Overhead support apparatus for a multi-purpose operating room

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for supporting two or more overhead medical instruments in a single operating room such that each medical instrument can be moved between an operating position in proximity of the patient table and a stored position out of proximity of the patient table so as not to hamper access to the patient. The apparatus includes a set of primary rails connected to the ceiling and at least two support carriages engaging the primary rails such that the support carriages can be moved in a longitudinal direction across the length of the operating room. Each support carriage includes an overhead medical instrument mounted to a trolley which can be moved along the support carriage in a lateral direction across the width of the operating room.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for use in an operating room with a structural ceiling and having an operating table located therein, said apparatus for supporting a plurality of overhead medical instruments and moving each of said medical instruments between a first position in proximity of the operating table and a second position out of proximity of the operating table, said apparatus comprising: 
 a set of primary rails connected to the operating room at a location above the operating table; and    a plurality of support carriages engaging the set of primary rails, said support carriages being moveable in a horizontal direction parallel to the set of primary rails, each support carriage comprising: (i) a set of secondary rails arranged perpendicular to the set of primary rails; and (ii) a trolley engaging the set of secondary rails, said trolley for supporting a medical instrument and being moveable in a horizontal direction parallel to the set of secondary rails.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus for use in an operating room having a structural ceiling and an operating table located therein, said apparatus comprising: 
 a set of primary rails connected to the ceiling of the operating room and spanning approximately the longitudinal length of the operating room, said primary support rails arranged substantially parallel to one another; and    a plurality of support carriages engaging the set of primary rails, each support carriage comprising: (i) a set of secondary rails spanning approximately the longitudinal length of the operating room and arranged substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the set of primary rails; (ii) a first set of wheels for engaging the set of primary rails, said first set of wheels allowing the support carriage to translate longitudinally along the set of primary rails; (iii) a trolley having a second set of wheels for engaging the set of secondary rails, said second set of wheels allowing the trolley to translate laterally along the set of secondary rails; and (iv) a medical instrument mounted to and suspended from the trolley, said medical instrument being moveable between a first position in proximity of the operating table and a second position out of proximity of the operating table.    
     
     
         3 . Apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a means for locking the trolley to prevent the trolley from being moveable in a horizontal direction parallel to the set of secondary rails.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a means for locking each support carriage to prevent each support carriage from being moveable in a horizontal direction parallel to the set of primary rails.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a means for locking each support carriage to prevent each support carriage from being moveable in a horizontal direction parallel to the set of primary rails.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the set of primary rails includes exactly two rails and the of secondary rails includes exactly  2  rails, said apparatus comprising a first support carriage and a second support carriage.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the medical instrument of the first support carriage is a surgical lamp for facilitating plastic surgery operations.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the medical instrument of the second support carriage is a microscope device for performing microscopic surgical procedures.