US2926054A - Infant's surgical tray with quick release restraining means - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1960 E. RODIN 2,926,054

INFANTS SURGICAL TRAY WITH quxcx RELEASE RESTRAINING MEANS Filed Sept. 26, 1956 United sews Patent once Patented Feb. 23, 1960 INFANTS SURGICAL TRAY WITH QUICK RELEASE RESTRAINING MEANS Eugene Rodin, Hempstead, N.Y.

Application September 26, 1956, Serial No. 612,121

3 Claims. (Cl. 311'5') This invention relates to restraining devices and more particularly to apparatus for restraining the movement of live bodies. While the invention is applicable to restraining animals and humans of any size, 'it is par ticularly useful to hold and restrain infants, especially during rnany hospital and medical office procedures.

Immobilization of infants during many medical procedures presents an extremely difficult problem. This can be illustrated by considering the importance of holding the infant still during transfusions, circumcisions and X-rays. r

In the past a number of makeshift apparatus has been used to attempt to solve this problem, all inadequately.

Among these are diapers, safety pins, straps and boards. But these are often unwieldy, require lengthy preparation and continual attendance and are frequently dangerous. Similar problems occur in restraining adults and in treating animals.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus for restraining humans and animals.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus for restraining infants during hospital and medical oflice procedures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a re straining device which is convenient and quick in operation, completely safe, and which reduces personnel requirements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for immobilizing infants during such medical procedures as transfusions, circumcisions and X-rays.

Briefly, these objects are accomplished in accordance with the invention by a restraining device comprising a base having a nest shaped to receive a live body such as an infant, a cover for the base having an arched portion to engage the body, and means for connecting the cover to the base in variable relation to vary the pressure of the cover against the body disposed in the nest.

A feature of the invention is a relatively large window opening in the cover to expose the crotch of the body disposed in the nest.

Another feature of the invention is nest pockets in the base designed to receive the legs of the body and ar- 4 ranged in divergent relation to each other, and arched portions in the cover to engage the legs of the body disposed in the nest pockets.

A further feature of the invention are removable linings molded to have a mating fit with the base and with the cover, and which may be disposable.

An advantage of'the invention is that the device may be made of a material which can be completely sterilized so that the device is safe for repeated use.

Another advantage of the invention is that X-rays penetrate the device without distortion.

Another advantage of the invention is that the device is compact so that it may readily fit in an incubator.

Other advantages of the invention are relatively low cost of manufacture since amenable to mass production techniques, ruggedness, ease of operation, readily warmed by hot bottles beneath the base, and the provision of a handy platform for instruments and other equipment.

With the above and other objects, features and advantages in view this invention comprises certain constructions, combinations and arrangements, disclosed by the drawings hereof and described by the specification thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the base, showing a portion of the disposable lining thereof broken away.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the complete unit, show ing the cover in place.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a modified construction, showing a quick release coupling for the cover.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of another modified form, showing a multiple threaded screw carried by the cover.

Fig. 6 is a similar view, showing a quick released spring pressed latch and toothed rod for connecting the cover.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the adjustable coupling shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view thereof.

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical sectional view of the coupling shown in Fig. 4-.

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the cover, showing its quick release slot for the coupling screw. Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of a multiple threaded screw, as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig.'12 is a detail vertical sectional view of a toothed latch rod and a spring pressed and quick released latch pawl thereof.

Fig. 13 is a detail enlarged sectional view of a disposable lining, comprising a film of plastic material and a backing of moldable paper bonded thereto.

The invention will be described primarily in terms of an infant restraining device. However, it should be noted that other embodiments of the invention are equally applicable to restraining youths, adults and animals. Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 to 3, and 7 and 8, inclusive, 10 designates a base formed of sheet material, preferably plastic, and shaped to provide a main horizontal wall 11, and an external vertical wall 12, on each of the four sides thereof, forming a leg supporting structure for the surgical unit, and shown to be integral with the horizontal wall 11.

The horizontal wall 11 is molded to provide a nest 13 for the body of the infant patient, and this. nest includes the socket 14 for the head, the socket 15 for the torso or body and the sockets 16 and 17 for the legs.

The head socket 14 is in normal communication with the body socket 15, and the leg sockets 16 and 17 combe constructed of plastic materials, sheet or otherwise,

and may be formed of metal, wood, composition, molded paper or any other material, and if formed of metal may I be provided with a coating of vitreous enamel, to permit of frequent sterilization. 4 r

The cover 22 comprises a body of molded plastic or other acceptable material, and is constructed with a cross bar 23 on its inner end, and a cross bar 24 on its lower or outer end, and with an.elongated body opening 25, which forms an observation and operating window, and which extends outwardly below the crotch ofthe-infant patient laid in-the nest.

The inner or upper crossbar 23 is arched or curved upwardly to match the approximately convex curvature of the chest of the infant disposed on the bottom sect-ion; and the lower or outer cross bar 24 is formed or provided with an upward arch 24a to engage one-leg of the infant and withanother upward arch 24b toengage the other leg of the infant. The cover is also formed' with a horizontal edge flange 26, on one side and-another similar flange 27 on the otherside, and'the marginal edge of the window opening 25 is formed with an upstanding flanged guard 25a, on one end and with another similar, up standing guard flange 25b on the other end;

The cover is disposed on the base or over it, so that the arched portions 24a and 24b will. be in confronting relation to the leg sockets of the base, and the legs will be restrained in these sockets by the arched portions 24a and 24b, against significant movement. The body of the infant disposed on the base is restrained by the upper or inner cross bar 23, so that the infant cannot rise to interfere with the surgical operation being performed or about to be performed. This permits the surgeon to start and complete the desired operation without being. dis: turbed by the actions of the infant or delayed by any action the infant can make.

