Patent Publication Number: US-2015068535-A1

Title: Treatment table

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/823,263, filed May 14, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to treatment tables and related mechanisms for treatment tables, and, more particularly, to an improved treatment table having securing and positioning mechanisms that allow for efficient positioning of one or more treatment devices in one or more areas of interest for selectively positioning the one or more treatment devices relative to one or more treatment targets. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Various procedures in the healthcare field and otherwise, use various emitters to treat patients for various ailments or elective treatments. These emitters vary based upon the needed treatment and may include electromagnetic radiation, laser, LED, etc. 
     It is well known that problems often arise when attempting to keep the emitter in place during treatment in relation to the one or more treatment areas and/or targets. Patients often lie, face-up or down on a horizontal table throughout the duration of the treatment and options are limited for placement of the treatment devices often operated by hand. In many situations holding is required, and technicians may have to use props or other makeshift devices to attempt to adequately hold the treatment device in a desired position for the desired amount of application in areas of interest for treatment. Such holding is physically demanding, and custom crafting any such makeshift props or devices time consuming, both of which can yield less than optimal treatments and introduce undesirable risks to parties involved with treatments. 
     Further, excess working space for storage of treatment equipment costs money and increases risk of damage to the treatment equipment. Further, keeping the treatment equipment stored elsewhere may increase the safety risks of transport and handling by the technician. 
     As alluded to above, problems may arise with current techniques and makeshift props where treatment may not be properly provided due to faulty and/or inconsistent positioning, wherein the same patient may be required to undergo revisionary treatment adding to the costs and time to complete the desired treatment procedure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide an improved treatment table with securing and positioning mechanisms that overcomes many of the drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art systems and arrangements. It is another object of the present invention to permits efficient securing and positioning of treatment devices toward areas of interest for selective positioning with respect to an area of interest and/or treatment target of a patient. In addition, another object of the invention is to provide more accurate treatment that may reduce treatment times allowing for more treatments in shorter intervals between treatments. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a treatment table may include at least two substantially vertical supports, a first support in communication with the at least two substantially vertical supports at a first height and a second support in communication with the at least two substantially vertical supports above the first height. The treatment table may further include at least one rail in communication with the first support and be configured to slidably support a treatment device. Further, a first cushion may be provided that is in communication with the second support and that may have a first aperture positioned through the first cushion above the rail. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a treatment table may include at least two substantially vertical supports, a first support in communication with the at least two substantially vertical supports at a first height, and a second support in communication with the at least two substantially vertical supports above the first height. The treatment table may also include a first cushion in communication with the second support that has a first aperture through the first cushion above the second support and a translucent member configured to substantially cover the first aperture. 
     These and other features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structures and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended to unduly limit the present invention. As used in the specification and the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a treatment table in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an embodiment of a treatment table in accordance with present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of a treatment table in accordance with present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the treatment table shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of an embodiment of a treatment table in accordance with present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a treatment table in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an upper support for a treatment device in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is an end view of an embodiment of a treatment table in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”, “longitudinal” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and/or step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as unduly limiting. 
     The present invention is directed to a treatment table  10 , which is illustrated in various preferred and non-limiting embodiments in  FIGS. 1-8 . The treatment table  10  may include one or more vertical supports  40 , an upper support  60  and a lower support  70 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the lower support  70  may also have rails  30  mounted thereto for supporting and selectively positioning (or orienting) a treatment device  170  with respect to a treatment target (not shown) positioned on the treatment table  10  such as, for example, a patient. 
     The treatment table  10 , in one embodiment and as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , may further include a cushion body  80 , and a cushion head  110  supported by the vertical supports  40  and/or the upper support  60 . The cushion body  80  may further include a treatment aperture  100  positioned therethrough. Further, the cushion body  80 , in various embodiments and as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , may also be connected to the cushion head  110  via a hinge  112  positioned between along the adjacent edges of the cushion body  80  and the cushion head  110 . 
