US3845946A - Medical device with hydraulically movable parts - Google Patents

Abstract

A medical device has hydraulically movable parts steered by instrumental valves and a central steering device which includes steering members for actuating the valves and connecting elements between the steering members and the valves. The invention is particularly characterized in that as means for transmitting pressure necessary for actuating the valves a flowing medium is used.

Description

iinited Mates Patent 1191 Warden et al. Nov. 5, 1974 1 MEDICAL DEVICE WITH 2,717,107 9/1955 Moletz 91/461 x HYDRAULIC ALLY MOVABLE PARTS 2,794,694 6/1957 Fullwood' 269/325 2,994,443 8/1961 Gordon 254/10 R X [75] Inventors: Hans Erlk Warden, pp 3,041,12 6/1962 Burzlaff.... 269/325 Vasby; Frank Kindvall, Danderyd; 3,206,188 9/1965 Douglass... 269/325 Carls Oloi Berg, Stocksund; Bengt 3,220,318 11/1965 McGuire 1 91/461 Sedell, Nacka, all of Sweden 3,473,024 10/1969 Feiertag 269/323 X [73] Assignee: Siemens Alrtiengesellschaft,

Erl g n, Ge y Primary Examiner-Roy Lake 2 d: 26 7 Assistant Examiner-Mark S. Bicks [2 1 le June 19 3 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richards & Geier [21] Appl. No.: 373,814

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT July 3, 1972 Germany 2232553 A medical device has hydraulically movable parts [52] US. Cl. 269/323 t d b in t mental valves and a central steering [51] Int.Cl A61g 13/00 de i e whi h includes steering members for actuating Field of Search 427, the valves and connecting elements between the steer- 254/10 R, 10 B, 10 C, 124; 269/322, 323, ing members and the valves. The invention is particu- 324, 325 larly characterized in that as means for transmitting pressure necessary for actuating the valves a flowing [56] References Cited di m is used,

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,217,783 10/1940 Bell 269/325 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 2] 2U 22 F l I 1...; 4

X 16 l is operating table.

' ing device.

' MEDICAL DEVICE'WITH HYDRAULlCALL-Y.

I 1 MOVABLE PARTS g I I This invention relates to a medical device with hydraulically Ymovable parts steered by instrumental valves and a central steering device'which includes steering members-for actuating the valves and'connecting elements between thesteering members and the valves. t I t In known hydraulicallyactuated operating tables of this type the valves of the hydraulic system are located in a central steering device (US. Pat. No. 3,28l,l4l This steering device is usually, mounted upon a swingable arm extending over the operating tableso that the persons working at the operating table should not be disturbed by the person actuating the movements of the The drawbacksof this known table consist primarily in that due to the large sizes of the oil hose of the hydraulic operating system which are required by the high 1 oil' pressure and the comparatively large flowing I masses, theconn'ecting conduits become strong and unis difticult-to move the central steerflexible andthus it lnanother known hydraulically movable-operating table electrical actuating circuits are used for steering the valves. The drawback. involved in using electrical circuits in an operating room consists in that electrical contacts must be incased safely against explosion due to the danger of explosion of the narcotic gas located in the operating room. These protecting devices are expensiveand their use does not completely eliminate th danger of explosion but merely reduces it.

