An Improved Surgical Operating Table.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb., 1898-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
An Improved Surgical Operating Table.
I, ROBERT WARREN MERRICK, of Swiss Cottage, Brighton Road, Surbiton, in the
County of Surrey, Physician and Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved surgical operating table, and has for its
object to produce a table that shall be at once light in construction and easily
portable, while capable of being used for ordinary surgical operations as well as
for general use in the practice of gynecology.
My invention consists of a table whose supporting legs or leg frames are hinged
to the body of the table and are capable of being folded in a plane parallel thereto
so as to occupy a minimum space determined by the superficial area of the table
surface, and by the depth thereof and the width of the supporting legs or frames,
while at one extremity hinging arms are provided which carry leg forks or crutches
capable of adjustment thereupon for use as supports in gynecological operations.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide a table frame and surface of any
usual construction, and I hinge at the four extremities thereof supporting legs,
or I provide at the opposite ends supporting frames, which are capable of being
folded from the vertical position in which the table is supported to a position at
right angles thereto and parallel to the plane of the table surface. These support-
ing legs or frames are maintained in their erect or vertical supporting position by
means of cross ties which are connected each respectively to the lower end of the
supporting legs and to the table frame by any suitable connections readily made
and unfastened. One end of the table surface is provided of a curved concave
form and upon each side thereof there is provided a hinging arm which is in each
case capable of being folded back upon the table when not in use, while when
folded out serves to hold a leg support or crutch by which the legs of the patient
may be held when performing gynecological operations.
These hinging arms may be supported by means of diagonal struts respectively
connected to the arm and to the adjacent supporting leg or frame, or by other
svitable means. At the opposite extremity is provided a hinging extension surface
which when the table is used for an ordinary operation upon an adult patient may
be brought into position to extend the supporting surface, and in such case and
for such purpose angular strut pieces are employed which are connected respect-
ively to the flap on each side and to the adjacent legs or supporting frame.
be
I provide immediately beneath the curved concave edge of the table a shelf which
is supported from the adjacent supporting frame or adjacent legs, upon which
shelf a water basin may be placed on operating, while bracket shelves may pro-
vided and mounted upon the supporting frames in any suitable position for the
purpose of carrying surgical instruments or accessories that may be required.
I do not limit my invention to any particular means or device for effecting the
connection of the constituent parts of my portable surgical operating table, as I
may modify such details of construction without departing from an essential

page_text: feature of my invention, which consists of a portable surgical operating table
capable of extension and provided with means for general use in the practice of
gynecology as herein before described.
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000
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1007
I, ROBERT WARREN MERRICK, of Swiss Cottage, Brighton Road, Surbiton, in the
County of Surrey, Physician and Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
My invention relates to an improved surgical operating table, and has for its
object to produce a table that shall be at once light in construction and easily
pertable, while capable of being used for ordinary surgical operations as well as
lor general use in the practice of gynecology.
My invention consists of a table whose supporting legs or leg frames are hingel
to the body of the table and are capable of being folded in a plane parallel thereto
so as to occupv a minimum space determined by the. superficial area of the table
surface, and by the depth thereof and the width of the supporting legs or frames
while at one extremity hinging arms are provided which carry leg forks or crutches
capable of adjustment thereupon for use as supports in gynecological operations.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1
is a perspective view of a table mounted in position for use, and
Figure 2 is a perspective plan of a table closed in a convenient form for
portability.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide a table frame and surface A of
any usual construction but preferably of lateral pieces B connected together by cross
pieces C so forming a rigid frame upon which the laths or pieces D forming the
table surface are secured, and I hinge at the four extremities of the frame A,
supporting legs or I provide at the opposite ends supporting frames which are
capable of being folded from the vertical position in which the table is supported as
in Figure 1 to a position at right angles thereto and parallel to the plane of the
table surface. These supporting legs or frames E are maintained in their erect or
vertical supporting position by means of cross struts or ties F which are connected
each respectively to the lower end of the supporting legs and to the table frame by
any suitable connections readily made and unfastened. One end A¹ of the table
surface is provided of a curved concave form, and upon each side thereof there is
provided a hinged arm G, G, which is in each case capable of being folded back
upon the table surface when not in use, while when folded out serves to hold a
leg support or crutch H, H, by which the legs of the patient may be held when
performing gynecological operations, while their extremities may be provided with
foot rests I, I, screwed into position and capable of being detached.
These hinging arms G, G, may be supported by means of diagonal struts J, J, 4
respectively connected to the arm G, G, and to the adjacent supporting leg or
frame E or by other suitable means. At the opposite extremity is provided a
hinging extension surface K, which when the table is used for an ordinary operation
upon an adult patient may be brought into position to extend the supporting surface
and in such case and for such purpose angular strut pieces L are employed which 5
are connected respectively to the flap K on each side and to the adjacent legs or

page_text: supporting frame E or only one such strut piece may be employed as indicated in
Figure 1.
I provide immediately beneath the curved concave edge of the table a shelf M
which is supported from the adjacent supporting frame or adjacent legs. E upon
which shelf a water basin may be placed on operating, while bracket shelves N
may be provided and mounted upon the supporting frames laterally as illustrated
or in any suitable position for the purpose of carrying surgical instruments or
accessories that may be required.
I preferably provide the table surface with back or head rest 0 which can be
lifted up into an inclined position as illustrated in Figure 1 and be supported
therein by means of struts P such rests hinging upon the cross bars C¹.
I may also preferably provide a support in pillar Q for the purpose of carrying
a water vessel for douching.
The leg supports or crutches H H are withdrawn from their vertical position in
which they may be held by thumb screws or other suitable means and are laid upon
the back of the flap K when turned over into its closed position and are retained by
suitable clips or holders as indicated in Figure 2. I preferably arrange the struts
or ties F, F, to hinge to the frame A..
I do not limit my invention to any particular means or device for effecting the
connection of the constituent parts of my portable surgical operating table as Ę
may modify such details of construction without departing from an essential
feature of my invention which consists of a portable surgical operating table
capable of extension and provided with means for general use in the practice of
gynecology as hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
An improved surgical operating table substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described.