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(11) | EP 2 777 671 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Patient table |
| (57) The invention relates to a patient table, such as a hospital bed, an operating room
table or another patient table comprising a lower body (10) and a scissor structure
(X, A1, A2) joined to the lower body and supporting a table top (B), the scissor structure
comprising a first and a second scissor arm (A1, A2) that are crossed and joined by
a joint structure (XC) in a centre area of the scissor structure. The patient table
comprises an electric actuator arrangement (3) arranged to produce height adjustment
of the table top (B) by changing the angle between the joined scissor arms (A1, A2)
of the scissor structure (X), one of the scissor arms (A2) of the patient table consisting
of two parts formed by articulation. The electric actuator arrangement of the invention
comprises two electric actuators (30, 300) attached between the scissor arms (A1,
A2) and thus arranged to move with the scissor arms, the first electric actuator (30)
between the scissor arms being configured to perform height adjustment and the second
electric actuator (300) between the scissor arms being configured to perform, in addition
to height adjustment, tilting of the second arm portion (A2a) comprised by the scissor
portion (A2) divided into two parts by a joint to allow the table top to be tilted.
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Background of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to a patient table, such as a patient bed, operating room table or another patient table comprising a lower body and a scissor structure joined to the lower body and supporting a table top, the scissor structure comprising a first and a second scissor arm that are crossed and joined by a joint structure in the centre area of the scissor structure, and in which patient table a bottom end of the first scissor arm is joined to the lower body by a bottom joint and a top end of the second scissor arm is joined to the table top by a top joint, and in which table top there is a slide support between the top end of the first scissor arm and the table top and a slide support between the bottom end of the second scissor arm and the lower body, and which patient table comprises an electric actuator arrangement arranged to produce a height adjustment of the table top by changing the angle between the joined scissor arms of the scissor structure, and in which patient table one of the scissor arms consists of two portions formed by articulation.
[0002] Patient beds, operating room tables or other patient tables are used for example in hospitals, nursing homes or other similar sites.
[0003] One basic structure, which rests on the lower body and supports the table top, allowing the table top to be raised and lowered, is an X-shaped scissor structure having scissor arms that are joined crosswise by a joint structure.
[0004] In prior art solutions, the power for height adjustment, i.e. for raising and lowering, has been obtained from one or two electric motors placed between the lower body and the scissor structure.
[0005] Although the prior art structure as such is capable of performing height adjustment, the structure is not optimal when freedom in the design of the component layout of the device is to be provided and when modular utilization of the components is to be enabled to allow different variations of the device to be made in the design and manufacturing phases. Moreover, dual function of the table top, i.e. its tilting in addition to raising/lowering, has not been possible to implement in a simple manner that would allow for modularity.
Brief description of the invention
[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a novel patient table that allows the problems of the prior art devices to be alleviated.
[0007] The object of the invention is achieved by a patient table characterized by what is stated in the characterizing part of the independent claim. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
[0008] The idea of the invention is that the electric motors, or similar electric actuators, for providing height adjustment are both positioned into a raising scissor mechanism to move with it, and in that one of these electric actuators moving with the scissor mechanism is further configured to perform tilting of the table top.
[0009] An advantage of the patient table of the invention is that more freedom is obtained in the component layout because the electric actuators, such as electric motors, are not attached to the lower body. The invention also enables increased modularity, i.e. allows the number of different components to be reduced when different variations of the device are built.
Brief description of the figures
[0010] The invention will now be described in more detail by means of preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 a is a horizontal view of a patient table;
Figure 1 b is a view of the patient table in a position tilted to the left;
Figure 1 c is a view of the patient table in a position tilted to the right.
Detailed description of the invention
[0011] The present invention is applicable for use as a raising/lowering mechanism for both medical treatment beds as well as hospital beds.
[0012] The raising/lowering mechanism and its applicability in modularly different kinds of beds are essentially associated with what is known as the Trendelenburg or the Anti-Trendelenburg position. Trendelenburg refers to a position in which a table top under a patient is tilted so that the patient's head is lower than his/her legs or the mid-portion of the body. Anti-Trendelenburg, in turn, refers to a position reverse position, in which the table top is tilted so that the feet are lower than the head and the mid-point of the body. Usually these positions are significantly more important in hospital beds, where they are used to make the patient more comfortable by adjusting the bed top to a required position.
[0013] The disclosure relates to a patient table 1, such as a patient bed, operating room table or another patient table.
[0014] The patient table 1 comprises a lower body 10 and a scissor structure X joined to the lower body and supporting a table top B, the scissor structure being in fact X-shaped, for example, when seen from a long side of the patient table. The lower body 10, the scissor structure X and the table top B may all be metal parts made of a profile pipe, for example. The joint between the scissor structure X and the lower body 10 is made with a bottom joint 12, which may be a peg-and-hole type joint. The joint between the scissor structure X and the table top B, or another similar height-adjustable upper body, is made with a top joint 22, which may be a peg-and-hole type joint.
[0015] The scissor structure X comprises a first scissor arm A1 and a second scissor arm A2 which are crossed and joined together by a joint structure XC in a centre area of the scissor structure X. The joint structure XC, i.e. the joint structure XC joining the straight scissor arms A1, AC in a manner enabling pivoting, may be a peg-and-hole type joint structure.
[0016] The halves of the scissor structure X, i.e. the scissor arms A1, A2, are such that A1 is rigid, i.e. uniform, whereas A2 is a folding arm provided with an intermediate joint at which it may be tilted. The intermediate joint may be the joint structure XC joining the scissor arms A1, A2. According to an embodiment, the joint XC that divides the arm A2 into parts A2a, A2b that fold in relation to one another is the same as the one that joins the scissor arms A1 and A2 together, or it is at least on a common transverse horizontal line with it. When a double X structure, i.e. two parallel X structures, is concerned, also the arm A22 of the second, i.e. the rear X structure, is divided into successive parts A22a, A22b that tilt in relation to one another, whereas A11 in turn is uniform, i.e. rigid, as well as A12.
[0017] The bottom end of the first scissor arm A1 in the patient table 1 is joined to the lower body 10 by the bottom joint 12 and the top end of the scissor arm A2 is joined to the table top B by the top joint 22.
[0018] Between the top end of the first scissor arm A1 and the table top B the patient top is provided with a slide support G1 and between the bottom end of the second scissor arm A2 and the lower body 10 with a slide support G2. The slide supports G1, G2 are implemented for example by providing slide pockets in the table top B and the lower body 10 and, as a counter piece, a horizontal pin or a bearing with a horizontal axis at the top end of the scissor arm A1 and the bottom end of the scissor arm A2. In the embodiment of the figures, the slide supports G1, G2 are on the same side, i.e. on the left in the figures in relation to the vertical line of the position of the joint structure XC located in the middle. Correspondingly, the joints 12, 22 are on the same side, i.e. on the right in the figures in relation to the vertical line of the position of the joint structure XC located in the middle.
[0019] The patient table 1 comprises an electric actuator 30, such as an electric motor 30, which is arranged to provide height adjustment of the table top B by changing the angle between the scissor arms A1, A2 of the scissor structure that are joined together in relation to the joint structure XC. Raising is arranged to narrow the width of the X-shaped scissor structure X as the left-hand ends of the scissor arms A1, A2 approach the joints 12, 22, the slide supports G1, G2 allowing this to take place. Correspondingly, lowering is arranged to increase the width of the scissor structure as the left-hand ends of the scissor arms A1, A2 draw away from the joints 12, 22 on the slide supports G1, G2.
[0020] According to an embodiment, the first electric actuator 30 is a spindle motor 30. The electric actuator 30 of height adjustment comprises a motor part and a motion arm 32 that the motor part 31 is configured to move, i.e. the motion arm 32 in the embodiment in question is the spindle of the spindle motor 30. It is observed that the electric actuator 30, 31-32, of the height adjustment, i.e. raising and lowering, is fastened between the crossed scissor arms A1, A2 of the scissor structure X in such a way that, on the one hand, the electric actuator 30 is fastened to a portion of the first A1 scissor arm that is above the joint structure XC located in the centre area of the scissor structure while, on the other hand, it is fastened to a portion of the second scissor arm that is below the joint structure XC located in the centre area of the scissor structure. The motion arm 32, such as the spindle 32, that the motor part 31 moves is fastened to a portion of the first A1 scissor arm A1 that is above the joint structure XC located in the centre area of the scissor structure X, the motor part 31 itself being fastened to a portion of the second scissor arm that is below the joint structure XC located in the centre area of the scissor structure. The motor part 31 and the motion arm 32 it moves are fastened to the scissor arms A1, A2 in a pivotal manner by means of joints 30a, 30b, for example.
[0021] According to an embodiment, the second electric actuator 300 is similar to the first electric actuator 30 in that the second electric actuator 300 is also an electric motor, such as a spindle motor, comprising a motor part 301 and a spindle 302 or another motion arm 302 that the motor part 301 is configured to move. The motor part 301 and the motion arm 302 it moves are fastened to the scissor arms A1, A2 in a pivotal manner by means of joints 300a, 300b, for example.
[0022] The second electric actuator 300 between the scissor arms A1, A2 is on a different side of the vertical line of the articulation structure XC located in the centre area than the first electric actuator 30 between the scissor arms A1, A2.
