U.S. patent application number 09/141260 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-14 for examination table, particularly in machines for nuclear magnetic resonance image detection.
Invention is credited to CONTRADA, ORFEO, DUTTO, ROBERTO, REZZONICO, FABIO.
Application Number | 20010003789 09/141260 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11408236 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010003789 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DUTTO, ROBERTO ; et
al. |
June 14, 2001 |
EXAMINATION TABLE, PARTICULARLY IN MACHINES FOR NUCLEAR MAGNETIC
RESONANCE IMAGE DETECTION
Abstract
An examination table, particularly in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
image detecting machines of the so-called dedicated type, i.e.
designed for detecting images of specific body parts, has an at
least one-degree-of-freedom constraint (5, 6) to the machine (1),
and has support means (6, 7, 12, 402, 302) which allow the
examination table (2) to be moved in at least one, preferably two
or more degrees of freedom. Advantageously, the examination table
(2) is mounted in such a way as to be able to slide (7, 6) on a
stationary guide (5) which is fixed with a predetermined
orientation with respect to the detection cavity (101) of the
machine (1) and it may be further translated in both senses (6, 7)
along said guide (5) and rotated (11, 12) about an axis (402)
perpendicular to the direction it follows while sliding on the
guide (5).
Inventors: |
DUTTO, ROBERTO; (GENOVA,
IT) ; CONTRADA, ORFEO; (GENOVA, IT) ;
REZZONICO, FABIO; (COMO, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BURNS DOANE SWECKER & MATHIS L L P
POST OFFICE BOX 1404
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Family ID: |
11408236 |
Appl. No.: |
09/141260 |
Filed: |
August 27, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/415 ; 5/601;
5/621; 5/622; 5/624; 600/410 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/055 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/415 ;
600/410; 5/601; 5/621; 5/622; 5/624 |
International
Class: |
A61B 005/05; A47B
007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 16, 1997 |
IT |
SV97A000040 |
Claims
1. An examination table, particularly in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
image detecting machines of the so-called dedicated type, i.e.
designed for detecting images of specific body parts, characterized
in that the examination table (2) has an at least
one-degree-of-freedom constraint (5, 6) to the machine (1), and has
support means (6, 7, 12, 402, 302) which allow the examination
table (2) to be moved in at least one, preferably two or more
degrees of freedom.
2. An examination table as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that it is mounted in such a way as to be able to slide (7, 6) on a
stationary guide (5) which is fixed with a predetermined
orientation with respect to the detection cavity (101) of the
machine (1) and it may be further translated in both senses (6, 7)
along said guide (5) and rotated (11, 12) about an axis (402)
perpendicular to the direction it follows while sliding on the
guide (5).
3. An examination table as claimed in claim 2, characterized in
that the rectilinear translation guide (5) is oriented in the
direction of insertion/extraction of one part of the patient body
in or from the detection cavity (101) by a simple straight-line
translation movement, while the examination table (2) may be also
rotated (11, 12) about an axis perpendicular to said translation
direction.
4. An examination table as claimed in claim 3, characterized in
that the rectilinear guide (5) is horizontal, while the axis of
rotation (402) of the examination table is vertical.
5. An examination table as claimed in one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that it has three points of support, i.e.
two wheels (302), coinciding with two corners of one end side
thereof, said wheels (3) being also rotatable about a vertical
axis, and another point of support, coinciding with a vertical axis
of rotation (402) which corresponds to the median longitudinal axis
at the opposite end side of the examination table (2).
6. An examination table as claimed in claim 5, characterized in
that the vertical axis of rotation (402) is provided at the top of
a supporting column (12), which has a lower carriage (7) with at
least three points of support, i.e. at least one central sliding
wheel (6), associated to the guide (5), and at least two lateral
wheels (4), touching the ground, and being also rotatable about a
vertical axis.
