Patent Publication Number: US-7719437-B2

Title: Magnetic bed-rail attachment particularly suited to sterile environments

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/545,956, filed Feb. 19, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to hospital and surgical appliances and, in particular, to a magnetic attachment for lights, and so forth, particularly in sterile environments. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is often difficult for surgeons and other medical practitioners to adequately visualize procedures without appropriate lighting. It has been found that flexible or “gooseneck” lights are advantageous for this purpose, as they may be flexed or snaked to guide illumination directly to an area of interest. The problem, however, is that once a sterile field is created, these lamps must be clamped to the bed-rail, or the like, thereby interrupting the sterile fields and creating a potential source of germs and pathogens. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention improves this situation through the use of a magnetically coupled multi-component attachment system. The preferred embodiment includes a first clamp that attaches to a bed-rail, and a second component which connects to a lighting system or other apparatus, with a magnetic attachment therebetween. This allows a sterile drape to go over the bed-rail attachment, while allowing a lamp within the sterile field to magnetically attach through the drape, thereby preventing interruption of the field. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a drawing depicting the components associated with preferred embodiments of the invention; and 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a lamp installed to a bed rail using the components of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is a drawing depicting the components associated with preferred embodiments of the invention. A clamp  104  attaches to a bed-rail  102 . Such a clamp may utilize a “Clark” attachment, which fits into recesses or notches (not shown) on the bed-rail, and which uses manual fasteners such thumb screws  106  and  108  for tightening purposes. 
   Unlike existing clamps, however, the inventive clamp  104  includes one or more magnets (m) adapted for coupling to a second component  120 . Preferably, rare earth or other very strong magnets are used. As shown in  FIG. 2 , this allows a drape  100  to be dressed over the clamp  104 , with component  120  being held in position by way of magnetic attraction. The component  120  includes a sleeve  122  and manual fastener  124 , to receive the stem  130  of a flexible lamp  128  providing illumination where needed as shown as  132 . 
   Apart from the preferred embodiment just described, there are several variations to the invention. First, the magnets may be located either on component  104  or  120 . Location on component  120  may allow a conventional “Clark” attachment to be used. The magnets may also be located on an intermediate piece  110 , which should also permit a standard Clark bracket to be used. Although lip features  126  are preferably used, these may not be necessary with strong magnets, allowing a simpler plate such as  112  to be used. Finally, although the coupling shown is adapted to receive a gooseneck lamp, other accessories may be accommodated, including non-gooseneck lights, trays, tubing holders, and any other appliance benefiting from isolation from the bed or frame.