Related Application

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/071 ,146, filed 27 August 2020, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to a device and system for supporting and/or positioning a portion of a patient and, more particularly, to a device for selectively supporting a limb of a patient and a patient positioning system having a device for selectively supporting a patient’s limb.

Background

[0003] With the growing capabilities of minimally invasive surgery, arthroscopic ankle surgeries are increasing each year. Nearly all ankle arthroscopy cases require support of the leg and thigh of a patient with traction applied on the foot and ankle. This construct stabilizes the foot and ankle in space while allowing simultaneous traction of a joint. Traction of the joint may assist with visualization of the cartilage surfaces. While many traction devices are available to surgeons, there are many fewer counter-traction devices available that support and provide a counter-tractional force to a portion of the patient. Tractional forces provided by the traction device may be transferred using non-slip foam pads that grip the patient’s heel and dorsal foot with straps that are tensioned by the traction device. The traction device may be mounted to rails of an operating table or medical bed and can either provide tractional forces through a post that pulls along a single vector or a more complex articulating pneumatic arm that can generate a tractional force vector in any orientation in space. With regard to counter-traction, relatively simple devices are available which rigidly lock the patient’s leg in a predetermined position.

[0004] Currently known counter-traction devices are neither flexible nor dynamic. Specifically, these devices are not flexible, and thus neither conform to varying leg sizes nor disperse pressure at the interface with the leg. In fact, many known counter-traction devices have rigid ends that could undesirably put pressure the patient’s leg. Further, these devices are non-dynamic, meaning that they only statically position the leg and thigh in one fixed position. As such, a vector of the counter-tractional force applied to the patient’s leg and thigh may therefore be applied in a direction other than collinear with a vector of the tractional force applied to the patient’s ankle by a traction device.

[0005] Additionally, certain counter-traction devices may have to be completely disassembled from an operating table or medical bed in order to remove and place the operative extremity on the operating table or medical bed. This may be a cumbersome and suboptimal process, particularly given that arthroscopic ankle procedures are frequently followed by an open procedure that necessitates placing the leg directly on the operating table or medical bed after being removed from the counter-traction device. Removing the entire counter-traction device may require a member of a surgical team to crawl under surgical drapes and disconnect the counter-traction device, which is both inconvenient for the team member and poses a threat to sterility of the surgical field.

[0006] Finally, certain counter-traction devices do not fully encircle the patient’s leg and, thus, pose a risk of the leg undesirably egressing the device.

[0007] It follows that the currently available counter-traction devices fail to address several needs, leaving surgeons frustrated and forced to operate with technological limitations highlighted by the aforementioned restrictions.

Summary

[0008] An aspect of the present disclosure, alone or in combination with any other aspect, includes an improved device and system that may be used to selectively support, position, provide a tractional force to, and/or provide a counter-tractional force to a patient’s limb during a procedure. Specifically, an aspect of the present disclosure, alone or in combination with any other aspect, includes an improved apparatus that may be used for selectively supporting, positioning, providing a tractional force to, and/or providing a counter-tractional force to a patient’s leg during an arthroscopic ankle surgery, as well as other lower extremity procedures. [0009] In an aspect, alone or in combination with any other aspect, a device for selectively supporting a limb of a patient includes a support member having a support post and a support arm extending from the support post. The support arm has opposite first and second arm ends. A flexible sling is configured to receive and conform to the patient’s limb. The sling has opposite first and second sling ends. A first connector removably connects the first sling end to the first arm end. A second connector removably connects the second sling end to the second arm end. The first and second connectors provide the sling with at least six degrees of freedom of motion relative to the support arm.

