Surgical table

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/592,692, filed on Jun. 13, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,334, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/188,785, filed on Nov. 6, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,284, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/064,709 filed Nov. 7, 1997 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/101,585 filed Sep. 24, 1998, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an operating room or surgical table. More particularly, the present invention relates to a surgical table including a mattress having a plurality of inflatable bladders for supporting a patient and a power pack configured to supply air to the bladders.

Operating room tables are long known in the health care industry for supporting patients during surgical procedures. In recent years, surgical tables have been made even more useful and convenient for doctors and nurses by adding various features and options, such as powered articulation of head, torso, and leg sections of the surgical table, height adjustment, tilt adjustment, trend adjustment, etc. While these features and options give doctors great flexibility for supporting patients in a variety of positions that are best suited for a given surgical procedure, they also may become more difficult and frustrating to use. In addition, surgical tables having numerous control features often require separate power packs for supplying the necessary power for moving the table to different positions. Furthermore, mattress surface systems have likewise become more technically sophisticated which frequently makes them more cumbersome and frustrating to use.

According to one illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a surgical table includes a base, a vertical support member extending vertically upwardly from the base, a frame extending outwardly from the support member, and a mattress supported by the frame and positioned to lie above the frame. The mattress is configured to support a patient and has at least one bladder configured to receive a medium. The surgical table also includes a power pack positioned to lie within the base and configured to supply the medium to the mattress to change the shape of the mattress.

In one illustrated embodiment, the medium supplied by the power pack to the mattress is air. In another illustrated embodiment, the medium supplied by the power pack to the mattress is a liquid. The power pack is further configured to supply heat to the mattress to change the temperature of the mattress. Illustratively, a flexible hose extends from the power pack to the mattress for delivery of the medium from the power pack to the mattress. The hose is concealed within the base and the vertical support member of the frame.

According to another illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a surgical table includes a base, a frame positioned in spaced-apart relation to the base, and a vertical support member interconnecting the frame and the base. The support member is configured to telescope vertically to position the frame at a variety of different heights relative to the base. The surgical table also includes a mattress positioned to lie above the frame and configured to support a patient. The mattress includes a cover having an upwardly-facing patient-support surface and defining an interior region of the mattress and a plurality of bladders received in the interior region of the cover and configured to be inflatable to position the patient in a predefined surgical position on the mattress. The surgical table further includes a blower positioned to lie within the base of the frame and configured to supply air to the bladders to inflate the bladders.

According to yet another illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a surgical table includes a frame having a patient-support platform and a mattress positioned to lie on the patient-support platform. The mattress is configured to support a patient during a surgical procedure. The mattress includes a cover having an upwardly-facing patient-support surface and defining an interior region of the mattress and a plurality of bladder pairs received in the interior region of the cover and extending laterally across the mattress. The bladder pairs are positioned to lie adjacent to one another and each bladder pair has a bottom bladder and a top bladder positioned to lie above the bottom bladder. Each bladder within each bladder pair is individually inflatable to position the patient in a predefined surgical position on the mattress.

According to a further illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a surgical table includes a mattress, a patient-support platform positioned below the mattress and configured to support the mattress, a base positioned in spaced-apart relation to the patient-support platform, and a vertical support member interconnecting the base and the patient-support platform. The support member is configured to support the patient-support platform at a variety of different heights relative to the base. The surgical table also includes a power pack positioned to lie within the base and configured to supply a medium to the mattress to change the shape of the mattress to position a patient in a predefined surgical position, and a hose interconnecting the power pack and the mattress. The hose is configured to transfer the medium from the power pack to the mattress. The surgical table further includes a controller positioned in close proximity to the power pack. The controller is configured to control the distribution of the medium from the power pack to the mattress to control the shape of the mattress.

Also according to the present invention, a patient support apparatus includes a base, a frame coupled to the base, and a mattress supported by the frame and positioned to lie above the frame to support a patient. The mattress has at least one bladder configured to receive a medium. The apparatus also includes a power pack pivotably coupled to one of the base, the frame and the mattress and configured to supply the medium to the at least one bladder of the mattress.

