Medical equipment handling device

Abstract

A medical table handling device includes a handle, configured to be grasped by a user to manipulate the medical table, a pair of opposite clamps, coupled on opposing ends of the handle, each clamp having a slot being configured to receive one of a pair of lateral rails of the medical table therein, and means for securing each of the pair of clamps to one of the lateral rails.

1 . A medical table handling device, comprising: 
 a handle, configured to be grasped by a user to manipulate the medical table;    a pair of opposite clamps, coupled on opposing ends of the handle, each clamp having a slot being configured to receive one of a pair of lateral rails of the medical table therein; and    means for securing each of the pair of clamps to one of the lateral rails.    
   
   
       2 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the means for securing includes a knob having a threaded stud disposed through a wall of each clamp, the stud rotatably engaging a frictional platen disposed within each slot, the frictional platen being frictionally engageable with the lateral rails to secure the lateral rails within the slots.  
   
   
       3 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the handle has an adjustable width.  
   
   
       4 . A device in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the adjustable width of the handle adjusts from between about 19.5 inches to about 32 inches.  
   
   
       5 . A device in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the handle includes a telescoping handle having an inner rod slidably receivable in at least one outer tube.  
   
   
       6 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the handle is pivotal with respect to each clamp.  
   
   
       7 . A device in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 means for selectively fixing an angle between the handle and the clamps at a plurality of discrete angles.    
   
   
       8 . A device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the means for selectively fixing includes a pin selectively disposable in one of a plurality of indentations, the pin being slidably disposed on one of the handle or the clamp, and the indentations being formed in the other of the handle or the clamp.  
   
   
       9 . A device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the discrete angles are selected from the group consisting of angles of about 0, 45 and 90 degrees.  
   
   
       10 . A device in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the handle is pivotal with respect to each clamp about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by each slot.  
   
   
       11 . A medical table handling device, comprising: 
 a handle, configured to be grasped by a user to manipulate the medical table;    a pair of opposite clamps, coupled on opposing ends of the handle, each clamp having a slot being configured to receive one of a pair of lateral rails of the medical table therein;    a pair of knobs, each knob having a threaded stud disposed through a wall of each clamp, the stud rotatably engaging a frictional platen disposed within each slot, the frictional platen being frictionally engageable with the lateral rails to secure the lateral rails within the slots;    the handle being pivotally coupled to the clamps and being fixable at a plurality of discrete angles with respect to the clamps; and    a pin selectively disposable in one of a plurality of holes, the pin being slidably disposed on one of the handle or the clamp, and the holes being formed in the other of the handle or clamp.    
   
   
       12 . A device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the handle has an adjustable width.  
   
   
       13 . A device in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the adjustable width of the handle adjusts from between about 19.5 inches to about 32 inches.  
   
   
       14 . A device in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the handle includes a telescoping handle having an inner rod slidably receivable in at least one outer tube.  
   
   
       15 . A device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the discrete angles are selected from the group consisting of angles of about 0, 45 and 90 degrees.  
   
   
       16 . A device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the handle is pivotal with respect to each clamp about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by each slot.  
   
   
       17 . A method for manipulating a wheeled medical table having lateral rails, comprising the steps of: 
 releasably securing a pair of opposite clamps to the lateral rails of the wheeled medical table;    grasping a handle coupled to each of the pair of opposite clamps; and    exerting a force on the handle to manipulate the wheeled medical table.    
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising the step of positioning the handle at an elevational height above the medical table.  
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the wheeled medical table is selected from the group consisting of: a mobile surgical table and a mobile x-ray imaging table.  
   
   
       20 . A method in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising the step of adjusting a lateral width of the handle to correspond to a distance between the lateral rails.  
   
   
       21 . A method in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the step of adjusting a lateral width of the handle includes the step of sliding an inner rod within at least one outer tube.  
   
   
       22 . A method in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the step of adjusting the lateral width of the handle includes the step of adjusting the width from between about 19.5 inches to about 32 inches.  
   
   
       23 . A method in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising the step of adjusting an angle between the handle and the clamps attached to the lateral rails of the wheeled medical table.  
   
   
       24 . A method in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the step of adjusting the angle between the handle and the clamps includes the step of fixing the handle at discrete angles with respect to the clamps be selectively disposing at least on pin in one of a plurality of slots.  
   
   
       25 . A method in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the discrete angles are selected from the group consisting of angles of about 0, 45 and 90 degrees.  
   
   
       26 . A method in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising the step of removing the handle from the wheeled table by removing the opposite clamps from the lateral rails of the table after manipulating the wheeled table.  
   
   
       27 . A method in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising the step of adjusting an elevational height of the handle by adjusting an angle between the wheeled table and the clamps.