Abstract:
In accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a patient table comprising a patient support surface for supporting a patient during a medical procedure, a base supporting said patient support surface, a monitor displaying medical information relating to a medical procedure, and a support member mounted to said patient table for supporting said monitor, wherein said support member includes an adjustment linkage interconnecting said monitor and support member and providing movement of said monitor of the monitor relative to said support member in at least three degrees of freedom.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     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 an adjustable mechanism that allows a user to align and/or orient a monitor to the desired position. 
     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 a patient support surface that is attached to a support apparatus. The support apparatus may include a mechanism for adjusting 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. 
     Conventional urology patient support systems support the patient in at least 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 adjustably aligned, oriented and/or rotated to provide a preferred placement of the monitor. 
     Although monitors have been used with patient support systems, such monitors have not been easily adjusted to orient or align the monitor. 
     A need, therefore, exists for an improved medical patient support system that provides a patient table and monitor that may be easily adjusted to provide a desired alignment, orientation and rotation. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a patient table comprising a patient support surface for supporting a patient during a medical procedure, a base supporting said patient support surface, a monitor displaying medical information relating to a medical procedure, and a support member mounted to said patient table for supporting said monitor, wherein said support member includes an adjustment linkage interconnecting said monitor and support member and providing movement of said monitor relative to said support member in at least three degrees of freedom. 
     One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a patient table including an adjustment linkage comprising a ball member connected to said monitor, and directional pins securely mounted to said support member and slideably engaging said ball member to permit linear movement in at least one direction corresponding to one degree of freedom. 
     One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a patient table including an adjustment linkage comprising a ball member with a slotted floating guide slideably connected inside said ball member and directional pins securely mounted to said support member and slideably engaging said slotted floating guide to limit the linear motion of the monitor in at least one direction along one degree of freedom. 
     One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a patient table including an adjustment linkage comprising a ball member and a rotatable pin connected to said support member to provide rotation of the monitor about the plane of the monitor. 
     One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention the patient table is a urological table. 
     One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a patient table comprising a patient support surface for supporting a patient during a medical procedure, a base supporting said patient support surface, a monitor displaying medical information relating to a medical procedure, a support member connected to said patient table and said monitor for supporting said monitor, and a ball shaped member interconnecting said monitor and said support member, wherein said ball shaped member is movably mounted to one of said monitor and said support member to permit movement of said monitor in at least two directions. Optionally, the ball shaped member may include a rotatable pin which allows rotation of the monitor about the plane of the monitor. Optionally the ball shaped member may include directional pins securely mounted to said support member and slidably engaged with said ball shaped member to permit linear motion along one axis. 
     One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a patient table comprising a ball shaped member including a slotted floating guide within said ball shaped member, said slotted floating guide being movable relative to said ball shaped member in at least one direction to permit linear motion along a first axis, and directional pins securely mounted to said support member and slidably engaged with said slotted floating guide to permit linear motion along a second axis perpendicular to said first axis. 
     One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a urology table comprising a patient support surface having opposed ends arranged along a longitudinal axis and having opposed sides arranged transverse to said longitudinal axis, a monitor displaying medical information relating to a medical procedure, a support member connected to said patient table and said monitor for supporting said monitor, and a linkage interconnecting said monitor and said support member, wherein the linkage includes a rotational link providing rotational movement of said monitor and a linear link providing linear movement of said monitor in at least one direction perpendicular to said rotational movement. 
     One aspect of another embodiment of the present invention is a patient table comprising a patient support surface for supporting a patient during a medical procedure, a base supporting said patient support surface, a monitor displaying medical information relating to a medical procedure, a pivot arm having a first end connected to said base and a second end connected to said monitor, a pivot release member provided on one of said monitor and said pivot arm for releasably securing said monitor and said pivot arm at predetermined angular positions with respect to said base, and an adjustment linkage, said adjustment linkage interconnecting said monitor and said pivot arm and providing movement of said monitor relative to said pivot arm in at least three degrees of freedom. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     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. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a patient support system employing the monitor and adjustment mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a moving mechanism, adjustment mechanism and monitor according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an adjustment mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an adjustment mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a frontal view of a partial assembly of an adjustment mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a frontal view of a partial assembly of an adjustment mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a urology patient support system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a urology patient support system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a patient support system  100  with a patient support surface  110 , a base  120 , a monitor  130 , a moving mechanism  140  and an adjustment mechanism  150 . 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 adjustment mechanism  150 , which is attached to the moving mechanism  140 . The moving mechanism  140  is attached to the base  120  and supports the monitor  130 . The monitor  130  is preferably a flat screen monitor. The moving mechanism  140  allows the monitor  130  to be moved and locked into different desired positions. 
     The moving mechanism  140  rotates the monitor  130  about a pivot axis, which is perpendicular to the monitor  130  plane. As shown in FIG. 2, the adjustment mechanism  200  is connected to the end of the moving mechanism  140 . The adjustment mechanism  200  allows the monitor to be moved in three degrees of freedom relative to the moving mechanism  140 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the adjustment mechanism  200  formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a side view of the adjustment mechanism  200 , including the monitor plate  350 , the second spherical member  330 , first spherical member  320 , support member  360  and handle  361 . The support member  360  is hollow and is attached to the moving mechanism  140 . The support member  360  has a first circular opening with a circular frame  305 . Directional pins  310 ,  311  are securely mounted to the circular frame  305 . The first spherical member  320  fits into the circular opening in the support member  360 . Directional pins  310 ,  311  pass through an opening in the center of the first spherical member  320 . 
