[0001] The present invention relates to a treatment table, e.g., a treatment table for therapeutic
treatment with adjustable height.
[0002] US 2014/0331409 discloses a therapeutic treatment table comprising a platform for supporting a patient
and a frame to which the platform is mounted. The frame is adapted for movement of
the platform between a lowered and raised position. A plurality of pairs of up and
down switches are provided at various locations around the table and operatively connected
to a drive motor. The switches can be mounted on the front side, rear side and opposite
lateral sides of the treatment table.
[0003] EP 2 181 685 A2 discloses a patient support comprising a frame, a deck supported by the frame, an
actuator configured to move at least one of a portion of the frame and a portion of
the deck, a plurality of electrical foot-operated controls supported by the frame,
each of the controls including a control member configured to move between first and
second positions, a sensor, and a contact member, when at least one of the control
members moves to the first position, the contact member contacts the sensor and the
sensor initiates movement of the actuator. An object of the invention is to provide
a treatment table which is easier to operate.
[0004] This object is accomplished with a treatment table according to claim 1.
[0005] By controlling the actuator via a sensor, there is no direct mechanical actuation
by a user. This allows to configure the height adjustment control in a very user friendly
way.
[0006] The one or more sensors can for example include one or more load sensors, such as
load cells and/or strain gauges.
[0007] The control handle is linked to the one or more load cells by means of one or more
elastic elements, such as a spring, e.g., one spring per load cell. The elastic element
preloads the load cell. The pretension causes the load cell to generate an output
signal representing a zero point for the position of the actuator. Movement of the
control handle is translated into a change of the output signal. Pushing the control
handle down will result in an increased output signal, while lifting the control handle
will result in a reduced output signal. This change of output signal can be translated
by the control unit to control signals controlling the actuator. For example, pushing
the control handle down may result in a control signal triggering the actuator to
lift the treatment bed, while lifting the control handle will result in a control
signal triggering the actuator to lower the treatment bed. Alternatively, pushing
the control handle down may result in a control signal triggering the actuator to
lower the treatment bed, while lifting the control handle will result in a control
signal triggering the actuator to lift the treatment bed. When the control handle
is released, it will return to the starting position, while the treatment bed stays
in the lifted or lowered position until the control handle is actuated again.
[0008] The change of the load cell's output signal is proportional to the travel distance
of the control handle. Optionally, in a specific exemplary embodiment, the proportionality
of the output signal can be used to configure the control unit to power the actuator
proportionally to a load exerted to the control handle by an operator and/or proportional
to a distance of displacement by the control handle. For instance, a higher load or
a larger displacement of the control handle may result in a faster height adjustment
of the treatment table. In a simpler embodiment, the treatment bed is always lifted
or lower with the same speed, independent from the load exerted to the load cell.
[0009] The suspension of the control handle from the frame can for example further comprise
damping elements in parallel arrangement with the resilient element supporting the
load cell. The damping elements may for example be rubber elements or elements of
a rubber-like material, e.g., cylindrical or non-cylindrical vibration dampers. For
instance, an extended control handle, such as a bar, e.g. a foot control bar, can
be suspended from the frame by a plurality of such vibration dampers and by one or
more load cells. The dampers are at a distance from the one or more load cells and
have a stiffness exceeding the stiffness of the spring element, so the movement of
the actuator is determined by the resistance of the dampers and not by the resistance
of the spring elements. Such a suspension of the control handle makes it possible
that movement of the control handle at any point of the control handle is detected
accurately by the load cell.
[0010] Optionally, the frame has a base to be placed on a floor, e.g., a single foot or
a set of feet, optionally provided with retractable wheels.
[0011] The control handle may for example be a foot control bar to be operated by a user's
foot.
[0012] The control handle may for example be a bar extending substantially horizontally
along at least one side of the frame, e.g., extending along all the full contour of
the frame, e.g. at foot level allowing foot control. This enables an operator to adjust
the table height regardless of the operator's position. The operator can push or lift
the control bar equally from all sides of the treatment table.