An object of the present invention is to provide an actuating device for the hydraulic valves which will not produce any danger of explosion even in contact with narcotic gas and furthermore, wherein the connecting elements between the valves of the operating table and the central, steering device are thin, light and flexible.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to use a flowing medium as means for transmitting pressure required for the actuation of the instrumental valves. When a gas is used as the flowing medium, for example, compressed air, the required dimensions of the connecting elements can be kept so small that they can be compared to a conducting wire for low current. These thin tubes provide a connection between the operating table and the steering device which is absolutely safe against explosion and, in addition, which is easily movable.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is suggested to provide positioning valves connected in parallel with instrumental valves for automatically determining specific positions (basic positions) of the patient supporting plate. These positioning valves are switched on by a separate steering member or by several steering members common to them and they are switched off in the predetermined position of the patient supporting plate by studs or the like located upon parts pertaining to the corresponding positioning valves. This arrangement provides that specific locations of the supporting plate which are considered particularly advantageous by operating doctors can be found immediately upon the central steering devicebyactuating a switch key of a steering member.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention it is suggested to provide means switchable by further steering members which short circuit in such manner valves provided for the movement of the supporting plate in the horizontal position of the supporting plate that it can be. freely moved by hand. This makes possible a direct correction ofthe horizontal position of the patient which may be desired in certain cases. g I 7 According to a further development of the present invention an overpressure-valve is provided to avoid that the cylinder provided for the heightmovement would be actuated when there is no load uponthe, supporting plate so that the plate would move upwardly withgreat speed and be damaged. Thisove'rpressure valve is provided in the connectionbetween the cylindrical space causingthe height movementof the sup-' porting plate andthe corresponding instrumental valve; 1 it responds to pressure exerted byweight upon the supporting plate and provides an opening of theinstrume'ntal valve for the height movement of the support-ing plate only when this weight is present.

In a device having a removable supporting plate there 7 is the danger that the cylinder causing the heightmovement of the supporting plate will be actuated when the plate is not properly mounted, which can cause damage to the cylinder or the plate. According to a feature of the present invention thisdanger is avoided by the provision of safety valves at the bearings of the plate which permit an opening of the instrumental'valv'e for the height movement of the supporting plate only when the plate is properly'mounted.

According to another embodiment of the presentinvention a compressed air motor is used as the driving element for the pressure producer of the hydraulic system and there are means actuated by the steering device for switching the motor on and off. These means actuate the motor when one of the steering members is operated and they switch it off at the end of the movement. This provides that the actuating element for the hydraulic drive is operable by air pressure and not by electrical circuits wherein the explosion danger can be avoided only with great exertion and not with complete safety.

For operating tables which are used for example in conjunction with X-ray devices it is particularly important to keep freely available the greatest possible section of the patient carrying plate at its bottom side. This requirement makes necessary a foot construction which should save as much space as possible. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention this is attained by placing the hydraulic member for the height movement of the supporting plate inside a two part box-like foot between its two parts, whereby one part carries the supporting plate and is substantially vertically movable relatively to the other part by the use of the hydraulic member. The division of the foot extends along a shortened diagonal. There are two struts extending parallel to each other and diagonally opposed to the division of the two foot parts. These struts are swingably connected at both ends at a relative distance corresponding to about one half stroke with ends of the two foot parts. The hydraulic member is located between the two struts preferably at their fixing points which are closest to each other in the deepest position of the supporting plate. This construction provides a particularly compact structure of the foot with a large stroke at a low height of the table which is important for certain uses. In addition this construction has the advantage that it requires only little precision during manufacture, that it does not need great mounting expenditure and that its making is simple.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example only, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an operating table constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same table.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the steering system.

FIG. 4 illustrates diagrammatically the steering device for the hydraulic drive.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an operating table having a particularly space saving foot construction.

FIG. 1 shows the lower part of an operating table as consisting of a cylinder-like foot casing l which is open on top and into which extends piston-like afurther casing 2 which is closed on top and is movable vertically relatively to the casing l. The cover of thecasing 2 has acylindrical head 3 to which is fixed the frame 4 of thepatient supporting plate 5. Ahydraulic member 8 is fixed onpins 6 and 7 between the casings l and 2 and it causes a vertical relative movement of the two casings and thus the height movement of the supporting plate. Anotherhydraulic member 9 which causes the swinging movement of the supportingplate 5 about therotary axle 10, is located between thecasing 2 and the frame 4 and is fixed onpins 11, 12. The supportingplate 5 is movably mounted upon a slide system (not shown) which is fixed to the frame 4. Ahydraulic member 13 is provided for the longitudinal movement of thepatient supporting plate 5 and is fixed onpins 14 and 15 between the frame 4 and the supportingplate 5.

