Patient Positioning Support Structure

Abstract

A patient support system includes independently adjustable end columns supporting a centrally hinged, jointed or breaking patient support structure. At least one column includes a powered rotation assembly. The patient support includes at least two sections. A coordinated drive system provides for both upwardly and downwardly breaking or jointed orientations of the two sections in various inclined and tilted positions. Cable, cantilevered and pull-rod systems are included.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical table comprising:
 A) a patient support comprising a first segment and a second segment, the first segment comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second segment comprising a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, the first and fourth ends forming opposite ends of the patient support, the second and third ends coupled to together to define a joint about which the first segment and second segment articulate relative to each other;   B) a first end support column supporting a first displacement apparatus operably coupling the first end support column to the first end of the first segment of the patient support, the first displacement apparatus comprising:
 a) a first rotation assembly operably coupled between the first end support column and the first end of the first segment of the patient support, the first rotation assembly configured to cause the patient support to rotate relative to the first end support column and about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the patient support when the first and second segments are generally parallel to each other; and 
 b) a first angulation assembly operably coupled between the first end support column and the first end of the first segment of the patient support, the first angulation assembly configured to facilitate the first segment articulating relative to the second segment about the joint, 
   C) a second end support column supporting a second displacement apparatus operably coupling the second end support column to the fourth end of the second segment of the patient support, the second displacement apparatus comprising:
 a) a second rotation assembly operably coupled between the second end support column and the fourth end of the second segment of the patient support, the second rotation assembly configured to cause the patient support to rotate relative to the second end support column and about the axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the patient support when the first and second segments are generally parallel to each other; and 
 b) a second angulation assembly operably coupled between the second end support column and the fourth end of the second segment of the patient support, the second angulation assembly configured to facilitate the second segment articulating relative to the first segment about the joint. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surgical table of  claim 1 , wherein the first angulation assembly comprises:
 i) a first member operably coupled to the first end support column via a first pivot, the first member comprising a longitudinal length extending generally parallel to a longitudinal length of the first segment of the patient support, the first end of the first segment pivoting relative to the first end support column about the first pivot when the first segment articulates relative to the second segment about the joint; and   ii) a second member operably coupled to the first segment of the patient support near the first end of the first segment, the second member configured to displace along the longitudinal length of the first member as the first segment and second segment articulate relative to each other about the joint.   
     
     
         3 . The surgical table of  claim 2 , wherein the second angulation assembly comprises a second pivot between the second end support column and the fourth end of the second segment of the patient support, the fourth end of the second segment pivoting relative to the second end support column about the second pivot when the first segment articulates relative to the second segment about the joint. 
     
     
         4 . A surgical table comprising:
 A) a patient support comprising a first segment and a second segment, the first segment comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second segment comprising a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, the first and fourth ends forming opposite ends of the patient support, the second and third ends coupled to together to define a joint about which the first segment and second segment articulate relative to each other;   B) a first end support column supporting a first displacement apparatus operably coupling the first end support column to the first end of the first segment of the patient support, the first displacement apparatus comprising:
 a) a first rotation assembly operably coupled between the first end support column and the first end of the first segment of the patient support, the first rotation assembly configured to cause the patient support to rotate relative to the first end support column and about a rotation axis that is parallel to and positioned above a longitudinal axis of the patient support when the first and second segments are generally parallel to each other; and 
 b) a first angulation assembly operably coupled between the first end support column and the first end of the first segment of the patient support, the first angulation assembly configured to facilitate the first segment articulating relative to the second segment about the joint. 
   
     
     
         5 . The surgical table of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 C) a second end support column supporting a second displacement apparatus operably coupling the second end support column to the fourth end of the second segment of the patient support, the second displacement apparatus comprising:
 a) a second rotation assembly operably coupled between the second end support column and the fourth end of the second segment of the patient support, the second rotation assembly configured to rotate the patient support relative to the second end support column and about the rotation axis; and 
 b) a second angulation assembly operably coupled between the second end support column and the fourth end of the second segment of the patient support, the second angulation assembly configured to facilitate the second segment articulating relative to the first segment about the joint. 
   
     
     
         6 . The surgical table of  claim 4 , wherein the rotation axis is positioned above the longitudinal axis of the patient support when the patient support faces generally upward. 
     
     
         7 . A surgical table comprising:
 A) a patient support comprising a first segment and a second segment, the first segment comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second segment comprising a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, the first and fourth ends forming opposite ends of the patient support, the second and third ends coupled to together to define a joint about which the first segment and second segment articulate relative to each other; and   B) a first end support column and a second end support column opposite the first end support column, the first end support column supporting a first displacement apparatus operably coupling the first end support column to the first end of the first segment of the patient support, the second end support column supporting a second displacement apparatus operably coupling the second end support column to the fourth end of the second segment of the patient support, the first displacement apparatus comprising:
 a) a first rotation assembly operably coupled between the first end support column and the first end of the patient support, the first rotation assembly configured to cause the patient support to rotate relative to the first end support column and relative to a rotation axis that is parallel to and positioned above a longitudinal axis of the patient support; and 
 b) a first angulation assembly operably coupled between the first end support column and the first end of the patient support, the first angulation assembly configured to facilitate the first segment articulating relative to the second segment about the joint while the first end support column remains a fixed distance from the second end support column, the first angulation assembly comprising:
 i) a first member comprising a first longitudinal length coupled via a pivot point to a second member comprising a second longitudinal length, the first and second members extending generally between the first end support column and the first end of the first segment of the patient support, the first and second members configured to angulate relative to the first end support column and relative to each other about the pivot point when the first and second segments articulate relative to each other about the joint. 
 
   
     
     
         8 . The surgical table of  claim 7 , wherein the first rotation assembly is operably coupled between the first end support column and the second member. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical table of  claim 7 , wherein the first rotation assembly is operably coupled between the first end support column and the first member. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical table of  claim 7 , wherein the first rotation assembly is operably coupled to the first end support column. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical table of  claim 7 , wherein the second member is operably coupled with the first end of the first segment of the patient support via a second pivot point. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical table of  claim 11 , wherein the second pivot provides a swivelable connection between the second member and the first end of the first segment of the patient support whereby providing clearance during rotation of the patient support. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical table of  claim 7 , wherein the second displacement apparatus comprises:
 a) a second rotation assembly operably coupled between the second end support column and the fourth end of the second segment of the patient support, the second rotation assembly configured to cause the patient support to rotate relative to the second end support column and relative to the rotation axis; and   b) a second angulation assembly operably coupled between the second end support column and the fourth end of the second segment of the patient support, the second angulation assembly configured to facilitate the second segment articulating relative to the first segment about the joint, the second angulation assembly comprising a third pivot between the second end support column and the fourth end of the second segment of the patient support.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical table of  claim 13 , wherein the rotation axis is positioned above the longitudinal axis of the patient support when the patient support faces generally upward. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical table of  claim 7 , wherein the pivot point is configured to displace towards or away from the first end support column as the first and second segments articulate relative to each other about the joint. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical table of  claim 7 , wherein the first end of the first segment is configured to displace towards or away from the first end support column as the first and second segments articulate relative to each other about the joint. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical table of  claim 7 , wherein the longitudinal axis extends through the first and second segments when the first and second segments are generally parallel to each other.