[0013] In a specific embodiment the control handle is a rectangular foot control bar accessible
from all sides of the treatment bed, suspended centrally to a stationary part of the
treatment bed by means of the load sensor and the resilient element, and suspended
at or near the corners by means of the dampers, e.g., at least one damper per corner.
[0014] Furthermore, a treatment table is disclosed, comprising a height adjustable frame,
a treatment bed supported by the frame, an actuator for moving the frame between an
upper position and a lower position, and a control handle extending substantially
horizontally along at least one side of the frame, e.g., extending along the full
contour of the frame, e.g. as a rectangular frame. The control handle may be a foot
control bar. The control handle may be suspended from the frame by means of damping
elements, e.g., of a rubber or a rubber-like material, e.g., as discussed above.
[0015] The invention is elucidated with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings
showing embodiments of the invention by way of example.
Fig. 1 shows in side view an exemplary embodiment of a treatment table in a lowered
position;
Fig. 2 shows the treatment table of Figure 1 in side view in an upper position;
Fig. 3 shows the treatment table of Figure 1 in bottom view;
Fig. 4 shows a suspension of the control bar of the treatment table in Figure 1;
Fig. 5 shows the section of Figure 4 in top view;
Fig. 6 shows the stationary frame base with the foot control bar of the treatment
bed of Figure 1 in bottom view;
Fig. 7 shows a cross section along line VII - VII in Figure 6;
Fig. 8 shows a cross section along line VIII - VIII in Figure 6;
Fig. 9 shows a cross section along line IX - IX in Figure 6;
Fig. 10 shows in detail a cylindrical damper suspending the foot control bar of the
treatment table of Figure 1.
[0016] Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a treatment table 1. The treatment table
1 comprises a frame 3 with a stationary base 5 and a height adjustable foldable support
7, an actuator 9 for moving the height adjustable support 7 between an upper position
(shown in Figure 2) and a lower position (shown in Figure 1). Figure 1 shows the lower
position. The treatment table 1 also comprises a bed 11 for carrying a person to be
treated.
[0017] A rectangular foot control bar 13 extends along the full contour of the treatment
table 1 at a distance below the bed 11 to enable foot control by an operator. The
rectangular foot control bar 13 comprises a central projection 12 suspended from the
stationary base 5 of the frame 3 by means of a resilient element 14, such as a tensile
spring (see Figure 3), in turn suspended from a control box 16 by means of a load
cell 17. The control box 16 is programmed to receive output signals from the load
cell 17 and to generate control signals for triggering the actuator 19.
[0018] Near its corners the foot control bar 13 is also suspended from the frame 5 by four
cylindrical dampers 20, i.e. one damper 20 per corner, substantially symmetrically
arranged relative to the load sensor. In other embodiments, other numbers of dampers
can be used. These dampers have a stiffness exceeding the stiffness of the resilient
element 14, so the movement of the control bar 13 is determined by the resistance
of the dampers and not by the resistance of the resilient element 14. As a result
movement of any point of the control bar 13 is detected accurately by the load cell
17. Actuation of the control bar 13 at any point will stress the load cell 17 and
trigger the control unit 16 in the same manner.
[0019] In the shown exemplary embodiment the actuator 9 comprises an electric motor. The
control box 16 communicates with the electric motor 9 via a signal conductor 19 (Figure
4). The control box 16 is configured to control the electric motor 9 in response to
signals from the load cell 17 detecting actuation of the foot control bar 13. The
electric motor 9 folds the support 7 to lower the bed 11 (Figure 1) or unfolds the
support 7 to lift the bed 11 (Figure 2).
[0020] The load cell 17 is pre-tensioned by the spring 14 and the weight of the foot control
bar 13. Pushing the foot control bar 13 enlarges the output signal of the load cell
17. Lifting the foot control bar 13 reduces the output signal of the load cell 17.
Upon operating the foot control bar 13 the load cell 17 sends a signal to the control
box 16. Lifting the foot control bar 13 results in a reduced output signal triggering
the electric motor 9 to lower the bed 11. Pushing the foot control bar 13 down results
in an amplified signal triggering the electric motor 9 to lift the bed 11.