[0010] In an aspect, alone or in combination with any other aspect, a patient positioning system includes a patient support structure configured to receive the patient thereon. A traction device is configured to provide a tractional force to a first portion of the patient’s limb. The patient positioning system also includes the device for selectively supporting the patient’s limb. The device is configured to provide a counter-tractional force to a second portion of the patient’s limb. The device further includes an attachment member removably attaching the support post to the patient support structure. The sling is configured to receive and conform to the second portion the patient’s limb. When the tractional force is applied to the first portion of the patient’s limb, the sling is movable as a function of a vector of the tractional force into a predetermined position in which a vector of the counter-tractional force is substantially collinear with the vector of the tractional force.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Fig. 1 is a front view of an apparatus for positioning a patient’s limb according to one aspect of the present disclosure, including an element of the apparatus in a first condition;

[0013] Fig. 2 is a front view of the aspect of Fig. 1 , including the apparatus is a partially disassembled condition; [0014] Figs. 3 is a front view of the aspect of Fig. 1 , including an element of the apparatus in a second condition;

[0015] Fig. 4 is a front view of the aspect of Fig. 1 , including an element of the apparatus in a third condition;

[0016] Figs. 5a-e are perspective views of a portion of the apparatus according to the aspect of Fig. 1 , including an element of the apparatus manipulated into various positions;

[0017] Fig. 6 is a perspective side view of a system for positioning a patient according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the system being in an example use environment;

[0018] Fig. 7 is a front view of a portion of the aspect of Fig. 1 ;

[0019] Fig. 8 is a top view of an element of the aspect of Fig. 1 ; and

[0020] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an element of the aspect of Fig. 1 .

Description of Embodiments

[0021] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.

[0022] As used herein, the term “patient” can refer to any warm-blooded organism including, but not limited to, human beings, pigs, rats, mice, birds, cats, dogs, goats, sheep, horses, monkeys, apes, rabbits, cattle, farm animals, livestock, etc.

[0023] As used herein, the term “user” can be used interchangeably to refer to an individual who prepares for, assists with, and/or performs a procedure.

[0024] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” can include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” as used herein, can specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. [0025] As used herein, the term “and/or” can include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0026] As used herein, phrases such as “between X and Y” can be interpreted to include X and Y.

[0027] As used herein, the phrase “at least one of X and Y” can be interpreted to include X, Y, or a combination of X and Y. For example, if an element is described as having at least one of X and Y, the element may, at a particular time, include X, Y, or a combination of X and Y, the selection of which could vary from time to time. In contrast, the phrase “at least one of X” can be interpreted to include one or more Xs.

[0028] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on,” “attached” to, “connected” to, “contacting,” etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, “directly attached” to or “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.

[0029] Spatially relative terms, such as “over,” “under,” “downward” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature’s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms can encompass different orientations of a device in use or operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. For example, if a device in the Figures is inverted, elements described as “downward” from other elements or features would then be oriented “upward” from the other elements or features.

[0030] It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a “first” element discussed below could also be termed a “second” element without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. The sequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order presented in the claims or Figures unless specifically indicated otherwise. [0031] The invention comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of the following features, in any combination.

[0032] Fig. 1 includes a device 100 for selectively supporting a limb of a patient. The device 100 includes a support member 102 having a support post 104 extending substantially in a longitudinal direction. The term “longitudinal” is used herein to indicate a substantially vertical direction, in the orientation of Fig. 1 , and is indicated as “LO” in Fig. 1 . The support post 104 includes opposite first and second post ends 106, 108 that are longitudinally spaced from one another. The support member 102 also includes a support arm 110 substantially laterally extending from the first post end 106. The term “lateral” is used herein to indicate a direction substantially perpendicular to the “longitudinal” direction, is shown as the horizontal direction in the orientation of Fig. 1 , and is indicated at “LA” in Fig. 1 . For example, the support arm 110 may be joined to the second post end 106 at a first arm end 112. The support arm 110 may extend substantially laterally from the first arm end 112 to an opposite and laterally spaced second arm end 114.