7. An examination table as claimed in claim 6, characterized in
that there are at least two wheels (6) associated to the guide (5),
aligned one behind the other in the median vertical plane of the
examination table (2).
8. An examination table as claimed in one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that it has a stationary part (102), whose
length substantially corresponds to the average length of the human
trunk, and an overturning extension (20), provided at one end,
having the function of a footrest, which footrest (20) may be
alternately overturned and locked, by removable locking means (23,
24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32), into a projecting position, in
which it extends the examination table (2), and into a rest
position, in which it is substantially parallel to, or possibly
partially hidden along the corresponding end side of the
examination table (2).
9. An examination table as claimed in one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that it is anatomically curved, the curved
region (602) being moved towards the end side with the two wheels
(3), i.e. in the area intended to receive the pelvis.
10. An examination table as claimed in one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that the bearing plane (102) of the
examination table (2) has, at its top, the form of a tub (202),
there being provided a mattress (8), which is shaped so as to
correspond to the bearing plane (102) and has a projection (108) on
the bottom side, whose shape and size substantially correspond to
the upper tub-like hollow (202) of the bearing plane (102).
11. An examination table as claimed in one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that it has at least one, preferably a
pair of armrests (17), removably mounted (116, 117) on each side of
the examination table (2).
12. An examination table as claimed in claim 11, characterized in
that each armrest has a pair of supporting pins (117), which are
meant to be inserted in corresponding holes (116) of an attachment
plate (16) on each side wall of the bearing plane (102).
13. An examination table as claimed in claims 11 or 12,
characterized in that the armrests (17) are provided on the two
sides of the pelvis area, i.e. at the curved zone (602).
14. An examination table as claimed in one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that the vertical axis of rotation (402)
of the examination table (2), corresponding to the third point of
support thereof, is located in the area of the examination table
(2), which is associated to the upper back, while the opposite end
side has two legs (302) each at one corner, the footrest (20) being
hinged therebetween, said end side being provided substantially at
the knees.
15. An examination table as claimed in one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that the substantially plane
back-supporting part extends with a predetermined inclination with
respect to the wholly horizontal orientation, i.e. with a rising
inclination from the lowest zone of the hollow formed by the curve
(602).
16. An examination table as claimed in one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that the opposite, much shorter branch,
associated to legs (302), and provided with the overturning
footrest (20), is also oriented with a certain rising inclination
towards the end side of the examination table (2) associated
thereto.
17. An examination table as claimed in the preceding claims,
characterized in that the footrest (20) is located at an
intermediate height with respect to the bearing plane (102) of the
examination table, so that the patient may lay his feet thereon,
while laying and with bent knees.
18. An examination table as claimed in one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that it has a core made of bearing and
rigid material, particularly of metal (702, 112, 107), having
covering elements (15) being mounted thereon, with different
exterior shapes and functions (35, 36).
19. An examination table as claimed in one or more of the preceding
claims, characterized in that it may take two angular positions,
rotated 90.degree. with respect to each other and with respect to
the guide (5) for moving in the direction of insertion/extraction
of the body part in or from the detection cavity (101), in which
two positions the longitudinal axis of the examination table is
substantially parallel to the guide (5), or transverse,
substantially perpendicular to said guide (5), the former position
being used for detecting images of one or both legs, and the latter
being used for detecting images of one or both arms, or parts
thereof, arms being disposed, in the second position, perpendicular
to the trunk.
20. An examination table as claimed in one or more of the preceding
claims, and in combination with a machine (1) for detecting Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance images, characterized in that the machine has a
tubular detection cavity (101), the guide (5) being aligned with
the central axis of the cavity (101) on the same vertical
plane.
21. An examination table, particularly in machines for Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance image detection, wholly or partially as
described, illustrated and for the purposes stated above.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an examination table, particularly
in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance image detecting machines of the
so-called dedicated type, i.e. designed for detecting images of
specific body parts.