In one illustrated embodiment, the power pack is pivotably coupled to the frame by a pivot connector. The power pack is configured to supply the medium to the at least one bladder of the mattress through the pivot connector. The illustrated pivot connector includes a receptacle configured to receive an air coupling of the air mattress to supply air from the power pack through the air coupling to the at least one bladder. The power pack is pivotable from a first position in which the power pack is located substantially under the frame to a second position in which the power pack is located substantially outside the frame.

In another illustrated embodiment, the power pack is pivotably coupled to the base. The power pack is pivotable from a first position in which the power pack is located above a top surface of the base and substantially within a footprint of the base to the second position in which the power pack is located substantially outside the footprint of the base.

In yet another illustrated embodiment, the power pack is tethered to the mattress. The mattress includes a tether connector coupled to the mattress and the power pack. The tether connector extends between adjacent deck sections so that the power pack is positioned below the deck sections and the frame when the mattress is located on the deck sections. The power pack is movable relative to the frame and the deck sections to first and second spaced apart storage positions.

Additional features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the presently perceived best mode of carrying out the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a surgical table of the present invention being used in an operating room environment showing a patient lying on the surgical table, a pair of surgeons operating on the patient, a first nurse sitting at a central control station configured to control the lighting, the surgical table, and other operating room equipment, and a second nurse (shown in phantom) holding a remote controller;

FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the surgical table of

FIG. 1

showing the surgical table including a base, a vertical support member (or pedestal) extending upwardly from the base, and an articulated frame extending outwardly from the support member and showing a mattress positioned to lie on the frame and configured to support a patient during a surgical procedure;

FIG. 3

is a perspective view of the surgical table of

FIG. 1

showing the base being formed to include an opening for receiving a power pack;

FIG. 4

is a perspective view of the support surface of

FIG. 3

with the base and the pedestal removed to show the power pack being plugged into a first connector, a power supply line, and a flexible air/fluid/power handling line (or hose) being coupled to the first connector, the handling line being coiled to extend upwardly through the vertical support member, and a second connector for connecting the second end of the handling line to the mattress;

FIG. 5

is a transparent side elevation view of the surgical table of

FIGS. 1-4

showing the power pack positioned in the base, the handling line extending through the vertical support member and coupled to the mattress, and a patient positioned atop the mattress;

FIG. 6

is a perspective view of a surgical table similar to the surgical tables of

FIGS. 1-5

, showing the surgical table having a larger power pack external to the base and coupled to the base via an umbilical;

FIG. 7

is a perspective view of a surgical table similar to the surgical tables of

FIGS. 1-6

, showing the base being formed to be larger to accommodate an even larger power pack;

FIG. 8

is a side elevation view of a surgical table similar to the surgical table of

FIGS. 1-7

, showing an even larger power pack being located on a cart and coupled to the base via an umbilical, the cart including an IV prewarming system so that the patient support and warming needs for surgery are consolidated within the IV prewarming system;

FIG. 9

is a perspective view of a surgical table similar to the surgical tables of

FIGS. 1-8

, showing the surgical table including a mattress being configured to be inflatable with a liquid or gaseous medium to alter the shape of the mattress so that the patient is positioned in a predefined surgical position;

FIGS. 10-13

illustrate a variety of different surgical positions that can be achieved using the mattress and surgical table of

FIG. 9

;

FIG. 14

is a perspective view of the mattress of

FIGS. 9-13

showing the mattress including a leg section, a torso section, and a head section;

FIG. 15

a

is a side sectional view of the torso section of the mattress of

FIG. 14

showing the mattress having a lower foam mattress structure, high amplitude air bladders positioned atop the foam mattress structure, a Styrofoam bead bag position stabilizer positioned atop the high amplitude air bladders, and a thermal pad positioned atop the Styrofoam bead bag position stabilizer;

