absorbed a significant part or all of the energy rays, higher power energy rays may have to be used to obtain a quality image of the patient&#39;s body, which may result in damage of the patient&#39;s tissue due to the higher energy power level of the rays. That is to say that higher power energy rays would have to be used to overcome the absorption of rays by the patient platform. 
   With continued reference to  FIG. 1  and now to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , a medical patient platform  2  is depicted apart from the medical patient table  1  in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  and separate from a specific medical use. It is noted that the medical patient platform  2  may include extensions, which will be discussed in subsequent paragraphs. The medical patient platform  2  or medical procedure patient platform  2  has a characteristic length L, width W, and thickness T. The dimensions of the length, width, and thickness may be chosen with sound judgment as is appropriate for use in supporting a patient as described above. In one embodiment, the medical patient platform  2  is generally rectangular. However, any geometric configuration of medical patient platform  2  may be chosen with sound engineering and/or medical judgment. The medical patient platform  2  may be constructed from a rigid inner core  9  material and an outer skin  8 . The core material  9  may be a limited-energy ray absorbing foam that does not appreciably absorb examining energy rays, which may be X-rays, gamma rays, and the like. The outer skin  8  may be constructed from carbon fiber. It is noted that any material may be chosen for the core material  9  and the outer skin  8  that does not substantially affect the examining energy rays. 
   With continued reference to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  and now to  FIG. 3 , a medical patient platform extension  14  (which, in this application will be interchangeably used with accessory extension  14 ) is shown attached to the medical patient platform  2 . The medical patient platform extension  14  may be selectively attached to the medical patient platform  2  without the use of fasteners such as clamps, screws, and the like. The medical patient platform extension  14  may include a recess  16 . Correspondingly, the patient platform  2  may include a protrusion  18  for use in interlocking with the recess  16  of the accessory extension  14 . In this way, the recess  16  (which is the female receiving portion) interlocks with the connecting portion  18  (which is the male portion) of the medical patient platform  2 . The manner in which the accessory extension  14  interlocks with the medical patient platform  2  will be discussed later in a subsequent paragraph. The medical patient platform  2  may include a peripheral edge  21  traversing the circumference of the length and width of the medical patient platform  2 . The male connecting portion  18  may be contiguously fashioned about the entire peripheral edge  21  of the medical patient platform  2 . In this manner, the recess  16  may selectively receive the male connecting portion  18  at any point along the peripheral edge  21 . This makes the accessory extension  14  versatile and easily positionable at any place conducive to the medical practitioner&#39;s job in performing their diagnosis or treatment. In one embodiment, the accessory extension  14  is a patient platform extension, shown in  FIG. 2   a , which increases the width of the patient platform  2 . One or both sides of the medical patient platform  2  may be extended as desired for accommodating different size patients and patients having different medical needs. In another embodiment, the accessory extension  14  may include an arm extension  25  that connects to the connecting portion  18  taking up less width along the peripheral edge  21 , shown in  FIG. 1 . It can be clearly seen that the any accessory extension  14  can be constructed according to varied medical needs for interlocking onto the medical patient platform  2 , as long as chosen with sound engineering and medical judgment. In this manner, the accessory extension  14  may be selectively infinitely positionable along the entire peripheral edge  21  of the medical patient platform  2 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 3 , the composition of the accessory extension  14  will now be discussed. The accessory extension  14  may include a core material  9  surrounded by an outer skin  8 . The core material  9  may be foam that forms a rigid base of the accessory extension  14 . However, any material may be used to form the rigid base of the accessory extension  14  as long as chosen with sound engineering judgment and that does not appreciably absorb examining energy rays. The outer skin  8  may be constructed of carbon fiber forming a laminate layer over the rigid base material. However, any material may be chosen for use as an outer skin material, and any means of affixing the two sections together may be chosen using sound engineering judgment. In this way, the accessory extension  14  may be selectively positioned anywhere about the peripheral edge  21  of the medical patient platform  2  without interfering with examining energy rays during the medical procedure, treatment, or diagnosis. 
   The recess  16  of the accessory extension  14  and the connecting portion  18  of the medical patient platform  2  may be configured such that the two portions  16 ,  18  fit together by tilting the medical patient platform extension  14  upward, placing the recess  16  onto the male connecting portion  18  and lowering the medical patient platform extension  14  to a substantially horizontal position. It is noted that the bottom portion  16   b  of the recess  16  is generally flat (slightly arced) such that there is no interference or force required to fit the medical patient platform extension  14  onto the medical patient platform  2 . Recess  16  also includes a ridge  16   a  that contributes to the interlocking of recess  16  with connecting portion  18 , as ridge  16   a  matingly fits within recess (depression or groove)  18   a  of the connecting portion. In this manner, the medical patient platform extension  14  may easily be installed and removed, as desired. 
   With references to all of the FIGURES, operation of the invention will now be discussed. An associated operator may grasp the appropriate accessory extension  14  needed for a specific application prior to and/or during a medical procedure. The operator may select where it is best desired to position the accessory extension  14  along the peripheral edge  21  of the medical patient platform  2 . The operator may then angle (rotate) the accessory extension  14  upward to fit the recess  16  over the connecting portion  18  of the medical patient platform  2 . The operator may then tilt (rotate) the medical patient platform extension  14  downward when the top portion of the recess  16  is juxtaposed to the recess (depression or groove)  18   a  of the connecting portion  18 . For disassembly, the operator may simply lift up on the accessory extension  14  and remove the accessory extension  14 . 
