US3941365A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Support and manipulation table for spinal examination and experimentation
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-03-29
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Granted: 1976-03-02
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Expires: 1994-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A table is shown suitable for use in supporting, manipulating and positioning human bodies or cadavers during examination, diagnosis and experimentation involving the spine. A pelvic support and a thoracic support are separately slidably mounted on a frame base table. Each support is provided with positioning rods which may be placed in predrilled holes in the pelvic and thoracic regions respectively. The positioning rods are pivoted for rotation so that the cadaver's spine may be controllably and adjustably positioned to simulate forward bending motion of the spine. The thoracic support is pivoted along two axes to provide lateral bending and rotation adjustments. Sensitive plates are positioned below and to the side of the cadaver for sequential radiographic analysis of the spinal region between the positioning rods during various postures controlled by adjustment of the rods and supports. Suitable indexing and locking mechanisms are provided so that a series of sequential positions may be examined.
Inventors
- 👤 Willard W. Frymoyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G13/00; A61G2210/00; A61G2210/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A support table for use in supporting, positioning and manipulating a body during examination of the spinal regions of said body by means of radiographic examination equipment and the like, comprising: a rigid base having an elongate runway system thereon; a pelvic support for supporting the pelvic regions of the body, said support being slidably mounted on said rigid base for motion along said runway system; a thoracic support for supporting the thoracic regions of the body so that a portion of the spinal region of said body between said supports is easily accessible for examination purposes, said thoracic support being slidably mounted on said rigid base for independent motion along said runway system in the same manner as said pelvic support; releasable locking means for securing said thoracic support to said pelvic support to control relative motion therebetween so that said portion of said spinal region may be subjected to axial compression or elongation forces; and indexing means mounted to said base table for moving at least one of said supports so that said spinal region may be accurately and repeatably indexed and positioned along said runway system with respect to a fixed point on said runway system related to said examination equipment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
A support table for use in supporting, positioning and manipulating a body during examination of the spinal regions of said body by means of radiographic examination equipment and the like, comprising: a rigid base having an elongate runway system thereon; a pelvic support for supporting the pelvic regions of the body, said support being slidably mounted on said rigid base for motion along said runway system; a thoracic support for supporting the thoracic regions of the body so that a portion of the spinal region of said body between said supports is easily accessible for examination purposes, said thoracic support being slidably mounted on said rigid base for independent motion along said runway system in the same manner as said pelvic support; releasable locking means for securing said thoracic support to said pelvic support to control relative motion therebetween so that said portion of said spinal region may be subjected to axial compression or elongation forces; and indexing means mounted to said base table for moving at least one of said supports so that said spinal region may be accurately and repeatably indexed and positioned along said runway system with respect to a fixed point on said runway system related to said examination equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
A support table as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a rotatable lateral bending plate assembly positioned upon one of said supports for bearing a portion of the weight of said body; and adjustable pivot point means connecting said bending plate assembly to said one of said supports to provide a pivot point for rotation of said lateral bending plate assembly, with respect to said one of said supports, said pivot point being positionable along the spine of said body to adjust for the size of said body so that rotation about said point will provide controllable and lifelike lateral bending motion of said body while exposing said spinal region to said examination equipment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
A support table as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a rotatable cradle plate assembly positioned above one of said supports having a surface for bearing a portion of the weight of said body, and axial rotation means for providing a first axis of rotation for said cradle plate assembly, with respect to the other of said supports, said axis being positioned above said weight bearing surface to correspond with the approximate anatonical axis of said spine so that rotation of said cradle plate assembly about said first axis will provide controllable and lifelike axial twisting of the spinal region of said body while exposing said spinal region to said examination equipment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
A support table as claimed in claim 3, wherein said axial rotation means comprises: a first pivot point above said weight bearing surface along said first axis of rotation, said first pivot point being positioned at the extreme end of said one of said supports so that said body may be positioned up on said weight bearing surface free of interference from said first pivot point, and second pivot point means beneath said weight bearing surface for providing a phantom pivot point along said first axis, said second pivot point means being disposed toward the center of said weight bearing surface so that said body may be positioned upon said weight bearing surface free of interference from said second pivot point means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A support table as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: twisting means associated with at least one of said supports for rotating the portion of said body positioned on said support about a second axis perpendicular to said spine at a fixed distance above said support so that rotation about said second axis will provide controllable and lifelike forward bending motion of said body while exposing said spinal region to said examination equipment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A support table as claimed in claim 5, wherein said twisting means comprises: a pair of threaded rod members for side by side insertion into the body parallel to said second axis of rotation; end plate means for securing said rod members into fixed relationship with each other; and means for rotating said end plate means about said second axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A support table as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: second twisting means associated with the other of said supports for rotating the portion of said body positioned on said other support about a third axis parallel to said second axis so that rotation about said third axis will provide additional forward bending motion of said body while exposing said spinal region to said examination equipment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A support table as claimed in claim 7, wherein said twisting means further includes: means for adjusting the vertical location of said pair of rod members so that said members may be inserted in any convenient location in the body while retaining the fixed vertical distance of the axis of rotation above the support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A support table as claimed in claim 8, wherein said third axis is located at the same fixed distance above the supports as the second axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A support table as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second and third axes are positioned above said supports to correspond with the approximate center of said spine.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-02 | 1979-09-01 | 1980-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-02 | 1983-09-01 | 1984-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-02 | 1987-09-01 | 1988-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |