US2792266A - Leg holders for and in combination with operating table - Google Patents

Description

May 14, 1957 E. G. WATERS LEG HOLDERS FOR AND IN COMBINATION WITH OPERATING TABLE Filed Feb. 17, 1955 INVENTOR.

BY EDWARD C. PVJWERS.

ATTORNEYS.

LEG HOLDERS FOR AND IN COMBINATION WITH OPERATING TABLE Edward G. Waters, Jersey City, N. 3.

Application February 17, 1355, Serial No. 488,899

2 Claims. (Cl. 311-11) This invention relates to surgical apparatus and more especially, appartus for supporting a patient in lithotomy position for gynecological or other operations or exami nations.

Heretofore appartus for such purposes presented several objectionable features. In general when the patient was supported in the lithotomy position the strain curve was unevenly distributed and "the area of operation and the respiratory region were subjected to undesirable pressure; the operating area was not as readily accessible to the surgeon as desired and the operating field was not readily visible to those assisting in the operation. Even the complicated supporting means heretofore used have failed to satisfactorily overcome these difiiculties.

The object of this invention is to avoid the said objectionable features of the prior art apparatus, by means of simple and relatively inexpensive leg holders adapted to be used in combination with almost all conventional types of operating tables in present use.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features and combination of parts hereinafter fully described below in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appartus and illustrating an example of its use;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing a part of the table and one of the leg supports of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the parts of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged fragmental view of certain features of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 to better illustrate the means of removably attaching the leg supports to the table.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the table is designated in general as 1, the left-hand leg holder as 2, and the right-hand leg holder as 3. The leg holder members 2 and 3 are constructed of steel or comparable material strong enough to support safely extremities of varying sizes and weights. They are constructed to be applied to operating tables easily, quickly and with positive placement. As will be more particularly pointed out below, the construction and arrangement is such that, with the patient in lithotomy position, the strain curve is distributed evenly through the lumbar spine, sacroiliac joints and femuro-pelvic articulations. Additionally, no pressure points hear at any area of the lower extremities above the ankle. The perinealstructures are elevated well above the operating table and therefore brought more fully into view and reach. The patients thighs do not crowd the abdomen and thus there is no abdominal pressure interfering with respiration and/or anesthesia control. The operator is seated facing the operating area. The special arrangement of the supports permits the assistants at either side to be in on the operating field without bending, straining, resting on the patient or the appliance. The assistants may either be seated or standmg.

The field, more fully exposed and accessible, may be States Patent protected and draped more easily than with other type supports.

Each of the holders 2 and 3 is provided with a lower end such as 4 which is relatively straight, so as to provide a stem which is preferably circular in cross-section; and with an upper portion such as 5. The upper portion 5 commencing at point 6 is disposed at an angle a to the axis of the stem 4; the angle a being preferably about 35. The upper portion 5 is bowed or curved outwardly through substantially its full length commencing at point 6 (Fig. 3); the crown or maximum outward extent of said curve being about five inches from its chord and the length of said curved portion being about forty-two inches. The upper extremity of each holder is provided with an eye such as 7 or other suitable means for attaching a foot engaging strap or stirrup such as 8; and intermediate the eye 7 and point 6 each of the holders is provided with an eye such as 9 or other suitable means for attaching a knee engaging strap 10, said eye 9 being preferably disposed about eighteen inches from the point 6.

Each of the holders 2 and 3 carries rigidly secured to the stem end such as 4 a metal block such as 11. The

end 4 is disposed in a recess in the face 12 of the block 11 and is afilxed to the block by suitable means such as welding 13, in such manner that the inner face of the block 12 is preferably flush with the inner edge of the stem 4. The block 11 is provided with screw holes disposed on respectively opposite sides of the stem 4 and preferably spaced apart toward the outer ends of the block, for receiving thumb screws such as 14. A block about two inches long and one inch high has been found satisfactory. The block is preferably secured in such position that its upper face is about one inch from the point 6 and its lower face is about three and one-half inches from the lower extremity of the stem 4.

