Patient Positioning System

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for positioning a patient on an operating table. The patient positioning system includes a positioning pad having a body formed from a compressible material including a slip-resistant surface, a first end and a second end. The body has a thickness which increases from the first end of the positioning pad to the second end of the positioning pad. A plurality of tethers is fixedly secured to the body. Each of the tethers includes a fastening member adapted to secure the body to an operating table. The body includes a transverse cut which extends transversely from one side wall of the body to an opposite side wall of the body. The system also includes a sheet positioned within the transverse cut of the body of the positioning pad spaced from the slip-resistant surface of the positioning pad and at least one strap for securing the patient to the operating table. The positioning pad may include a perforated section to mirror a perineal cutout of an operating table.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A positioning pad system for positioning a patient on an operating table, the positioning pad system comprising:
 a pad having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposite first and second end walls, and opposite first and second side walls each extending from the first end wall to the second end wall, the pad having a thickness extending between the top surface and the bottom surface which increases from the first end wall of the pad to the second end wall of the pad, wherein the pad defines a transverse cut extending inward from the first and second side walls transversely across the pad, and first and second slits extending from the top surface along the thickness of the pad into the transverse cut, each of the first and second slits being spaced from a respective one of the first and second side walls; and   a sheet configured to extend through the first and second slits into the transverse cut such that portions of the sheet are exposed above the top surface of the pad, the sheet being sized and shaped for wrapping the portions of the sheet exposed above the top surface of the pad downward around the patient's arms and along the first and second side walls with ends of the sheet being received in the transverse cut between the top surface of the pad and the bottom surface of the pad to secure arms of the patient to the pad.   
     
     
         30 . The positioning pad system of  claim 29  wherein the transverse cut extends continuously through the pad from the first side wall to the second side wall. 
     
     
         31 . The positioning pad system of  claim 30  wherein the transverse cut extends to one of the first and second end walls. 
     
     
         32 . The positioning pad system of  claim 31  wherein the transverse cut extends to the second end wall of the pad and is spaced from the first end wall. 
     
     
         33 . The positioning pad system of  claim 29 , wherein the pad is elongate and the transverse cut extends lengthwise of the pad from the second end wall toward the first end wall a distance that is greater than one half the length of the pad. 
     
     
         34 . The positioning pad system of  claim 33 , wherein the transverse cut extends lengthwise of the pad from the second end wall toward the first end wall a distance that is greater than three quarters the length of the pad. 
     
     
         35 . The positioning pad system of  claim 29 , wherein the pad and sheet are elongate, a longitudinal dimension of the sheet extending transversely to a longitudinal dimension of the pad when the sheet is received in the slits and transverse cut. 
     
     
         36 . The positioning pad system of  claim 29 , further including a plurality of tethers secured to the pad and extending outwardly from the first and second side walls of the pad, each of the tethers including a fastening member adapted to secure the pad to the operating table. 
     
     
         37 . The positioning pad system of  claim 29 , wherein the pad is formed from first and second layers of material bonded together. 
     
     
         38 . The positioning pad system of  claim 37 , wherein the first and second layers of material are polyurethane foams. 
     
     
         39 . The positioning pad system of  claim 37 , wherein the second layer of material is disposed above the first layer of material, the transverse cut being formed in the first layer of material. 
     
     
         40 . The positioning pad system of  claim 37 , wherein the second layer of material is disposed above the first layer of material, the first layer of material increasing in thickness from the first end wall of the pad to the second end wall of the pad, and the second layer of material having a constant thickness from the first end wall of the pad to the second end wall of the pad. 
     
     
         41 . The positioning pad system of  claim 37 , wherein the second layer of material is disposed above the first layer of material and the second layer of material is denser than the first layer of material. 
     
     
         42 . The positioning pad system of  claim 37 , wherein the second layer of material is disposed above the first layer of material and the first layer of material is firmer than the second layer of material. 
     
     
         43 . A positioning pad system for positioning a patient on an operating table, the positioning pad system comprising:
 a pad having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end, and opposing first and second side walls each extending from the first end to the second end, the pad having a thickness extending between the top surface and the bottom surface which increases from the first end of the pad to the second end of the pad, the pad including sheet receiving structure; and   a sheet received in the sheet receiving structure and configured to be disposed at least partially above the top surface of the pad, the sheet being sized and shaped for wrapping the sheet downward around the patient's arms and along the first and second side walls with ends of the sheet being received under the top surface of the pad to secure arms of the patient to the pad.   
     
     
         44 . The positioning pad system of  claim 43 , wherein the pad and sheet are elongate, a longitudinal dimension of the sheet extending transversely to a longitudinal dimension of the pad. 
     
     
         45 . The positioning pad system of  claim 43 , further including a plurality of tethers secured to the pad and extending laterally from the pad, each of the tethers including a fastening member adapted to secure the pad to the operating table. 
     
     
         46 . A positioning pad system for positioning a patient on an operating table, the positioning pad system comprising:
 a pad having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposite first and second end walls, and opposite first and second side walls each extending from the first end wall to the second end wall, the pad having a thickness extending between the top surface and the bottom surface which increases from the first end wall of the pad to the second end wall of the pad, wherein the pad defines a transverse cut extending inward from the first and second side walls transversely across the pad, and first and second slits extending from the top surface along the thickness of the pad into the transverse cut, each of the first and second slits being spaced from a respective one of the first and second side walls;   a plurality of tethers secured to the pad and extending outwardly from the first and second side walls of the pad, each of the tethers including a fastening member adapted to secure the pad to the operating table.   
     
     
         47 . The positioning pad system of  claim 46  wherein the transverse cut extends continuously through the pad from the first side wall to the second side wall. 
     
     
         48 . The positioning pad system of  claim 47  wherein the transverse cut extends to the second end wall of the pad and is spaced from the first end wall.