Abstract:
A circumcision board may include a generally rectangular board of a hard but lightweight plastic with a memory foam pad covered with disposable plastic sheet. The board may feature a drainage hole to facilitate draining of fluids that may be released during the procedure (i.e., blood or urine). Disposable restraint straps may be secured to the sides of the board to hold the infant down firmly but comfortably. The board may also feature a raising top portion for the child&#39;s comfort and for ease of positioning the child and possible prevention of aspiration. The upper half of the board could be adjusted by use of a quick-release mechanism. The entire board may lay completely flat when the top portion is not raised, and may be suitable for storage or for easy transport.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This application relates generally to devices for use in a circumcision procedure. More particularly, this application relates to a comfortable adjustable board and restraint to hold an infant in place during a circumcision procedure. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Circumcision of newborn male infants continues to be practiced by medical professionals worldwide. Current estimates are that one-sixth to one-third of males born in the world have been circumcised, including almost 75% of boys presently born in the United States. With such a continuing prevalence of the procedure in evidence, it is imperative that practitioners of the procedure have access to medical devices that ensure a safe and comfortable experience for both the practitioner and the patient. 
         [0003]    Circumcisions were traditionally performed on any flat surface. In time, practitioners realized the benefits of a sterile surface on which to work, and further improvements that ensured the safety and comfort of the patient were developed. Many attempts to incorporate these and other improvements into one device have been made and marketed in the last several years. For example, various operating tables and pillows have been marketed, but these suffer from a lack of specialization for the nuances of circumcision procedures, like a drainage area or restraints that are designed specifically for holding an infant in the correct position to most effectively receive a circumcision. Information relevant to other attempts to address these issues and problems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,700,381; 2,743,974; 2,751,268; 2,846,700; 2,867,483; 2,995,407; 3,650,523; 4,790,041; 5,160,185; 5,329,934; and 6,023,802. 
         [0004]    However, each one of these references suffers from one or more of the following disadvantages: lack of portability due to bulk or the usage of heavier materials, inadequate drainage areas and channels or slopes that lead to those areas, inability to lay flat for storage, lack of inclusion of disposable cloth straps; lack of utilization of the benefits of modern “memory foam” for comfort, and lack of quick release mechanisms for additional convenience. Thus, a need exists for a device that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    This application describes and discloses an apparatus that satisfies the above-mentioned needs. The apparatus may include a generally rectangular board of a hard but lightweight plastic covered in memory foam or a suitable substitute and then covered with a germ, bacteria, virus, and cleaning chemical-resistant plastic sheet which may be removable and disposable. The board may also feature a drainage hole in a lower portion of the board that corresponds to where the infant&#39;s penis would be located when the child is on the board. The hole may be located in the center of a depressed area in a lower portion of board to facilitate draining of fluids that may be released during the procedure (i.e., blood or urine). Disposable restraint straps may be secured to the sides of the board by Velcro strips to hold the infant down firmly but comfortably. 
         [0006]    The board may also feature a raising top portion for the child&#39;s comfort and for ease of positioning the child. The top portion may be lifted off the base of the support board by an adjustable support bar or other release mechanism. The upper half of the board could be adjusted by use of a quick-release mechanism which is located in the middle of the board at the meeting place of the lower and top halves of the board. The entire board may lay completely flat when the top portion is not raised, and may be suitable for storage or for easy transport, especially given the light weight of the device. 
         [0007]    These and other aspects of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The following description can be better understood in light of Figures, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an exemplary circumcision board; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an oblique view of an exemplary circumcision board; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an exemplary circumcision board; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an oblique view of an exemplary circumcision board. 
       
    
    
       [0013]    Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of an infant circumcision board and associated components and methods. In the Figures, the thickness and configuration of components may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals in different Figures represent the same component. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    In the illustrated embodiments, aspects and features of exemplary infant circumcision boards systems and associated components and methods are disclosed and described below. 
         [0015]      FIGS. 1-3  are illustrative of an embodiment of circumcision board  100 . Circumcision board  100  may include support board  110 , surface supports  120 , pad  130 , fluid drain opening  140  in support board  110 , restraining straps  152 ,  154 , and support  122 . Circumcision board  100  may be sized to accommodate an infant during a circumcision procedure performed on young male infants up to about 20 pounds. 