FIG. 15

b

is an end sectional view of the torso section of the mattress of

FIG. 14

showing the foam mattress structure being formed to include a pair of flow paths to allow a medium to be supplied from a bottom surface of the mattress through the flow paths in the foam mattress structure so that the air bladders can be inflated and/or deflated:

FIG. 16

is a perspective view of the mattress of

FIG. 14

showing each section of the mattress having a plurality of different zones that can be individually inflated or deflated;

FIG. 17

is a side elevation view of a patient being positioned atop the mattress of

FIGS. 9-16

, showing the mattress being used to position the patient in a predefined surgical position;

FIG. 18

is a side view of the air bladders of

FIG. 15

in a deflated state so that the mattress is substantially flat;

FIG. 19

illustrates the air bladders of

FIG. 15

being inflated to change the position of a patient lying atop the mattress;

FIG. 20

is a side view of the mattress of

FIGS. 9-17

, illustrating the mattress conforming to a predetermined shape based on the individual bladders being inflated to certain pressures;

FIG. 21

is a perspective view of the surgical table of

FIGS. 1-20

, showing the articulated deck panel and mattress each being formed to include a separate leg section for each leg of the patient and showing the base having foot controls for vertically adjusting the deck panel of the surgical table and/or articulating various portions of the deck panel and/or inflating various portions of the bladders to position the patient in a surgical procedure position;

FIG. 22

is a perspective view of leg sections similar to the leg sections of

FIG. 21

showing each leg section having multiple zones;

FIG. 23

is an exploded perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a surgical table of the present invention including a frame supporting an articulating deck, air mattress located on the deck, and a power pack including an air supply for the air mattress pivotably coupled to the frame;

FIG. 24

is a perspective view of the surgical table of

FIG. 23

illustrating the air mattress located on the deck and the power pack pivoted outwardly relative to the support frame;

FIG. 25

is a sectional view taken through the frame and deck of

FIG. 24

illustrating further details of a connection of the power pack to the frame;

FIG. 26

is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a patient support frame and deck having air coupling configured to mate with a coupling of an air mattress and a power pack including an air supply for the air mattress and a plurality of valves pivotably coupled to a base of the surgical table;

FIG. 27

is an exploded perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a power pack including an air supply and valves located within an enclosure pivotably coupled to the air mattress; and

FIG. 28

is a side elevational view of the embodiment of

FIG. 27

illustrating positioning of the power pack below the support frame and deck of the surgical table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings, a surgical table

10

according to the present invention is shown in

FIG. 1

as it would normally appear in an operating room

12

. As shown in

FIG. 1

, operating room

12

includes surgical table

10

, a surgical lighting system

14

, a control station

16

, an IV stand

18

, and a medical device controller

19

. As shown in

FIG. 1

, a surgeon

20

and one or more assistants

22

typically perform a procedure on a patient

24

while another caregiver

26

, such as an anesthesiologist or a nurse, controls and monitors operating room equipment, including surgical table

10

, from control station

16

or from a remote location using controller

19

(as shown in phantom).

As shown in

FIGS. 1-8

, surgical table

10

enhances the environment of operating room

12

by preserving space in the operating room

12

. As described in detail below, surgical table

10

preserves space by having a base

32

that allows a power pack

64

to be stored within the base

32

. Thus, the power pack

64

need not be a separate piece of operating room equipment that takes up additional floor space in operating room

12

. Instead, power pack

64

is contained within base

32

of surgical table

10

.

As shown in

FIGS. 9-22

, surgical table

10

also enhances the environment and efficiency of the surgeon

20

working in operating room

12

by having a mattress system

38

that allows the surgeon

20

to position the patient

24

in a predetermined surgical position that corresponds to a particular surgical procedure. Of course, surgical table

10

also includes an articulated frame

30

, as discussed below, which also allows patient

24

to be positioned in a predetermined surgical position. However, the positioning of patient

24

by using mattress system

38

is supplemental to using articulated frame

30

which enables the surgeon

20

to fine-tune the positioning of patient

24

to obtain easier access to certain portions of patient

24

during the operation.

