US-12616599-B2 - Systems and methods for maintaining patient position

US12616599B2US 12616599 B2US12616599 B2US 12616599B2US-12616599-B2

Abstract

Some systems, devices and methods detailed herein provide adjustable restraint device maintaining a selected position of a person relative to a support structure, for example, to maintain a safe and customizable patient position during a surgical procedure or during medical transport.

Inventors

Lawrence T. Volz

Assignees

Volz Surgical Consulting Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240429

Claims (14)

1 . A flexible cuff system for releasably maintaining a position of a patient, comprising: a flexible cuff body adjustable from a first orientation to a user-selected orientation to retain a limb in a selected position relative to a medical support substrate, the flexible cuff body including a series of links that are adjustably connected together via 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 and one or more cables; and a handle body connected to a base portion of the flexible cuff body, the handle body including a handle that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and the handle body defining a mating interface surface to slidably engage the medical support substrate; wherein, responsive to the handle being moved to the unlocked position, the flexible cuff body is adjustable from the first orientation to the user-selected orientation to extend around the limb, wherein, responsive to the handle being moved to the locked position while the flexible cuff body is in the user-selected orientation, the flexible cuff body is locked in the user-selected orientation by compressing the first end connectors and second end connectors together to retain the limb in the selected position relative to the medical support substrate, wherein the one or more cables includes a longitudinal cable that extends from the handle body through the series of links of the flexible cuff body that are adjustably connected together and movable to a linked position relative to one another, and wherein the handle is connected to the longitudinal cable, and responsive to the handle being moved to the locked position, the handle applies tension to the longitudinal cable to fix the series of links in the linked position relative to one another.
2 . The flexible cuff system of claim 1 , wherein the series of first end connectors form a beveled spline receiver and the series of second end connectors form a beveled spline.
3 . The flexible cuff system of claim 1 , wherein each link comprises a transverse cable that connects to the longitudinal cable.
4 . The flexible cuff system of claim 1 , wherein responsive to the handle being moved to the unlocked position, the series of links are pivotable with respect to each other to adjust an overall shape of the series of links.
5 . The flexible cuff system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible cuff body extends away from the handle body toward a free end of the flexible cuff body, and the free end of the flexible cuff body includes a fastener configured to connect to a second flexible cuff body.
6 . The flexible cuff system of claim 1 , wherein the medical support substrate is a surgical table, and the mating interface surface of the handle body configured to slidably engage with a rail of the surgical table.
7 . The flexible cuff system of claim 1 , wherein the medical support substrate is an arm bar extension of a surgical table, and the mating interface surface of the handle body configured to slidably engage with the arm bar extension of a surgical table.
8 . The flexible cuff system of claim 1 , the flexible cuff body comprises a fluid impermeable padded outer sleeve having an end opening sized to slidably receive a free end of the series of links of the flexible cuff body into an interior pocket of the fluid impermeable padded sleeve such that the fluid impermeable padded sleeve is slidably mounted over the series of links from the free end of the series of links to the base portion of the flexible cuff body.
9 . A system comprising: a surgical table including one or more rails that extend along one or more sides of the surgical table; a plurality of adjustable limb restraints releasably lockable at selectable positions along the one or more rails of the surgical table, each of the adjustable limb restraints including: a flexible cuff body adjustable from a first orientation to a user-selected orientation to retain a limb in a user-selected position relative to the surgical table, the flexible cuff body including a series of links that are adjustably connected together via 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 and one or more cables; and a handle body connected to a base of the flexible cuff body and including a handle movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and the handle body defining a mating interface surface to slidably engage at least one of the one or more rails; wherein, responsive to the handle being moved to the unlocked position, the flexible cuff body is adjustable from the first orientation to the user-selected orientation to extend around the limb; wherein, responsive to the handle being moved to the locked position while the flexible cuff body is in the user-selected orientation, the flexible cuff body is locked in the user-selected orientation by compressing the first end connectors and second end connectors together to retain the limb in the selected position relative to the surgical table; wherein the flexible cuff body includes a longitudinal cable that extends from the handle body through the series of links of the flexible cuff body that are adjustably connected together and movable to a linked position relative to one another; wherein responsive to the handle being moved to the unlocked position, the series of links are movable with respect to each other to adjust the flexible cuff body to the user-selected orientation shaped to extend around the limb; and wherein, responsive to the handle being moved to the locked position, the series of links are mechanically fixed relative to each other to releasably lock the flexible cuff body in the user-selected orientation.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein, responsive to the handle being moved to the unlocked position, the series of links are pivotable with respect to each other to adjust an overall shape of the flexible cuff body.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of adjustable limb restraints operate independently from one another.
