Source Support Patents (Class 378/193)
  • Patent number: 6735274
    Abstract: A computerized tomographic imaging system (31) including a vertical movement arrangement (32, 35) for moving gantry of said system vertically while rotating about the object being imaged (44) to provide a helical scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Opher Zahavi, Simha Levene
  • Publication number: 20040081285
    Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes two photographic systems, a control circuit controlling a movement of the second photographic system. A control circuit which controls movement of a photography system can move the photographic system to a temporary evacuation position closer to a photography position than an evacuation position, according to an instruction from an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: Atsushi Gotoh
  • Patent number: 6705758
    Abstract: A mobile X-ray apparatus has a carriage provided with at least one pair of independently driven driving wheels and a motor. The carriage includes a driving handle, which comprises sidebars, attached to a rotation axis solidly fixed to the carriage, and a crossbar, which is connected to the sidebars in an articulated manner to allow the turning movement of the sidebars about the said axis independently of each other. The apparatus also controls the operation of the motor by movements of the handle. The sidebars are provided with a toothed rim that moves along with the movement of the respective sidebar. The movements are measured by a potentiometer, which converts the movement into an electric signal by which the motor of the driving wheels is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Instrumntarium Corp.
    Inventors: Jarmo Luusua, Petri Pohjoispuro, Petri Pyrrö
  • Patent number: 6702459
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile radiographic unit with improved x-ray scatter control. Improved x-ray scatter control is provided through the alignment of the system with the focal line of an anti-scatter grid. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises an x-ray source assembly, a tube housing mounting, an automatic measuring means, a motion control means and a processing means in communication with the automatic measuring system and the motion control system. The alignment of the system occurs with minimal input by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: The UAB Research Foundation
    Inventors: Gary T. Barnes, David T. Gauntt
  • Publication number: 20040008820
    Abstract: An x-ray support device, including a radiation source and a radiation receiver, which are both movably supported on the ceiling either via a common support or each via separate supports, in which a support has a first boom rotatable about an essentially vertical pivot axis and extending essentially horizontally, and a second boom disposed rotatably about a vertical axis and extending essentially horizontally, on which the radiation source and/or the radiation receiver are supported directly or indirectly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas Schmitt
  • Patent number: 6659642
    Abstract: A system and method of x-ray imaging is provided that includes a support base, a bearing assembly supported by the support base, and a non-circular positioning arm rotating in a semi-elliptical path relative to the support base through the bearing assembly. The non-circular positioning arm has first and second distal ends. The shape of the non-circular positioning arm conforms to a shape of a portion of a linear spiral. The system and method also includes an x-ray source located at the first distal end of the positioning arm, an x-ray detector located at the second distal end of the positioning arm. The x-ray source emits a conical beam having a theoretical central beam. The central beam passes through an origin of the linear spiral. The system also includes an imaging isocentric area located between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector. The imaging isocentric area remains substantially constant when the noncircular positioning arm rotates relative to the support base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventor: Barry Keith Hanover
  • Patent number: 6644852
    Abstract: Two independently articulated arms supporting an x-ray tube and x-ray detector, respectively, are mounted offset to the patient and controlled to simulate a wide variety of conventional x-ray positioners. The articulated arms provide for at least two axes of independent motion. An axis controller sends movement signals to each axis, and receives position signals from each axis to coordinate movement of the axes of the articulated arms according to a contained program. A network interface communicates with the axis controller for receiving at least a portion of the program over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology
    Inventors: Michael M. Crain, Daniel I. Kerpelman
  • Patent number: 6644853
    Abstract: A dental x-ray tube head having a housing with an x-ray tube mounted in it, with improved shielding for preventing stray radiation from emanating outside of the path of the primary x-ray beam. The shielding includes an inner hollow element encasing the x-ray tube and having an aperture through which the primary beam projects, with an open end for connecting wires to the x-ray tube. The shielding further includes an outer hollow element which fits over the inner element in such a way as to cover the open end, with clearance for the wires connected to the tube. Both the inner element and the outer element are comprised of a mixture of polypropylene and barium sulfate. The combination of the inner element and the outer element completely surrounds the x-ray tube with the barium sulfate impregnated material, eliminating the use of lead within the tube head, and thereby providing excellent electrical insulation characteristics besides the x-ray attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventors: Arkady Kantor, John Griser