Details of another suitable frame for use with base

32

and/or mattress system

38

are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,230, entitled SURGICAL TABLE APPARATUS, which is incorporated herein by reference. Similarly, details of a controller for mattress system

38

and/or power pack

64

are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,678, entitled MEDICAL EQUIPMENT CONTROLLER, which is also incorporated herein by reference.

As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, table

10

includes articulated frame

30

, base

32

, a pedestal

34

interconnecting articulated frame

30

and base

32

, and a mattress

38

positioned atop articulated frame

30

. Articulated frame

30

includes a head section

42

, an upper back section

44

, a lower back section

46

, a seat section

48

, and at least one leg section

50

, as shown in FIG.

2

. Sections of frame

30

are coupled to longitudinally adjacent sections via pivots so that adjacent sections can be rotated with respect to each other by motors (not shown). Thus, table

10

is configured to receive control signals from control station

16

and/or controller

19

to move sections of articulated frame

30

so that patient

24

can be positioned in a predetermined surgical position as shown in FIG.

1

.

Pedestal (or vertical support column)

34

is similarly adjustable to position patient

24

in a predetermined position. Pedestal

34

includes a hi/low mechanism (not shown) for moving the telescoping pedestal

34

upwardly and downwardly to raise and lower the articulated frame

30

relative to the base

32

and the ground. Adjustment of vertical support pedestal

34

can also be controlled by control station

16

and/or controller

19

to position frame surgical table

10

at a predetermined height relative to the ground.

As shown in

FIG. 3

, base

32

includes a removable access cover

56

that, when removed, reveals an interior region

66

of base

32

. The interior region

66

of base

32

is sized to allow a power pack

64

and a first connector

58

to fit comfortably within the interior region

66

of base

32

. Power pack

64

is configured to be coupled to first connector

58

and then located within an interior region

66

of base

32

so that when access cover

56

is reinstalled onto base

32

, power pack

64

and connector

58

are concealed within interior region

66

of base

32

.

Power pack

64

is configured to provide power and/or a medium (not shown) to mattress

38

through a delivery line

60

, as shown diagrammatically in

FIGS. 4 and 5

. As shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

, a first end of delivery line

60

is coupled to first connector

58

and a second end of delivery line

60

is coupled to a second connector

62

. The delivery line

60

extends longitudinally through base

32

and vertically upwardly through pedestal

34

towards mattress

38

. The second connector

62

is configured to mate with a third connector

63

integrally coupled to mattress

38

. The connectors

58

,

62

,

63

and delivery line

60

allow power pack

64

to deliver the power and/or medium to mattress

38

in a concealed manner through base

32

and pedestal

34

. In other words, all hoses, wiring, pumps, and fluid supply units are completely concealed within the base

38

and telescoping pedestal

34

. In addition, in the embodiment of

FIGS. 1-5

, the power pack

64

is located within a footprint defined by the base

18

and the footprint of the base is sized to be narrower and shorter than a footprint of the frame

30

.

Illustratively, power pack

64

includes a controller, a fluid pump, such as a blower, compressor, or liquid pump, and a heating unit for heating the air or fluid. Alternatively, mattress

38

may be supplied with a heating system powered by electricity from power pack

64

. The power pack

64

may include battery power or it may be coupled to a wall outlet using a power cord

68

, as shown in FIG.

4

. Power pack

64

further includes control valves for controlling fluid flow to the various zones of mattress

38

and a processor for controlling operation of the device based on input signals from an operator

26

using control station

16

and/or remote controller

19

.

Larger power packs may be required for certain types of mattress systems

38

, as shown in

FIGS. 6-8

. These power packs may be too large to fit into the interior region

66

of base

32

and are therefor positioned external to base

32

.

FIG. 6

illustrates one example of an external power pack

70

tethered to the base

32

by an umbilical connection

72

. The umbilical connection

72

is made at the floor level into the base

32

of the table

10

. All other lines and hoses are concealed within the table

10

as discussed above. Power pack

70

may sit on the floor adjacent the table

10

. In addition, the power pack

70

may be mounted to an IV pole or stand, or integrated or contained in another piece of equipment such as an anesthesiology machine cart.