[0033] The support arm 1 10 and the support post 104 may be mutually connected so as to resist relative movement of the support arm 110 and the support post 104. For example, the support arm 110 may be directly and fixedly attached to the support post 104, such as by welding, mechanical fasteners, adhesives, or any other attachment scheme or combination thereof, or the support arm 110 and support post 104 may be cast, molded, machined, or otherwise formed from a unitary piece of material. In such a configuration, the support arm 110 and support post 104 may be permanently attached to one another so as to resist relative movement and separation of support arm 110 and support post 104.

[0034] Alternatively, the support arm 110 and support post 104 may be selectively movable relative to one another and/or selectively separable from one another. In such a configuration, the support arm 110 and support post 104 may be indirectly connected to one another by one or more intervening elements that facilitate the selective relative movement and/or separation.

[0035] The support member 102 may further include a support strut 116 extending between the support arm 110 and support post 104 to structurally reinforce the support arm 1 10. The support strut 1 16 may be directly and fixedly attached to the support arm 110 and support post 104, such as by welding, mechanical fasteners, adhesives, or any other attachment scheme or combination thereof, or the support strut 1 16 may be cast, molded, machined, or otherwise formed from a unitary piece of material with the support arm 110 and support post 104.

[0036] Each of the first and second arm ends 1 12, 114 includes an eye 118, 120 connected thereto. For example, a first eye 1 18 may be connected to the first arm end 112, while a second eye 120 may be connected to the second arm end 1 14. The first and second eyes 118, 120 thus are laterally spaced apart from one another along the support arm 1 10. As shown in the orientation of Fig. 1 , the first and second eyes 118, 120 may extend longitudinal downward from the support arm 110. Alternatively, the first and second eyes 118, 120 may extend in any other direction from the support arm 110, such as, for example, longitudinally upward, laterally, transversely, or in any combination thereof from the support arm 1 10. The term “transverse” is used herein to indicate a direction substantially perpendicular to both the “longitudinal” and “lateral” directions, and is indicated at “TR” in Fig. 1 . The first and second eyes 118, 120 may be directly and/or fixedly attached to the support arm 104, such as by welding, mechanical fasteners, adhesives, or any other attachment scheme or combination thereof, or by being cast, molded, machined, or otherwise formed from a unitary piece of material with the support arm 104, so as to resist relative movement between the first and second eyes 118, 120 and the support arm 110. Alternatively, the first and second eyes 1 18, 120 and the support arm 110 may be mutually connected (directly or indirectly) so as to permit each eye 118, 120 to be selectively rotated about a longitudinal axis of the eye 1 18, 120 relative to the support arm 110 and/or to be selectively separable from the support arm 110. In such a configuration, the first and second eyes 1 18, 120 and the support arm 110 may be indirectly connected to one another by one or more intervening elements that permit the selective rotation and/or separation of the first and second eyes 118, 120.

[0037] First and second connectors 122, 124 are removably connected to corresponding ones of the first and second eyes 118, 120. For example, the first connector 122 may be removably connected to the first eye 118, while the second connector 124 may be removably connected to the second eye 120. The first and second connectors 122, 124 thus are laterally spaced apart from one another along the support arm 110 when connected to their respective first and second eyes 1 18, 120. As shown in the orientation of Fig. 1 , the first and second connectors 122, 124 also may extend longitudinally downward from the first and second eyes 118, 120 when connected thereto. Although the first and second connectors 122, 124 are shown as being directly connected to the first and second eyes 118, 120 in Fig. 1 , the first and second connectors 122, 124 may be indirectly attached to the first and second eyes 118, 120 by one or more intervening elements.