     As can be seen in FIGS.  1  and  3 - 4 , the lower support  70  may support rails  30 , along which the treatment device  170  may travel. Accordingly, in order to assist in the translation of treatment device  170  by a technician (not shown), a handle  175  may be provided thereon. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the treatment device  170  may be used to treat a treatment target, or area of interest, on a patient through the treatment aperture  100  as shown in  FIG. 1 . In addition, in accordance with the present invention, the treatment device  170  may be a number of desired devices to provide various treatments including, but not limited to, electromagnetic radiation, laser, LED, etc. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 - 6  and  8 , vertical supports  40  may be provided with feet  42  that may be adjustable in order to position the cushions  80 ,  110  at a desired height and or slope. In addition, vertical supports  40  may comprise multiple components including one or more fixed legs  50  and corresponding adjustable legs  55 . Accordingly, fasteners  57  may be used to secure one or more fixed legs  50  to corresponding adjustable legs  55  through apertures  56 . 
     More specifically, concerning  FIGS. 3-5 , the fixed leg  50  may have apertures  51  therethrough to enable fasteners  52  to adjustably secure the lower support  70  at a desired height. Accordingly, the present invention allows for the treatment device  170  to be adjusted to a desired distance from the cushion body  80 . Further, each fixed leg  50  may also have a corresponding adjustable leg  55  to allow for further height adjustment of the cushions  80 ,  110 . Adjustable legs  55  thus have apertures  56  through which fasteners  57  may be positioned into fixed leg  50 . 
       FIG. 4  shows vents  85  that may be positioned in cushion body  80  so as to provide ventilation for one or more areas. Thus, ventilation may be provided between the patient and a translucent member  90  via vents  85 . In addition, vents  85  may extend though the cushion body  80  downward so as to provide ventilation to heat created by the treatment device  170  as well. Further, vents may be outfitted with fans  85  to create powered ventilation where desired in accordance with the present invention. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the upper support  60  may also have an aperture  65  positioned therethrough that corresponds to the treatment aperture  100  of the cushion body  80 . In addition, upper support  60  may be secured to the vertical supports  40  via fasteners  54  positioned through apertures  53 . In one preferred embodiment, a translucent member  90  may be provided to create a barrier between the patient and the treatment device  170 , wherein translucent member may be supported by the upper support  60  as can be seen in  FIGS. 5-6  and  8 . 
     In one embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 6 , the treatment table  10  may have a treatment device  170  positioned above the cushions  80 ,  110 . As discussed above, the treatment device  170  may further have a handle  175  to facilitate positioning and applying treatments by the technician (not shown) to a treatment target or area of interest. Accordingly, the treatment device  170  may be secured to an articulating arm  130  via mounting bracket  135  shown in  FIG. 7 . Further, the articulating arm  130  may be supported via bracket  120  secured beneath the cushions  80 ,  110 . In accordance with the present invention, the articulating arm  130  may take a variety of forms for selectively positioning and orienting the treatment device  170  in a desired area of interest with respect to the patient via multiple joints, knuckles, arms, etc. The bracket  120  may also take a variety of forms for securing the articulating arm  130  as required for a given application, and as discussed in great detail below with regards to  FIG. 7 . Drawers  78  may also be provided in the lower table support  70 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  8 . 
     In another preferred and non-limiting embodiment of the treatment table  10 , according to the present invention, is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, there are dual treatment devices  170 , wherein one treatment device  170  is positioned above the cushions  80 ,  110  and another is positioned below the same. Accordingly, a technician may be able to treat multiple treatment targets and/or areas of interest simultaneously. 
     The treatment device  170  positioned below the cushions  80 ,  110  may be mounted in close proximity to the cushions  80 ,  110  as shown in  FIG. 8  for varied treatments as preferred by the technician or based upon the needs of the patient. Thus, rails  30  may be mounted to the upper support  60  so as to enable the treatment device  170  under the cushions to travel nearly adjacent to the translucent member  90 . Further, as discussed above, the treatment device  170  may further be provided with a handle  175  to assist in the translation of the treatment device  170  beneath cushion body  80 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 8 , the bracket  120  supports the articulating arm  130  via support  160 . The support  160  may be secured between upper support  60  and the lower support  70  so as to provide a stable base for the bracket  120 . Accordingly, one or more fasteners  127  may secure the bracket  120  to the support  160 . 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a treatment table that allows for the selective positioning of treatment device with respect to a treatment target and/or area of interest of a patient. Through the use of the novel integrated and adjustable supports as described herein, the treatment device does not need to be brought to and from the patient for each and every treatment providing varying quality and reliability of desired treatments. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s), it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment. Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of this invention.