  • Patent number: 6637936
    Abstract: An x-ray positioner is provided having two independently articulated arms supporting an x-ray tube and x-ray detector, respectively, that are mounted offset to the patient and controlled to track a bolus travelling through a patient. A controller is provided with feedback information regarding the bolus to determine the rate of travel, and to produce motion signals to the arms to automatically track the movement of the bolus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology
    Inventors: Michael M. Crain, Michael J. Pajerski
  • Publication number: 20030190014
    Abstract: An X-ray device includes a cart, a pole vertically provided on the cart, and a telescopic-type extendable supporting arm. The extendable supporting arm is formed of a hollow first arm with one end attached to the pole, a hollow second arm inserted in the first arm to be horizontally movable therein, and a third arm inserted in the second arm to be horizontally movable therein. Also, an X-ray tube device is provided on one end of the third arm. The extendable supporting arm has a synchronous moving mechanism for horizontally moving the third arm according to a horizontal movement of the second arm, and an extension/contraction operating handle attached to the second arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nakagawa, Tatsuya Araki, Kimihiro Takahama, Hiroshi Miyata, Mitsuhiro Hashimoto, Toshiaki Nakamura, Takahiro Kamitake
  • Patent number: 6614871
    Abstract: To a supporting frame having an opening portion used to insert a table for mounting thereon an object under examination along a horizontal direction, a rotary member rotated around the opening portion is mounted; and a medical X-ray apparatus is provided with a first supporting member supported by the rotation member, for supporting an X-ray tube apparatus which irradiates an X-ray to an object under examination; a second supporting member for supporting a detection apparatus for detecting a transmission X-ray of the object under examination, the second supporting member being supported by the rotary member and being arranged opposite to the X-ray tube apparatus; a rotation control apparatus for controlling a rotation of the rotary member; a control apparatus for setting an irradiation angle of said X-ray with respect to a body axial direction of the object under examination to an arbitrary irradiation angle, and also for arranging the detection apparatus opposite to the X-ray tube apparatus in correspondence
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Kobiki, Tsutomu Suzuki, Yutaka Takuma
  • Publication number: 20030103597
    Abstract: A medical examination installation has an MR system and an X-ray system that has an X-ray radiator with an X-ray tube and a solid-state X-ray image detector for producing X-ray exposures. The X-ray system has sensors for the acquisition of the location dependency of the stray field of the MR system in the three spatial axes, and coils for compensation of the stray field, and a computer that uses the output signal of the sensors to calculate a current for the coils which cause the stray field to be reduced in the region of the electron beams of the X-ray tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventor: Hartmut Sklebitz
  • Patent number: 6550964
    Abstract: Covering device comprising two rigid cover elements associated respectively with a first and with a second unit having a relative mobility, the two rigid cover elements having apertures opposite one another, and a flexible cover element having two opposite ends a first end of the flexible cover element being fixed directly to the aperture of the first rigid cover element and its second end being fixed to a rigid positioning flange whose shape is adapted to the shape of the aperture of the second rigid cover element and which comprises joining means cooperating with complementary means provided on the second unit for the flange to position the second end of the flexible cover element, in all relative positions of the two units, in such a way that the position of the second end corresponds to the position of the aperture of the second rigid cover element after placement of the latter on the second unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Francis Guerit, Yann Delmas
  • Patent number: 6530689
    Abstract: A unit has a bearing part and a carrying arrangement which is mounted by a mounting side on the bearing part so that it can be adjusted relative to the bearing part. The carrying arrangement is provided with a handle for the manual adjustment of the carrying arrangement relative to the bearing part. The handle is arranged on the mounting side of the carrying arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rainer Ertel
  • Publication number: 20030035506
