Therapy mat table and table carrier and methods of use

Abstract

A therapy mat table has an upper surface and removable mat. A portion of the mat and a separate plate is rotatably mounted within the flat top so as to be capable of being selectively raised and lowered to form a seat back for a patient reclining or sitting on the pad on an elongated side edge of the table. The table may also include transfer bars which help to move a patient on and off the table or when moving to a standing position or while simply standing. The table may further include a stowable foot stop, which prevents backward movement of the patient's feet when the patient is standing between the transfer bars. The table may also include a knee blocker, which helps to limit or prevent buckling of the patient's knees when the patient is standing between the transfer bars.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of handling a patient on a therapy mat table, comprising the steps of:
 providing a therapy table having a mat being large enough to support a patient while the patient is laying down, the therapy table also having a movable seat back, the seat back being movable from a stowed position to a working position, the seat back including a portion of the mat which supports the patient while laying down when in the stowed position, the seat back being positioned to support the patient while sitting on the therapy table when in the working position, the therapy table also having the transfer bars being movable from a stowed position beneath the table to a working position, the transfer bars extending above the supporting mat when in the working position to assist in moving the patient on and off the table, the therapy table also having a knee block, the knee block being positioned between the transfer bars when in a working position, wherein the knee block, transfer bars and a lateral edge of the table form an enclosure which encloses a patient; 
 positioning a patient in a seated position with the patient's back supported by the seat back, the transfer bars being positioned on both sides of the patient when the patient is seated on the therapy table; 
 positioning the knee block between the transfer bars; 
 raising the table while the patient is seated to move the patient toward the standing position, wherein the knee block limits outward movement of the patient's knees. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the providing step is carried out with the therapy table having a foot stop, the foot stop being movable from a stowed position to a working position, the foot stop preventing backward movement of a patient's feet when the patient is standing between the transfer bars; 
 the raising step being carried out with the foot stop being in the working position. 
 
     
     
       3. A therapy table, comprising:
 a mat configured to support a patient in a lying down position on the therapy table;   a seat back configured to be movable between a lowered seat back position and a raised seat back position, the seat back comprising a portion of the mat when the seat back is in the lowered seat back position, and the seat back configured to support a patient in a seated position on the therapy table when the seat back is the raised seat back position,   a pair of transfer bars configured to be movable between a stowed position and a working position, the transfer bars configured to assist in moving a patient on and off the table when the seat back is in the raised position and the transfer bars are in the working position, wherein at least a portion of the transfer bars extend above at least a portion of the mat when the transfer bars are in the working position, and wherein the transfer bars are stored below the mat when the transfer bars are in their stowed position; and   a knee block configured to be positioned between the transfer bars when the transfer bars are in the working position, wherein the knee block is configured to limit outward movement of a patient's knees when the table is raised to move the patient from a seated position to a standing position;   wherein when the transfer bars are in the working position, and the knee block is positioned between the transfer bars, the transfer bars and a lateral edge of the table form an enclosure to accommodate a patient;   wherein the mat includes first and second end portions that are not next to one another, and third and fourth middle portions that are next to one another and are between the first and second end portions;   wherein the third portion of the mat, which is the portion of the mat that provides the seat back, is pivotable between the lowered seat back position and the raised seat back position;   wherein the fourth portion of the mat, which is next to the third portion of the mat, provides a seat that is pivotable between a lowered seat position and a raised seat position to aid a patient with moving from a seated position to a standing position; and   wherein an edge of the fourth portion of the mat, which provides the seat, is raised above an edge of the third portion of the mat, which provides the seat back, when the third portion of the mat is in the raised seat back position and the fourth portion of the mat is in the raised seat position.   
     
     
       4. The therapy table of claim 3, wherein an axis about which the fourth portion of the mat pivots, when the seat that is provided by the fourth portion of the mat moves between the lowered seat position and the raised seat position, extends between the first and second end portions of the mat. 
     
     
       5. The therapy table of claim 3, wherein an axis about which the third portion of the mat pivots, when the seat back that is provided by the third portion of the mat moves between the lowered seat back position and the raised seat back position, extends between the first and second end portions of the mat. 
     
     
       6. The therapy table of claim 5, wherein:
 the first and second end portions of the mat remain substantially parallel to a floor or ground upon which the table is supported; and   the third portion of the mat, which is the portion of the mat that provides the seat back, is substantially coplanar with the first and second end portions of the mat when the third portion of the mat is in the lowered seat back position, and is at a non-zero angle relative the first and second end portions of the mat when the third portion of the mat is in the raised seat back position.   
     
     
       7. The therapy table of claim 6, wherein the fourth portion of the mat, which is the portion of the mat that provides the seat, is substantially coplanar with the first and second end portions of the mat when the fourth portion of the mat is in the lowered seat position, and is at a non-zero angle relative the first and second end portions of the mat when the fourth portion of the mat is in the raised seat position. 
     
     
       8. The therapy table of claim 7, wherein an axis about which the fourth portion of the mat pivots is parallel to the axis about which the third portion of the mat pivots. 
     
     
       9. The therapy table of claim 3, further comprising:
 a seat back operator configured to be controlled to move the seat back between the lowered seat position and the raised seat position, as well as at least one intermediate position between the lowered position and the raised position.   
     
     
       10. The therapy table of claim 9, wherein the seat back operator comprises an electric motor, a hydraulic, or a combination an electric and hydraulic motor. 
     
     
       11. The therapy table of claim 3, wherein an entire upper portion of the table is configured to be controllably raised and lowered relative to a floor or ground upon which the table is supported. 
     
     
       12. The therapy table of claim 3, wherein while the transfer bars are in the working position:
 each of the transfer bars includes a low bar portion and high bar portion that is higher than the low bar portion relative to a floor or ground upon which the therapy table is supported;   an entirety of the low bar portion of each of the transfer bars extends over the mat; and at least a portion of the high bar portion of each of the transfer bars extends beyond a lateral edge of the mat.   
     
     
       13. A therapy table, comprising:
 a mat including first and second end portions that are not next to one another, and third and fourth middle portions that are next to one another and are between the first and second end portions;   the third portion of the mat configured to be pivotable between a lowered seat back position and a raised seat back position;   the fourth portion of the mat configured to be pivotable between a lowered seat position and a raised seat position;   the first, second, third and fourth portions of the mat configured to support a patient in a lying down position on the therapy table when the third portion of the mat is in the lowered seat back position and the fourth portion of the mat is in the lowered seat position;   the third portion of the mat providing a seat back and configured to support a patient in a seated position on the therapy table when the third portion of the mat is the raised seat back position;   the fourth portion of the mat, which is next to the third portion of the mat, configured to provide a seat for a patient to sit on when the third portion of the mat is in the raised position and the patient is sitting on the fourth portion of the mat with the patient's back resting against the third portion of the mat;   the fourth portion of the mat also configured to aid a patient with moving from a seated position to a standing position when pivoted between the lowered seat position and the raised seat position;   a pair of transfer bars configured to assist in moving a patient on and off the table when a patient is sitting on the fourth portion of the mat and the third portion of the mat is in the raised seat back position;   a knee block configured to be positioned between the transfer bars and to limit outward movement of a patient's knees when a patient is being moved from a seated position to a standing position;   when the transfer bars are in a working position, and the knee block is positioned between the transfer bars, the transfer bars and a lateral edge of the table form an enclosure to accommodate a patient   the transfer bars, the knee block, and a lateral edge of the fourth portion of the mat forming an enclosure to accommodate a patient when the knee block is positioned between the transfer bars; and   an edge of the fourth portion of the mat, which provides the seat, is configured to be raised above an edge of the third portion of the mat, which provides the seat back, when the third portion of the mat is in the raised seat back position and the fourth portion of the mat is in the raised seat position.   
     
     
       14. The therapy table of claim 13, wherein:
 the first and second end portions of the mat remain substantially parallel to a floor or ground upon which the table is supported; and   the third portion of the mat, which is the portion of the mat that provides the seat back, is substantially coplanar with the first and second end portions of the mat when the third portion of the mat is in the lowered seat back position, and is at a non-zero angle relative the first and second end portions of the mat when the seat back is in the raised seat back position.   
     
     
       15. The therapy table of claim 14, wherein the fourth portion of the mat, which is the portion of the mat that provides the seat, is substantially coplanar with the first and second end portions of the mat when the fourth portion of the mat is in the lowered seat position, and is at a non-zero angle relative the first and second end portions of the mat when the fourth portion of the mat is in the raised seat position. 
     
     
       16. The therapy table of claim 13, wherein:
 the pair of transfer bars are configured to be movable between a stowed position and the working position;   the knee block is configured to be positioned between the transfer bars when the transfer bars are in the working position;   wherein at least a portion of the transfer bars extend above at least a portion of the mat when the transfer bars are in the working position;   wherein the transfer bars are stored below the mat when the transfer bars are in the stowed position.   
     
     
       17. The therapy table of claim 16, wherein while the transfer bars are in the working position:
 each of the transfer bars includes a low bar portion and high bar portion that is higher than the low bar portion relative to a floor or ground upon which the therapy table is supported;   at least a portion of the low bar portion of each of the transfer bars extends over the mat; and   at least a portion of the high bar portion of each of the transfer bars extends beyond a lateral edge of the mat.   
     
     
       18. The therapy table of claim 16, further comprising:
 a foot stop configured to be movable from a stowed position to a working position, the foot stop configured to limit backward movement of a patient's feet when the patient moves from a sitting position on the therapy table to a standing position between the transfer bars.   
     
     
       19. The therapy table of claim 13, further comprising:
 a pair of bars that are configured to be stowed in a portion of the table that is below the mat, and configured to be attached to a portion of the table such that the bars extend at least five feet from a portion of the table that supports the mat;   wherein the bars are configured to aid a patient in walking after the patent has moved from a sitting position on the therapy table to a standing position.   
     
     
       20. The therapy table of claim 19, wherein each of the bars includes a raised section that is at least four inches higher than a rest of the bar and is positioned to assist a patient in moving from a sitting position on the therapy table to a standing position between the pair of bars.