[0021] Optionally, the control box 16 can be configured such that the powering of the actuator
9 is proportional to the actuation force exerted to the foot control bar 13. The output
signal of the load cell 17 is proportional to the movement of the foot control bar
13: a larger travel distance by the foot control bar 13 results in a larger change
of the output signal from the load cell 17. The control box 16 can be programmed to
translate this to varying control signals to the electric motor 19. If an operator
wishes to lift or lower the bed 3 faster, he may exert a higher actuation force to
the foot control bar 6.
[0022] The spring 14 may be biased into a rest condition such that at that condition the
actual load on the load cell 17 is a reference condition. Due to wear the reference
condition may shift during lifetime, but the control box 16 can be configured such
that it automatically corrects the reference condition when the treatment table 1
is in rest.
[0023] The embodiment shown in the drawings uses a single load sensor 17. Optionally, more
than one load sensors may be used, e.g., to allow calculation of the actually exerted
actuation force, regardless of the distance between the point of actuation and the
load cell.
[0024] Figures 6 - 9 show the combination of the stationary frame base 5 and the foot control
bar 13. The frame base 5 comprises two parallel supports 22, 23 with a larger front
leg 24, a shorter rear leg 25 and an inclined section 26 bridging the top ends of
the front and rear legs 24, 25. These inclined sections 26 are in turn bridged by
a rear bar 27, a front bar 28 and a suspension plate 29 between the rear and front
bars. The control box 16 is suspended from a lower side of the suspension plate 29,
as is particularly shown in Figure 7.
[0025] The foot control bar 13 (see Figure 3) comprises a U-shaped front section 31 of a
metal strip, a U-shaped rear section 32 of a metal strip, two parallel side bars 33,
34 extending between the front and rear sections 31, 32 and traverse sections 35,
each traverse section connecting an outer end of the front or rear section to an outer
end of the side bars 33, 34 so as to form a rectangular frame. A third bar 36 also
connects the front and rear sections 31, 32 and is provided with the upward central
projection 12 suspended from the load cell 17, as described above.
[0026] Figure 10 shows one of the cylindrical dampers 20 suspending the control bar 13.
The damper 20 has one end 40 connected to the base frame 5 and an opposite second
end 41 connected to a vertical lip 42 by means of a nut 43. The lip 42 has a lower
end connected to the foot control bar 13 and a top end 44 bent under right angles.
This bent top end 44 functions as a stop in cooperation with a lip 45 of the base
frame 5. This limits downward movement of the foot control bar 13 relative to the
base frame 5. Upward movement is limited by the frame 5 stopping the foot control
bar 13.
[0027] It is noted that the drawings are schematic, not necessarily to scale and that details
that are not required for understanding the present invention may have been omitted.
The terms "upward", "downward", "below", "above", and the like relate to the embodiments
as oriented in the drawings, unless otherwise specified.
[0028] The disclosure is not restricted to the above described embodiments which can be
varied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims.
1. A treatment table (1), comprising:
- a height adjustable frame (3);
- a treatment bed (11) supported by the frame;
- an actuator (9) for moving the frame between an upper position and a lower position;
- at least one control handle (13);
- at least one sensor (17) for detecting actuation of the control handle; and
- a control unit (16) for receiving a signal from the sensor and controlling the actuator
(9) in response to the signal,
characterized in that the at least one sensor is connected to the frame and the control handle (13) is
connected to the sensor by means of an elastic element.
2. A treatment table according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes at
least one load cell (17).
3. A treatment table according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one control
handle (13) is a control bar suspended from the frame by means of suspension elements,
such as elastic or damping elements (20), e.g., of a rubber or rubber-like material.
4. A treatment table according to claim 3, wherein the damping elements include cylindrical
rubber dampers (20).
5. A treatment table according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the frame (3) comprises a stationary
base (5) and a height-adjustable support (7) supporting the bed (11), wherein the
actuator is suspended from the stationary base.
6. A treatment table according to claim 5 wherein the at least one control bar includes
at least one foot control bar (13).
7. A treatment table according to claim 6 wherein the at least one foot control bar (13)
extends along one or more sides of the treatment table at a distance below the treatment
platform.
8. A treatment table according to claim 7 wherein the at least one foot control bar (13)
is a rectangular frame extending around a base of the frame.