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for mounting an x-ray tube to a gantry disk of a CT scanner. The system is designed to make lifting and handling a heavy and cumbersome x-ray tube easier for a person removing or replacing the x-ray tube in a CT scanner. The system includes a harness adapted to be secured to the x-ray tube, at least two elongated rods secured to the harness, and two elongated tracks adapted to be secured to the gantry disk such that the tracks extend generally parallel with a z-axis of the CT scanner. Each track includes a channel for slidingly receiving one of the rods. The present disclosure also provides a method of mounting an x-ray tube in a gantry of a CT scanner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Andrew P. Tybinkowski, Ronald E. Swain, Michael J. Duffy, Lidia Nemirovsky
  • Patent number: 6519312
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for mounting an x-ray tube to a gantry disk of a CT scanner. The system is designed to make lifting and handling a heavy and cumbersome x-ray tube easier for a person removing or replacing the x-ray tube in a CT scanner. The system includes a harness adapted to be secured to the x-ray tube, at least two elongated rods secured to the harness, and two elongated tracks adapted to be secured to the gantry disk such that the tracks extend generally parallel with a z-axis of the CT scanner. Each track includes a channel for slidingly receiving one of the rods. The present disclosure also provides a method of mounting an x-ray tube in a gantry of a CT scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Analogic Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew P. Tybinkowski, Ronald E. Swain, Michael J. Duffy, Lidia Nemirovsky
  • Patent number: 6485176
    Abstract: Inspection systems with rho-theata x-ray source motion for inspection of populated printed circuit boards and the like. The inspection systems include a transport system for transporting articles to be inspected into and out of the inspection system. An x-ray source is mounted on a first radial translation system adjacent one side of the article to be inspected for translation along an axis parallel to the article to be inspected. The first translation system is rotatably mounted about an axis perpendicular to the article to be inspected so that the x-ray source may be positioned and moved anywhere within an area by proper coordination of the angle of rotation of the rotary transport system and the translational position of the first translational system. The exemplary embodiment disclosed also includes a second translational system supported on the first translational system for movement of the x-ray source in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary transport system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Photon Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Liang Chen, Jason T. McGaffey, Clifford S. Schuring
  • Publication number: 20020118793
    Abstract: A universal X-ray device has a movably suspended holder at which an X-ray radiator and a radiation detector are arranged, with the radiator being mounted so as to be pivotable around at least one axis perpendicular to the plane of the holder, and with the detector being displaceably mounted in the detector plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Heinz Horbaschek
  • Patent number: 6431751
    Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system with a C-arm (12) for supporting an x-ray source (28) and a flat panel image receptor (30). The C-arm further including a coupler (36) that permits the C-arm (12) to be removably attached to different ceiling-mounted support structures (16), and to a mobile cart (92) for mobile C-arm imaging applications. A transport cart (62) is provided to transport the C-arm (12) from a first operating room to a second operating room. A mobile equipment cart (56) can accompany the transport cart (62). Alternately, a central control facility (72) can provide command and control signals for the C-arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Dennis K. Everett, Leonard F. Plut, Donald E. Negrelli, John A. Shovary, William C. Widlicka
  • Patent number: 6422747
    Abstract: In a movable type X-ray photographing apparatus, when a lever handle is operated, a force F for pushing the lever handle is inputted into a CPU from right and left pressure sensors provided in the handle. The CPU receives signals of rotational numbers V of motors from right and left encoders, and calculates a pulse width W=&agr;×f (V)×F. In accordance with the calculated pulse width W, a PWM control circuit carries out an ON-OFF duty control of a switching element in a bridge circuit of a motor driving circuit. An output torque T of the motor driving circuit is subjected to a PWM control so as to maintain a relationship (T=&agr;×f). Accordingly, the torque T truly proportional to the pushing force F is outputted from the motor, and a natural operation can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Akutsu, Tatsuya Araki
  • Publication number: 20020085682
    Abstract: An X-ray apparatus, having a C-arm X-ray device with at least one electrically operable component that is arranged at a C-arm that is adjustable relative to a holding mechanism, has an arrangement disposed in or at the C-bend or the component and are connected to the component for the transmission of data and/or energy, and another arrangement for the transmission of energy that are disposed in or at a housing connected to the holding mechanism. The exchange of data and/or the transmission of energy between these arrangements ensues in contactless fashion, and the transmission of the data and/or of the energy ensues continuously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Peter Noegel, Andreas Schultz
  • Publication number: 20020031201