FIG. 2 shows that ahydraulic member 18 is provided between the frame 4 and the piston-like casing 2 uponpins 16 and 17 for the side tipping of the supporting plate about therotary axle 19. A hydraulic member 20 provided for the transverse movement of the supportingplate 5, is fixed onpins 21, 22 between the frame 4 and the supporting plate.

Acentral steering device 23 provided for steering the hydraulic members is connected by compressed air conduits combined in acable 24 with the elements of the hydraulic system which are to be actuated. Thecentral steering device 23 can be placed upon a carriage (not shown), upon any desired location of the apparatus itself or on a wall of the treating room. Thecable 24 can be pulled screw-like in a manner similar to that of a telephone cable.

FIG. 3 showsseveral steering members 25 to 32 combined in thecentral steering device 23, provided withcorresponding pressure keys 33 to 40 and connected with an outercompressed air container 41. Thehydraulic members 8, l3 and 18 are actuated byinstrumental valves 42, 43 and 44. Theauxiliary valve 45 connected in parallel to the instrumental valve 43 operates as a short circuit valve. The other component parts of the hydraulic system, including thesteering device 46 for the hydraulic drive shown in FIG. 4 and thevalve unit 47 will be described later on.

By actuating one of thepressure keys 33 to 40 of thesteering members 25 to 32 compressed air will flow from thecompressed air container 41 through the corresponding connecting conduit to the actuated valve. If, for example, thepressure key 35 of the steering member 27 is actuated, then compressed air will reach through a twoway valve 48 one of the two inlets of aninstrumental valve 44, so that the valve will be actuated in such manner as to connect with each other theoil conduits 49 and 50, as well as theconduits 51 and 52 of thehydraulic member 18. At the same time the twoway valves 53, 54 and 55 connected in series in thevalve unit 47 are influenced by the conduit b (FIG. 4). This causes compressed air to reach apressure amplifier 56, so that enough force is available for actuating thepiston 57 which actuates acoupling rod 58. This switches on acompressed air motor 59 which drives anoil pump 60 which can be arranged upon the instrument table or outside. Then oil flows from anoil tank 61 through the connectingconduit 49, theinstrument valve 44 and theconduit 50 into thehydraulic member 18 causing the supportingplate 5 to carry out a tipping movement. The returning oil flows through the connectingconduits 52, theinstrument valve 44 and the connectingconduit 51 back into the oil tank 61 (FIG. 4), achoke valve 62 being provided for pressure regulation in theconduit 51. When supply of compressed air is interrupted by releasing thepressure key 35 of the steering member 27, theinstrument valve 44 closes the flow of oil through theconduits 50, 52. Furthermore, theoil supplying motor 59 is switched off due to lack of pressure in thepressure amplifier 56.

When the key 34 of the steeringmember 26 is pressed compressed air will reach the other inlet of the steeringvalve 44 through the twoway valve 63, so thatoil conduits 49, 52 as well as 50 and 51 are connected with each other. Furthermore compressed air reaches through the twoway valve 63 and the conduit 0 thepressure amplifier 56 which switches on themotor 59. This actuates the hydraulic member in the opposite direction to that above described, so that the supportingplate 5 returns to its original position.

The described operational example related to the tipping movement of thepatient supporting plate 5. In a similar manner is carried out the actuation of thehydraulic member 8 for the height movement and of thehydraulic member 9 for the longitudinal movement of the supportingplate 5. It is possible to provide further hydraulic members and instrumental valves which would steer and produce other movements of the device in a similar manner.