[0002] Currently, in the so-called dedicated Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance image detecting machines, i.e. those designed for
detecting images of specific body parts, and having an image
detection cavity of such a size as to prevent the insertion of the
whole body (like in the so-called total-body machines), the patient
is asked to sit or lay down on a chair or on an examination table.
The latter are of the conventional type, and have no particular
construction characteristics to comply with specific functions,
examinations and corresponding positions of the patient with
respect to the machine and to the detection cavity. Therefore,
prior art examination tables and chairs are not only very complex
and expensive, in order to ensure that the patient always has the
right position with respect to the detection cavity, but also
uncomfortable and inconvenient for patient positioning. The high
costs and the uncomfortable and time-consuming positioning
operations required by prior art equipment are the most significant
drawbacks thereof.
[0003] The invention has the object to provide an examination table
of the type described hereinbefore, which allows, by simple and
inexpensive arrangements, for easy and fast patient positioning
operations, requiring a minimum number of adjustments, without
affecting the comfort of the patient during the image detection
process.
[0004] The invention achieves the above objects by providing an
examination table of the type described hereinbefore, which is
included in dedicated machines for detecting Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance images of specific body parts, and wherein the
examination table has an at least one-degree-of-freedom constraint
to the image detection machine, and has support means which allow
the examination table to be moved in at least one, preferably two
or more degrees of freedom.
[0005] In a preferred embodiment, the examination table is mounted
is such a way as to be able to slide on a stationary guide, which
is fixed with a predetermined orientation with respect to the
detection cavity of the machine, and it may be further translated
in both senses along said guide and rotated about an axis
perpendicular to the direction it follows while sliding on the
guide.
[0006] Particularly, the rectilinear translation guide is oriented
in the direction of insertion/extraction of one part of the patient
body in or from the detection cavity by a simple straight-line
translation movement, while the examination table may be also
rotated about an axis perpendicular to said translation
direction.
[0007] Especially, the rectilinear guide is horizontal, while the
axis of rotation of the examination table is vertical.
[0008] The examination table advantageously has three points of
support, i.e. two wheels, at two corners of one end side thereof,
said wheels being also rotatable about a vertical axis, and another
point of support, coinciding with a vertical axis of rotation which
corresponds to the median longitudinal axis at the opposite end
side of the examination table.
[0009] The vertical axis of rotation is provided at the top of a
supporting column, which has a lower carriage with at least three
points of support, i.e. at least one central sliding wheel,
associated to the guide, and at least two lateral wheels, touching
the ground, and being also rotatable about a vertical axis.
[0010] Advantageously, there are provided at least two wheels
associated to the guide, one behind the other in the median
vertical plane of the examination table.
[0011] According to a further characteristic, the examination table
has a stationary part, whose length substantially corresponds to
the average length of the trunk, and an overturning extension,
provided at one end, having the function of a footrest. The
footrest may be overturned into a projecting position, in which it
extends the examination table, and into a rest position, in which
it is substantially parallel to, or possibly partially hidden in
the corresponding end side of the examination table.
[0012] The examination table is anatomically curved, the curved
region being moved towards the end side with the two wheels, i.e.
in the area intended to receive the pelvis.
[0013] In the pelvis area, i.e. in the curved region, there is
provided one removable armrest for each side.
[0014] The vertical axis of rotation of the examination table,
corresponding to the third point of support thereof, is provided in
the region associated to the upper back.
[0015] The substantially plane back-supporting area extends with a
predetermined inclination with respect to the wholly horizontal
orientation, i.e. with a rising inclination from the lowest zone of
the hollow formed by the curve.
[0016] The opposite, much shorter branch, associated to legs, and
provided with the overturning footrest, is also oriented with a
certain rising inclination towards the end side of the examination
table associated thereto.
