Bariatric patients pose challenges for most surgeons who require the surgical table to lowered to two feet or less from the floor, allowing access when handling a patient weighing from 500 to as much as 1,200 pounds.

"The ability for the surgical table to slide allows for C-arm imaging and positioning at these high weight capacities," Tomaszewski says. "Removable back and leg sections and the flexibility to easily add table accessories are other big plusses for surgical tables dealing with the challenges of today's surgical patient."


Ergonomics and safety

Most manufacturers are also putting a lot of thought into the ergonomics and safety of the hospital staff when coming up with new advancements for their designs.

"I think it is fair to say that medical manufacturers have always paid a great deal of attention to the ergonomics of the products they develop," says Kevin Grant, vice president, sales and marketing of World Medical Equipment, which has been in the business of refurbishing tables for more than 15 years. "In recent years, table companies have pushed the envelope to incorporate self-drive mechanisms to assist staff with moving tables to avoid back strain. They are also utilizing high tech materials to reduce the weight of table parts that need to be reconfigured."

Many table OEMs now offer smaller base footprints and improved pendant controls. There has also been an increase in tables with safety features built in to eliminate pinch hazards.

Pressure management has become a big issue as well, as Medicare guidelines have recently advocated that the pressure sores that come from long procedures in the operating room need to be addressed.

"That is the current trend in pressure management science," Wittine says. "We are seeing an increased awareness of the need for proper surgical patient positioning and surgical pressure management, and manufacturers are focusing on improving the surfaces of surgical tables for patients."

Improving surfaces also must take into account servicing surfaces. For example, if a table pad is cut, it needs to be replaced right away and Action Products Inc. deals with only this sort of product.

"Even if a pad bottoms out, it can create pressure ulcers and pressure sores on the patient, which cost the hospital industry $11 billion a year," says Janet Kaplan, marketing manager for the company. "We created a table pad that addresses pressure ulcer and infection control issues facing operating room professionals every day."

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