    Abstract: The rotary member carrying the X-ray radiation unfit and the X-ray detection unit and rotated around a subject is used as the rotor. The rotor is provided with a rotor core and a plurality of conductors connected to the core. The stator has at least one set of stator core and stator winding, the at least one set of stator core and stator winding being adapted to clamp the rotor and arranged at opposing positions. A three-phase AC current is supplied to the stator winding to generate a rotating magnetic field to rotate the rotor and thereby rotate the rotary member at high speed. Because the scan time can be reduced, the X-ray CT scanner can scan such moving organs as heart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Tsutomu Suzuki, Hiroshi Takano, Eiichi Makino, Takaaki Kobiki, Akira Kurome
  • Publication number: 20020003864
    Abstract: In a radiographic apparatus, a pole to which an X-ray tube device is fixed is independently evacuated on a head side or a foot side of a top board through an operation of an X-ray tube pole evacuating switch. A subject or patient is laid on a top board, and a secondary X-ray tube device suspended from an overhead traveling portion is moved to be positioned over a concerned portion of the subject. Then, an X-ray image detecting portion moving switch is operated so that an X-ray image detecting portion is moved to a position, corresponding to the concerned portion under the top board. Under the state, remote radiographing, such as chest radiographing, is carried out. Thus, the remote radiographing can be carried out by a radiographic stand capable of fluoroscopying and radiographing without separately installing a radiographing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Applicant: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Mikihiko Katoh
  • Patent number: 6318892
    Abstract: A radiography apparatus is constituted by an image pickup unit including an X-ray source for irradiating cone shaped X-ray beams to a patient under examination and an image receptor disposed opposite the x-ray source for receiving x-ray image data of the patient by the irradiated cone shaped x-ray beam; a cylindrical ring which carries the image pickup unit, defines a sufficient space to receive the patient therein so as to permit relative positional change of the patient with respect to the image pickup unit and is supported so as to permit rotation around its center axis; a second arm, an image pickup unit; a first video image processing unit; a second video image processing unit; and a change-over device which changes-over the x-ray image data obtained from the image pickup unit either to the first video image processing unit or to the second video image processing unit, whereby a three-dimensional x-ray image of the patient is obtained depending on necessity during an IVR while temporarily resting or inte
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Suzuki, Takaaki Kobiki, Hiroshi Takagi, Nobuhiko Matsui
  • Publication number: 20010040941
    Abstract: Belt tensioner comprising a support, a roller designed to be in contact with the belt to be tensioned, a roller carrier on which the roller is mounted rotationally and which is mounted on the support so as to move back and forth between two extreme positions, a spring arranged between the support and the roller carrier in such a way as to urge the roller carrier continuously from a first to a second of the two extreme positions, a two-way switch mounted on the support in such a way as to be actuated by the roller carrier to occupy a first state only when the roller carrier is at the first extreme position and to pass into the second state when the roller carrier has left this first extreme position under the action of the spring, and means for mounting the support on a base so that the roller carrier occupies the first extreme position only when the belt is intact and has a predetermined tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventor: Bernard Charpillat
  • Publication number: 20010036251
    Abstract: Joining device between two covers having a relative mobility, surrounding two units comprising between them mechanical, electrical, fluid and similar connecting means, passing into apertures arranged in the covers. The device comprises a flexible hollow element that is shaped so as to surround the connecting means like a sheath, the two ends of which are joined to the apertures of the covers. The two covers are generally parallelepipedal in shape and are arranged at approximately right angles to one another. At least one of the two ends of the element in sheath form is shaped so as to be joined to the corresponding cover in at least two contiguous sides of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventors: Francis Guerit, Christian LeBlach, Francois Lenfant, Jean-Michel Marteau
  • Patent number: 6309102
    Abstract: An x-ray examination positioner has a base and an arm whose first end is rotatable around a first axle attached in the base and whose second end is connected to a holder in which a curved carrier is displaceably arranged. One end of the carrier carries an x-ray tube and the other end thereof carries an x-ray these being directed toward one another. In combination with an examination table, the carrier can be brought from a head-placed attitude into a vertical side attitude and/or into a lateral position while retaining the imaginary isocenter and, moreover, the physician has very good access to the patient, by rotatably attaching the holder of the carrier to the arm via a second axle. The first axle and the second axle are oriented such that respective imaginary extensions thereof as well as the central ray between the x-ray tube and the receptor intersect at a common point in all attitudes of the arm and of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens-Elema AB