1. Behandlungstisch (1) mit:
einem höhenverstellbaren Gestell (3);
einem Behandlungsbett (11), das durch das Gestell getragen ist;
einem Aktuator (9) zum Bewegen des Gestells zwischen einer oberen Position und einer
unteren Position;
mindestens einem Steuerhebel (13);
mindestens einem Sensor (17) zum Erfassen einer Betätigung des Steuerhebels; und
einer Steuereinheit (16) zum Empfangen eines Signals vom Sensor und zum Steuern des
Aktuators (9) in Antwort auf das Signal;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
der mindestens eine Sensor mit dem Gestell verbunden ist und der Steuerhebel (13)
mittels eines elastischen Elements mit dem Sensor verbunden ist.
2. Behandlungstisch nach Anspruch 1, wobei der mindestens eine Sensor mindestens eine
Wägezelle (17) aufweist.
3. Behandlungstisch nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei der mindestens eine
Steuerhebel (13) eine Bedienungsstange ist, die mittels Aufhängungselementen, wie
beispielsweise elastischen oder Dämpfungselementen (20) z.B. aus einem Gummi- oder
einem gummiartigen Material, am Gestell aufgehängt ist.
4. Behandlungstisch nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Dämpfungselemente zylindrische Gummidämpfer
(20) aufweisen.
5. Behandlungstisch nach Anspruch 3 oder 4,
wobei das Gestell (3) eine stationäre Basis (5) und einen höhenverstellbaren Träger
(7) aufweist, der das Bett (11) trägt, wobei der Aktuator an der stationären Basis
aufgehängt ist.
6. Behandlungstisch nach Anspruch 5, wobei die mindestens eine Bedienungsstange mindestens
eine Fußbedienungsstange (13) aufweist.
7. Behandlungstisch nach Anspruch 6, wobei sich die mindestens eine Fußbedienungsstange
(13) entlang einer oder mehrerer Seiten des Behandlungstischs in einem Abstand unterhalb
der Behandlungsplattform erstreckt.
8. Behandlungstisch nach Anspruch 7, wobei die mindestens eine Fußbedienungsstange (13)
ein rechteckiger Rahmen ist, der sich um eine Basis des Gestells erstreckt.
1. Table de traitement (1), comprenant :
- un cadre à hauteur ajustable (3) ;
- un lit de traitement (11) supporté par le cadre ;
- un actionneur (9) pour déplacer le cadre entre une position supérieure et une position
inférieure ;
- au moins une poignée de commande (13) ;
- au moins un capteur (17) pour détecter l'actionnement de la poignée de commande
; et
- une unité de commande (16) pour recevoir un signal depuis le capteur et commander
l'actionneur (9) en réponse au signal,
caractérisée en ce que l'au moins un capteur est raccordé au cadre et la poignée de commande (13) est raccordée
au capteur au moyen d'un élément élastique.
2. Table de traitement selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle l'au moins un capteur
comporte au moins une cellule de charge (17).
3. Table de traitement selon une quelconque revendication précédente, dans laquelle l'au
moins une poignée de commande (13) est une barre de commande suspendue au cadre au
moyen d'éléments de suspension, tels que des éléments élastiques ou amortisseurs (20),
par exemple en caoutchouc ou en matériau de type caoutchouc.
4. Table de traitement selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle les éléments amortisseurs
comportent des amortisseurs en caoutchouc cylindriques (20).
5. Table de traitement selon la revendication 3 ou 4, dans laquelle le cadre (3) comprend
une base fixe (5) et un support ajustable en hauteur (7) supportant le lit (11), dans
laquelle l'actionneur est suspendu à la base fixe.
6. Table de traitement selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle l'au moins une barre de
commande comporte au moins une barre de commande au pied (13).
7. Table de traitement selon la revendication 6, dans laquelle l'au moins une barre de
commande au pied (13) s'étend le long d'un ou de plusieurs côtés de la table de traitement
à une distance sous la plateforme de traitement.
8. Table de traitement selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle l'au moins une barre de
commande au pied (13) est un cadre rectangulaire s'étendant autour d'une base du cadre.