12 . A method of maintaining a position of a patient, the method comprising: releasably locking a handle body of an adjustable limb restraint to a rail of an operating table at a selected location relative to a limb of a patient on the operating table; adjusting a flexible cuff body of the adjustable limb restraint to a selected shape to engage with the limb of the patient; and adjusting an actuator on the handle body of the adjustable limb restraint to releasably lock the flexible cuff body in the selected shape by compressing a series of first end connectors and a series of second end connectors of the flexible cuff body together; wherein in response to said adjusting the actuator on the handle body, a series of links of the flexible cuff body are mechanically fixed relative to each other to releasably lock the flexible cuff body in the selected shape.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said adjusting the flexible cuff body comprises pivoting the series of links of the flexible cuff body that are adjustably connected to each other and arranged within a padded sleeve of the flexible cuff body.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the limb of the patient is an arm, leg, or torso of the patient.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 63/463,105, filed on May 1, 2023. The disclosure of the prior application is considered part of the disclosure of this application and is incorporated in it's entirety into this application. TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure describes systems, devices, and methods for releasably and safely retaining a subject, such as a patient during surgical procedures or during transport to a medical site. Particular 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 safe position of a patient during a surgical procedure facilitates improved surgical outcomes and reduces the likelihood of inadvertent limb movement and consequences thereof, such as paresthesia or ischemia in a limb that inadvertently shifted positions during the course of a surgery. For example, in some circumstances when a patient can be subjected to anesthesia during a surgical procedure, the patient may not be able to control or position themselves or otherwise alert the medical practitioner of discomfort or paresthesia in a limb. Medical practitioners have employed a number of techniques to control the position of the patient during a medical procedure. For example, some medical staff may utilize folding or cushioning techniques of the sheets on the operating table to hold the patient in position. These techniques can include wrapping a sheet around a patient's limb and into a cushion of the surgical table to hold the patient's limb in position during the procedure. Such a technique can be ineffective at maintaining a consistent and safe position of the patient throughout a procedure because the sheets can loosen in some areas, allowing a limb of the patient to move from the originally selected position. Additionally, in some circumstances involving an obese or oversized patient that occupies areas larger than the surgical table, such conventional techniques may fail to safely retain the patient's limbs in a consistent and safe manner throughout the duration of the medical procedure. SUMMARY This disclosure describes systems, devices, and methods for maintaining a selected position of a person relative to a support structure, for example, to achieve a safe and customizable patient position during a surgical procedure or during medical transport of a patient. In particular implementations, the systems, devices, and methods described herein can include at least one adjustable restraint device that achieves improved adjustability for releasably capturing of one or more portions of a patient in a safe position relative to a surgical operating table or medical transport device. In some examples detailed below, the adjustable restraint device can include a series of movable links that provides convenient adjustability to a user-selected position and shape, and in response to a user adjusting an actuator of the adjustable restraint device, the links are locked in the user-selected position/shape (e.g., via engagement of beveled end connectors of the links mechanically mating with one another). Among other benefits, some systems and methods described herein can advantageously provide a more efficient and customizable approach to maintain any of a wide variety of patient sizes in a selected position a surgical operating table or medical transport device. For example, in particular embodiments, the adjustable restraint devices can be releasably lockable at a user-selected position along the surgical table and/or surgical arm boards and can be conveniently manipulated to a curved or other user-selected configuration (e.g., to engage with a patient's limb) before being releasably locked into that particular user-selected configuration. Additionally, some embodiments described in more detail below can achieve a removable, reusable solution that provides added comfort to a patient engaged with the adjustable restraint device while also achieving efficient disposable of particular components and reuse of other more complex components. And, in a number of optional implementations, the adjustable restraint device can employ a set of links having improved end connectors that provide rapid transition from an unlocked state (in which the adjustable restraint device is readily adjusted to a user-selected position and shape) to a lock state (in which the adjacent links are mechanically locked together) with an increased locking strength and torque resistance. Some embodiments described herein include, a flexible cuff system for releasably maintaining a position of a patient. The flexible cuff system includes a flexible cuff body adjustable from a first orientation to a user-selected orientation to retain a limb in a selected position relative to a medical support substrate, the flexible