    Inventor: Per Stenfors
  • Patent number: 6302581
    Abstract: A support system for a radiation treatment system includes a rotatable extension arm extending from a vertical shaft and a rotatable counterbalance extending diametrically opposed to the extension arm from the vertical shaft. The vertical shaft is rotatably supported by a support base. The support base may include a damping mechanism to damp the rotational motion of the vertical shaft relative to the support base, wherein the damping force is preferably proportional to the velocity of the vertical shaft. The radiation treatment system is suspended from a cable extending from a distal end of the extension arm. The extension arm can be formed from a first arm extending from the vertical shaft and a second arm rotatably coupled to the first arm in order to permit the radiation treatment system to be moved in horizontal direction. The cable supporting the radiation treatment system can be coupled to a vertical counterbalance weight to allow the vertical position of the radiation treatment system to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Photoelectron Corporation
    Inventors: Alan P. Sliski, Kenneth J. Harte
  • Publication number: 20010024487
    Abstract: In a movable type X-ray photographing apparatus, when a lever handle is operated, a force F for pushing the lever handle is inputted into a CPU from right and left pressure sensors provided in the handle. The CPU receives signals of rotational numbers V of motors from right and left encoders, and calculates a pulse width W=&agr;×f(V)×F. In accordance with the calculated pulse width W, a PWM control circuit carries out an ON-OFF duty control of a switching element in a bridge circuit of a motor driving circuit. An output torque T of the motor driving circuit is subjected to a PWM control so as to maintain a relationship (T=&agr;×f). Accordingly, the torque T truly proportional to the pushing force F is outputted from the motor, and a natural operation can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Akutsu, Tatsuya Araki
  • Publication number: 20010012332
    Abstract: A unit has a bearing part and a carrying arrangement which is mounted by a mounting side on the bearing part so that it can be adjusted relative to the bearing part. The carrying arrangement is provided with a handle for the manual adjustment of the carrying arrangement relative to the bearing part. The handle is arranged on the mounting side of the carrying arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rainer Ertel
  • Publication number: 20010005410
    Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray device which includes an X-ray source (2) and an X-ray detector (3) which are mounted at a respective end of a common holding device (12), the holding device (12) being attached to the room (9) by way of a supporting device (18). In order to realize a more flexible construction of such X-ray devices that are widely used and are usually provided with a holding device (12) in the form of a C-arm and nevertheless maintain a high positioning accuracy, the invention proposes to compose the supporting device (18) of a plurality of hinged, serially interconnected supporting members (15, 16, 17). The supporting device is to be formed notably by a serial manipulator, for example, a conventional robot arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Volker Rasche, Hermann Schomberg, Erhard Paul Artur Klotz
  • Patent number: 6241387
    Abstract: A ceiling support for an X-ray source with a decouplable tomogram drive, has a transverse carriage suspended so as to be displaceable along a longitudinal ceiling running rail with the tomogram drive. The tomogram drive has a driven gearwheel on the drive shaft of a drive motor which is rigidly secured to the transverse carriage. The tomogram drive has a displacement gearwheel that meshes therewith and that is seated on a rocker which is pivotable around the drive shaft. The rocker can be pivoted by a switchable drive element into engagement with a toothed rack secured to the longitudinal ceiling running rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Will
  • Patent number: 6195407
    Abstract: A determinate positioner assembly comprises a helical cam, such as a threaded lead screw, a follower element which continuously contacts the lead screw in a predetermined number of places for a determinate condition (neither over- nor underconstrained), an elastic member connecting the follower element to the leadscrew, and a driven element. The elastic member maintains continuous contact between the follower element and the cam, yet the combination of the elastic member and the follower element exert substantially zero net force on the cam in the x and y directions. The follower element is attached to the driven element with pivot structures which transmit axial movement from the follower element to the driven element and permit the follower element to “float” in the x and y directions while prohibiting its rotation about the x, y and z axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Analogic Corporation
    Inventors: John McGregor Dobbs, Brian Michael McDermott, James Albert Bowers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6181770
