Underbody Supports with Patient Securing Features
Underbody supports and related methods for supporting and restricting a sliding motion of a patient on a table. Certain embodiments of the underbody support may include two side walls, two end walls, a base layer, a compressible material layer opposite the base layer. The compressible material layer may be bonded to the two side walls and the two end walls about a perimeter of the compressible material layer to form a box-like structure that surrounds one or more inflatable chambers. The underbody support may further include one or more friction enhancing elements that are arranged to be interposed between the upper surface of the compressible material layer and the patient when the patient is being supported on the underbody support to prevent sliding of the patient.
1 . An underbody support for supporting and restricting a sliding motion of a patient on a table, the underbody support comprising:
two side walls;
two end walls;
a base layer having a lower surface configured to face the table and a base layer perimeter;
a compressible material layer opposite the base layer, the compressible material layer having an upper surface configured to face the patient to be supported and a compressible material layer perimeter, the compressible material layer bonded to the two side walls and to the two end walls about the perimeter of the compressible material layer;
one or more inflatable chambers, wherein the two side walls and two end walls are fastened to the perimeter of the base layer, wherein the base layer, the two side walls, the two end walls, and the compressible material layer form a box-like structure made of flexible foam, further wherein the box-like structure surrounds the one or more inflatable chambers; and
one or more friction enhancing elements that are arranged to be interposed between the upper surface of the compressible material layer and the patient when the patient is being supported on the underbody support to prevent sliding of the patient.
2 . The underbody support of claim 1 , wherein the underbody support is configured to support the patient in the head down Trendelenburg position, and wherein the friction enhancing elements are configured to reduce sliding of the patient relative to the underbody support when the patient is positioned on the underbody support in the head down Trendelenburg position.
3 . The underbody support of claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the base layer is configured to be anchored to the table.
4 . The underbody support of claim 1 , wherein the upper edges of the two flexible side walls can hinge inward in response to the weight of a patient depressing the central region of the layer of compressible material;
wherein the hinging inward of the flexible side walls allows the layer of compressible material to deform maximally while accommodating the patient without creating a hammock effect.
5 . The underbody support of claim 1 , wherein the upper edges of the two flexible side walls can hinge inward in response to the weight of a patient depressing the central region of the layer of compressible material;
wherein the hinging inward of the flexible side walls allows the tops of the flexible side walls to substantially abut the sides of the patient stabilizing the patient against inadvertent lateral movement.
6 . The underbody support of claim 1 , further comprising a layer of fabric that has been coated on one or both sides with a sticky material in the form of a raised pattern or raised dots, wherein the said layer of fabric is positioned between the upper surface of the underbody support and the patient to prevent the patient from inadvertently slipping off of the underbody support.
7 . The underbody support of claim 1 , further comprising a layer of fabric that has friction enhancing elements on one or both sides, wherein the layer of fabric is positioned between the upper surface of the underbody support and the patient to prevent the patient from inadvertently slipping off the underbody support.
8 . The underbody support of claim 7 , wherein the layer of fabric is the top layer of the underbody support.
9 . The underbody support of claim 7 , wherein the layer of fabric comprises a draw sheet that is positioned over the underbody support for lifting the patient.
10 . The underbody support of claim 7 , wherein the sticky material comprises PVC or silicone.
11 . The underbody support of claim 1 , comprising a yoke-shaped cushion that can be positioned under the patient's neck and anchored to the surgical table, the cushion comprising raised lateral portion configured to engage the patient's shoulders to prevent sliding.
12 . The underbody support of claim 1 , further configured to secure a patient in the Trendelenburg position comprising shoulder straps that extend from a head end portion of the underbody support, the straps configured to extend over the shoulders of the patient and to be secured to a central portion of the underbody support or the surgical table.
13 . A method of supporting and restricting a sliding motion of a patient on a surgical table, the method comprising:
providing an underbody support configured to support the patient on the table, the underbody support comprising:
a compressible material layer having an upper surface configured to face the patient;
a base layer opposite the compressible material layer having a lower surface configured to face the surgical table;
coupling the underbody support to the surgical table;
placing a layer of material between the upper surface of the underbody support and the patient, the layer of material comprising friction enhancing elements on both sides of the layer of material, wherein the layer of material is configured to grip both the underbody support and the patient to prevent the patient from inadvertently slipping off the underbody support; and
positioning the patient on the underbody support.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the layer of material comprises a draw sheet that is configured to be positioned between the underbody support for lifting the patient.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the layer of material is a layer of fabric, and wherein the friction enhancing elements comprise PVC or silicone.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein positioning the patient on the underbody support comprises positioning the patient in the head down Trendelenburg position, and wherein the friction enhancing elements are configured to reduce sliding of the patient relative to the underbody support when the patient is positioned on the underbody support in the head down Trendelenburg position.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the underbody support comprises:
one or more inflatable chambers;
two side walls;
two end walls;
the base layer having a base layer perimeter;
the compressible material layer having a compressible material layer perimeter;
wherein the compressible material layer is bonded to the two side walls and to the two end walls about the perimeter of the compressible material layer;
, wherein the two side walls and two end walls are fastened to the perimeter of the base layer, wherein the base layer, the two side walls, the two end walls, and the compressible material layer form a box-like structure made of flexible foam, further wherein the box-like structure surrounds the one or more inflatable chambers.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the upper edges of the two flexible side walls can hinge inward in response to the weight of a patient depressing the central region of the layer of compressible material;
wherein the hinging inward of the flexible side walls allows the layer of compressible material to deform maximally while accommodating the patient without creating a hammock effect.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the upper edges of the two flexible side walls can hinge inward in response to the weight of a patient depressing the central region of the layer of compressible material;
wherein the hinging inward of the flexible side walls allows the tops of the flexible side walls to substantially abut the sides of the patient stabilizing the patient against inadvertent lateral movement.
20 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
placing the patient in the head down Trendelenburg position; and
fastening shoulder straps that extend from a region near the head end portion of the underbody support over the shoulders of the patient to a central portion of the underbody support or the surgical table when the patient is in the head down Trendelenburg position to secure the patient to the surgical table.