It will be understood that the stems 4 are adapted to be received in suitable openings provided on respectively opposite sides of a table such as 1, in combination with which said holders 2 and 3 are used. For example, the table 1 is shown as having such receiving sockets or holes provided in sleeves such as 15 suitably rigidly secured to the table 1 by means of integral plates such as 15a. With the holders in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the blocks such as 11 rest upon the upper faces of the respectively corresponding sockets such as 15, thereby supporting the holders against downward movement; and by adjusting the thumb screws 14 the blocks serve to prevent angular movement of said holders about the axes of their respective stems 4. By this means the leg holders 2 and 3 are firmly and rigidly supported against swinging or angular movements and are adapted to support appreciable weight.

It will be understood from the foregoing, and as shown in the drawings, that the holders 2 and 3 have their upper ends such as 5 inclined in the same direction, i. e., toward the same end of the table 1, and that substantially in the plane of inclination, common to both of said holders, the holders are bowed outwardly in respectively opposite directions. In the position of the parts as shown in Figs. 1-3 the upper extremity 7 of each of the holders is preferably disposed in a direction lengthwise of the table a horizontal distance of about twenty and one-half inches from the axis of its stem 4 and a distance of about thirtyone and one-half inches in an axial direction above said stem; and each of the upper extremities such as 7 is disposed generally in a plane parallel to its stem 4 and closely adjacent thereto, so that the outer extremities 7 lie approximately in alignment with the respectively opposite edges of the table 1.

By way of example of a manner of using the apparatus above described, the figure of a patient, suitably draped, is shown (Fig. 1) supported in lithotomy position.

Having thus described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom,the'spirit and scope thereof, and! aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

- WhatI claim is:

1. A pair of leg holders each comprising a relatively rigid support provided at its lower end with a stem adapted to be inserted in a cooperating socket provided on a supporting table and whose upper portions are bowed outwardly in relatively opposite directions each with respect to the other and both of which upper portions are disposed at an angle of the order of 35 to the stem portion in the same direction, the outer extremities of said supports being provided with means for attaching foot engaging means and being disposed in a plane substantially parallel to said stem and closely adjacent thereto and said supports each being provided with means for attaching knee engaging means positioned on said bowed portion, intermediate its extremity and stem, whereby when said supports are secured in position on opposite sides and adjacent one end of a table said supports will be bowed outwardly beyond the respectively opposite sides of said table and will be inclined in the same direction toward the opposite end of said table.

2. A pair of leg holders each comprising a relatively rigid support provided at its lower end with a stem adapted to be inserted in a cooperating socket provided on a supporting table and whose upper portions are bowed outwardly a distance of the order of five inches in relatively opposite directions each with respect to the other andv both of. which upper portions are disposed. at an angle of the order of 35 to the stem portion in the same direction, the outer extremities of said supports being provided with means for attaching foot engaging means and being disposed in a plane substantially parallel to said stern and closely adjacent thereto said extremities being spaced a distance of the order of thirty-one and onehalf inches in an axial direction above said stem and a distance of the order of twenty and one-half inches from said axis in a direction at right angles thereto in said plane, and said supports each being provided with means for attaching knee engaging means positioned on said bowed portion intermediate its extremity and stem, whereby when said supports are secured in position on opposite sides of a table adjacent the operating end thereof said supports will be bowed outwardly beyond the respectively opposite sides of said table and will be inclined in, the same direction toward the opposite end of said table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 913,989 Simpson Mar. 2, 1909 1,011,150 Brennan Dec. 12, 1911 1,577,782 Atkinson Mar. 23, 1926 1,622,313 Gellhorn Mar. 29, 1927 2,237,252 Longfellow Apr. 1, 1941 2,614,558 Lovell Oct. 21, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES The Lancet, N0. 6788, Oct. 3, 1953 (vol. 265, p. 709).

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