U.S. patent number 3,652,851 [Application Number 04/841,236] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-28 for patient's couch for radiological radiation.
This patent grant is currently assigned to U.S. Philips Corporation. Invention is credited to Willem Zaalberg.
United States Patent |
3,652,851 |
Zaalberg |
March 28, 1972 |
PATIENT'S COUCH FOR RADIOLOGICAL RADIATION
Abstract
A table for supporting a patient during radiological treatment,
the table having first and second surfaces longitudinally spaced
apart defining between them a transverse gap, and a beam connecting
and supporting the second surface with the first surface, the beam
being movable between different transverse positions in the gap
area to provide unimpeded radiation.
Inventors: |
Zaalberg; Willem (Emmasingel,
Eindhoven, NL) |
Assignee: |
U.S. Philips Corporation (New
York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
19804178 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/841,236 |
Filed: |
July 14, 1969 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
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Jul 18, 1968 [NL] |
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6810132 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/601; 5/613;
269/61; 378/209 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
6/04 (20130101); A61N 5/01 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
6/04 (20060101); A61N 5/01 (20060101); G03b
041/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;250/54-58 ;269/322 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lawrence; James W.
Assistant Examiner: Birch; A. L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A patient's couch for radiological treatment comprising a
patient-supporting surface formed by two sections disposed in
longitudinally spaced relationship, thus defining between them a
transverse gap of separation, a junction unit which connects the
two sections and is formed by a beam disposed longitudinally in
said gap, an arm extending laterally from each end of the beam,
from each arm a stub shaft extending generally parallel to and
spaced from the beam axis, and a cradle secured to each of said
sections, each cradle including bearings for receiving and
supporting one of said stub shafts, whereby the beam is pivotable
about said shafts and thus movable transversely in the gap, and
means for maintaining said sections in a co-planer relationship,
independent of the adjustable position of the beam.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a
main shaft rotatably disposed in said beam, each end of the shaft
engaging one of said sections.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the first section has a
generally fixed orientation, and rotation of said means in one
direction about the stub shaft engaging said first section, cause
equal rotation of the second section in the opposite direction
about the other stub shaft, whereby the second section is
maintained co-planer with the first section.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each cradle comprises a
semicircular element with teeth on the curved periphery, and said
main shaft has a pinion on each end engaging the teeth of one of
said cradle elements.
5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each cradle comprises a
nonrotatable sprocket, and said main shaft has a sprocket on each
end, and the apparatus further comprises a chain engaging each
cradle sprocket and one main shaft sprocket.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a cover
positionable to bridge the gap between said spaced sections.
7. A patient's couch for radiological treatment comprising a stand,
a first patient-supporting section fixedly secured to the stand, a
second patient-supporting section longitudinally spaced from the
first section defining a transverse gap therebetween, a junction
unit connecting the two sections, the unit including first and
second stub shafts rotatably engaged to the first and second
sections respectively, and a beam extending between and connecting
the stub shafts, whereby the junction unit is cantilever-supported
by the first section and the second section is cantilever-supported
by the junction unit, the beam being pivotable about said stub
shafts and thus movable transversely in the gap.
Description
In radiological treatment of patients with X-rays or gamma-rays it
is common practice to vary the direction of the beam striking a
body part to be treated, in order to concentrate the dosage of
radiation at a given place in the body, whereas ambient tissue is
affected to a lesser extent. A known device for carrying out the
radiation in this way is the rotation-therapy apparatus comprising
a radiation source adapted to move along the circumference of a
circle, the beam of rays being invariably orientated towards the
center of the circle. The radiation source may be moved
continuously along the circumference of the circle, but the
radiation is often directed in different ways while the source
stands still during radiation. A further possibility resides in the
displacement of the radiation source with respect to the plane of
radiation at right angles to the rotary axis on either side over a
given distance, while by turning the source, the beam remains
directed to the point of intersection of the rotary axis and said
plane.
By means of the couch the patient to be treated is moved in the
reach of the radiation source (circular or cylindrical plane). In
order to provide sufficient space for the movement of the radiation
source, the couch top is supported at one end by a supporting
column, whereas the other end extends in self-supporting fashion in
the space of irradiation. The required rigidity is obtained by
arranging the table top on a longitudinal girder, for example, a
hollow beam of semi-elliptical section with a flat top surface. The
quantity of material thus moved into the radiation beam leads to
attenuation of the radiation by absorption when the beam is
orientated so that the rays have to penetrate through the table
before reaching the region of the body to be irradiated.
There is known a patient's couch having coverable openings in the
table top structure so that attenuation of the radiation in given
directions is avoided. A greater freedom in selecting the
disposition of the radiation source is provided by a further known
couch whose bearing top is divided by a void into two bearing
surfaces which are separated from each other and in the
longitudinal direction of the couch are in line with each other,
the connection between the bearing surface being established by a
stationary supporting beam. Due to its fixed position this
supporting beam may be a source of trouble in some cases, when
radiating from below, for treating regions in the vicinity of the
vertebral column, so that the patient has to be displaced laterally
over the couch top. This disadvantage is reduced in a further known
couch in which the portions of the bearing top are interconnected
by movable supporting beams, which are provided with orthogonal
side arms with stub shafts, which are rotatably journaled in bushed
fixed to the bottom sides of the bearing surfaces. By turning the
supporting beams around the stub shafts in the bushings, the place
and the transverse size of the free space between the supporting
beams can be changed so that the rays can pass unhindered.