[0023] The second electric actuator 300 is configured to assist the first electric actuator 30 in raising and lowering the table top B and, in addition, the second electric actuator 300 is configured to tilt the table top B because the motion shaft 302, such as a spindle, of the second electric actuator 300 is coupled to the top part A2a of the scissor arm A2 above the joint structure XC, the top part being foldable on the joint XC in relation to the bottom part A2b of the scissor arm A2.
[0024] To improve load-bearing capacity and stability, the structure is such that the scissor arms A1, A2 of the scissor structure X that are joined crosswise by the joint structure XC are doubled and comprise a first and a second scissor arm, i.e. arm portions A11, A12 of the first scissor arm A1, and a first and a second arm portion, i.e. arm portions A21, A22, of the second scissor arm A2. In the figures the first arm portions A11, A21 are closer to the viewer, whereas the second arm portions A12, A22 are further away.
[0025] The motor part 31 of the electric actuator 30 of the height adjustment is fastened between the first and the second arm portions A11, A21 of the first scissor arm A1, and the motion arm 32 of the electric actuator of height adjustment is fastened between the first and the second arm portions A21, A22 of the second scissor arm A2.
[0026] It is observed that according to a preferred embodiment the structure is such that the electric actuator 30, 31, 32 for height adjustment fastened between the crossing scissor arms A1, A2 is on the area above the joint structure XC fastened between the first and the second arm portions A11, A12 of the first scissor arm and on the area below the joint structure XC between the first and the second arm portions A21, A22 of the second scissor arm A2. In other words, the spindle 32 of the motor part 31 is joined to the upper half of the first arm portion by a joint 30a, the spindle 32 in the figures being, in particular, fastened to an intermediate support A3 connecting the halves A11, A12 of one and the same scissor arm A1. Correspondingly, the motor part 31 itself is joined by a joint 30b between the halves A21, A22 of one and the same scissor arm A2. According to an embodiment, the first and the second arm portions A11, A12 of the first scissor arm A1 are side by side and the first and the second arm portions A21, A22 of the second scissor arm A2 are side by side.
[0027] On the right-hand side of the device in the figure, the scissor structure X attaches to the lower body 10 by the joint 22 and, correspondingly, to the table top by the joint 12, thus enabling a controlled movement of the scissor structure X. On the left-hand side of the device in the figures, the second end of the scissor structure X is supported by the lower body 10 through the slide support G2 and, correspondingly, by the table top, or a similar upper body, through the slide support G1, which enables a desired movement, i.e. a height adjustment of the scissor structure and also its tilting, because the second arm portion A2 is non-fixed, i.e. bipartite at of the joint XC, and comprises successive parts A2a and A2b that may be tilted in relation to one another.
[0028] The scissor arm A2 is divided by the joint XC, i.e. bipartite, comprising successive articulated parts A2a and A2b that may be tilted in relation to one another by the second electric motor 300. The fixed scissor arm is indicated by reference A1. The joint XC may be the same that joins the scissor arms A1 and A2.
[0029] The spindle motor 30, or a similar electric lifting/lowering actuator 30, is attached to the lifting end of the fixed scissor arm A1, i.e. above the centre joint XC.
[0030] Figures 1a, 1b and 1c disclose a "synchronized" lifting mechanism based on a scissor mechanism. The structure consists of a lower body 1, an upper body 2. A scissor mechanism X and its parts A1 and A2. The scissor arm A2 is divided into parts A2a and A2b which, together with the arm A1, are articulated at the centre joint XC and attach to the structures below and above, i.e. to the lower body and the table top, or a similar upper body, by the slide support G1, G2 of the joints 12, 22. The scissor mechanism uses one fixed arm A1 and two shorter arms A2a, A2b that pivot about the centre joint XC. The height and inclination of the lift mechanism is adjusted by two spindle motors 30, 300 that attach at fastening points 11 between the lifting arms of the scissor mechanisms in the structure. In that case the scissor mechanism achieves what is known as a vertically synchronized motion between the left-hand end and the right-end of the scissor mechanism when the leverage between the points of attachment 30a, 300a of the electric motors 30, 300 in relation to the centre joint XC is the same on both sides of the opening scissor structure. The left-hand end is provided with slide supports G1, G2 and the right-hand end with joints 12, 22. A synchronized motion means that the vertical velocity of motion of the joint 22 at the top part of the scissor arms A2a and A2b and that of the slide support 10 remains the same on both sides of the centre joint XC, the table top B thus remaining horizontal during a raising movement.
[0031] Naturally, the scissor arrangement may be reversed, i.e. the fixed arm A1 may be on one end of the structure, i.e. it is not operationally essential how the arms A1 of the scissors and, on the other hand, A2a, A2b are joined to the point of attachment 12, i.e. in relation to the joint 12, with regard to the inclination of the table top B. In other words, the fixed scissor arm A1 may be fastened to the lower body B at point 22, i.e. to the joint, or it could be supported by the glide support G2. Irrespective of how the scissor arrangement is turned, advantage is gained by one and the same motor 300, i.e. the second electric motor, acting as a part of the lift mechanism and, at the same time, the adjusting length of the motion shaft 302 of the electric motor allows the inclination of the table top B to be controlled.