An even larger power pack

74

may be integrated with the base

32

, as shown in FIG.

7

. In this case, a base extension

76

is used to provide a larger footprint that covers a larger area than the original footprint of the base

32

. The base extension

76

allows the larger power pack

74

to be coupled to the base

32

at the location where the access cover

56

was originally located.

If an even larger power pack

78

is required, the power pack

78

may be located on a cart

80

, as shown in FIG.

8

. Again, the power pack

78

is tethered to the base

32

by an umbilical connection

72

. In this embodiment, IV lines

82

may be prewarmed by the same cart

80

that contains the power pack

78

. This consolidates the patient support and warming needs for surgery in one space-efficient package.

Mattress

38

for use with table

10

is shown in

FIGS. 9-22

. Mattress

38

allows patient

24

to be positioned in a variety of predetermined surgical positions as shown in

FIGS. 9-13

. Mattress

38

allows patient

24

to be positioned in a surgical position and/or moved from one surgical position without changing the positioning of articulated frame

30

. Thus, mattress

38

acts as an independent patient-positioning device so that various surgical positions can be achieved even for surgical tables having only a flat patient-support platform or for tables having very limited articulation capabilities, such as the patient-support platforms shown in

FIGS. 10-13

. Mattress

38

also allows the positioning of patient

24

to be fine-tuned when, for example, articulated frame

30

is incapable of the precise positioning required for a particular surgical procedure. Thus, mattress

38

can be used for any surgical table to enhance the patient-positioning capabilities of the particular table.

As shown in

FIG. 9

, mattress

38

is configured to be coupled to a control apparatus

86

using a tube

88

so that control apparatus

86

can supply a medium (not shown) to mattress

38

. The medium supplied by control apparatus

86

to mattress

38

allows mattress

38

to be inflated or deflated to position patient

24

in the desired surgical position. Control apparatus

86

may be controlled by using an input device

87

mounted on control apparatus

86

and/or control station

16

and/or controller

19

.

A variety of different surgical positions can be achieved by inflating or deflating certain portions of mattress

38

. For example, as shown in

FIG. 9

, portions of mattress

38

can be inflated so that mattress

38

pushes upwardly on the back of the knees and back of the neck of patient

24

with the remainder of patient

24

remaining substantially flat on mattress

38

. Similarly, as shown in

FIG. 10

, a portion of mattress

38

can be deflated to allow the face of patient

24

to fit within an opening in mattress

38

created by the deflation of a portion of mattress

38

when patient

24

is lying face down on mattress

38

. As shown in

FIG. 11

, the chest and legs of patient

24

can also be raised by inflating portions of mattress

38

. As shown in

FIG. 12

, a portion of mattress

38

can also be inflated when a leg portion of a surgical table is raised so that the legs of patient

24

are fine-tuned into position while simultaneously inflating and another portion of mattress

24

to raise the posterior of patient

24

. In addition, as shown in

FIG. 13

, a portion of mattress

24

can be inflated to raise the hips of patient

24

. Although

FIGS. 9-13

illustrate a few examples of the capabilities of mattress

38

for positioning a patient in a predetermined surgical position, it is understood that, as described below, mattress

38

can be used to position a patient in virtually an infinite number of positions.

Mattress

38

is shown in more detail in FIG.

14

. As shown in

FIG. 14

, mattress

38

includes a head section

90

, a torso section

96

, and a leg section

98

. Although not shown in

FIGS. 1-13

, the head section

90

of mattress

38

may also include an outer head section

92

and an inner head section

94

, as shown in FIG.

14

. Each section is coupled to its adjacent section using a connector

100

, as shown in

FIGS. 4 and 14

, to allow the medium supplied by control apparatus

86

to be transmitted to the appropriate section of mattress

38

.

