GB1579226A

GB1579226A - Surgical apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB1579226A
Application number: GB1969277A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HYGIENIC ENG IND Ltd
Current assignee: HYGIENIC ENG IND Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-02
Filing date: 1978-05-02
Publication date: 1980-11-12

Description

(54) SURGICAL APPARATUS (71) We, HYGIENIC ENGINEER ING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, Hygenic Works, St. Thomas's Road, West Yorkshire, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to surgical apparatus and more particularly to autopsy tables.

The invention provides an autopsy table comprising an elongate table top mounted on a support plinth, the table having a gully formed therein, which gully is in communication with an aperture formed in the table top such that a liquid on the table top will drain through the aperture into the gully, the gully housing an extraction means which is adapted or adaptable to withdraw gaseous and vaporous material immediately surrounding the table top into the gully.

Preferably the table top is declined towards the gully to allow a liquid placed on the table top to drain into the gully, and the table top may have raised peripheral edges. A perforated plate may be located on the table top over the aperture therein and within the peripheral edges thereof.

Preferably the gully is located within the plinth and the gully may be provided with a drain tube which connects the gully to waste so that liquid draining into the gully can be removed to waste. The inlet end of the drain tube may have a control means to control the flow of liquid therethrough and the inlet end of the drain tube may also be provided with a separation means for restricting the flow of solids into the drain tube. The control means and separation means together act as a trap which is useful for separation and settling of solid material in the liquid in the gully.

The gully may also have an overflow port connected to waste to restrict the level of fluid in the gully to a predetermined level and the overflow port may be located above the drain tube and connected thereto. The gully may be formed integrally with the table top.

The extraction means preferably comprises a duct having an inlet or inlets arranged within the gully, which duct may be connected to or connectable to a pump, fan, or blower to provide a means of exhausting the gaseous or vaporous material surrounding the table top.

The duct may have a safety cover or other means to prevent liquid entering the gully, or liquid already within the gully from being drawn into the duct when the duct is used to exhaust the gaseous or vaporous material. The duct or ducting connected thereto, may be provided with valve means to control the rate of withdrawal of the material surrounding the table top and the valve means may comprise a butterfly valve.

The table top is preferably provided with a sink unit which may have a hot and cold water supply connected thereto, and the table top may also be provided with a flexible spray attachment. The spray attachment may be supplied with hot and cold water, the spray being arranged to provide a means of sluicing the table as used for the dissection of a body.

The sink unit may be provided with a drain pipe to waste.

Preferably the table is substantially formed of stainless steel.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an autopsy table, and Figure 2 is a part-sectional side elevation of the table shown in Figure 1.

An autopsy table is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a stainless steel table top 12 mounted on a stainless steel plinth 14. A stainless steel sink unit 16 is integrally formed with rhe table top 12 at one end thereof, and a stainless steel gully 17 is integrally formed with the table top 12 at a central portion thereof.

The table top 12 is substantially rectangular and lies substantially in a horizontal plane when mounted on the plinth 14, the gully 17 being located within the plinth 14 as shown in Figure 2. The table top 12 has upstanding peripheral walls 18 and a base member 20 which slopes slightly to provide drainage from the base member 20 to a rectilinear aperture 22 formed through the base member 20 at the centre thereof. The aperture 22 is in communication with the gully 17, the upper periphery of the gully 17 being consistent with the periphery of the aperture 22. A perforated cover plate 24 is located on the base member 20 over the aperture 22 so that when the table 10 is in use, a body to be dissected or examined can be supported partly on the base member 20 and partly on the cover plate 24.

The plinth 14 is hollow as seen in Figure 2, and a chamber 26 is formed inside the plinth, the chamber 26 housing the gully 17.

The arrangement of the table 10 ensures that a drainage system is provided for the table top 12 since any liquid on the table top 12 is drained to the aperture 22 by virtue of the inclination of the top, and the liquid is then free to drain into the gully 17 within the chamber 26 of the plinth 14. Thus any liquid draining from the table top 12 collects in the gully 17.