[0017] Thanks to the arrangements described above, the examination
table according to the invention has a very simple, stout, safe,
comfortable and cost-effective construction. The parts to be
jointed to the examination table are only the footrest, the wheels
and the vertical axis of rotation. By connecting the examination
table to the machine through the horizontal rectilinear rail, the
approaching motion of the patient towards the machine, and the
insertion of the limb to be examined therein, may be limited to a
single degree of freedom, i.e. to a translation movement in said
direction of insertion/extraction of the limb in and from the
detection cavity.
[0018] Patient positioning, for performing examinations of
different limbs, particularly arms and legs, may be obtained by
simply rotating the examination table about the vertical axis.
[0019] The examination table according to the invention is
particularly provided in combination with a Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance image detecting machine having a tubular detection
cavity, i.e. of the type for alternatively detecting images of
different parts of a leg and foot, and of an arm and hand. Here,
the construction described above is notably advantageous. The guide
and hence the translation movement of the examination table in the
direction of insertion/extraction of the body part in and from the
detection cavity are oriented parallel to the axis of the tubular
detection cavity and are contained in the vertical plane also
containing the central axis thereof. In order to examine one leg or
one arm, for example a knee or a foot and one hand, a simple
rotation of the examination table is needed, in the first case with
the longitudinal axis parallel to the translation direction, and in
the second case in one of the two opposite positions transverse,
particularly perpendicular to the translation direction. Further,
the overturning footrest allows the patient to take a sufficiently
comfortable position, so that he can keep the part under
examination still, be it a part of an arm or of a leg. During the
examination of arm parts, the footrest may be turned outwardly into
the operating position, while, in order to examine a leg part,
especially a knee, it must be turned into the retracted position,
substantially flush with the examination table end facing the
detection cavity. In this way, the examination table may be
approached to the cavity to the extent required to bring the knee
in the imaging zone, without forcing the patient to take an
uncomfortable position.
[0020] The invention relates to other improvements, which form the
subject of the dependent claims.
[0021] The characteristics of the invention and the advantages
derived therefrom will appear more clearly from the following
description of an embodiment, illustrated by way of a non-limiting
example in the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance imaging machine, with an examination table according to
the invention.
[0023] FIGS. 2 and 3 are elevational and plan views respectively of
the machine according to FIG. 1, with the examination table rotated
to a position perpendicular to the direction of
insertion/extraction of the body part in and from the detection
cavity.
[0024] FIGS. 4 and 5 are views like those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
of the machine according to FIG. 1, with the examination table
oriented parallel to the direction of insertion/extraction of the
body part to be examined in and from the detection cavity.
[0025] FIG. 6 is an elevational side view of the examination table
according to the previous figures, with the mattress and one
armrest being detached therefrom.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the examination table according
to FIG. 6, with the two armrests being detached therefrom and set
up for mounting.
[0027] FIG. 8 and 9 are elevational side views of the examination
table with the footrest in the idle and operating positions
respectively.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the wheels used for sliding
along the translation guide which is integral with the machine.
[0029] FIG. 11 is a view of a wheel as seen in the direction of the
translation guide.
[0030] FIG. 12 shows a detail of the overturning footrest.
[0031] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the examination table end,
associated to the head, as taken across the rotatable support
column.
[0032] FIGS. 14 and 15 are top and magnified side views
respectively of the other construction details of the examination
table and of the bearing strengthening structure thereof, outlined
by dashed and dotted lines.
[0033] With reference to the annexed figures, a Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance Image detecting machine 1, of the type designed for
detecting images of specific body parts or limbs, like a leg, a
knee, a foot, an elbow, a hand, an arm, etc. has a tubular
detection cavity 101, wherein the limb or the body part, i.e. the
arm or the leg, are inserted in a direction parallel or
approximately parallel to the axis of the tubular detection cavity
101. Hence, in these machines, the patient is always meant to stay
outside the image detection cavity 101. In combination with the
machine, there is provided an examination table 2, which is mounted
in such a way as to be able to slide on wheels 3, 4 on a
translation guide 5 which is integral with the machine 4, and
oriented towards the axis of the tubular detection cavity 101,
preferably and particularly being contained in the vertical plane
which passes through the central axis of said detection cavity 101.
