Patient support for external counterpulsation cardiac assist device

Abstract

A patient support for an external counterpulsation cardiac assist procedure. The patient support includes: a base; and at least one support connected to the base for maintaining at least a portion of the patient above a tabletop during a positive pressure portion of the external counterpulsation cardiac assist procedure. In one embodiment, the base is a tabletop and the at least one support is movably supported on the table top in lateral and/or vertical directions. In another embodiment, the base is higher than the tabletop and the at least one support is a sling.

1 . A patient support for an external counterpulsation cardiac assist procedure, the patient support comprising: 
 a table having a tabletop; and    at least one support fixed to the tabletop for maintaining at least a portion of the patient above the tabletop during a positive pressure portion of the external counterpulsation cardiac assist procedure.    
   
   
       2 . The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support comprises a padded portion fabricated of a soft material.  
   
   
       3 . The patient support of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one support further comprises a fixing means for fixing the at least a portion of the patient thereto.  
   
   
       4 . The patient support of  claim 3 , wherein the fixing means comprises a strap having a first end fixed to the at least one support and a corresponding buckle fixed to the at least one support.  
   
   
       5 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . The patient support of  claim 1 , further comprising height adjustment means for movably fixing the at least one support to the tabletop such that a height of the at least one support above the tabletop can be adjusted.  
   
   
       11 . The patient support of  claim 10 , wherein the height adjustment means comprises at least one rod connected to the at least one support, the at least one rod being slidingly disposed in a corresponding bore in the tabletop.  
   
   
       12 . The patient support of  claim 11 , further comprising a locking means for locking the rod at a predetermined height, wherein the locking means comprises the at least one rod having at least one groove and a detent housed in the tabletop for operatively engaging with the at least one groove.  
   
   
       13 . The patient support of  claim 1 , further comprising biasing means for biasing the at least one support above the tabletop.  
   
   
       14 . The patient support of  claim 13 , wherein the biasing means comprises a constant tension spring corresponding to each of the at least one supports, the constant tension spring having a portion disposed in the tabletop and a portion connected to the at least one support.  
   
   
       15 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A patient table for use with an external counterpulsation cardiac assist procedure, the patient table comprising: 
 a tabletop having a top surface; and    at least one support fixed to the tabletop for maintaining at least a portion of the patient above the top surface of the tabletop during a positive pressure portion of the external counterpulsation cardiac assist procedure.    
   
   
       21 . The patient table of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one support comprises a padded portion fabricated of a soft material.  
   
   
       22 . The patient table of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one support further comprises a fixing means for fixing the at least a portion of the patient thereto.  
   
   
       23 . The patient table of  claim 22 , wherein the fixing means comprises a strap having a first end fixed to the at least one support and a corresponding buckle fixed to the at least one support.  
   
   
       24 . The patient table of  claim 20 , further comprising moving means for movably fixing the at least one support to the tabletop such that the at least one support can be movably positioned under the portion of the patient to be maintained above the tabletop.  
   
   
       25 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . The patient table of  claim 20 , further comprising height adjustment means for movably fixing the at least one support to the tabletop such that a height of the at least one support above the tabletop can be adjusted.  
   
   
       29 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . The patient table of  claim 20 , further comprising biasing means for biasing the at least one support above the top surface of the tabletop.  
   
   
       32 . The patient table of  claim 31 , wherein the biasing means comprises a constant tension spring corresponding to each of the at least one supports, the constant tension spring having a portion disposed in the tabletop and a portion connected to the at least one support.  
   
   
       33 - 36 . (canceled)