[0038] Each of the first and second connectors 122, 124 may include, for example, a carabiner (also known as a “snap hook”), a spring clip, an ess-hook, a cee-hook, or any other desired type of user-manipulable connector. The present description will presume, for simplicity, that the first and second connectors 122, 124 are both carabiners. Each of the first and second connectors 122, 124 thus may include a pin 126, 128 connected to the connector 122, 124 by a hinge 130, 132. The hinge 130, 132 is biased to retain the pin 126, 128 in a closed position. A force can be applied to the pin 126, 128 to move the pin 126, 128 into an open position to allow an object to be removably connected to the connector 122, 124. Fig. 1 depicts the first and second connectors 122, 124 being connected to their respective first and second eyes 118, 120 and having their respective pins 126, 128 in the closed position. Fig. 2 depicts the first connector 122 being removed from the first eye 118 with its pin 126 in the opened condition, while the second connector 124 is connected to the second eye 120 with its pin 128 in the closed position. Therefore, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that either or both of the pins 126, 128 may be selectively moved between the open and closed positions, as desired.

[0039] The support post 104, the support arm 110, the intervening elements (when present), the support strut 116, the first eye 118, the second eye 120, the first connector 122, and/or the second connector 124 can each be at least partially formed from silicone, plastic, metal, any other desired material, or any combination thereof. [0040] Referring back to Fig. 1 , the device 100 also includes a flexible sling 134. The sling 134 includes a first sling end 136, an opposite second sling end 138, and a central sling portion 140 laterally extending between the first and second sling ends

136, 138. The sling 134 also includes opposite first and second sling surfaces 137, 139 extending between the first and second sling ends 136, 138. The first sling end 136 includes a first eyelet 142 extending between the first and second sling surfaces

137, 139, while the second sling end 138 includes a second eyelet 144 extending between the first and second sling surfaces 137, 139. Each of the first and second eyelets 142, 144 may include a liner or other reinforcing structure, or may simply be an aperture extending through the thickness of the sling 134. The first and second eyelets 142, 144 may be removably connected to corresponding ones of the first and second connectors 122, 124. The first eyelet 142 may be removably connected to the first connector 122 by moving the first connector’s pin 126 to the open position, inserting the first connector 122 through the first eyelet 142, and then moving the first connector’s pin 126 to the closed position. The second eyelet 144 may be connected to the second connector 124 correspondingly.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 1 , the first and second connectors 122, 124, when connected to the sling 134, may be used to removably and hangingly connect the sling 134 to the support arm 110. For example, when the first eyelet 142 is joined to the first connector 122, the first connector 122 may connect the first sling end 136 to the support arm 110 by moving the first connector’s pin 126 to the open position, inserting the first connector 122 through the first eye 118, and then moving the first connector’s pin 126 to the closed position. The second connector 124 can selectively connect the second sling end 138 to the support arm 110 in a similar manner as described above. Although the first and second connectors 122, 124 have been described as being connected to the eyelets 142, 144 of the sling 134 prior to the first and second eyes 118, 120 on the support member 110, at least one of the first and second connectors 122, 124 can alternatively be attached to a corresponding eye 118, 120 prior to being attached to a corresponding eyelet 142, 144.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows an example arrangement in which the sling ends 136, 138 may be selectively and independently removed from the support arm 110 via manipulation of their respective first and second connectors 122, 124. In particular, Fig. 2 depicts the first connector 122 and the first sling end 136 as having been removed from the support arm 110, while the second sling end 138 remains attached to the support arm 110 by the second connector 122. The first and second connectors 122, 124 thus permit each of the sling ends 136, 138 to be quickly attached to/removed from the support arm 110 independently. As shown in Fig. 2, removal of only one of the first and second connectors 122, 124 and/or sling ends 136, 138 from the support member 110 does not cause the entirety of the sling 134 to be removed from the support member 1 10.

[0043] Although the first and second connectors 122, 124 are described and shown as being separate from both the support arm 1 10 and the sling 134, at least one of the first and second connectors 122, 124 may instead be integrated into at least one of the support arm 110 and the sling 104. Furthermore, although the device 100 is shown and described as having two connectors 122, 124 for attaching the sling 134 to the support member 110, the device 100 may have any desired number and combination of permanently-closed or selectively-openable connectors provided for the same purpose.