[0032] Comparison of Figures 1 a, 1b, 1c shows how the position of the joint 12 of the top end of the table top B changes in relation to the lower body 10. Upon tilting, the table top B in the figures moves towards the foot end 13 of the patient table, which allows the structure of the table top to be used for providing a sitting position. In other words, the longitudinal positioning of the table top B changes in relation to the lower body 10 in accordance with the pivot angle of the scissor arm A2a. In that case, in particular, as a natural sitting position is located close to the centre point of the table top B, a structure is achieved that allows a person in a sitting position to leave the bed at the foot end.
1. A patient table, such as a patient bed, operating room table or another patient table
comprising a lower body (10) and a scissor structure (X, A1, A2) articulated with
the lower body and supporting a table top (B), the scissor structure comprising a
first and a second scissor arm (A1, A2) that are crossed and joined by a joint structure
(XC) at the centre area of the scissor structure, and in which patient table a bottom
end of the first scissor arm (A1) is joined to the lower body (10) by a bottom joint
(12) and a top end of the second scissor arm (A2) is joined to the table top (B) by
a top joint (22), and in which patient table there is a slide support (G1) between
the top end of the first scissor arm (A1) and the table top (B) and a slide support
(G2) between the bottom end of the second scissor arm (A2) and the lower body (10),
and which patient table comprises an electric actuator arrangement (3) arranged to
produce height adjustment of the table top (B) by changing the angle between the joined
scissor arms (A1, A2) of the scissor structure (X), and in which patient table one
of the scissor arms (A2) consists of two parts formed by articulation,
characterized in that the electric actuator arrangement comprises two electric actuators (30, 300) attached between the scissor arms (A1, A2) and thus arranged to move with the scissor arms, the first electric actuator (30) between the scissor arms being configured to perform height adjustment and the second electric actuator (300) between the scissor arms being configured to perform, in addition to height adjustment, tilting of the second arm portion (A2a) comprised by the scissor portion (A2) divided into two parts by articulation to allow the table top to be tilted.
characterized in that the electric actuator arrangement comprises two electric actuators (30, 300) attached between the scissor arms (A1, A2) and thus arranged to move with the scissor arms, the first electric actuator (30) between the scissor arms being configured to perform height adjustment and the second electric actuator (300) between the scissor arms being configured to perform, in addition to height adjustment, tilting of the second arm portion (A2a) comprised by the scissor portion (A2) divided into two parts by articulation to allow the table top to be tilted.
2. A patient table as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the electric actuators (30, 300) are on different sides of a vertical line through
the joint structure (XC) that joins the scissor parts (A1, A2) pivotally together.
3. A patient table as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the arm portion (A2a) of the scissor arm (A2) to be inclined with the second electric
actuator (300) belongs to the scissor arm supported to the table top by a slide support.
4. A patient table as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the joint between the arm portions (A2a, A2b) of the bipartite scissor arm (A2) is
on a common line and coincide with the joint structure (XC) that joins the scissor
arms (A1, A2) pivotally together.
5. A patient table as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the scissor arms (A1, A2) that are joined crosswise by the joint structure of the
scissor structure (X) are doubled and comprise a first and a second arm portion (A11,
A12) of the first scissor arm (A1) and a first and a second arm portion (A21, A22)
of the second scissor arm (A2), and in that the electric actuator (30) for height adjustment attached between the crossing scissor
arms (A1, A2) is fastened between the first and the second arm portions (A11, A12)
of the first scissor arm (A1) and the first and the second arm portions (A21, A22)
of the second scissor arm (A2).
6. A patient table as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the electric actuator (30) for height adjustment comprises a motor part (31) and
a motion arm (32) that the motor part (31) is configured to move, and in that the motor part (31) of the electric actuator (30) for height adjustment is fastened
between the first and the second arm portion (A11, A12) of the first scissor arm (A1),
and in that the motion arm (31) of the electric actuator (30) for height adjustment is fastened
between the first and the second arm portion (A21, A22) of the second scissor arm
(A2).
7. A patient table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electric actuator (30) for height adjustment is fastened between the crossing
scissor arms (A1, A2) of the scissor structure so that, on the one hand, the electric
actuator (30) is fastened to a portion of the first scissor arm (A1) above the joint
structure (XC) that is in the centre area of the scissor structure and, on the other
hand, to a portion of the second scissor arm (A2) below the joint structure (XC) that
is in the centre area of the scissor structure.
8. A patient table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the electric actuators are spindle motors.