         [0016]    Support board  110  may include lower portion  112  and upper portion  114 . Support board  110  may be formed of a lightweight plastic material such as HDPE, polycarbonate, or metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, or other suitable material. Support board  110  (along with surface support  120 ) may be formed with sufficient strength to support an infant up to about 20 pounds and some additional pressure from a doctor performing a circumcision or a parent comforting an infant placed on support board  110 . Support board  110  may be generally rectangular, with each of lower portion  112  and upper portion  114  being generally square or rectangular in shape. 
         [0017]    Upper portion  114  and lower portion  112  may be connected together such that the pivot about joint  116  in a hinged relationship. The hinged relationship between upper portion  114  and lower portion  112  may allow upper portion  114  to be raised to provide a comfortable reclined position for an infant placed on circumcision board  100 , and to provide easy access for a doctor to the penis of the infant during a circumcision procedure. The reclined position may reduce the amount of fluids (such as urine and blood) that might contact the infant when laying flat during the procedure The reclined position may also reduce vomiting which can lead to aspiration. 
         [0018]    Lower portion  112  may include fluid drain opening  140  formed generally in the center of lower portion  112 . Lower portion  112  may also be formed such that fluids spilled or otherwise placed on lower portion  112  would tend to flow to drain opening  140 . For example, lower portion  112  may slope from the periphery of lower portion  112  toward drain opening  140 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Similarly, in other embodiments, channels may be formed in lower portion  112 , in lower pad  132  of pad  130 , or in both to encourage fluid flow to drain opening  140 . 
         [0019]    Surface support  120  may be provided for stability when support board is in a reclined position. Surface support  120  may be one or more legs extending from lower portion  112  as shown in  FIG. 2 , or surface support  120  may be a single extension having the approximate shape and/or dimensions of upper portion  114 . Surface support  120  may extend under and connect to lower portion  112 . Similarly, surface support  120  may be integrally formed into lower portion  112 . 
         [0020]    Upper portion  114  may be selectively placed and held in different positions between 0 degrees (flat and coplanar with lower portion  112 ) and 90 degrees (sitting completely upright), depending on the preference of the doctor. In most instances, a reclined position between about 15 and 45 degrees may be preferable. In some embodiments, one or more reclined positions may be provided by an adjustment mechanism to be selected. For example, in  FIG. 2 , support  122  may be attached to upper portion  114  and positioned against stops  124  on surface supports  120  to achieve a reclined position. In the illustrated embodiment, four recline positions and the flat position are selectable depending on which stop  124  support  122  is engaged. Thus, for the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , five total positions, including four recline positions and a lay-flat position are selectable. Other embodiments may use any number of adjustment mechanisms used to provide adjustable recline positions for support board  110 . In the lay-flat position, the circumcision board  100  may be easily stored and transported, making it ideal for use by a mohel or a pediatrician who travels to different hospitals or offices to perform circumcisions. Circumcision board  100  may also be easily shipped in the lay-flat position by stacking multiple boards and saving space. 
         [0021]    Support  122  may be a pair of legs with a cross-brace as shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , or it may be a U-shaped element, a planar element, or any suitable shape and configuration for supporting upper portion  114  in a reclined position. For example, support  122  may be pivotably coupled to upper portion  114  and may be fixed with a detent mechanism or other mechanism into a number of inclined positions, such that surface support  120  is not needed in addition to support  122 . Similarly, support  122  may be attached to surface support  120  and configured to engage different points on the bottom side of upper portion  114  to select different reclined positions. 
         [0022]    Pad  130  may be provided for comfort and support of an infant placed on circumcision board  100 . Pad  130  may include interior material formed of memory foam or other suitable cushioning or comfort material. The interior material may be covered with a suitable covering similar to a hospital bed as is known in the industry to keep the interior material clean and functioning properly and to allow for thorough cleaning as is required in a medical environment. Similarly, the interior material and/or covering may also be made of or include antiseptic agents to prevent bacteria, fungus, germs, or viruses from growing in the interior material. In some embodiments, a removable, disposable plastic sheet may be used to cover pad  130  during each different procedure to help persevere cleanliness and sterility. The plastic sheet may be chemical resistant to cleaning, antiseptic and other chemicals that may be used in conjunction with cleaning circumcision board  100  or during a circumcision procedure. 
