Tray Lift Autopsy Table and System

Abstract

A system for facilitating medical examinations, including autopsies, that includes a corpse-receiving station and an organ dissecting station. The corpse-receiving station and organ dissecting station are arranged so their longest length dimensions are oriented substantially perpendicularly to form an L-shape when viewed from overhead. The corpse-receiving station being configured and equipped to be selectively height-adjustable so as to eliminate the necessity for pathologists and technicians having to lift a corpse and the need for step-stools. The organ dissecting station is configured and equipped to be selectively height-adjustable and selectively adjustable laterally with respect to its base to enable 360-degree access to a corpse residing on the corpse-receiving station to greatly lessen un-necessary walking and essentially eliminating hazards associated with biological fluids falling onto the floor surface of the work area. A ventilation system is integrated into the components of systems to increase hygiene.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical examination system comprising:
 a corpse receiving station including a base portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion is selectively vertically adjustable with respect to the base portion to adjust height of a corpse located thereon to account for height of a medical examiner and to enable pictures to be taken from above without requiring the medical examiner to use a device to get higher than the corpse receiving station; and   a gurney assembly having a wheeled base and a tray detachably disposed thereon, wherein the gurney assembly is capable of receiving a corpse on the tray and transporting the corpse, wherein the gurney assembly is capable of being disposed over the corpse receiving station so that the tray is located over the upper portion thereof, wherein the gurney assembly is capable of being wheeled over the corpse receiving station from a first end thereof, wherein the tray is capable of being detached from the wheeled base by vertically raising the upper portion to lift the tray from the wheeled base and enable the wheeled base to be removed and leave the tray on the upper portion.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the upper portion of the corpse receiving station includes a basin at a second end of the upper portion such that the basin will not be covered by the tray when the tray is located on the upper portion;   the upper portion is slopped toward the basin so fluids from the corpse will flow in that direction; and   the tray includes a hole in an end thereof that will allow body fluids to drain into the basin.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion of the corpse receiving station includes at least one air intake vent disposed near a bottom thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion of the corpse receiving station includes indentations running laterally along each side thereof, wherein the indentations enable casters on the wheeled base of the gurney assembly to rotate 360-degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the indentations include a ceiling portion, and further comprising at least one ventilation air inlet disposed in at least one of the ceiling portions. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an organ dissecting station arranged substantially perpendicular to the corpse receiving station and in close proximity to a second end of the corpse receiving station, wherein the organ dissecting station includes a base portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion of the organ dissecting station includes a perforated surface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the upper portion of the organ dissecting station is selectively vertically adjustable with respect to the base portion of the organ dissecting station to account for height of the medical examiner and to enable pictures to be taken from above without requiring the medical examiner to use a device to get higher than the organ dissecting station. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the upper portion of the organ dissecting station is selectively horizontally adjustable with respect to the base portion of the organ dissecting station so the organ dissecting station and the corpse receiving station can substantially contact each other or create a space therebetween sufficient to enable the medical examiner to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the base portion of the organ dissecting station includes at least one air intake vent disposed near a bottom thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A method for examining and dissecting a corpse, the method comprising:
 providing a gurney assembly having a wheeled base and a tray detachably disposed thereon;   providing a corpse receiving station having a base portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion is selectively vertically adjustable with respect to the base portion;   placing a corpse on the tray of the gurney assembly;   wheeling the gurney assembly over the corpse receiving station from a first end thereof so as to be disposed over the corpse receiving station with the tray located over the upper portion of the corpse receiving station;   vertically raising the upper portion of the corpse receiving station to lift the tray from the wheeled base to detach the tray from the wheeled base;   removing the wheeled base from the corpse receiving station without the tray in order to leave the tray and the corpse on the upper portion of the corpse receiving station; and   adjusting height of the upper portion to locate corpse at appropriate height for height of a medical examiner and to enable pictures to be taken of the corpse from above without requiring the medical examiner to use a device to get higher than the corpse.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising
 providing an organ dissecting station arranged substantially perpendicular to corpse receiving station and in close proximity to a second end of the corpse receiving station, wherein the organ dissecting station includes a base portion and an upper portion, and wherein the upper portion of the organ dissecting station is selectively horizontally adjustable with respect to the base portion of the organ dissecting station;   placing organs removed from the corpse onto the upper portion of the organ dissecting station; and   horizontally adjusting the upper portion of the corpse receiving station to create a space between the corpse receiving station and the organ dissecting station sufficient to enable the medical examiner to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising
 providing an organ dissecting station arranged substantially perpendicular to corpse receiving station and in close proximity to a second end of the corpse receiving station, wherein the organ dissecting station includes a base portion and an upper portion, and wherein the upper portion of the organ dissecting station is selectively vertically adjustable with respect to the base portion of the organ dissecting station;   placing organs removed from the corpse onto the upper portion of the organ dissecting station; and   adjusting height of the upper portion of the organ dissecting station to locate the organs at appropriate height for height of the medical examiner and to enable pictures to be taken of the organs from above without requiring the medical examiner to use a device to get higher than the organs.   
     
     
         13 . A medical examination system comprising:
 a corpse receiving station including a base portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion includes a basin at a first end thereof and the upper portion is slopped toward the basin so fluids from a corpse located thereon will flow into the basin; and   an organ dissecting station arranged substantially perpendicular to the corpse receiving station and in close proximity to the first end of the corpse receiving station, wherein the upper portion of the organ dissecting station is selectively horizontally-adjustable with respect to the base portion of the organ dissecting station so the organ dissecting station and the corpse receiving station can substantially contact each other or create a space therebetween sufficient to enable the medical examiner to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the upper portion of the corpse receiving station is selectively vertically adjustable autopsy with respect to the base portion of the corpse receiving station to adjust height of the corpse located thereon to account for height of a medical examiner and to enable pictures to be taken from above without requiring the medical examiner to use a device to get higher than the corpse receiving station. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a gurney assembly having a wheeled base and a tray detachably disposed thereon, wherein the gurney assembly is capable of receiving the corpse on the tray and transporting the corpse including wheeling over the corpse receiving station from a second end thereof so the tray is disposed over the upper portion of the corpse receiving station, wherein the tray is capable of being detached from the wheeled base by vertically raising the upper portion of the corpse receiving station to lift the tray from the wheeled base and enable the wheeled base to be removed and leave the tray on the upper portion of the corpse receiving station. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the basin will not be covered by the tray when the tray is located on the upper portion, wherein the tray includes a hole in an end thereof that will allow body fluids to drain into the basin. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the base portion of the corpse receiving station includes indentations running laterally along each side thereof, wherein the indentations enable casters on the wheeled base of the gurney assembly to rotate 360-degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the indentations include a ceiling portion and at least one ventilation air inlet disposed therein. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one air intake vent is disposed in at least one of the base portion of the corpse receiving station and the base portion of the organ dissecting station. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the upper portion of the organ dissecting station is selectively vertically adjustable with respect to the base portion of the organ dissecting station to account for height of the medical examiner and to enable pictures to be taken from above without requiring the medical examiner to use a device to get higher than the organ dissecting station.