The steeringmember 25 is provided in thecentral steering unit 23 for automatically finding a specific position of the patient supporting plate. By actuating thepressure key 33 of this steering member compressed air will flow to four positioning valves 64 to 67. The positioning valves 64, 65 are connected through twoway valves 48, 63 to one of the two steering inlets of the instrumental valve 43 and thepositioning valves 66, 67 are connected through two way valves 72, 73 to one of the two steering inlets of theinstrumental valve 44. The positioning valves are so arranged that they can be switched off bylugs 68 to 71 located upon the supportingplate 5 in the provided position of the patient supporting plate. When one of the table lugs, for example the lug 70, actuates thepositioning valve 66 pertaining to it, then compressed air is supplied on the one hand to theinstrumental valve 44 and on the other hand to thepressure amplifier 56 through the twoway valve 48 in the already described manner, so that thehydraulic member 18 begins to operate and the corresponding part, in this case the supportingplate 5 will move until it reaches the'predetermined position. In this position thepositioning valve 66 is switched off by the lug 70 so that the supply of oil to thehydraulic member 18 through theinstrument valve 44 influenced by thepositioning valve 66 is interrupted. The other positioning valves 64, 65, 67 operate in a corresponding manner.

Thesteering members 29, 30 with theirpressure keys 37, 38 are suitable for operating the instrument valve 43 and thehydraulic member 13, which are provided for the longitudinal movement of the supportingplate 5. The two way valves 72, 73 operate in the same manner as the twoway valves 48, 63 namely, they transmit Anauxiliary valve 45 connected in parallel to the instrumental valve 43,is provided for the free movement by hand of the supporting plate in the horizontal position. By actuating thepressure key 36 of the steeringmember 28 compressed air is supplied to theauxiliary valve 45, so that this valve becomes active and connects with each other the twoconduits 74, 75 of thehydraulic member 13; This produces a pressure balance in the twocylindrical spaces 77, 78 divided'by the piston 76 and provided in thehydraulic member 13 used for the longitudinal movement of the supportingplate 5, so that the piston 76 and consequently the supportingplate 5 can be freely movable in the longitudinal direction.

It is often advantageous not to connect the supportingplate 5 firmly with the apparatus but to make it removable. This facilitates the placing of the patients in many cases. However, in such a construction there is the possibility that the supportingplate 5 will not lie correctly upon its supports 85, 86. If in case of such an incorrect positioning the stroke mechanism is actuated there is the danger that the supporting plate will tip over and the patient will suffer injuries. To prevent thissafety valves 87, 88 are located upon the supporting points of the plate, which are switched into the connecting conduit between the steering member 32 and theoverpressure valve 84. Only when these safety valves are actuated by the corresponding lugs 89, 90 after the placing of theplate 5 upon the supports 85, 86, there is a compressed air connection between the steering member 32 and theinstrument valve 42. Oth erwise the connection is interrupted.

To avoid that the speeds of the lowering movements of the supportingplate 5 be dependent upon the load carried by theplate throttle valves 62, 91, 92 are provided in theconduits 51, 93 and 94 between theinstrument valves 42, 43, 44 and theoil tank 61.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a construction of the raising mechanism of thepatient supporting plate 5 which is different from that of FIG. 1. In this construction the box-shaped support of the device is divided along a shortened diagonal 95 and thus consists of twoparts 96, 97. Thepart 96 is firmly connected with theground plate 98, while the.part 97 carries the supportingplate 5. The two parts are interconnected bystruts 99 and 100 extending diagonally in a direction opposed to that of the diagonal division of the parts. These two struts are located longitudinally parallel to each other at a distance corresponding to about one half of the stroke and are connected by supportingpins 101 and 102 with thebase part 96, and by supportingpins 103 and 104 with thebase part 97. Thehydraulic member 8 is located between bearingpins 102 and 103 located closest to each other in the illustrated deepest position of the supportingplate 5.