A dram tube 28 is provided with its inlet end connected to the base of the gully 17 within the plinth 14. The inlet end of the drain tube 28 is provided with a releasable plug having a stem piece 31 which is slidable through a dished sieve plate 32 being con nected to and resting within the inlet end of the drain tube 28. Liquid within the gully 17 is allowed to pass down the drain tube 28 when the plug 30 is removed from the inlet end thereof by sliding of the stem piece 31 upwardly through, and relatively to the sieve plate 32. The sieve plate 32 restricts solid material contained in the liquid from passing down the drain tube 28. When the plug 30 is again inserted in the end of the drain tube 28, the solid material contained in the liquid is allowed to settle at the base of the gully.An overflow port 29 is formed through a side wall of the gully 17 above the inlet end of the drain tube 28 and is connected to the drain tube by an overflow pipe 33. The overflow port 29 ensures that the level of liquid within the gully 17 is restricted to the height of the port 29 above the base of the gully 17, since any liquid provided above that level would flow through the port 29 down the overflow pipe 33 and to waste via the drain tube 28.

A drain tube 34 is provided in the sink unit 16, and the tube 34 has a plug 35, a stem piece 36 and a sieve plate 37 similar to the ones provided for the drain tube 28. The drain tubes 28 and 34 respectively connect the gully 17 and sink unit 16 to a common main drain (not shown). The sieve plates 32 and 37 restrict the passage of solid materials down the respective drain tubes 28 and 34 and therefore prevent the drain tubes 28 and 34 from becoming blocked, the solid material re maining in the gully 17 and sink 16 respectively.

An air duct 38 is housed within the chamber 26 of the plinth 14, and the duct 38 passes through the centre of the gully 17. Further ducting 39 (indicated in chain dotted lines in Figure 2) connects the lower end of the duct 38 to the base of the plinth 14. A cover guard 40 is hinged to the side of the duct 38 and when pivoted into its operative position as shown in Figure 2, the cover guard 40 encloses the 'mouth' 42 of the duct and prevents liquid which is draining into the gully from entering the duct 38.It is intended that the duct 38 should be connected to an ancillary air extraction system (not shown) which may, for example, comprise yet further ducting and an air pump, the intention being that when the air pump (not shown) is operated, the air is extracted from the immediate vicinity of the table top 12 down the duct 38 so that any airborne debris or odours from a body being dissected on the table top 12 are drawn down the duct 38 and away to a waste outlet (not shown) via the further ducting 39 and the pump (not shown). The cover guard 40 not only prevents direct entry of liquid into the duct 38 as previously described, but also prevents liquid draining into the gully 17 from being sucked into the duct 38.

The further ducting 39 could indude a valve means such as a butterfly valve (not shown) so that when the duct 38 is coupled to the ancillary system (not shown) and the system is operated to draw air from the table top down the duct 38, then the valve means could be operated to control the amount of air withdrawn through the duct 38.

The sink unit 16 has a conventional arrangement of hot and cold water taps 48 which are arranged to be connected to a water supply (not shown). Each tap 48 has an operating lever 50 for ease of opening and closing of the taps, and the taps 48 both feed a centrally placed swivelling mixer tube 52. As well as the sink unit 16, the table 10 is provided with a spray unit 54 which is located beneath the table top 12 adjacent to the plinth 14. The spray unit 54 is arranged to be connected to the same hot and cold water supply as the taps 48, and hot and cold water control knobs 56 are provided for the spray unit. The spray unit 54 comprises a mixer tube 58 which is connected to the water supplies controlled by each knob 56, a length of flexible metallic piping 60 and a spray nozzle 62. The piping 60 is arranged to be coiled when not in use land retained on a hook 64 on the side of the plinth 14 as shown in Figure 1.

In use the spray unit 54 is used to sluice down a body being dissected on the table 10 so that the water from the spray unit 54 and the body fluids are washed into the gully 17 via the perforated plate 24 and the aperture 22. This liquid then collects in the gully 17 where any solid debris from the body (not shown) is settled to the surface of the gully.

When the plug 30 is raised, the liquid in the gully is allowed to drain down the drain tube 28 to the main drain (not shown), the sieve plate 32 restricting the flow of solid material down the tube 28. At the same time, the ancillary extraction (not shown) is operated to withdraw air from the vicinity of the body down the duct 38 to waste.

The arrangement of the autopsy table 10 facilitates oleaning of the table 10 when not in use since the whole table top 12 may be washed and the gully cleaned by removal of the perforated cover plate 24. Also, as the duct í318 is already secured within the plinth 14, it is a relatively easy matter to connect the duct (38 to the further ducting 39 and to an existing air extraction system. The taps 48 and spray knobs 56 may also be interconnected (i.e. each d the two hot water pipes being connected together and each of the two cold water pipes being connected together) to facilitate coupling of the water system to the table. If necessary, the sieve plates 32 and 37 may be inverted to provide a dome above the inlet end of the drain tubes 28 and 34 respectively.This arrangement provides for easier removal of the plugs 30 and 35 but the respective stem pieces 31 and 36 thereof must be increased in length so that it is still possible to slide the stem pieces through their respective plates from above.

