US5287577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and methods for elevating a patient to facilitate X-ray photography
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-01-11
•
Granted: 1994-02-22
•
Expires: 2013-01-11
Abstract
Abstract An inflatable bladder is formed of translucent material and includes a plurality of longitudinally extending tubes seamed one to the other in side-by-side generally parallel relation. End tubes extend at right angles to the longitudinally extending tubes, with all of the tubes being in fluid communication one with the other. The longitudinally extending tubes and the end tubes are sized and/or connected one to the other such that, upon inflation, the inflated bladder is supported by the inflated end tubes, with the underside of the longitudinally extending tubes elevated above the surface supporting the end tubes sufficiently to define a recess for receiving an X-ray plate or cassette. Manual movement of the patient is entirely avoided.
Inventors
- 👤 Ross L. Bremer
- 👤 David A. Clayman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G7/00; A61G7/10; A61G7/1013; A61G7/1021; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/04; A61B6/0485; A61G13/00; A61G13/10; A61G13/12; A61G13/1205; A61G13/1225; A61G7/1001; A61G7/1009; G; G03; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/02; G03B42/025; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61G13/126; A61G13/1265; A61G2200/00; A61G2200/30; A61G2200/32; A61G2210/00; A61G2210/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
Inflatable apparatus for elevating a patient from a surface sufficiently to insert an X-ray plate under the patient, comprising: a plurality of generally parallel, longitudinally extending inflatable tubes disposed in side-by-side relation relative to one another; a pair of inflatable end tubes at the respective opposite ends of said plurality of tubes and extending laterally thereof, said end tubes having a shape, when inflated, such that portions of said end tubes lie below the undersides of said plurality of tubes to define a recess between said end tubes, the undersides of said plurality of tubes and the surface accessible from at least one side of said apparatus and sufficient in size to receive an X-ray plate; and means for inflating said tubes, said tubes being formed of a radiolucent material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
Inflatable apparatus for elevating a patient from a surface sufficiently to insert an X-ray plate under the patient, comprising: a plurality of generally parallel, longitudinally extending inflatable tubes disposed in side-by-side relation relative to one another; a pair of inflatable end tubes at the respective opposite ends of said plurality of tubes and extending laterally thereof, said end tubes having a shape, when inflated, such that portions of said end tubes lie below the undersides of said plurality of tubes to define a recess between said end tubes, the undersides of said plurality of tubes and the surface accessible from at least one side of said apparatus and sufficient in size to receive an X-ray plate; and means for inflating said tubes, said tubes being formed of a radiolucent material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said recess is accessible through a side of said apparatus opposite said one side.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said recess has dimensions at least as great as 1×17×20 inches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inflating means comprises an air inflation valve carried by one of said tubes and means affording fluid communication between said tubes and said valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal and transversely extending tubes have diameters of about four and six inches, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said recess has dimensions at least as great as 1"×17"×20", said inflating means comprising an air inflation valve carried by one of said tubes and means affording fluid communication between said tubes and said valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said recess is accessible through a side of said apparatus opposite said one side.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said longitudinal and transversely extending tubes have diameters of about four and six inches, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inflating means includes a foot-operated pump for manually inflating said tubes.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of elevating a patient from a surface without manually lifting the patient to locate an X-ray plate under the patient, comprising the steps of: locating an inflatable mat on the surface, said mat having inflatable longitudinally extending side-by-side generally parallel tubes and inflatable end tubes extending generally perpendicular to said longitudinally extending tubes; placing a patient above the uninflated mat; inflating the mat to elevate the patient relative to said surface including inflating the end tubes to elevate the longitudinally extending tubes above the surface to define a recess below the longitudinally extending tubes between said longitudinally extending tubes and the surface accessible from one side of said mat; and inserting an X-ray plate into said recess for taking an X-ray picture.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of elevating a patient from a surface without manually lifting the patient to locate an X-ray plate under the patient, comprising the steps of: locating an inflatable mat on the surface, said mat having inflatable longitudinally extending side-by-side generally parallel tubes and inflatable end tubes extending generally perpendicular to said longitudinally extending tubes; placing a patient above the uninflated mat; inflating the mat to elevate the patient relative to said surface including inflating the end tubes to elevate the longitudinally extending tubes above the surface to define a recess below the longitudinally extending tubes between said longitudinally extending tubes and the surface accessible from one side of said mat; and inserting an X-ray plate into said recess for taking an X-ray picture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 10 including the steps of, after inserting the X-ray plate, obtaining an X-ray picture of the patient and deflating said mat.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the step of inflating includes manually operating a pump.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the step of inflating includes manually operating a foot pump for pumping air into said mat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1998061A
Cited
US2099977A
Cited
US2324619A
Cited
US2521530A
Cited
US3026541A
Cited
US3740777A
Cited
US3644949A
Cited
US3757366A
Cited
US3729749A
Cited
US3935604A
Cited
US4024861A
Cited
US4207633A
Cited
US4223474A
Cited
US4466145A
Cited
US4873710A
Cited
US5016268A
Cited
US5085214A
Cited
US5113875A
Cited
US5166968A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-21 | 1997-08-23 | 1998-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-21 | 2001-08-23 | 2002-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-21 | 2005-08-23 | 2006-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |