US3851644A — Method and apparatus for rapidly immobilizing a p…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 171 words

A patient immobilization apparatus for immobilizing a patient, comprising: a. a patient positioner for supporting a patient; b. a flexible member composed of an air impervious Material extending over and peripherally from at least part of said positioner to cover at least part of a patient''s body including the head and defining an evacuable region substantially sealed from atmosphere surrounding the apparatus, said region bounded by at least part of a patient''s body, said member and at least part of said positioner and extending about a patient''s head; c. evacuation means for partially evacuating said region to establish a pressure differential between atmosphere surrounding the apparatus and said region, said pressure differential providing differential pressure forces exerted on at least part of the patient''s body via said member for holding a patient against said positioner; d. face mask means for maintaining said member spaced from at least part of a patient''s face and for enabling a patient to breath air in said region while being held in place against said positioner.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 171 words

A patient immobilization apparatus for immobilizing a patient, comprising: a. a patient positioner for supporting a patient; b. a flexible member composed of an air impervious Material extending over and peripherally from at least part of said positioner to cover at least part of a patient''s body including the head and defining an evacuable region substantially sealed from atmosphere surrounding the apparatus, said region bounded by at least part of a patient''s body, said member and at least part of said positioner and extending about a patient''s head; c. evacuation means for partially evacuating said region to establish a pressure differential between atmosphere surrounding the apparatus and said region, said pressure differential providing differential pressure forces exerted on at least part of the patient''s body via said member for holding a patient against said positioner; d. face mask means for maintaining said member spaced from at least part of a patient''s face and for enabling a patient to breath air in said region while being held in place against said positioner.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said face mask means and said member comprise materials which are at least partially transparent to enable a patient to see and be seen therethrough.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said face mask means is supported for pivotal movement with respect to said positioner between a first position wherein a patient is positioned with respect to said positioner and a second position wherein said face mask means is pivoted into its operative relationship with a patient''s head.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 49 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said positioner comprises an elongated patient engaging platform and said face mask means comprises a mask member carried by said platform near one end thereof, said face mask means further including head engaging means to assist in supporting and immobilizing the patient''s head.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said positioner is provided with a positioner surface defining a plurality of perforations communicating said region to said evacuation means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said positioner surface is defined on a positioner member and said perforations comprise an array of apertures extending through said positioning member, the aperture ends opening through said surface being of lesser area than the opposite end openings thereof.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said apertures define first portions extending from said surface which are of a relatively constant area and second portions which increase in area proceeding away from said first portions.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second portions each comprise a segment of a downwardly opening truncated ellipsoid.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 154 words

A patient immobilization apparatus comprising: a. a patient support for a patient, the patient support including a portion for engaging a patient''s head; b. a face mask movably connected to said patient support for movement between a retracted position spaced from said head engaging portion and an operational position overlying said head engaging portion; c. a flexible member composed of an air impervious material extending over and peripherally from at least part of said patient support to cover the patient''s body and said face mask to define an evacuable space between said member, at least portions of said support, a patient''s body and between said face mask and said head engaging portion; and, d. evacuation means for partially evacuating said space so as to establish pressure differential forces that collapse said member against a patient and hold a patient against said support, said face mask preventing the member from collapsing about a patient''s head.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 154 words

A patient immobilization apparatus comprising: a. a patient support for a patient, the patient support including a portion for engaging a patient''s head; b. a face mask movably connected to said patient support for movement between a retracted position spaced from said head engaging portion and an operational position overlying said head engaging portion; c. a flexible member composed of an air impervious material extending over and peripherally from at least part of said patient support to cover the patient''s body and said face mask to define an evacuable space between said member, at least portions of said support, a patient''s body and between said face mask and said head engaging portion; and, d. evacuation means for partially evacuating said space so as to establish pressure differential forces that collapse said member against a patient and hold a patient against said support, said face mask preventing the member from collapsing about a patient''s head.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said face mask and said member comprise materials which are at least partially transparent to enable the patient to see and be seen therethrough.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising structure supporting said face mask for pivotal movement between said positions.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said face mask includes a head engaging element to assist in the support and immobilization of a patient''s head.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 151 words

A method of immobilizing a patient, comprising the steps of: a. positioning a patient in engagement with a positioning surface; b. positioning a shield adjacent at least a portion of the patient''s face including at least one of the patient''s breathing passages; c. positioning a flexible member composed of an air impervious material over at least a portion of the patient''s body including the patient''s head and the shield to define an evacuable region between the surface and the member with the patient and shield positioned therein; d. partially evacuating the region to establish pressure differential forces that collapse the member against the patient and urge the patient against the surface; and, e. maintaining said portion of a patient''s face in communication with said region by preventing the member from collapsing into engagement with said portion of the patient''s face whereby a patient''s breathing is uninterrupted when said member is collapsed.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 151 words

A method of immobilizing a patient, comprising the steps of: a. positioning a patient in engagement with a positioning surface; b. positioning a shield adjacent at least a portion of the patient''s face including at least one of the patient''s breathing passages; c. positioning a flexible member composed of an air impervious material over at least a portion of the patient''s body including the patient''s head and the shield to define an evacuable region between the surface and the member with the patient and shield positioned therein; d. partially evacuating the region to establish pressure differential forces that collapse the member against the patient and urge the patient against the surface; and, e. maintaining said portion of a patient''s face in communication with said region by preventing the member from collapsing into engagement with said portion of the patient''s face whereby a patient''s breathing is uninterrupted when said member is collapsed.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 13 wherein the patient is maintained within the view of the person operating the immobilization apparatus by using a shield and a member, both of which permit the patient to see and be seen therethrough.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 13 additionally including the step of holding the patient in a desired position as the region is being initially partially evacuated, whereby the patient will be immobilized in the desired position.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method of claim 13 additionally including the step of positioning at least one patient engaging support structure between said surface and said member prior to evacuating said region to aid in holding the patient in a desired immobilized position whereby said pressure differential forces additionally serve to clamp said patient engaging support structure in place on said surface.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 224 words