    Abstract: An X-ray source interlock kit includes a probe-based portion integral with an X-ray source in communication with a peripheral-based portion, the interlock kit serving as an interface between an X-ray treatment system and a given class of peripheral devices. Peripheral devices are classified based on their shielding characteristics and whether or not radiation is permitted with the device, and include, for example, a stereotactic frame, a probe adjuster, and a photodiode array. The probe-based portion includes a probe side bushing having two optical source-detector pairs housed therein and interlock electronics, which accomplish signal processing as required. The peripheral-based portion is the form of a peripheral side bushing which is coded with the shielding and radiation information for a given class of peripheral devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Photoelectron Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Rocco Ciravolo, Francis M. Feda, Dave Violette
  • Patent number: 6164820
    Abstract: X-ray examination installation, particularly for computed tomography for mammography, has a rotating bulb x-ray tube with a cathode-side drive as its x-ray source, with the tube being oriented so that its anode faces toward the exposure side or actuation side of the system. The distance between the x-ray beam exit window of the tube, and the exposure side or actuation side of the system, thus is made small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erich Hell, Detlef Mattern, Peter Schardt
  • Patent number: 6162523
    Abstract: The invention concerns a novel support which has at least one bearing unit (1,2,4,16,40) made from a fiber-reinforced synthetic material and which is therefore light and stable and has positive optical characteristics. In a further embodiment, the invention is provided with vibration damping means between adjacent bearing elements (1,2,4,16,40) or parts of the bearing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems AG
    Inventors: Andreas Metelski, Kari-Heinz Wager
  • Patent number: 6095684
    Abstract: An X-ray tube frame support assembly includes an annular support structure defining an interior chamber and having an interior surface surrounding and spaced radially outwardly from an X-ray tube frame disposed within the interior chamber, a quantity of cooling fluid contained in the interior chamber about the X-ray tube frame, and contact elements spaced from one another and mounted to the support structure so as to protrude radially inwardly from the interior surface into the interior chamber of the support structure and through the quantity of cooling fluid contained therein toward the X-ray tube frame such that the contact elements contact and hold the X-ray tube frame therebetween. Each contact element includes a body defining a hollow interior cavity and having apertures allowing passage of the cooling fluid into and from the interior cavity of the body for providing a passive damping of any vibrational movement of the X-ray tube frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rok Sribar, Brent Lyle Bristol
  • Patent number: 5940470
    Abstract: A medical X-ray system having a radiation source (5) and a radiation receiver (6) which receives radiation emitted by the source. The two components are arranged on a common support (7), the radiation receiver being mounted on the support in such a way that it can be detached and mounted to at least one further system component (11), in particular a wall bucky.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrike Palm-Plessmann, Claudius Molz
  • Patent number: 5848126
    Abstract: A radiation computed tomography apparatus of this invention includes a couch, a top board which carries the patient and is slidably arranged on the couch, a gantry which has an opening and acquires projection data of a patient by guiding the patient carried on the top board into the opening, reconstruction section for reconstructing the tomographic image of the patient by reconstructing the projection data acquired by the gantry, and adjusting section, arranged on or near the gantry, for adjusting the photographing condition of the patient for obtaining a predetermined tomographic image of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hidehiro Fujita, Masatoshi Tomura, Hisashi Tachizaki, Hideki Fujimoto, Manabu Hiraoka, Masaharu Tsuyuki, Naoko Hasegawa, Tomoyasu Komori, Makoto Suzuki, Hiroshi Hori, Yasuo Maruyama
  • Patent number: 5835557
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first X-ray image system and a second X-ray image system. Each X-ray image system includes a devices for emitting X-rays and a radiation receiving device located in the direction of the radiation. These are disposed, on receiving radiation, to emit signals to a TV-monitor. The two X-ray image systems form an integral X-ray image unit which is supported by a carrier device. By means of a connection device, the X-ray image unit is movably connected to the carrier device and, in association with the connection device, the X-ray image unit is movably journalled for altering the angle of inclination of a plane through the center axes of the rays for the two X-ray image systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Swemac Orthopaedics AB
    Inventor: Kent Malmstrom
  • Patent number: 5729587
    Abstract: An x-ray exposure apparatus is freely movable in space without a cable, and allows the electronic production of x-ray images at the bed of a patient. The apparatus includes a cart with an image receiver, such as an amorphous silicon-based solid state detector, to which an image memory on the cart is allocated. Power supply ensues by means of a rechargeable battery that is integrated into the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Roland Betz
