Improvements in Operating Tables.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb.. 1896-Accepted, 4th Aor., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Operating Tables.
I, RICHARD KNY (Manufacturer), of.125 Berkeley Place, Brooklyn, in the County
of Kings and State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The invention relates to surgical operating tables; and it has for its object to
provide an improved operating table, designed for general purposes, arranged to
be easily kept clean, and to permit the operator or nurse to conveniently manipulate
the various parts, to move a patient into any desired position, especially from a
horizontal position to any degree of pelvic elevation.
a part of this
The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same,
as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming
Specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement, with the head rest in an inclined
position and the foot rest folded down ;
and
Figure 2 is a like view of the improvement, with the top in an inclined position;
Figure 3 is a cross section of the improvement, on the line 3-3 of Figure 4;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the table in lowered adjustment;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the socket for the foot rest posts.
The improved operating table is provided with a suitably constructed frame A,
supporting on its longitudinal top rails A' and A2 a transversely extending
pivot bar A3, on which is fulcrumed the lower end of a table top B, and on said
pivot bar is also pivoted a head rest C, adapted to form an extension for the top B,
as indicated in Figures 2 and 4, or to be moved in an angular position relative to the
top, as illustrated in Figure 1.
On the free end of the table top B is pivoted a foot rest D adapted to be folded
down, as shown in Figure 1, or extended in alignment with the top B or at an
angle thereto, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. The top B as well as the
rest Care each formed with a metallic frame B', supporting two glass plates B2
inclined inwardly and downwardly and separated at their inner, adjacent edges,
to form a longitudinal drain opening or slot which opens into a drain gutter E,
secured at its end to the ends of the frame B'. Thus, any liquid matter passing
upon the plates B2 flows inwardly through the slot or opening into the gutter E,
and down the same into a pail supported on a rack A, arranged in the lower
portion of the frame A. The rest C is likewise provided with a gutter E' similar
to the gutter E, for draining any liquid matter into the pail F.
Near the free end of the top B are secured brackets B' extending downwardly
from the side bars of the frame B', and on the brackets B are pivoted downwardly
extending racks G, rigidly connected with each other by suitable crossbars, as
indicated in Figure 2. The racks G are in mesh with gear wheels G', preferably
made in the shape of star wheels, and secured on a transversely extending shaft G³,
mounted to turn in suitable bearings arranged on plates A³, secured to the frame A
at the rear uprights and side rails A'.

page_text: The outer end of the shaft G2 is adapted to be engaged by a crank handle G³, to
permit the operator or nurse to conveniently turn the said shaft G2, to cause the
gear wheels G to move the racks G up or down, so as to swing the top B into
an inclined position, or to lower the same back to a horizontal position, according to
the direction in which the crank handlé G³ is turned.
In order to lock the top B in an inclined position, I provide the shaft G² with
ratchet wheels G, engaged by pawls G arranged on the outer faces of the plates A³,
and pressed on by a spring to hold the pawls in contact with the ratchet wheels
or the pawls may be thrown into engagement by gravity. Both pawls Go are held
on the same shaft G, so that the operator in moving one of the pawls out of
engagement with its ratchet wheel G, likewise actuates the other pawl, so as to
permit of turning the shaft G2 in an inverse direction when it is desired to swing
the top B downward.
The head rest (normally stands in alignment with the top B, but can be moved in
an inclined position relative thereto, and for this purpose I provide the frame and
the said rest with connected bars H, formed at their lower ends with notches H¹
adapted to engage or hook onto a. cross rod B', held on extension arms B
forming part of the frame of the table top B, said arms B depending at right angles
to said frame B'. The operator by pulling on the outer end of the head rest C, swings
said head rest upwardly into an angular position relative to the table top B, and
at the same time draws the notched arins H upwardly to engage opposite notches H¹
with the cross head B', so as to support the said head rest in an angular position, at
any desired degree of inclination.