The guide 5 has a predetermined length and is shaped so as to
ensure that the shoes, or particularly the accordingly shaped
wheel/s 6, which are provided in a corresponding position in a
carriage 7 of the examination table, do not perform transversely
staggered movements, but only one translation movement longitudinal
to the guide.
[0034] The examination table consists of a supporting plane 102,
having an upper hollow, in the form of a tub 202, of the type which
flaringly tapers towards the bottom, and being meant to receive a
rear projection, accordingly flared 108, of a mattress 8, there
being provided removable means for fastening the mattress 8 to the
supporting plane 102. These means may be of any type, for example
in the form of snap fasteners, or consisting of fastening tapes of
the type known under the name of Velcro, or similar.
[0035] The total height of the examination table substantially
corresponds to the height of the lower side of the detection cavity
101, there being provided that position tolerances with respect to
height are positively uncritical for patient positioning, so that
the patient is always able to introduce the limb to be examined
into the detection cavity 101, while being in a lying position.
[0036] The bearing plane 102 and, accordingly, the mattress 8 are
concave, with the axis of curvature being transverse to the
longitudinal extension of the examination table, and with the lower
and curved zone being provided closer to one of the two examination
table ends 2, i.e. the one which will be referred to, hereafter and
in claims, as feet end. In the direction of the feet end, and of
the end being opposite thereto, referred to as the head end, the
bearing plane 102 and the mattress 8 are substantially straight, or
slightly concavely curved, and are anyway oriented on a plane which
is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, in a rising
direction towards the associated end. The examination table 102 has
such a length that the feet end terminates substantially on the
same level as a statistically intermediate point of the leg,
particularly between the knee and the trunk. Obviously, the patient
may be positioned either slightly staggered with respect to the
feet end, or slightly staggered with respect to the head end,
according to the type of limb to be examined.
[0037] The feet end has two vertical legs 302, each having, at its
end, a wheel 3, provided with brakes 103, and rotatable not only
about a horizontal axis, but also about a vertical axis.
[0038] In the zone associated to the head end, the examination
table, i.e. the plane 102 is supported by a fulcrum 402, which
coincides with the longitudinal median axis thereof, and around
which the plane 102 may rotate about a vertical axis. This may be
obtained thanks to two horizontal or substantially horizontal
plates 9, 10, which are connected in such a way as to be in mutual
rotation about one intermediate point, which is substantially
perpendicular thereto. An upper plate 10 is attached to the lower
side of the bearing plane 102, or to a flange associated thereto,
by means of a wedge-shaped spacer 11, which acts as a support,
whose inclination corresponds to that provided for the bearing
plane 102 in said attachment point. The other plate, the lower
plate 9 is carried at the top of a vertical column 12, extending
upwards from a lower carriage 7.
[0039] The carriage 7 has two successive translation rollers in the
median area and in line along the guide 5, said rollers being
shaped so as to be complementary to the cross section of the guide.
The rollers are supported, by an upper plate 107 of the carriage 7
through forks 207. The rollers may be also elastically supported by
elastic means, for example springs 13, interposed between a support
bracket 307, for example an equalizer or a bracket being able to
swing or slide vertically and a matching member, integral with the
plate 107. The springs 13 may be associated to means 14 for
adjusting their preloading state, for example screw means for
generating a certain precompression of the swinging arm 307 on the
spring 14.
[0040] The carriage 7 also has two transverse wings 407, which are
substantially symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal median
axis, each one bearing, at a certain distance from said axis and
symmetrically thereto, one wheel 4, which is to touch the ground
and to rotate both about a horizontal axis and about a vertical
axis. The wheels 4 may be also provided with braking or locking
means 104.