         [0023]    Pad  130  may be formed to conform to the shape and adjustability of support board  110 . For example, lower pad  132  of pad  130  may be formed with a slope from the periphery to drain hole  140 , similar to lower portion  112  of support board  110 . In some embodiments, lower pad  132  of pad  130  may be separate from upper pad  134 . Pad  130  may be releasably attached to support board  110  with attachments  136 ,  138 . 
         [0024]    Attachments  136 ,  138  may be hook and loop fabric fasteners, or any other suitable fasteners. Similarly, attachments  136 ,  138  may be along a periphery of pad  130 , or positioned in any place suitable for holding pad  130  to support board  110 . In some embodiments, pad  130  may be formed with pockets for inserting a part of lower portion  112  and/or upper portion  114  to secure pad  130  to support board  110 . In such embodiments, strap connections  156 ,  158  (discussed in detail below) may be incorporated into pad  130 . 
         [0025]    Restraint straps  152 ,  154  may be used to comfortably restrain an infant laying on support board  110  during a circumcision procedure. Restraint straps  152 ,  154  may be used to hold the infant relatively still to lessen any chance of unnecessary injury. Restraint straps  152 ,  154  may be formed of fabric or other soft material and may be somewhat pliable to allow for some movement by the infant when restrained. For example, restraint straps  152 ,  154 , may be formed of an elastomeric material similar to material used on some comfort-fitting diapers for adhesive tabs. Restraint straps  152 ,  154  may be disposable with each use to ensure a sterile work environment for the doctor and infants. 
         [0026]    Restraint straps  152 ,  154  may be releasably attached to support board  110  or otherwise to another portion of circumcision board  100 . As illustrated, restraint straps  152 ,  154  may be releasably attached to support board  110  using hook and loop fasteners (such as Velcro®), with strap connections  156 ,  158  being attachable to strap fasteners  153 ,  155 . Strap connections  156 ,  158  may be located on the side edges of each of lower portion  112  and upper portion  114  of support board  110 . Strap connections  156 ,  158  may be located on opposing edges to provide restraint straps  152 ,  154  with attachment points on both sides of support table  110 . 
         [0027]    Restraint straps  154  may be provided to restrain each leg of an infant on circumcision board  100 , attached across strap connections  158  located on the inside of drain opening  140  and on the outside of lower portion  112 . In other embodiments, a single restraint strap  154  may be used to restrain both legs. Similarly, restraint straps  152 ,  154  may include strap connections  153 ,  155  on each end to releasably attach at both ends to strap connections  156  and  158  on opposing sides of support table  110 . In some embodiments, restraint straps  152 ,  154  may be formed of another material that can be cleaned and sterilized for multiple uses, similar to other restraint devices used in hospitals. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate an embodiment of a circumcision table  200  with a quick-release adjustment mechanism for adjusting the reclining position of upper portion  214 . Similar to circumcision board  100  described above in many respects, circumcision board  200  may include support board  210  with upper portion  214  and lower portion  212 , surface supports  220 , pad  230 , fluid drain opening  240  in support board  210 , and restraining straps  252 ,  254 . Pad  230  may be releasably held to support board  210  with fasteners  236  and  238 , and restraining straps  252 ,  254  may connect with support board  210  through connections  258 ,  256 ,  253 ,  255 , similar to circumcision board  100  described above. 
         [0029]    Quick-release mechanism  270  may include knob  260 , shaft  262 , spring  264 , retaining washer  266 , and locking tab  274 , which may interact with rack  272  on knob  260 . To activate quick-release mechanism  270  to adjust the recline position of upper portion  214 , a user may pull knobs  260  outward, which releases tab  274  from rack  272  and allows upper portion  214  to pivot with respect to lower portion  212 . Once upper portion  214  is in a desired position, knobs  260  may be released, allowing spring  262  to pull rack  272  against tab  274  to engage into a locked position or recline as desired. Shaft  262  may be at least partially square to pass through a square opening  211  in lower portion  212  to prevent shaft  262  from rotating. 
         [0030]    While the above description contains various exemplary and other specific embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but merely as exemplary embodiments from among the many embodiments encompassed by the claims. Many other embodiments and variations are possible within the teaching of this document. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not solely by the examples and embodiments given.