   With reference now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an alternate embodiment will now be discussed.  FIG. 4  shows the underside of a patient platform extension  14 . In this example, the patient platform extension  14  may be a patient platform arm extension member  14 ′. In accordance with the previous discussion, the patient platform arm extension  14 ′ may include the recess  16  for use in fitting onto the male connecting portion  18  on the medical patient platform  2 . The recess  16  may be a part of a bracket assembly  17  that is connected to an armrest member  19 . It is noted that the arm rest member  19  may be any kind of patient platform extension member. In this manner, the bracket  17  and the arm rest member  19  may comprise the patient platform arm extension member  14 ′. The bracket assembly  17  may be continuously formed member constructed of material that does not block or absorb the energy examining rays, thus allowing the rays to pass through the bracket assembly and into the body. Similarly, the arm rest member  19  may also be constructed from this kind of material. The bracket assembly  17  may include several different parts that may allow the arm rest member  19  to pivot with respect to the bracket assembly  17 . In this way, the entire patient platform arm extension member  14 ′ may be infinitely positionable along the periphery  21  of the medical patient platform  2  and the arm rest member  19  may pivot with respect to the bracket  17 . The arm rest member  19  may be replaced by any medical extension device or appliance chosen with sound engineering judgment. 
   With continued reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the bracket assembly  17  may include bracket assembly members that make up the bracket assembly  17  and allow the arm rest  19  to pivot with respect to the bracket assembly  17 . In one embodiment, the bracket assembly  17  may include a bracket frame  22 , a gear member  25 , and an index member  30 . It is noted that the bracket frame  22  may include the recess  16  as discussed above. The bracket frame  22  may be a contiguously formed bracket frame  22 . However, any manner of constructed bracket frame  22  maybe chosen with sound medical and engineering judgment. In this embodiment, the gear member  25  may include gear teeth  27 , fashioned at least part way around the periphery of the gear member  25 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The bracket frame  22  may rotatably receive the gear member  25  within an aperture  35  formed in the bracket frame  22 . In this manner, the aperture  35  and the gear member  25  may be substantially circular in configuration. Thus, the gear member  25  may rotate within the bracket frame  22 . It is noted that any configuration of aperture  35  and gear member  25  and any manner of rotatably receiving the gear member  25  within the bracket frame  22  may be chosen with sound engineering judgment. The arm rest  19 , or other medical implement, may be fixedly attached to the gear member  25  so as to cause the arm rest  19  to move in conjunction with the gear member  25 . In one embodiment, a wedge member  37  may be included that passes from one side of the arm rest  19 , through the arm rest  19 , and into the bracket frame  22 . A flat  39  on the wedge member  37  may be received into the gear member  25 , which may also have a matching flat  39 ′. In this manner, the arm rest  19  and wedge member  37  may be fixed in placed with respect to the gear member  25  such that when the gear member  25  is rotated, the arm rest  19  is rotated in unison. 
   With continued reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the index member  30  may be connected to the bracket frame  22 . Additionally, the index member  30  may be adjustable between an engaged and disengaged position as will be discussed presently. In the present embodiment, the index member  30  may include one or more gear teeth  28  that may engage the gear teeth of the gear member  25 . This is necessary to discretely index the arm rest  19  about a certain radius. When the index member  30  is in the engaged position, the gear teeth  28  of the index member  30  mate with the gear teeth  27  of the gear member  25 , thereby preventing the gear member  25  from rotating. Alternately, when the index member  30  is in the disengaged position, gear teeth  28  are disengaged from gear teeth  27 , thereby allowing the gear member  25  and arm rest  19  to rotate. In this manner, an operator may move the index member  30  into the disengaged position, rotate the arm rest  19  as desired and move the index member  30  back into the engaged position, which will hold the gear member  25 , and correspondingly the arm rest  19 , in position. It is noted that the angle through which the arm rest  19  may rotate is dependent upon the number of gear teeth  28  fashioned on the periphery of the gear member  25 . Any manner of connecting the index member  30 , gear member  25 , wedge member  37 , and arm rest  19  may be chosen with sound engineering judgment. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5  and now to  FIG. 6 , the bracket member  22  may include a bracket extension member  55  that may be received by the bracket member  22 . The bracket member  22  may be fashioned to include an angled ledge  56 , as shown in the  FIG. 6 , to prevent upward movement of the bracket extension member  55  when the bracket extension member  55  is juxtaposed to the bracket member  22 . In this manner, the bracket extension member  55  is held in place during use. It is noted that any angle of ledge  56  maybe chosen with sound engineering judgment as is appropriate for use with the present invention. The bracket extension member  55  may similarly have an angled surface  57  to match the angle of the ledge  56 . In one embodiment, the ledge  56  is linear sloped surface. However, it is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that the ledge may be curved in either a convex or a concave shape. Still, any configuration of ledge  56  may be chosen with sound engineering judgment. 
   At least one embodiment has been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.