Thesurgical unit is designed to permit of accurate and rapid circumcision and similar operations. The entire crotch area of the infant is exposed to, observation and surgical manipulation, and the entire skill and attention of the surgeon and his assistants may be safely concentrated on delicate work being done, so as to terminate the period ofrestrain of the infant. The body of the infant comfortably rests in the nest formed by the base, under conditions similar to that provided: by a crib,

with the exception that the infant is restrainedtagainst leg movement while the legs are spread apart, and. against rising in the enclosure.

The infant is enclosed and held against extreme body movements, without subjecting it to painful or annoying pressures, and at no time is the infant subject to any pressure which would alarm it and cause it torebel against the operation. The body nest formed in the base and in the cover permits of a relatively loose disposition of the cover on the base. and the spacing thus permitted for the infant, the cover is connected to the base on one side by a coupling device 30, and on the opposite side by a coupling device 3 1.

As shown in Figs. 4, 8 and 9, this coupling device includes a metal or other socket 32, provided with an integral attaching base 33 for securing it in place to. the base wall 10a. The socket receives the vertical rod 34, which is attached by its head part 34a to the cover 22, and this rod may be formed with a longitudinal. groove to receive the tapered inner end of the screw 35, threaded into the socket 32 at right angles to the rod 34. This screw is provided with a large head 34a for turning the same. By loosening the screws of both coupling devices the cover may be lifted, by a single upward movement from the base and the infant completely freed of all restrain and then removed from the base. nest.

In Figs. 6, 1 1 and 12 I show another modified form of the coupling device. A screw 37 is pivoted at 37c to the base 38, attached to the base 10, and this screw is equipped with a nut 40 threaded thereon, and is adapted to engage the slot 39 formed in the cover22 and extending through the outer edge of the cover, as shown inFig. 12, and the sides of this slot may be, reinforced in, any manner. By relieving the nut the screws. on both .sides:

To control the level of the cover 4 of the base will swing outwardly so as to allow the cover to be lifted without interference.

In Figs. 5 and 10 I show another form of the coupling device, which includes the nut 42, attached under the top wall 10a of the base. This nut is designed to have threaded engagement with the vertical screw 41, which has a sliding fit in the sleeve 43 attached to the cover 22, as shown in Fig. 5. A pin 45:: passes through the sleeve 43 and engages a keyway in the vertical screw 41, and the outer: endtof this keyway is located inwardly of the end of the screw, so that the pin has a limited travel in this keyway, and the screw 41 has a limited vertical sliding motion in thesleeve 43. The upper end of the screw is equipped with a knob or handle 44 for manually turning the screw.

The screw has a fast-turning movement in the nut 42m and a sliding fit in the cover sleeve 43, so that the cover will not shift vertically when the screw is being unthreaded. When the screw has been released by a few fast turns from the nut 42 the cover, carrying the two couplings, may be'lifted to remove the infant.

In Figs. 7 and 13 I' show another form of the coupling. The vertical ratchet tooth rack bar 46 is attached to the cover 22, and slides freely in a downward movement through the top wallofthe base. A pawl 47, mounted on the fiat spring 48, attached to the base 10, engages the teeth of the rack bar. 46. This spring pressed pawl is manually withdrawn from the ratchet tooth rack by means. of thecam 49, which is pivoted on the stub shaft 49a, attached to the spring pawl 47. By moving the cam againstthe outer face of the base 10:the spring pawl will be disengaged from the teeth of the rack, and. cover may then be lifted from the body of the infant.

The detachable and disposable lining 100 may be formed of plastic film material of any type, including those providedwith an oily or grease like surface, or any non-adhesive surface, and may be bonded to paper or any form of backing, which can be molded by pressure operations with heat.

The disposable lining. of inexpensive material, which is extremely pliable and which may be molded to have a close mating fit with the base or cover, may be faced with an oil or other substance adapted to prevent adhesion to the body of the infant.

While a restraining device for restraining an infant has been described in detail, other embodiments of the invention are useful in. restraining youths and adults, and in restraining animals for veterinarian procedures.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, improved restraining apparatus has been provided which is convenient and quick in operation, completely safe, capable of repeated use, readily sterilizable, compact, capable of inexpensive manufacture, rugged, readily warmed, provides a platform for instruments, and which is relatively simple to use and reduces personnel requirements. Further, the invention is eminently useful to restrain infants for such medical procedures as circumcisions, transfusions and X-rays.

The present invention is a continuation in part of my pending application for patent in the United States filed May 10, 1956, Serial 584,068, new Patent No. 2,867,483, granted. January 6, 1959. I have filed a patent in Canada on July 4, 1956, for the invention shown in my above patent application, and have filed in Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan applications for the invention disclosed by the present patent application, the dates of filing to be later supplied.

I claim as patentable:

1. A restraining device for restraining a live body comprising a base having a concavity to receive at least portions of the live body, a cover for the base having an arched portion to engage portions of said live body, and means for coupling the marginal portions of said cover on, opposite sides thereof to opposed marginal portionstof, said; base, for adjustipg the po'sition of said cover 5 relative to said base, said coupling means comprising means slidably and rotatably mounted on marginal portions of said cover for movement towards and away from said base, and means on said base for engaging said first mentioned means upon rotation thereof.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a nut on said base and a screw slidably and rotatably mounted on said cover for quick threaded engagement and disengagement with said nut.

3. A device as in claim 2 and further including a sleeve on said cover for slidably and rotatably mounting said screw and means on said sleeve engageable with said screw for limiting the slidable movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Throgmorton Apr. 16, Cass Nov. 13, Pribil Feb. 1, Peters Sept. 23, Butler May 19, Powell Jan. 25, Kane Jan. 10, Black May 1, Creelman June 19,

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