     The slotted floating guide  340  is generally rectangular, square or the like. The slotted floating guide  340  includes two parallel horizontal slots  341 ,  342 . The directional pins  310 ,  311  engage the slots  341 ,  342  and slide horizontally within slots  341 ,  342  allowing the monitor  130  to be moved in one degree of freedom. FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a partial assembly of the adjustment mechanism  200 , including the slotted floating guide  340 , the first spherical member  320  and directional pins  310 ,  311 . Directional pins  310 ,  311  move over a range of motion defined by the ends of slots  341 ,  342 , as shown by range  315 . 
     The second spherical member  330  is spherical in shape and includes a rectangular, square or the like hole in the middle of it. The second spherical member generally fits within the first spherical member . 320  and may move within the first spherical member  320 . The hole in the second spherical member  330  is the same width as the slotted floating guide  340  and taller than the slotted floating guide  340 . The slotted floating guide  340  fits into the hole in the second spherical member  330  and allows the monitor  130  to be moved in a second degree of freedom. FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a partial assembly of the adjustment mechanism  200 , including the second spherical member  330 , the slotted floating guide  340 , and directional pins  310 ,  311 . The slotted floating guide  340  moves over a range of motion defined by the height of the hole in the second spherical member  330 , as shown by range  316 . 
     A first disc  370  acts as a washer and fits within. the outer diameter of the second spherical member  330 . A screw  380  passes through the first disc, the slotted floating guide  340  within the second spherical member  330 , the first spherical member  320  and is secured to the circular frame  305 . 
     The directional pins  310 ,  311 , first spherical member  320 , second spherical member  330 , slotted floating guide  340 , first disc  370  and screw  380  permit the monitor  130  to be moved in two linear directions (the x and y axis shown in FIG.  4 ). The size of the hole in the second spherical member  330  and the height of the slotted floating guide  340  may be varied to provide a different range of motion along the y axis. The width of the slots  341 ,  342  and the size of directional pins  310 ,  311  may be varied to provide a different range of motion along the x axis. 
     The adjustment mechanism  200  may also include a swivel assembly  390 , a connecting disc  400  and a washer  41   0 . The swivel assembly  390  includes a shoulder washer  394 , spring  393 , shoulder  392  and screw cap  391 . The spring  393  fits over the shoulder  392  and the shoulder washer  394  fits over the spring  393 . The shoulder washer  394  extends through the hole in the connecting disc  400 . 
     The connecting disc  400  is a larger circular disc with a hole in the middle that securely fits over the shoulder washer  394 . The connecting disc  400  also includes holes  401 ,  402 ,  403 ,  404  along the outside for fasteners  420  to pass through. A washer  410  rests between the connecting disc  400  and the monitor plate  350 . The screw cap  391  extends through the shoulder  392 , spring  393 , shoulder washer  394 , connecting disc  400  and washer  410  and connects to the monitor plate  350 . 
     Fasteners  420  connect the connecting disc  400  to the second spherical member  330 , and hold the padded disc  410  and swivel assembly  390  in place. Hole  405  of the connecting disc  400  fits over peg  406  of the second spherical member  330  to hold the connecting disc  400  in place. The monitor  130  is connected to the monitor plate  350 . The swivel assembly  390  allows the monitor  130  to be moved in a third degree of freedom. Spring  393  is set such that shoulder washer  394  or washer  410  contact monitor plate  350 . Monitor plate  350  and swivel assembly  390  rotate around the monitor plate plane (in the z direction as shown in FIG.  4 ), while the connecting disc  400  and the other parts of the adjustment mechanism remain rigid. The swivel assembly  390  holds the monitor plate  350  in its selected orientation once the monitor  130  has been rotated. 
     In operation, the monitor  130  is held in place by the adjustment mechanism  200 . The user moves the monitor  130  in a horizontal (along the x axis) and/or vertical (along the y axis) linear direction and/or rotates the monitor  130  (along the z arrow) about the plane of the monitor  130 . When the monitor  130  is moved horizontally (along the x axis) the second spherical member  330  slides left to right within the first spherical member  320  and the slotted floating guide  340  slides along the directional pins  310 ,  311 . The directional pins  310 ,  311  restrict horizontal movement after a predetermined point. When the monitor  130  is moved vertically (along the y axis) the second spherical member  330  slides up and down within the first spherical member  320  and the slotted floating guide  340  moves up and down within the hole in the second spherical member  330 . When the monitor  130  is rotated (along the z arrow) the swivel assembly  390 , washer  410  and monitor plate  350  rotate. The swivel assembly  390  holds the monitor  130  in place once it has been rotated to a selected position. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 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. 7, the patient  700  is laying down on the patient support surface  110  and the doctor  800  is seated or standing near the legs of the patient  700 . In this position, one desired monitor  130  location is over the patient&#39;s chest. In the second position, as shown in FIG. 8, the patient  700  is sitting upright and the doctor  800  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  800  or another person to easily and safely align and/or orient the monitor  130  in multiple positions to provide the optimum placement of the monitor  130  as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. 
     The present invention may also be used in connection with the invention disclosed in U.S. patent application No. 09/682,860, and applicants hereby incorporate by reference application No. 09/682,860 in its entirety. 
     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.