[0044] The sling 134 is configured to receive and support a patient's limb when the sling 134 is hung on the support arm 110 by the first and second connectors 122, 124. The sling 134 is also configured, in some use environments, to at least partially conform to the received limb and thus may be made of at least one material having sufficient flexibility and durability for conforming to and supporting the patient’s limb, such as, but not limited to, plastic, cloth, and/or canvas. For example, a patient with a large limb diameter may require a sling that is laterally longer than a sling required by a patient having a smaller limb diameter. The flexible nature of the sling 134 at least partially permits a single sling 134 to conform to limbs having a variety of diameters. As will be discussed below, the first and second connectors 122, 124 may also at least partially permit the sling 134 to conform to the received limb.

[0045] Flexing to accommodate various leg diameters may urge at least one of the first and second sling ends 136, 138 to be moved in the lateral direction. The hanging connection provided by the first and second connectors 122, 124 permits the first and second sling ends 136, 138 to be independently and collectively moved in the lateral direction, either toward or away from each other. Fig. 1 depicts the sling 134 in a first condition having a first lateral length 146. Fig. 3 depicts the sling 134 being flexed to conform to a larger leg diameter than what the sling 134 in Fig. 1 is shown as being configured to conform to. In Fig. 3, both the first and second sling ends 136, 138 have been laterally moved away from a central longitudinal axis 348 of the sling 134 to achieve a second lateral length 350, which is greater than the first lateral length 146, of the sling 134. Fig. 4 depicts the sling 134 being flexed to conform to a smaller leg diameter than what the sling 134 in Fig. 1 is shown as being configured to conform to. In Fig. 4, both the first and second sling ends 136, 138 have been laterally moved toward the central longitudinal axis 348 of the sling 134 to achieve a third lateral length 452, which is less than the first lateral length 146, of the sling 134. Therefore, the flexible nature of the sling 134, along with the hanging connection provided by the first and second connectors 122, 124, provide the sling 134 with the ability to conform to various limb sizes.

[0046] As shown in the example positions of Fig. 5a-e, in addition to permitting lateral movement of the sling 134, the first and second connectors 122, 124 also permit the sling 134 to pivot in the transverse direction about the support member 1 10 in order to achieve a desirable limb position for a patient. Overall, the flexible nature of the sling 134 and the hanging connection provided by the first and second connectors 122, 124 provide the sling 134 with at least six degrees of freedom of motion relative to the support arm 1 10. In particular, the sling 134 is permitted to at least move in the longitudinal direction, pivot about the central longitudinal axis 348 of the sling 134, move in the lateral direction, pivot about the laterally extending support member 110, move in the transverse direction, and pivot about a transversely extending axis 154 (Fig. 1 ) positioned between the two slings ends 136, 138 of the hanging sling 134. The first and second sling ends 136, 138 also have at least six degrees of freedom of motion relative to one another as depicted, at least in part because the first and second slings ends 136, 138 are independently connected to the support arm 110 by their respective first and second connectors 122, 124.

[0047] The sling’s 134 flexibility and freedom of motion permit the device 100 to be used as an effective counter-traction device in a patient position system 656. Fig. 6 depicts a patient positioning system 656 that utilizes the device 100 as a counter- traction device. The patient P in Fig. 6 is depicted in a common position for undergoing an ankle arthroscopy. As such, the patient positioning system 656 includes a patient support structure 658 in the form of an operating table configured to receive the patient P thereon.

[0048] Although the patient support structure 658 is in the form of an operating table in Fig. 6, the patient support structure 658 can be any structure configured to support a patient P, such as, but not limited to, a table (operating table or otherwise), a bed (medical or otherwise), a stretcher, a chair, or a wheelchair. The attachment member 660 may thus be configured to attach the device 100 to a portion (e.g., a frame or rail) of any type of patient support structure 658. Alternatively, the attachment member 660 may be configured to attach the device 100 to a portion of a room in which the patient P is present, and/or to any other structure within the patient room. For example, the attachment member 660 may selectively attach the device 100 to a wall, a floor, or a ceiling of the patient room, and/or to any structure on the wall, the floor, or the ceiling of the patient room.

