The needs of the "hand surgeon" have not been previously addressed specifically. When operating on an extremity, the patient's arm is placed at right angles to the body and supported on a "surgical hand table". It appears, from the critical review and testing of several designs, that the currently available tables have not been designed or manufactured from the surgeon's perspective. Many innovative features are available on current tables, but none is to the satisfaction of the consultants polled.
Specifically, these tables require minimal obstruction to access of the patient by the surgeon, surgical assistants, and related equipment such as radiographic machinery. The table must be light-weight, have easy storage capabilities, and be radiolucent (allow taking of x-rays through the table itself). It must be stable for use in microsurgical procedures where any movement or vibration can hinder the procedure. Yet it must be height adjustable and easily maneuverable to maximize versatility.
In short, a Surgical Hand Table must be "user friendly".
The table currently under refinement by NewMedical meets all these demands. A unique, lightweight polypropylene top has been integrated with rigid stainless steel fasteners. The monolimb construction using a solid locking gas shock with infinite adjustment capabilities has been incorporated with a lightweight aluminum, anodized platform.
Importantly, development costs and prototype costs have been economized with a resultant product that can be competitively priced, but still out-perform the competition in most categories. Clinically testing is on-going.