If this member is actuated, a force is producedbetween the bearing pins 102 and 103 so that the two struts move upwardly as a parallelogram about thepoints 101 and 102. This will raise the supporting plate to the desired extent. A comparison between the construction shown in FIG. 1 and that shown in FIG. 5 shows clearly that the construction of FIG. 5 permits a substantially higher raise. Furthermore the construction of FIG. 5 has no sliding precision parts, but only generally used bearing pins which can be mounted in a simple and precise manner.

Parts similar in arrangement and function to those of FIG. 1 are provided with the same reference numerals.

What is claimed is:

1. A medical device, comprising a plate for the patient, a casing, a frame pivotally connected with said casing and supporting said plate, at least one hydraulic member connected with said frame for swinging said frame, another hydraulic member connected with said casing for vertically moving at least a part of said casing, at least one third hydraulic member connected with said plate for longitudinally moving said plate, a plurality of instrumental valves, means operatively connecting one of said instrumental valves with the firstmentioned hydraulic member, means operatively connecting another one of said instrumental valves with the second-mentioned hydraulic member, means operatively connecting a third one of said instrumental valves with the third-mentioned hydraulic member, a central steering device comprising a plurality of interconnected steering members, and separate pressure keys connected with separate steering members; a compressed air container connected with all steering members, means operatively connecting one of said steering members with the first-mentioned instrumental valve, means operatively connecting another one of said steering members with the second-mentioned instrumental valve, means operatively connecting a third one of said steering members with the third-mentioned instrumental valve, whereby said instrumental valves are actuated by gas from said compressed air container, a plurality of positioning valves connected to a steering member, a separate positioning valve being connected in parallel with a separate instrumental valve, and a plurality of lugs, a separate lug being connected with each positioning valve for operating that valve, said lugs switching off said positioning valves in a predetermined position of said plate.

2. A device according toclaim 1, wherein means connecting at least two of said positioning valves to the instrumental valves are also connected to at least two steering members to maintain the two positioning valves on opposite sides of the basic position of said frame.

3. A device according toclaim 2, comprising means connected with one of said steering members and said third-mentioned instrumental valve for short-circuiting the third-mentioned instrumental valve to permit hand movement of said plate.

4. A device in accordance withclaim 3, wherein the last-mentioned means include an auxiliary valve and conduits connected with said valve ahd with opposed sides of the third hydraulic member, said opposed sides being separated by the piston of said hydraulic memher.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein means connecting the second-mentioned hydraulic member with the second-mentioned instrumental valve comprise an overpressure switch, an overpressure valve connected with said overpressure switch, and means connected with said overpressure switch and actuating it depending upon the pressure exerted by the weight of said plate, said overpressure switch actuating said overpressure valve only when this pressure is present, whereupon said overpressure valve will pennit opening of the second-mentioned instrumental valve for the vertical movement of said casing.

6. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said frame comprises supports engaging said plate, a separate safety valve connected with each support, and means connecting said safety valves with the secondmentioned instrumental valve, said safety valves opening the second-mentioned instrumental valve to permit movement of said plate only when said plate is properly mounted.

7. A device in accordance withclaim 1, having a hydraulic system comprising an oil pump, a compressed air motor driving said pump, a coupling rod connected with said motor, apiston connected with said coupling rod, a pressure amplifier connected with said piston, a valve unit comprising a plurality of valves interconnected in series and including a central valve connected with said pressure amplifier, and means connecting other valves of said plurality of valves with means connecting the first-mentioned, the secondmentioned and the third-mentioned steering members with the first-mentioned, second-mentioned and thirdmentioned instrumental valves, whereby said motor is actuated when one of the steering members is actuated, said motor being switched off when the movement is terminated.

8. A device in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said casing is box-shaped and consists of two parts, one of said parts being fixed, the second-mentioned hydraulic member being located within said casing and connected with both parts of the casing, the other one of said parts carrying said frame, the second-mentioned hydraulic member moving said other part substantially vertically relatively to said one part.