[0049] The device 100 includes an attachment member 660 that may be removably attached to the support post 104 and may be configured to removably attach the device 100 to the patient support structure 658. The attachment member 660 may include a clamp of any desired size or configuration, such as, but not limited to, Cee Clamps, Surgical Table Clamps, Universal Rail Clamps, Side Rail Sockets, or any combinations thereof. As shown in Figs. 6-8, the attachment member 660 may be a Clark Socket Clamp. The attachment member 660 is movably secured to a portion 662, such as to a frame or a rail, of the patient support structure 658. For example, the attachment member 660 may be movable along a rail 662 of the patient support structure 658 by a bracket 664 having a generally C- shaped channel 766 formed therein. The generally C-shaped channel 766 is configured to closely match the dimensions of the rail 662 along which it can slide. This close tolerance allows the attachment member 660 to selectively slide transversely (in the orientation of Fig. 6) back and forth on the rail 662 to which it is fitted so that the attachment member 660 can be positioned anywhere along a transverse length of the patient support structure 658 without rotation relative thereto. The bracket 664 may also prevent the attachment member 660 from undesirably egressing from the rail 662 when mounted thereto.

[0050] As shown in Figs. 7-8, the attachment member 660 has a first body member 768 and a second body member 770. The first and second body members 768, 770 each have a round or circular cross-sectional configuration; although any other geometrical shape can be utilized. The first body member 768 is securely attached to the bracket 664, such as by welding, machine fasteners, adhesives, or any other attachment scheme or combination thereof, or the first body member 768 can be may be cast, molded, machined, or otherwise formed from a unitary piece of material with the bracket 664. The first body member 768 has a serrated portion 772. The term “serrated” is used herein to indicate an area of small sharp projections resembling the teeth of a saw; that is, a “serrated” structure has a sawtoothed edge or margin notched with tooth-like projections, which may each be of a bidirectional or unidirectional configuration for facilitating and/or preventing relative movement between the serrated component and another component, as desired.

[0051] In Fig. 7, the serrated portion 772 is a circular edge. The second body member 770 also has a serrated portion 774 which is configured to mate with the serrated portion 772 of the first body member 768. The serrated portions 772, 774 permit the second body member 770 to be angularly positioned relative to the first body member 768. In order to rotate the second body member 770 relative to the first body member 778, a user simply separates the two body members 768, 770 and then rotates one relative to the other. After such rotation, the first and second body members 768, 770 are brought back into contact and engagement with one another. Although not shown, a screw, a spring, or some other mechanical device can be used to bias or urge the second body member 770 toward physical contact with the first body member 768. The serrated portions 772, 774 allow a user to vary the angular orientation of the second body member 770 relative to the first body member 768. For example, the second body member 770 can be rotated from between 0 to 360 degrees relative to the first body member 768.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 8, the second body member 770 has an aperture 876 formed therethrough. The aperture 876 is depicted as having an elliptical cross-section although any other geometrical shape can be utilized, if desired. For example, the aperture 876 could have a round or circular cross-section; a polygonal cross-section such as a triangular cross-section, a square cross-section, a pentagonal cross-section, a hexagonal cross-section; a curvilinear cross-section, or any other desired cross-section for a particular use environment.

[0053] The attachment member 660 further has a tightening device 878 which interacts with the aperture 876. The tightening device 878 is depicted in Fig. 8 as a threaded shaft 880 having a first end 882 and a second end 884. The threaded shaft 880 is sized and configured to engage with a threaded hole 886. Positioned on the first end 882 of the threaded shaft 880 is a knob 888 having a through bore (not shown) formed therethrough. The knob 888 houses a handle 890. The handle 890 has a first enlarged end 892 and a second enlarged end 894 which prevent the handle 890 from separating from the knob 888. The first and second enlarged ends 892, 894 may be threadably or otherwise attached to the handle 890 so as to be removable, if desired.

