Patient support device for positioning during a surgical procedure and lateral patient transfer
A patient support device for positioning a patient on an operating table during a surgical procedure and for lateral patient transfer includes a viscoelastic foam body having a substantially flat first surface configured to be in contact with the patient, an opposing substantially flat second surface, and a peripheral edge extending therebetween. The patient support device also includes an inflatable enclosure connected to the second surface of the body that defines an inflatable cavity configured to receive a pressurized gas. The enclosure includes a plurality of perforations extending through a portion of the enclosure positioned to allow the pressurized gas to pass from the cavity through the plurality of perforations toward the operating table.
1 . A patient support device for positioning a patient on an operating table during a surgical procedure and for lateral patient transfer, the patient support device comprising: a viscoelastic foam body comprising a substantially flat first surface configured to be in contact with the patient, an opposing substantially flat second surface, and a peripheral edge extending therebetween; an inflatable enclosure connected to the substantially flat second surface of the viscoelastic foam body that defines an inflatable cavity configured to receive a pressurized gas, wherein the inflatable enclosure comprises a plurality of perforations extending through a portion of the inflatable enclosure positioned to allow the pressurized gas to pass from the cavity through the plurality of perforations toward the operating table; and a caudal lower pad configured to be positioned proximate to a caudle region of the patient, the caudal lower pad comprising viscoelastic foam connected to the inflatable enclosure and an outwardly facing viscoelastic foam surface configured to contact the operating table for holding the patient support device in place against the operating table when the inflatable enclosure is deflated, wherein inflating the inflatable enclosure causes the caudal lower pad to lift from and break contact with the operating table, and wherein the pressurized gas passing through the plurality of perforations reduces friction between the patient support device and a surface of the operating table, thereby allowing the patient support device to slide more easily over the surface of the operating table than when the pressurized gas is not provided to the inflatable cavity.
2 . The patient support device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one strap for carrying the patient support device connected to the viscoelastic foam body and/or inflatable enclosure of the patient support device.
3 . The patient support device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of loop straps, each loop strap having opposing ends connected to the viscoelastic foam body and/or inflatable enclosure to form loops for carrying the patient support device; and
at least one extended strap comprising a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween,
wherein the intermediate portion of the at least one extended strap is attached to the inflatable enclosure while the end portions of the at least one extended strap are not connected to the inflatable enclosure.
4 . The patient support device of claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic foam body is configured to extend from at least thighs of the patient to at least shoulders of the patient to support a torso of the patient placed on the viscoelastic foam body.
5 . The patient support device of claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic foam body and the caudal lower pad comprise the viscoelastic foam comprising at least one of a polyurethane foam formed from a polyhydroxy polyol mixed with toluene di-isocyanate, polyester polyols, and/or polyether.
6 . The patient support device of claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic foam has a coefficient of friction of from 0.2 to 2.5 and a glass transition temperature of between −5° C. and 5° C.
7 . The patient support device of claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic foam has a density of 2 pcf to about 8 pcf (35 kilograms per cubic meter to 128 kilograms per cubic meter).
8 . The patient support device of claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic foam body and the caudal lower pad comprise different formulations of viscoelastic foam materials.
9 . The patient support device of claim 8 , wherein the viscoelastic foam material of the viscoelastic foam body is more absorbent than the viscoelastic foam material of the caudal lower pad.
10 . The patient support device of claim 1 , wherein the viscoelastic foam body comprises an elongated pad having a length that is greater than its width, and wherein the viscoelastic foam body is from 0.5 inch to 3.0 inches or, preferably 1.5 inches thick.
11 . The patient support device of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable enclosure comprises a first sheet connected to the substantially flat second surface of the viscoelastic foam body and a second sheet connected to the first sheet defining the inflatable cavity, and wherein the plurality of perforations extend through the second sheet.
12 . The patient support device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of perforations are provided as a first longitudinal strip, a second longitudinal strip separate from the first longitudinal strip that passes along a central longitudinal axis of the inflatable enclosure, and a third longitudinal strip that is separate from the first longitudinal strip and the second longitudinal strip.
13 . The patient support device of claim 1 , wherein the surgical procedure is a procedure performed with the patient in a Trendelenburg or reverse Trendelenburg position.
14 . A patient system for patient support and lateral transport, comprising:
the patient support device of claim 1 , further comprising an inlet tube in fluid communication with the cavity of the inflatable enclosure; and
a blower connected to the inlet tube for providing the pressurized gas to the inflatable cavity of the inflatable enclosure through the inlet tube.
15 . The patient support device of claim 1 , further comprising a thoracic lower pad configured to be positioned proximate to a thoracic region of the patient, the thoracic lower pad comprising viscoelastic foam connected to the inflatable enclosure and an outwardly facing viscoelastic foam surface configured to contact the operating table, wherein inflating the inflatable enclosure causes the caudal lower pad and the thoracic lower pad to lift from and break contact with the operating table.
16 . The patient support device of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the inflatable enclosure comprising the plurality of perforations forms a shape surrounding the caudal lower pad allowing the pressurized gas to pass from the cavity through the plurality of perforations toward the operating table around the caudal lower pad.
17 . The patient support device of claim 16 , wherein the shape surrounding the caudal lower pad comprises an outline of a box or rectangle.
18 . The patient support device of claim 1 , wherein, when the inflatable enclosure is deflated, the caudal lower pad extends from an outer surface of the inflatable enclosure.
19 . The patient support device of claim 18 , wherein, when the inflatable enclosure is inflated, portions of the inflatable enclosure around the caudal lower pad inflate such that the caudal lower pad is recessed relative to other portions of the outer surface of the inflatable enclosure.