9. A device in accordance withclaim 8, wherein said two parts of the casing are divided along short diagonal edges, two parallel struts located within said casing and extending through both parts in diagonal directions substantially opposed to the direction of said diagonal edges, and pins mounted on both ends of each of said struts and fixed to the casing, the second-mentioned hydraulic member having opposite ends carried by two of said pins which are closest to each other and fixed to different parts of the casing.

Claims (9)

1. A medical device, comprising a plate for the patient, a casing, a frame pivotally connected with said casing and supporting said plate, at least one hydraulic member connected with said frame for swinging said frame, another hydraulic member connected with said casing for vertically moving at least a paRt of said casing, at least one third hydraulic member connected with said plate for longitudinally moving said plate, a plurality of instrumental valves, means operatively connecting one of said instrumental valves with the first-mentioned hydraulic member, means operatively connecting another one of said instrumental valves with the second-mentioned hydraulic member, means operatively connecting a third one of said instrumental valves with the third-mentioned hydraulic member, a central steering device comprising a plurality of interconnected steering members, and separate pressure keys connected with separate steering members; a compressed air container connected with all steering members, means operatively connecting one of said steering members with the first-mentioned instrumental valve, means operatively connecting another one of said steering members with the second-mentioned instrumental valve, means operatively connecting a third one of said steering members with the thirdmentioned instrumental valve, whereby said instrumental valves are actuated by gas from said compressed air container, a plurality of positioning valves connected to a steering member, a separate positioning valve being connected in parallel with a separate instrumental valve, and a plurality of lugs, a separate lug being connected with each positioning valve for operating that valve, said lugs switching off said positioning valves in a predetermined position of said plate.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein means connecting at least two of said positioning valves to the instrumental valves are also connected to at least two steering members to maintain the two positioning valves on opposite sides of the basic position of said frame.

3. A device according to claim 2, comprising means connected with one of said steering members and said third-mentioned instrumental valve for short-circuiting the third-mentioned instrumental valve to permit hand movement of said plate.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the last-mentioned means include an auxiliary valve and conduits connected with said valve and with opposed sides of the third hydraulic member, said opposed sides being separated by the piston of said hydraulic member.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein means connecting the second-mentioned hydraulic member with the second-mentioned instrumental valve comprise an overpressure switch, an overpressure valve connected with said overpressure switch, and means connected with said overpressure switch and actuating it depending upon the pressure exerted by the weight of said plate, said overpressure switch actuating said overpressure valve only when this pressure is present, whereupon said overpressure valve will permit opening of the second-mentioned instrumental valve for the vertical movement of said casing.

6. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said frame comprises supports engaging said plate, a separate safety valve connected with each support, and means connecting said safety valves with the second-mentioned instrumental valve, said safety valves opening the second-mentioned instrumental valve to permit movement of said plate only when said plate is properly mounted.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, having a hydraulic system comprising an oil pump, a compressed air motor driving said pump, a coupling rod connected with said motor, a piston connected with said coupling rod, a pressure amplifier connected with said piston, a valve unit comprising a plurality of valves interconnected in series and including a central valve connected with said pressure amplifier, and means connecting other valves of said plurality of valves with means connecting the first-mentioned, the second-mentioned and the third-mentioned steering members with the first-mentioned, second-mentioned and third-mentioned instrumental valves, whereby said motor is actuated when one of the steering members is actuated, said motor being switched off when the movement is Terminated.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said casing is box-shaped and consists of two parts, one of said parts being fixed, the second-mentioned hydraulic member being located within said casing and connected with both parts of the casing, the other one of said parts carrying said frame, the second-mentioned hydraulic member moving said other part substantially vertically relatively to said one part.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8, wherein said two parts of the casing are divided along short diagonal edges, two parallel struts located within said casing and extending through both parts in diagonal directions substantially opposed to the direction of said diagonal edges, and pins mounted on both ends of each of said struts and fixed to the casing, the second-mentioned hydraulic member having opposite ends carried by two of said pins which are closest to each other and fixed to different parts of the casing.

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