As shown in

FIGS. 14 and 15

, each section of mattress

38

includes an outer cover

110

defining an interior region

112

of the respective section. The outer cover

110

of each section of mattress

38

includes a top surface

114

, a bottom surface

116

, and a perimeter surface

118

interconnecting the top and bottom surfaces

114

,

116

. The top surface

114

of outer cover

110

is configured to provide a patient-support platform for receiving patient

24

. The bottom surface

116

of outer cover

110

is configured to lie on frame

30

.

Each portion of mattress

38

also includes a foam mattress structure

120

, a plurality of air bladders

122

, a bead bag position stabilizer

124

, and a thermal pad

126

configured to lie within the interior region

112

of the respective section of mattress

38

, as shown in FIG.

15

. Foam mattress structure

120

is positioned adjacent to the bottom surface

116

of outer cover

110

so that air bladders

122

can be positioned above foam mattress structure

120

within interior region

112

of outer cover

110

. As shown in

FIG. 15

b

, foam mattress structure

120

is formed to include a pair of flow paths

130

to allow the medium supplied by control apparatus

86

to pass through foam mattress structure

120

to air bladders

122

. Illustratively, foam mattress structure

120

is made from a Styrofoam material, although a wide variety of different materials may also be used.

Air bladders

122

are illustratively positioned on top of foam mattress structure

120

and extend transversely across mattress

38

, as shown in

FIGS. 14 and 15

. As described below, air bladders

122

are configured to be inflated and/or deflated by the medium supplied by control apparatus

86

to position patient

24

in a desired surgical position.

Bead bag position stabilizer

124

is positioned above air bladders

122

and is configured to freeze the air bladders

122

in the desired surgical position. Details of a suitable bead bag position stabilizer and suitable air bladders for use with mattress system

38

are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,763, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Thermal pad

126

is positioned above air bladders

122

so that thermal pad

126

is positioned adjacent to top surface

114

of outer cover

110

. Thermal pad

126

is configured to provide heat to patient

24

lying on top of mattress

38

. Thermal pad

126

can be any type of heating device that provides heat to patient

24

. Illustratively, thermal pad

126

is made from a conductive thermal material (such as Gorix™) which provides uniform heat across the material when low-voltage electricity is supplied to the material.

As shown in

FIGS. 16 and 17

, each section of mattress

38

can be formed to include a plurality of zones to provide better patient-positioning control for mattress

38

. Illustratively, as shown in

FIG. 16

, leg section

98

of mattress

38

may be formed to include a foot zone

140

, a calf zone

142

, a knee zone

144

, and a thigh zone

146

. Torso section

96

of mattress

38

may be formed to include a seat zone

150

, a lower lumbar zone

152

, an upper lumbar zone

154

, a lower back zone

156

, and an upper back zone

158

. In addition head section

90

, torso section

96

, and leg section

98

may each be formed to include a plurality of lateral zones

160

. As shown in

FIG. 17

, by using various zones to position patient

24

on surgical table

10

, patient

24

can be positioned in a variety of positions to allow greater flexibility to surgeons to fine-tune the positioning of the patient

24

.

Air bladders

122

are shown in more detail in

FIGS. 18-20

. As shown in

FIGS. 18-20

, air bladders

122

are preferably positioned in pairs so that, in the bladder pair, one air bladder is positioned to lie below the other bladder. Each bladder pair is positioned next to another bladder pair within the interior region

112

of outer cover

110

so that each bladder pair abuts another bladder pair within outer cover

110

and the bladder pairs on the ends of the respective section of mattress

38

abut the perimeter surface

188

of outer cover

110

. Bladders

122

are preferably configured to extend transversely across mattress

38

so that patient

24

can be positioned as shown in FIG.

17

. However, bladders

122

can be configured to extend longitudinally across mattress

38

or in a variety of other positions relative to mattress

38

.

As shown in

FIG. 19

, the shape of bladders

122

change as medium from control apparatus

86

is supplied to the bladders

122

. For example, the bladders

122

shown in FIG.