[0041] The bearing plane 102, the carriage 7 and the column 12 all
have a construction provided with an inner load bearing core, for
example made of metal, like sheet metal, or similar, or of any
material suiting its mechanical characteristics, said core having
mounts 112 for fastening coverings or cases 15, made of a material
unfit for bearing structures. Hence, finishing operations are
greatly simplified thanks to this substantially modular structure.
So, for example, the bearing plane of the examination table also
has a load bearing core 702, only shown by way of indication, which
is covered by a case, providing it with the desired exterior
shape.
[0042] In the hollow area 602, being designed to receive the
pelvis, the bearing plane 102 has one mount for each side, for one
armrest 17 respectively. The armrests consist of elements having an
approximately trapezoid shape, when seen in a side view. The means
for removable attachment thereof to the plane 102 of the
examination table 2, consist of a pair of transverse pins 117,
which are meant to engage in holes 116 matching the pins 16 on the
sides of the plane 102 of the examination table. One pin, being
radially larger, acts as a support pin, and the other has the
function to prevent the armrest 17 from rotating about the support
pin.
[0043] A footrest 20 is attached to the two legs 302 at the corners
of the examination table end, associated to feet. The footrest is
supported so as to overturn about a horizontal axis, between at
least one outwardly projecting operating position, and an idle
position, in which it is substantially parallel to the plane
subtended by the two legs 302 of the examination table, or may be
even retracted so as to be hidden in a recess formed between the
two legs, and partially in the two legs 302, appropriately
shaped.
[0044] The footrest 20 is hinged about a horizontal axis,
transverse to the longitudinal axis of the examination table 2, and
located at an intermediate height between the ground and the plane
102. The height of the hinging axis is chosen in such a way that
the patient may have his trunk laid, while the lower part of the
leg, from the knee down, is substantially vertical and the foot
rests on the footrest 20. This allows the patient to be in a
relatively comfortable and stable position, i.e. with his body on
the same axis as the detection cavity 5, when images of a foot
region, or of the leg region below the knee are to be detected.
Conversely, in order to detect images of the knee, the footrest 20
is turned to the idle position, allowing the examination table 2 to
get closer to the machine 1, while the leg under examination rests
on the structure of the machine 1, and the other leg is kept
slightly bent in a relatively comfortable position, forming an
inverted V, with the knee up, or kept sideways, in said inverted V
position.
[0045] Obviously, the vertical position of the hinging axis may be
easily adjustable, by providing that the hinge is mounted on a
sliding saddle, and that it may be locked in its position in two
lateral guides, each fixed to a leg 720.
[0046] In most cases, by setting the height of the hinging axis of
the footrest 20 to the average body size of patients, the hinging
axis may be fixed, as in the present example.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 12, the footrest 20 has a central
extension 120, forming a first fork 220, on the side designed to be
jointed. The first fork 220 has, on its two branches, two through
holes, for the passage of a horizontal and transverse hinging pin,
which passes through coincident holes formed on the two branches of
a second fork 802, projecting out of the examination table end 102,
and whose branches superpose the inner faces of the two branches of
the first fork 220. Between the branches of the second inner fork
802 and those of the first outer fork 220, there are provided two
plates 902. The latter have means for attachment to the branches of
the second fork 802, for example pins or pegs, schematically shown
by their axis, indicated as 23, the hole for the passage of the
hinging pin 21 and a hole 24, at a predetermined radial and angular
distance from the hinging axis 21, for engaging a locking tooth or
pin 25, which is alternately movable in the axial direction of the
hole 24 to a position in which it is retracted from the hole 24 and
to a position in which it is engaged in the hole 24, said
engagement position corresponding the footrest 20 being locked in
the outwardly overturned operating position.