[0054] By turning the handle 890 in a first direction, e.g., clockwise, one can advance the threaded shaft 880 into the aperture 876 and by turning the handle 890 in an opposite direction, e.g., counterclockwise, one can withdraw the threaded shaft 880 from the aperture 876.

[0055] As shown in Figs. 6-7, the support post 104 is configured such that the second post end 108 can be inserted into the aperture 876. The support member 102 is capable of being retained in a predetermined position by the tightening device 878. Once the support post 104 is inserted or positioned in the aperture 876 of the attachment member 660, the support post 104 can be locked in place by turning the handle 890 in a first direction, e.g., clockwise. This action will cause the tightening device 878 to advance the threaded shaft 880 into contact with the support post 104 and maintain the support post 104 at a desired longitudinal height within the aperture 876 and at a desired angular position about a central longitudinal axis 796 of the support post 104. Since the aperture 876 is located in the second body member 770, the angular orientation of the support post 104 can be changed (i.e., the support post 104 may be rotated about a laterally extending pivot axis 798) as the second body member 770 is rotated relative to the first body member 768 of the attachment member 660. [0056] Therefore, when the device 100 is attached to the rail 662 by the attachment member 660, the orientation of the support member 102 and the sling 134 may be adjusted to a predetermined position through use of the attachment member 660. In other words, a longitudinal distance between the patient support structure 658 and the support arm 1 10 may be selectively adjusted via the attachment member 660. The support member 102 may also be pivoted about the laterally extending pivot axis 798 relative to the patient support structure 658 via the attachment member 660. Furthermore, the support member 102 may be rotatable about the central longitudinal axis 796 of the support post 104 relative to the patient support structure 658 via the attachment member 660.

[0057] Fig. 6 depicts the support member 102 being retained in a predetermined position by the tightening device 878. A portion T of the patient’s leg L (here, the patient’s thigh) is received on the first sling surface 137, and the sling 134 is conformed to the patient’s thigh T. As shown in Fig. 6, when held by the device 100, the patient’s thigh T is fully surrounded by the device 100 in a cross-sectional plane. By fully surrounding the thigh T, the device 100 prevents the patient’s thigh T from undesirably egressing the device 100. It should be noted that because the sling 134 is formed from a flexible material, the first and second sling ends 136, 138 may intentionally be not rigid, in certain use environments, in order to reduce the pressure exerted upon the patient’s thigh T.

[0058] The patient positioning system 656 also includes a traction device 6100 that is mounted to the patient support structure 658 by an attachment member 6102, which may be similar to the attachment member 660 used for attaching the device 100. The traction device 6100, in use, provides a tractional force to a portion F of the patient’s leg (here, the patient’s foot F). In particular, the traction device 6100 may include at least one pad 6104 that grips the patient’s foot F, straps 6106 for connecting the pad 6104 to a tensioner 6108, and the tensioner 6108 that tensions the straps 6106 in order to apply the tractional force to the patient’s foot F through the pads 6104. The traction device 6100, however, may be any other device configured to provide a tractional force to a patient’s limb L. Alternatively, a human user may take the place of the traction device 6100 and provide a tractional force manually to the patient’s limb L. [0059] When a tractional force is applied to the patient’s foot F, the device 100, through the sling 134, provides a counter-tractional force to the patient’s thigh T. In particular, the sling 134 moves and/or flexes as a function of a vector V1 of the tractional force into a predetermined position in which a vector V2 of the counter- tractional force is substantially collinear with the vector V1 of the tractional force. Having the vector V2 of the collinear counter-tractional force be substantially collinear with the vector V1 of the tractional force helps to stabilize the patient’s leg L during the ankle arthroscopy. The device 100 may thus provide dynamic countertraction to stabilize a patient’s limb L, in that the sling 134 can adapt and change position as prompted by changes in the direction of a tractional force on the patient’s limb L. Once use of the device 100 is no longer desired, the patient’s thigh T can be quickly removed from the device 100 by selectively detaching at least one of the first and second sling ends 136, 138 from the support member 110 via at least one of the first and second connectors 122, 124 and allowing the thigh T to fall or be lowered with respect to the support member 110.