Nevertheless a quite real restriction of the space angle in which
the source for upward radiation can be arranged is not obviated in
this way.
The present invention has for its object to obviate this
restriction as far as possible. In the new patient's couch the
bearing top consists of two supporting surfaces separated from each
other by an intermediate space and interconnected by a supporting
beam having side arms at both ends; to these arms stub shafts are
secured which extend parallel to the supporting beams, and are
journaled in bearing cradles fastened to the supporting surfaces. A
mechanical coupling is provided between the two supporting surfaces
as well as a shaft adapted (i) to turn in the supporting beam and
(ii) to transfer the angle of rotation of the supporting beam
relative to one supporting face in the opposite sense to the other
supporting surface.
An appropriate mechanical coupling comprises semicircular toothed
rims fastened to the two supporting surfaces, the teeth being in
mesh with pinions, which are rigidly connected with each other by
an uninterrupted shaft inside the supporting beam. The mechanical
coupling may be alternatively formed by chains passed around chain
sprockets at the ends of the shaft passing through the supporting
beam and around serrated discs fastened to the supporting surfaces.
Other known energy transmission gears, for example, comprising
ropes or steel belts, may also be employed.
The drawing illustrates particularities of a patient's couch in
accordance with the invention, in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of such a couch,
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of a mechanical coupling comprising
meshing teeth,
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the couch,
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view thereof,
FIG. 5 is and end view thereof, and
FIG. 6 shows a variant of the mechanical coupling.
The patient's couch of FIG. 1 comprises a supporting column 1, to
which one supporting surface of the couch top is secured, which is
formed by the supporting surfaces 2 and 3. The two supporting faces
are separated from each other by a clearance space 4 and
interconnected by a supporting beam 5, provided at each end with a
transverse arm 6 and 7 respectively, which are rotatably journaled
by means of stub shafts to be described hereinafter in bearing
bushings fastened to the supporting surfaces.
The supporting surfaces 2 and 3 are provided with semicircular
toothed segments 8 and 9 respectively (FIG. 2). The teeth of the
segments are in mesh with the pinions 10 and 11, which are each
fastened to one end of a common shaft 12. The shaft 12 is rotatably
journaled in a bore in the supporting beam 5 so that the pinions 10
and 11 are rotatable in common and not rotatable separately. The
engagement between the teeth of the pinions and the segments
renders the supporting beam 5 rotatable about the stub shafts 13
and 14, while the mechanical coupling prevents a displacement of
the supporting surface 3 with respect to the supporting surface 2
held by the supporting column 1.
The supporting beam 5 with the two side arms 6 and 7 and the stub
shafts 13 and 14 secured thereto provides the required rigidity for
the connection of the self-supporting surface 3 with the supported
surface 2 because the stub shaft 13 beneath the supporting surface
2 is held in a bushing 15 in the circular toothed segment 8 and in
a second bushing 16 in a bearing block 17 secured to the supporting
surface 3, whereas beneath the supported surface 2 in the circular
toothed segment 9 and in a bearing block 18 secured to said surface
bearing bushings 19 and 20 are provided for holding the other stub
shaft 14. (FIGS. 3, 4, 5). The supporting beam 5 is illustrated in
these Figures in a horizontal position on one side, but by turning
it about the stub shafts 13-14 through an angle of 180.degree. it
can be moved into the horizontal position on the other side, while
the beam can occupy any intermediate position, while the pinions
10-11 roll along the toothed segments 8-9 so that they prevent
fatigue of the self-supporting surface 3. The supporting surfaces 2
and 3 are shown in the simplest form, which does not mean to
exclude other known form for increasing the bearing capacity.
Another device corresponding to the desired mechanical coupling
comprises chains replacing the toothed rims and providing a less
rugged construction of relatively lower weight (FIG. 6). For the
sake of clarity the supporting surfaces are not shown in this
Figure; they are supposed to be provided with bearing cradles 21
bolted thereto and comprising bushings 22. On one side the cradles
serve for journaling a stub shaft 13, fastened to one of the side
arms 7 of the supporting beam 5 and on the other side the cradles
serve for journaling the second stub shaft 14, connected with the
other side arm 6 of the supporting beam 5. The two bearing cradles,
arranged at a short distance from the side arms, have rigidly
connected with them a circular guide disc 23 and a shaft 12 is
taken through the supporting beam 5 and is provided at each end
with a chain sprocket 24. An endless chain 25 is taken along each
of the guide discs 23 and each of the chain sprockets 24, the chain
being secured against displacement around the guide discs by a
safety pin 26, fastened to the bearing cradles and penetrating in a
link of the chains. Consequently a turn of the supporting beam 5
about the two stub shafts does not affect the relative positions of
the supporting surfaces with which the cradles are connected.
For closing the opening 4 between the two supporting surfaces 2 and
3 the self-supporting surface 3 may be provided with a displaceable
cover 27 (FIG. 1).
* * * * *