Immobilization apparatus for an animate, breathing subject comprising: a. a subject support defining a subject engaging surface portion; b. cover means positioned with respect to said subject support to partially extend about a first body portion of a subject engaging said surface portion to provide a first region bounded at least in part by said cover means and said support and in which the subject may breathe; c. a flexible member composed of a substantially gas impervious material extending over and peripherally from at least part of said subject support to cover at least a second body portion of the subject to define a second region bounded at least in part by said member, said support and the subject; and, d. pressure differential creating means effective to create a pressure differential between said first and second regions and atmosphere surrounding said apparatus, the pressure in said regions being of lesser magnitude than the pressure of the atmosphere surrounding the apparatus, said pressure differential creating means effective to establish differential pressure forces for collapsing said member against the subject and urging the subject against said support surface while urging at least portions of said member into sealing engagement with said support; e. said differential pressure forces applied to said cover means to maintain said structure in position with respect to said support and said subject.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 224 words

Immobilization apparatus for an animate, breathing subject comprising: a. a subject support defining a subject engaging surface portion; b. cover means positioned with respect to said subject support to partially extend about a first body portion of a subject engaging said surface portion to provide a first region bounded at least in part by said cover means and said support and in which the subject may breathe; c. a flexible member composed of a substantially gas impervious material extending over and peripherally from at least part of said subject support to cover at least a second body portion of the subject to define a second region bounded at least in part by said member, said support and the subject; and, d. pressure differential creating means effective to create a pressure differential between said first and second regions and atmosphere surrounding said apparatus, the pressure in said regions being of lesser magnitude than the pressure of the atmosphere surrounding the apparatus, said pressure differential creating means effective to establish differential pressure forces for collapsing said member against the subject and urging the subject against said support surface while urging at least portions of said member into sealing engagement with said support; e. said differential pressure forces applied to said cover means to maintain said structure in position with respect to said support and said subject.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus claimed in claim 17 wherein said cover means comprises a subject engaging element in said first region, said element effective to transmit at least a portion of the pressure force applied to said structure to the subject for urging the engaged portion of the subject in the direction of the support.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus claimed in claim 17 wherein said member covers said cover means and extends peripherally from said cover means into sealing engagement with said subject support, said member effective to substantially prevent communication between the atmosphere surrounding the apparatus and said first region.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus claiMed in claim 17 further including cover means supporting means supporting said structure for movement between its operative position establishing said first region and a second position wherein a subject is positionable on said support surface without interference with said structure.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 257 words

A method of immobilizing a breathing animate subject comprising: a. positioning a subject against a subject support; b. providing a first region extending about a body portion of the subject and in which the subject can breathe, said region defining a boundary which is spaced from said subject body portion to enable unobstructed breathing; c. providing a second region bounded by at least a second body portion of the subject, a flexible member composed of substantially gas impervious material extending peripherally from at least said second body portion to the subject support, and the subject support; d. substantially preventing communication of air between the first and second regions and the surrounding air; e. creating a pressure differential between the first and second regions and the surrounding air with the magnitude of the pressure in said first region and said second region being less than the magnitude of the surrounding air pressure; f. establishing a first differential pressure force resulting from the differential pressure between said first region and the surrounding air, said first pressure force at least partly transmitted to a predetermined location of the first subject body portion to urge the first body portion toward the support while maintaining the first region boundary spaced from the first subject body portion to enable unobstructed breathing in said first region; and, g. establishing a second differential pressure force resulting from the pressure differential between said second region and the surrounding air, said second pressure force applied to said second subject portion for urging said subject against said support.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 257 words

A method of immobilizing a breathing animate subject comprising: a. positioning a subject against a subject support; b. providing a first region extending about a body portion of the subject and in which the subject can breathe, said region defining a boundary which is spaced from said subject body portion to enable unobstructed breathing; c. providing a second region bounded by at least a second body portion of the subject, a flexible member composed of substantially gas impervious material extending peripherally from at least said second body portion to the subject support, and the subject support; d. substantially preventing communication of air between the first and second regions and the surrounding air; e. creating a pressure differential between the first and second regions and the surrounding air with the magnitude of the pressure in said first region and said second region being less than the magnitude of the surrounding air pressure; f. establishing a first differential pressure force resulting from the differential pressure between said first region and the surrounding air, said first pressure force at least partly transmitted to a predetermined location of the first subject body portion to urge the first body portion toward the support while maintaining the first region boundary spaced from the first subject body portion to enable unobstructed breathing in said first region; and, g. establishing a second differential pressure force resulting from the pressure differential between said second region and the surrounding air, said second pressure force applied to said second subject portion for urging said subject against said support.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method claimed in claim 21 wherein said first region boundary is defined in part by said flexible member and a member support structure, and further comprising preventing said member from collapsing against said first subject portion to enable continued breathing by said subject while being urged against said subject support.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-12-02	1978-06-03	1978-12-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-12-02	1982-06-03	1982-12-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-12-02	1986-06-03	1986-12-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for rapidly immobilizing a patient

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