[0060] When in use, the tractional force, the counter-tractional force, and/or the force of gravity may at least partially cause stress on the sling 134 at the eyelets 142, 144. As shown in Fig. 1 , to reinforce the sling 134 at the eyelets 142, 144, a thickness 11 10 of the sling 134, measured between the first and second sling surfaces 137, 139, may be greater at the first and second sling ends 136, 138 than at the central sling portion 140. Increasing the thickness 11 10 at just the first and second sling ends 136, 138, as opposed to increasing the thickness 11 10 of the entirety of the sling 134, may serve to reinforce the eyelets 142, 144, while reducing the overall amount of material needed to form the sling 134.

[0061] As shown in Fig. 9, the sling 134 may be at least partially covered with at least one covering 9112. The covering 9112 can be made from a soft material, such as foam, for cushioning the patient’s limb L. The covering 9112 can be a single-use, disposable sleeve that serves to protect the sling 134. The sling 134 may include both the soft covering 9112 and the disposable sleeve covering 9112 over the soft covering 9112. Alternatively, the sling 134 may include just a single-use, disposable sleeve covering 9112 that is made from a soft material so as to both protect the sling 134 and cushion the patient’s limb L. [0062] Although the device 100 and the patient positioning system 656 have been described for use in an ankle arthroscopy procedure, the device 100 and the patient positioning system 656 may be configured to selectively support, position, provide a tractional force to, and/or provide a counter-tractional force to any limb or extremity of a patient at any desired time and in relation to any desired procedure.

[0063] While aspects of this disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the example aspects above, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various additional aspects may be contemplated. For example, the specific methods described above for using the apparatus are merely illustrative; one of ordinary skill in the art could readily determine any number of tools, sequences of steps, or other means/options for placing the above-described apparatus, or components thereof, into positions substantively similar to those shown and described herein. In an effort to maintain clarity in the Figures, certain ones of duplicative components shown have not been specifically numbered, but one of ordinary skill in the art will realize, based upon the components that were numbered, the element numbers which should be associated with the unnumbered components; no differentiation between similar components is intended or implied solely by the presence or absence of an element number in the Figures. Any of the described structures and components could be integrally formed as a single unitary or monolithic piece or made up of separate sub-components, with either of these formations involving any suitable stock or bespoke components and/or any suitable material or combinations of materials. Any of the described structures and components could be disposable or reusable as desired for a particular use environment. Any component could be provided with a user-perceptible marking to indicate a material, configuration, at least one dimension, or the like pertaining to that component, the user-perceptible marking potentially aiding a user in selecting one component from an array of similar components for a particular use environment. A “predetermined” status may be determined at any time before the structures being manipulated actually reach that status, the “predetermination” being made as late as immediately before the structure achieves the predetermined status. The term “substantially” is used herein to indicate a quality that is largely, but not necessarily wholly, that which is specified-a “substantial” quality admits of the potential for some relatively minor inclusion of a non-quality item. Though certain components described herein are shown as having specific geometric shapes, all structures of this disclosure may have any suitable shapes, sizes, configurations, relative relationships, cross-sectional areas, or any other physical characteristics as desirable for a particular application. Any structures or features described with reference to one aspect or configuration could be provided, singly or in combination with other structures or features, to any other aspect or configuration, as it would be impractical to describe each of the aspects and configurations discussed herein as having all of the options discussed with respect to all of the other aspects and configurations. A device or method incorporating any of these features should be understood to fall under the scope of this disclosure as determined based upon the claims below and any equivalents thereof.

[0001] Other aspects, objects, and advantages can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.