JP-2026514240-A - Systems and methods for maintaining patient position

Abstract

Several systems, apparatuses, and methods detailed herein provide adjustable restraint devices that maintain a person's chosen position relative to a support structure, for example, to maintain a safe and customizable patient position during surgical procedures or medical transport.

Inventors

• ボルツ ローレンス ティー．

Assignees

• ボルツ サージカル コンサルティング インコーポレイテッド

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20240429

Priority Date

20230501

Claims (20)

1. below: A flexible cuff body adjustable from a first orientation to a user-selected orientation for holding a limb in a selected position relative to a medical support, comprising a series of links adjustablely connected to each other via a series of first end connectors of each link body and one or more cables, each link body configured to connect to a series of second end connectors of a series of brackets; and a handle body connected to the base of the flexible cuff body, comprising a handle movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, defining a mating interface that slidably engages with the medical support, In response to the handle being moved to the unlocked position, the flexible cuff body becomes adjustable from the first orientation to the orientation selected by the user so as to extend around the limb. While the flexible cuff body is in the orientation selected by the user, in response to the handle being moved to the locked position, the flexible cuff body is locked in the orientation selected by the user by pressing the first end connector and the second end connector against each other to hold the limb in the selected position relative to the medical support. A flexible cuff system for maintaining a patient's position in a resilient manner.
2. The one or more cables mentioned above A flexible cuff system according to claim 1, comprising a longitudinal cable extending from the handle body through a series of links of the flexible cuff body, which are adjustable, connectable, and movable to positions linked to one another.
3. The flexible cuff system according to claim 1, wherein the series of first end connectors forms a bevel spline receiving portion, and the series of second end connectors forms a bevel spline.
4. The flexible cuff system according to claim 2, wherein each link comprises a lateral cable connected to the longitudinal cable.
5. The flexible cuff system according to claim 2, wherein the handle is connected to the longitudinal cable, and in response to the handle being moved to the locked position, the handle applies tension to the longitudinal cable, thereby fixing the series of links in the relative connected positions.
6. The flexible cuff system according to claim 1, wherein, in response to the handle being moved to the unlocked position, the series of links become pivotable relative to each other to adjust the overall shape of the series of links.
7. The flexible cuff system according to claim 1, comprising a fastener configured such that the flexible cuff body extends away from the handle body toward the free end of the flexible cuff body, and the free end of the flexible cuff body is connected to a second flexible cuff body.
8. The flexible cuff system according to claim 5, wherein the medical support is an operating table, and the fitting interface of the handle body is configured to slidably engage with the rails of the operating table.
9. The flexible cuff system according to claim 5, wherein the medical support is an extension of the arm bar of an operating table, and the fitting interface of the handle body is configured to slidably engage with the extension of the arm bar of the operating table.
10. The flexible cuff system according to claim 5, wherein the flexible cuff body comprises a protective outer sleeve detachably positioned on the series of links of the flexible cuff body.
11. below: An operating table including one or more rails extending along one or more sides of the operating table; and a plurality of adjustable limb restraints that can be releasedly locked at selectable positions along the one or more rails of the operating table, each of the adjustable limb restraints being A flexible cuff body adjustable from a first orientation to a user-selected orientation for holding a limb in a user-selected position relative to the operating table, comprising a series of links adjustablely connected to each other via one or more cables and a series of first end connectors of each link body configured to connect to a series of second end connectors of a series of brackets, A system comprising a plurality of adjustable limb restraints, including a handle body connected to the base of the flexible cuff body, the handle body having a movable handle between a locked position and an unlocked position, and defining a fitting interface that slidably engages with at least one of the one or more rails, In response to the handle being moved to the unlocked position, the flexible cuff body becomes adjustable from the first orientation to the orientation selected by the user so as to extend around the limb. While the flexible cuff body is in the orientation selected by the user, in response to the handle being moved to the locked position, the flexible cuff body is locked in the orientation selected by the user by pressing the first end connector and the second end connector against each other to hold the limb in the selected position relative to the operating table. system.
12. The aforementioned flexible cuff body, The system according to claim 11, comprising a longitudinal cable extending from the handle body through a series of links of the flexible cuff body, which are adjustable, connectable, and movable to positions linked to one another.
13. The system according to claim 12, wherein, in response to the handle being moved to the unlocked position, the series of links are movable relative to each other to adjust the flexible cuff body to the user-selected orientation such that it extends around the limb.
14. The system according to claim 13, wherein, in response to the handle being moved to the locked position, the series of links are mechanically fixed to each other to lock the flexible cuff body in a releasable orientation selected by the user.
15. The system according to claim 12, wherein, in response to the handle being moved to the unlocked position, the series of links become pivotable relative to each other to adjust the overall shape of the flexible cuff body.
16. The system according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of adjustable limb restraints operates independently of the others.
17. A method for maintaining the patient's position, including the following steps: A step of locking the handle body of an adjustable limb restraint to the rails of the operating table in a releasable manner at a selected position relative to the patient's limb on the operating table; The steps of: adjusting the flexible cuff body of the adjustable limb restraint to a shape selected for engagement with the patient's limb; and adjusting an actuator on the handle body of the adjustable limb restraint to releasely lock the flexible cuff body in the selected shape by pressing a series of first end connectors and a series of second end connectors of the flexible cuff body against each other.
18. The step of adjusting the flexible cuff body is, The method according to claim 17, comprising pivoting a series of links of the flexible cuff body, which are adjustablely connected to each other and located within a padded sleeve of the flexible cuff body.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein, in response to the step of adjusting the actuator on the handle body, a series of links of the flexible cuff body are mechanically fixed to one another to releasably lock the flexible cuff body in the selected shape.
20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the patient's limb is the patient's arm, leg, or torso.