On the side rails of the head rest Care arranged sockets I, in which are fitted
to slide rods J formed at their inner ends with curved shoulder braces J' adapted
to support the shoulders of the patient under treatment. The rods J can be adjusted
in the sockets I, so as to bring the braces J¹ nearer to or farther from the pivot end
of the head rest C, according to the position desired. The rest D for the feet and
lower part of the legs is provided with a device K for holding the said rest in an
inclined position, relative to the table top B, or in alignment therewith, as indicated
in dotted lines in Figure 1; this device is similar to the one above described
relative to the rest C, and consists of brackets K¹ secured to the top B and.
perpendicular thereto, notched bars K pivotally secured to the rest D, longitudinal
guides K³ rigidly secured to said rest, sockets K adapted to run on said guides and
connected by a bar K5, arms K pivotally connected to the brackets K¹ and loosely
engaging the bar K. The latter is adapted for engagement with the notched bars K³,
and when it is desired to change the inclination of the rest D, the notched bars K2
are raised and the bar K5 with the sockets K' is slid longitudinally upon the
guides K³.
On the free end of the table B next to the rest D are fitted sockets L adapted
to receive posts N, carrying at their upper ends straps O for supporting the legs of
the patient, said sockets being arranged in the top with radial recesses L (Figure 5)
adapted to be engaged by pins № on the lower ends of the posts, which are
provided with bends to permit of bringing the straps nearer to or farther
according to the position of the posts in the sockets. This arrangement permits of
bringing the legs of the patient into any degree of separation.
apart
It will be seen that by the arrangements described, the patient may be brought
into any desired position, according to the nature of the operation to be performed
on the patient, it being understood that the head and neck of the patient may be
raised relative to the body, and for this purpose the rest C is swung upward as shown
in Figure 1, and the legs of the patient may be raised and separated by placing
them in the straps O, and the body may be moved into an inclined position by
the top B being moved into the position shown in Figure 2.
When the patient is placed on the top B with the latter in a horizontal position,
as shown in Figure 1, the operator by turning the crank handle G³ can readily
swing the top B with the patient thereon, into an inclined position, without exerting
much force.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1. An operating table, comprising a frame, a longitudinally slotted table top
loosely connected to the frame and adjustable to various inclinations, and a gutter
secured directly to said top so as to move therewith, and arranged below the opening
in the top, substantially as described.
2. An operating table, comprising a suitable frame, and a table top composed
of pivotally connected sections sundry of which are longitudinally slotted, and
gutters secured to each of the slotted sections and each movable with the section
to which it is attached below the slots thereof, substantially as described.
3. An operating table, provided with a table top and shoulder braces adjustable
longitudinally thereof, substantially as described.
4. An operating table, provided with a table top and shoulder braces projecting
therefrom, substantially as described.
5. An operating table provided with a table top, posts adjustably secured to the
table top and having transversely bent portions so that the distance between their
free ends may be varied by adjusting then further in or out, and leg supports at the
free ends of the posts, substantially as described.
6. An operating table, provided with a table top, posts mounted at an angle
thereto and capable of turning about their axes, said posts having transversely
bent portions so that the distance between their free ends may be varied by
turning the posts, and leg supports at the free ends of the posts, substantially as
described.
7. An operating table, provided with a table top, sockets arranged at an angle
thereto and formed with a plurality of radial recesses, posts whose lower ends are
provided with pins adapted to engage the said recesses, the posts being mounted
to turn in the sockets and having bent portions so that their free ends may be
brought closer together or farther apart by turning the posts, and leg supports at
the free ends of the posts, substantially as described.
8. An operating table, provided with a pivoted head rest having sockets, rods
held adjustable in said sockets, and shoulder braces formed on said rods, substantially
as shown and described.
9. An operating table, provided with a table top having a pivoted extension,
guides extending longitudinally of said extension, slides or sockets mounted to
move on said guides, a bar connecting the sockets, movable notched bars secured
to the extension and adapted to engage the said connecting bar, and arms or
braces pivotally connected with the table top and the connecting bar, substantially as
described.
Datad this 95th day of February 1896
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.