18

and on the left side of

FIG. 19

are bladders that have not been supplied with a medium (such as air or liquid) so that these bladders

122

are flat and uninflated. However, moving from left to right in

FIG. 19

shows bladders

122

that are progressively more inflated with the medium. Thus, bladders

122

on the far right side of

FIG. 19

are fully inflated, while bladders in the middle of

FIG. 19

are only partially inflated. As shown in

FIG. 19

, both air bladders

122

in a given bladder pair are inflated at the same time using the same air-supply line. This allows both bladders

122

within the bladder pair to be similarly sized and shaped before, during, and after the inflating/deflating process.

As shown in

FIG. 20

, bladders

122

in each section of mattress

38

can be used to adjust the shape of mattress

38

even if the section of mattress

38

does not include separate zones. Although bladders

122

are described herein as air bladders, it is understood that any bladder configured to receive a medium (liquid, solid, or gas) to change the shape of the mattress can be used. In addition, although bladders

122

are shown to be circular in shape, it is understood that any shape bladder, including oval, rectangular, square, triangle, etc., may be used.

As shown in

FIGS. 21 and 22

, leg section

50

of frame

30

of surgical table

10

may include a first leg section

240

and a second leg section

242

. First and second leg sections

240

,

242

allow each leg of patient

24

to be individually positioned. When this type of configuration is used, leg section

98

of mattress

38

is also formed to include a first leg section

250

and a second leg section

252

. Each leg section

250

,

252

illustratively includes a foot zone

260

, an calf zone

262

, a knee zone

264

, a thigh zone

266

, and a plurality of lateral zones

268

, as shown in FIG.

22

. These zones are configured to operate identically to the zones described above to allow a greater range of positioning of patient

24

.

In addition, as shown in

FIG. 21

, table

10

may include a foot controller

219

mounted to base

32

of table

10

. Foot controller

219

is configured to perform the same functions as control station

16

and/or controller

19

, except that foot controller

219

is mounted to the base

32

of surgical table

10

so that a surgeon

20

can control the positioning of table

10

and mattress

38

using foot controller

219

.

In operation, surgical positioning surface (or mattress)

38

is used as follows. First, the frame

30

and/or pedestal

34

of surgical table

10

is adjusted using control station

16

, controller

19

, and/or foot controller

219

to place patient

24

in the best possible position. Controller

16

,

19

, and/or

219

are then used to adjust mattress

38

to fine-tune the positioning of patient

24

on mattress

38

. Illustratively, controllers

16

,

19

,

219

are configured to allow mattress

38

to be automatically adjusted so that air bladders

122

are filled with the medium to fill in the natural gaps between patient

24

and outer cover

110

of mattress

38

. Controllers

16

,

19

,

219

are also configured to allow mattress

38

to be manually adjusted so that each individual bladder pair can be inflated or deflated to enhance the position of patient

24

to improve surgical exposure or access to a particular portion of patient

24

.

The air bladders

122

are then stabilized by evacuating the air from air bladders

122

and using the bead bag position stabilizer

124

to stiffen (or “freeze”) the mattress

38

in the desired position. Finally, the temperature of mattress

38

can be adjusted using controller

16

,

19

, and/or

219

so that control apparatus

86

supplies the necessary signal to thermal pad

126

to change the temperature of thermal pad

126

. For example, when thermal pad

126

is a conductive material (such as Gorix™), control apparatus

86

supplies a voltage signal to thermal pad

126

to change the temperature of thermal pad

126

.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in

FIGS. 23-25

. Surgical table

310

includes a base

312

, a pedestal

314

having a bottom end coupled to the base

312

, and a support frame

316

coupled to a top end of pedestal

314

. Frame

316

includes a head frame section

318

, an upper back frame section

320

, a lower back frame section

322

, a seat frame section

324

, and a leg frame section

326

. Deck sections

328

,

330

,

332

,

334

, and

336

form an articulatable patient support deck

327

extending between frame members

318

,

320

,

322

,

324

, and

326

, respectively. Mattress

338

is positioned above the deck

327

. In the illustrated embodiment, mattress

338

includes head section