If required, the sink unit 16 may have an overflow port, similar to the overflow port 29 of the gully, the overflow port of the sink unit 16 being connected to the drain tube 34 to ensure that liquid passing through the overflow port is conducted to waste via the drain tube 34.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An autopsy table comprising an elongate table top mounted on a, support plinth, the table having a gully formed therein, which gully is in communication with an aperture formed in the table top such that liquid on the table top will drain through the aperture into the gully, the gully housing an extraction means which is adapted or adaptable to withdraw gaseous and vaporous material immediately surrounding the table top into the gully.

2. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 1, in which the table top is declined towards the gully to allow a liquid placed on the table top to drain into the gully.

3. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 1, or Claim 2, in which the table top has raised peripheral edges.

4. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 3, in which a perforated plate is located on the table top over the aperture therein and within the peripheral edges thereof.

5. An autopsy table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the gully is located within the plinth.

6. An autopsy table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the gully is provided with a drain tube which connects the gully to waste so that liquid draining into the gully can be removed to waste.

7. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 6, in which the inlet end of the drain tube has a control means to control the flow of liquid therethrough.

8. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the inlet end of the drain tube is provided with a separation means for restricting the flow of solids into the drain tube.

9. An autopsy table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the gully has an overflow port connected to waste to restrict the level of fluid in the gully to a predetermined level.

10. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 9 when dependant from Claim 6, in which the overflow port is located above the drain tube and is connected thereto.

11. An autopsy table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the gully is formed integrally with the table top.

12. An autopsy table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the extraction means comprises a duct having an inlet or inlets arranged within the gully.

13. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 12, in which the duct is connected to or con nectable to a pump, fan or blower to provide a means of exhausting the gaseous or vaporous material surrounding the table top.

14. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim ,143, in which the duct has a safety cover or other means to prevent liquid entering the gully, or liquid already within the gully from being drawn into the duct when the duct is used to extract the gaseous or vaporous material.

15. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 1!3 or Claim 14, in which the duct or ducting connecting thereto is provided with valve means to control the rate of withdrawal of the material surrounding the table top.

16. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 115, in which the valve means comprises a butterfly valve.

17. An autopsy table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the table top is provided with a sink unit.

18. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 17, in which the sink unit has a hot and cold water supply connected thereto.

19. An autopsy table as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the table top is provided with a spray attachment.

20. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 19, in which the spray attachment is supplied with hot and cold water.

21. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 17 or Claim 18, in which the sink unit is provided with a drain pipe connected to waste.

22. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 17, Claim 18 or Claim 21, in which the sink unit is provided with an overflow port connected to waste.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ancillary extraction (not shown) is operated to withdraw air from the vicinity of the body down the duct 38 to waste. The arrangement of the autopsy table 10 facilitates oleaning of the table 10 when not in use since the whole table top 12 may be washed and the gully cleaned by removal of the perforated cover plate 24. Also, as the duct í318 is already secured within the plinth 14, it is a relatively easy matter to connect the duct (38 to the further ducting 39 and to an existing air extraction system. The taps 48 and spray knobs 56 may also be interconnected (i.e. each d the two hot water pipes being connected together and each of the two cold water pipes being connected together) to facilitate coupling of the water system to the table. If necessary, the sieve plates 32 and 37 may be inverted to provide a dome above the inlet end of the drain tubes 28 and 34 respectively.This arrangement provides for easier removal of the plugs 30 and 35 but the respective stem pieces 31 and 36 thereof must be increased in length so that it is still possible to slide the stem pieces through their respective plates from above. If required, the sink unit 16 may have an overflow port, similar to the overflow port 29 of the gully, the overflow port of the sink unit 16 being connected to the drain tube 34 to ensure that liquid passing through the overflow port is conducted to waste via the drain tube 34. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An autopsy table comprising an elongate table top mounted on a, support plinth, the table having a gully formed therein, which gully is in communication with an aperture formed in the table top such that liquid on the table top will drain through the aperture into the gully, the gully housing an extraction means which is adapted or adaptable to withdraw gaseous and vaporous material immediately surrounding the table top into the gully.

23. An autopsy table as claimed in any one

of the preceding claims, in which the table is formed substantially of stainless steel.

24. An autopsy table substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. An autopsy table as claimed in Claim 24, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.