(19)
(11) EP 0 726 069 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
06.11.1996 Bulletin 1996/45

(43) Date of publication A2:
14.08.1996 Bulletin 1996/33

(21) Application number: 96300179.7

(22) Date of filing: 10.01.1996
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: A61G 13/12
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 08.02.1995 GB 9502436

(71) Applicant: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
London, NW11 8DS (GB)

(72) Inventor:
  • Hannant, Keith
    Rustington, West Sussex BN16 2QN (GB)

(74) Representative: Flint, Jonathan McNeill 
SMITHS INDUSTRIES PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY 765 Finchley Road
London NW11 8DS
London NW11 8DS (GB)

   


(54) Patient support tables


(57) A surgical operating table has two leg support sections 2 and 3 made up of an articulated thigh support part 30 and a calf support part 31. A rotatable shaft 41 extends along the thigh support part 30. The shaft 41 has a gear 40 at one end engaging a bevel gear 36 fixed to the table. At the other end, the shaft has a gear 42 engaging a gear 44 in the calf support part 31 so that raising or lowering the thigh support part 31 causes the calf part to bend in the opposite sense. A pawl 54 is connected to a button 58 and engages a ratchet wheel 50 on the shaft 41. The ratchet allows the shaft 41 to be rotated in one direction, caused by raising the thigh support part 30, but prevents rotation in the opposite direction, and hence lowering of the thigh support part, unless the button 58 is released.






Search report