Description

Cross-reference of related applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/463,105, filed on 1 May 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field This disclosure describes systems, apparatus, and methods for releasably and safely holding subjects such as patients during surgical procedures or transport to a medical setting. Specific examples described herein provide improved positioning and releasable restraint of one or more limbs of a patient in a customizable and safe position while the patient is sedated during a surgical procedure. Background Maintaining a consistent and secure position of the patient during surgical procedures facilitates improved surgical outcomes; it reduces the likelihood of unintended limb movement and its consequences, such as sensory disturbances or ischemia of a limb that has shifted position unintentionally during the surgical process. For example, in some situations where a patient may be under anesthesia during a surgical procedure, the patient may not be able to control or position themselves, or may not be able to alert the physician to limb discomfort or sensory disturbances. Physicians have employed several techniques to control the patient's position during medical procedures. For example, some medical staff may use folding or cushioning techniques on the operating table to hold the patient in place. These techniques may include wrapping the sheet around the patient's limb and within the cushions of the operating table to hold the patient's limb in place during the procedure. Such techniques may not be effective in maintaining a consistent and secure position of the patient throughout the procedure, as the sheet may loosen in some areas, allowing the patient's limb to move from its initially chosen position. Furthermore, in some situations, including with obese or overweight patients who occupy a larger area than the operating table, such conventional techniques may not be able to securely hold the patient's limb in a consistent and safe manner throughout the duration of the medical procedure. Summary This disclosure describes systems, apparatus, and methods for maintaining a person's chosen position relative to a support structure to achieve a safe and customizable patient position, for example, during a surgical procedure or medical transport of a patient. In certain embodiments, the systems, apparatus, and methods described herein may include at least one adjustable restraint device to achieve improved adjustability for releasably capturing one or more parts of a patient in a safe position relative to a surgical table or medical transport device. In some examples detailed below, the adjustable restraint device may include a series of movable links that provide adjustability to a user-selected position and shape, and in response to the user adjusting the actuator of the adjustable restraint device, the links are locked in the user-selected position/shape (e.g., via engagement of bevel-end connectors of links that mechanically mate with each other). Among the advantages, several systems and methods described herein can advantageously provide more efficient and customizable methods for maintaining any wide variety of patient sizes in a selected position on a surgical table or medical transport device. For example, in certain embodiments, an adjustable restraint device can be releasably locked at a user-selected position along the operating table and/or surgical armboard, and can be conveniently operated to a curved configuration (e.g., for engaging with a patient's limb) or another user-selected configuration before being releasably locked to that particular user-selected configuration. Furthermore, several embodiments described in more detail below can achieve removable, reusable solutions that provide greater comfort to the patient engaged with the adjustable restraint device, while also achieving efficient disposability of certain components and reuse of other more complex components. Also, in some optional embodiments, the adjustable restraint device can employ a set of links with improved end connectors that provide a rapid transition from an unlocked state (the adjustable restraint device is easily adjusted to a user-selected position and shape) to a locked state (adjacent links mechanically lock together) with increased locking strength and torque resistance. Some embodiments described herein include a flexible cuff system for maintaining a patient's position in a releaseable manner. To hold the limb in a selected position relative to a medical support, the flexible cuff system includes: A flexible cuff body adjustable from a first orientation to a user-selected orientation, comprising a series of links adjustablely connected to each other via a series of first end connectors of each link body and one or more cables, configured to connect to a series of second end connectors