[0048] The locking pin 25 is slidably supported in a tubular guide
26, integral with the corresponding branch of the first fork 220,
and is subject to the action of an elastic member, preferably a
spring 27, which stably pushes it into the position in which it is
retracted from the hole 24, and against a retraction end-of-stroke
matching member 28. The latter extends beyond the diameter of the
pin and forms, together with an annular enlarged wall, a guide for
a driving rod 29, which has, at its free end, a wedge-shaped
surface having the function of a cam 129. When the rod, together
with the wedge-shaped cam, slides transverse to the axis of the
locking pin 25, it causes the pin to move to the position in which
it is engaged in the hole 24, against the action of the spring 27.
The rod 29 extends up to the lateral area of the footrest 20, which
is shaped like a box, and the end opposite to the cam 129 is
jointed into an intermediate point of an operating lever 30, whose
fulcrum 31 corresponds to its end inside the footrest 20, whereas
it projects by a driving button or shaped end, at its free end,
into a lateral niche 320 of the footrest 20. The lever 30, and
thereafter the rod 29 and the cam 120 are stably pushed into the
position in which the pin 25 is engaged in the hole 24 against the
action of the spring 27, by another spring 32. Hence, the lever 30
need only be driven to disengage the locking pin 25 from the hole
24, in order to unlock the footrest 20 from the operating position,
and to bring it into the inwardly turned idle position, against the
legs 302.
[0049] The figures show another characteristic, consisting in that
the plane 102 of the examination table 2 has several cavities,
recesses or niches, both on its ends and sides. These hollows are
indicated as 35, 36 and handle elements 33 are fastened thereat.
The handle elements 33 and the niches 35, 36 are so shaped that the
former may be easily and comfortably grasped, although they do not
protrude or project out of the space occupied by the plane 102,
unless to an insignificant extent.
[0050] FIGS. 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 show the potentialities and
functions of the examination table according to the invention.
[0051] In FIGS. 2 and 3, the examination table is oriented
transverse, particularly perpendicular to the axis of the detection
cavity 101, and hence of the translation guide 5. In this position,
the footrest 20 may be set in any position, as the patient desires.
This arrangement of the examination table is particularly
recommended for the treatment of arms and hands. In this case, a
part of the patient body comfortably lays on the examination table,
whereas the arm to be treated, or the one associated to the hand to
be treated, is outwardly oriented, in the natural position in which
it is held out transverse to the body, which position is also
substantially on the same axis as the detection cavity 101. So, the
patient takes a perfectly comfortable position, corresponding to
the functional characteristics of the limb. In this way, he can
more easily keep his limb relaxed and still during the image
detection process. The introduction and the extraction of the arm
into and from the detection cavity 101 is simply obtained by
translating the examination table 2 along the guide 5. Thanks to
the fact that the examination table 2 may be rotated about the
vertical axis 102, the orientation of the examination table 2 may
be adjusted with respect to that of the detection cavity 101
without interruption and in such a way as to obtain the best
patient positioning.
[0052] In order to detect images of one leg or parts thereof, the
examination table 2 is rotated until its longitudinal axis takes a
position substantially parallel to the axis of the detection cavity
101. In this position, the patient, on the examination table 2 is
oriented in such a way that his legs are substantially aligned with
the detection cavity 101. The leg is introduced in the correct
position into the detection cavity 101 and extracted therefrom, by
a translation movement along the guide 5. This case also provides
that the examination table 2 may be angularly displaced to be
adjusted with respect to the axis of the detection cavity 101.
[0053] According to the extent whereto a leg is inserted into the
detection cavity 101, the footrest 20 is in the operating position,
or turned to the idle position. As a rule, the footrest 20 may be
kept in the operating position when a foot or a heel are to be
examined. Conversely, when images of a knee are to be detected, the
footrest is to be brought to the idle position, so that the
examination table may be further approached to the opening of the
detection cavity 101.
[0054] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments
described and illustrated herein, but may be varied, especially as
regards construction, without departure from the guiding principle
disclosed above and claimed below.
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