Adjustable immobilizer device and method for immobilizing a patient

Abstract

Systems for immobilizing a patient are disclosed. The system includes at least one preform formed from a low melting temperature thermoplastic, the preform being configured to be formed to the anatomy of the patient, at least one frame coupled to the at least one preform, and at least one support configured to support the anatomy of the patient. The system also includes at least one lock mechanism coupled to at least one of the frame and the support and configured to couple the at least one frame to the at least one support, and at least one adjuster mechanism coupled to at least one of the at least one frame and the at least one support and configured to selectively adjust a distance between the at least one frame and the at least one support while the at least one frame is coupled to the at least one support.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An adjustable lock configured to retain an immobilization device in position relative to an anatomy of a patient and a patient anatomy support, the adjustable lock comprising:
 means for locking the immobilization device with respect to the patient anatomy support; and   means for adjusting a distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support while the immobilization device is coupled to the patient anatomy support by the locking means.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable lock of  claim 1 , wherein the locking means comprises a lock coupleable to at least one of the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support and configured to attach the immobilization device to the patient anatomy support. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable lock of  claim 2 , wherein the lock includes a plunger movable along an axis between locked and unlocked positions and at least one extension movable radially with respect to the axis when the plunger is in the locked position. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable lock of  claim 3 , wherein the plunger has a radially extending portion positioned to push the at least one extension radially outward when the plunger is in the locked position. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable lock of  claim 4 , wherein the plunger has a tapered portion adjacent the radially extending portion. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable lock of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one extension is defined on a shaft within which the plunger can extend. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable lock of  claim 6 , the lock further comprising a base defining a through-hole for accommodating the shaft and the plunger and configured for coupling the lock to at least one of the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable lock of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plunger and the shaft are keyed to limit rotation of the plunger relative to the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable lock of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting means comprises an adjuster coupleable to at least one of the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support and configured to selectively adjust the distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support while the immobilization device is coupled to the patient anatomy support. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable lock of  claim 9 , wherein the adjuster includes a cam surface and a bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface is configured to change the distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support upon relative movement of the cam surface with respect to the immobilization device or the patient anatomy support. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable lock of  claim 10 , wherein the adjuster includes a thread providing the cam surface. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable lock of  claim 11 , wherein the thread of the adjuster is positioned to be engaged by a surface of at least one of the immobilization device, the patient anatomy support, and an element interposed between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable lock of  claim 10 , the adjuster further comprising a rotator positioned to contact the cam surface and the bearing surface, wherein rotation of the rotator about an axis translates the cam surface or the bearing surface along the axis and adjusts the distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable lock of  claim 13 , the adjuster including an indexing mechanism defining discrete positions, each position corresponding to a relative distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable lock of  claim 14 , wherein the indexing mechanism includes a detent positioned to indicate when the rotator is aligned with one of the discrete positions. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable lock of  claim 14 , wherein the indexing mechanism includes an indicator positioned to provide a visual indication of the relative distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable lock of  claim 1 , wherein the means for adjusting is configured to selectively adjust the distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support after the immobilization device is coupled to the patient anatomy support by the means for locking and while the immobilization device remains coupled to the patient anatomy support by the means for locking. 
     
     
         18 . A system for immobilizing an anatomy of a patient with respect to a patient anatomy support, the system comprising:
 the adjustable lock of  claim 1 ; and   an immobilization device;   wherein the adjustable lock is coupled to the immobilization device and is configured to retain the immobilization device in position relative to the an anatomy of the patient and the patient anatomy support.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the patient anatomy support is a portion of the immobilization device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the patient anatomy support is another immobilization device. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the immobilization device includes a frame and a preform coupled to the frame, the preform being formed from a low melting temperature thermoplastic and configured to be formed to the anatomy of the patient, wherein the adjustable lock is coupled to the frame of the immobilization device. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18  comprising plural adjustable locks coupled to the immobilization device and spaced from one another, wherein the means for adjusting the distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support of each of the adjustable locks provides adjustability independent of other ones of the adjustable locks, thereby facilitating adjustment of the fit of the immobilization device with respect to one portion of the anatomy of the patient independently from adjusting the fit of other portions of the anatomy of the patient. 
     
     
         23 . The adjustable lock of  claim 1 , wherein the means for locking the immobilization device with respect to the patient anatomy support is actuated along an actuation axis and the means for adjusting the distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support is actuated about a rotation axis that corresponds to the actuation axis. 
     
     
         24 . A method for retaining an immobilization device in position relative to an anatomy of a patient and a patient anatomy support, the method comprising:
 coupling the immobilization device with respect to the patient anatomy support; and   adjusting a distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support while the immobilization device is coupled to the patient anatomy support.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the coupling step comprises actuating a lock along an actuation axis. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the adjusting step comprises rotating an adjuster about the actuation axis. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the coupling step comprises actuating plural locks spaced from one another. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the adjusting step comprises rotating plural adjusters independently thereby facilitating adjustment of the fit of the immobilization device with respect to one portion of the anatomy of the patient independently from adjusting the fit of other portions of the anatomy of the patient. 
     
     
         29 . An adjustable lock configured to retain an immobilization device in position relative to an anatomy of a patient and a patient anatomy support, the adjustable lock comprising:
 a lock coupleable to at least one of the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support and configured to attach the immobilization device to the patient anatomy support, the lock including a plunger movable along an axis between locked and unlocked positions and at least one extension movable radially with respect to the axis when the plunger is in the locked position; and   an adjuster coupleable to at least one of the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support and configured to selectively adjust a distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support while the immobilization device is coupled to the patient anatomy support, the adjuster mechanism including a cam surface and a bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface is configured to change the distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support upon relative movement of the cam surface with respect to the immobilization device or the patient anatomy support.   
     
     
         30 . The adjustable lock of  claim 29 , the adjuster further comprising a rotator positioned to contact the cam surface and the bearing surface, wherein rotation of the rotator about the axis translates the cam surface or the bearing surface along the axis and adjusts the distance between the immobilization device and the patient anatomy support.