  • Patent number: 5680436
    Abstract: A system (60) for mounting a cylindrical item such as an x-ray tube (18) or pipe (73) to a flat surface includes a plate (63) having a slot (67) therein. A clamp arm (69) is rotatably carried on a bolt (68) so that it is spaced from the plate (63). The cylindrical item may be received in that space and clamped between the clamp arm (69) and the slot (67) of the plate (63) upon rotation of the clamp arm (69). The system (60) is particularly suited for a wall-mountable x-ray system (50) which includes a pair of parallel, spaced tracks (11, 12) mounted on a wall and capable of receiving, through either of their open ends (35,36), traveller assemblies (13, 14). One traveller assembly (13) carries system (60) and the other traveller assembly (14) carries x-ray receiving and patient locating equipment (16). The traveller assemblies (13, 14) are movable on the tracks (11, 12), which movement is assisted by handles (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventor: Richard C. Nyzen
  • Patent number: 5612989
    Abstract: A medical diagnostic and/or therapeutic apparatus provided with a C-arc support (2) for, for example an X-ray source (4) and an X-ray detector (6). The support (2) comprises two complementary U-profiles (26) which are connected to one another by way of their flanges (28), using two rod-shaped parts (20) with grooves (24) which extend parallel to the axis of the rod-shaped parts (20) and receive the flanges (28). The flanges (28) are fixed in the grooves (24) by holes (30) which are provided in the rod-shaped parts (20), extend perpendicularly to the plane of the grooves (24), and overlap the grooves (24), in said holes there being arranged pressure pieces (40) which are interconnected by a connection rod (46) which interconnects two oppositely situated pressure pieces (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Adrianus Van Der Ende
  • Patent number: 5583909
    Abstract: A C-arm apparatus. A C-shaped member is slidably supported in a suspended position by a support arm. The support arm is rotatable about an axis of lateral rotation and is slidably mounted to an outer circumference of the arc-shaped member at a point of attachment coinciding with the axis of lateral rotation. Since the support arm is attached to the C-shaped member in alignment with the axis of lateral rotation, the support arm does not introduce eccentric lateral moment-arm action during lateral rotation and thereby provides a more stabile, balanced support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: OEC Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry K. Hanover
  • Patent number: 5550891
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting an X-ray source in a space having at least one wall and used for exposing patients to X-ray radiation, the apparatus comprising: an upright support member mountable adjacent to the wall; a slidably movable carriage supported by the support member and slidable thereto for planar movement in a plane parallel to the wall; a source assembly mounted to the slidable carriage, and adapted to receive the X-ray source, the source assembly including: a horizontally projecting base member fixed to the carriage; a horizontally extending tubular member pivotally mounted to the base member for pivotal motion in a horizontal plane; a stem receivably journalled within the tubular member for horizontal reciprocation with respect thereto; and a source attachment fixed to the source and including a collar journalled around the stem to provide rotational movement in a vertical plane about the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Olympic Controls Corp.
    Inventors: Robert L. Burbury, James W. Cutter
  • Patent number: 5544217
    Abstract: A mobile medical X-ray apparatus has the entire weight of its X-ray source and X-ray detector as well as their supporting arm supported by a vertically movable support column on a mobile table. A lever and a member for supporting a normally compressed spring are attached to the table rotatably, and they are also connected to each other rotatably with respect to each other around a connector shaft such that the force of the spring tends to rotate the lever in the direction of causing the support column to move upward. The spring constant of the spring and the relative positions of the lever and the spring-supporting member are determined such that the support column can be moved manually upward or downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Kadowaki, Hajime Takemoto, Shojiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5503416
    Abstract: An undercarriage for heavy diagnostic equipment having a selectably engageable swivel mechanism activated by the movement of a cam to allow the undercarriage to be turned when desired and rolled in a straight line when necessary, a selectably engageable braking mechanism to prevent movement of the undercarriage when desired, but allowing the undercarriage to be moved quickly if needed, and a balance wheel assembly to prevent the undercarriage and equipment from becoming unstable when encountering obstacles, while allowing the undercarriage to be rolled up inclines. An aspect of the invention allows the swivel and braking mechanisms to be selectively engaged from the same point along the undercarriage, thereby providing superior control of the undercarriage and the equipment which it carries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: OEC Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Aoki, Timothy D. Bowman
  • Patent number: 5475730
    Abstract: X-ray apparatus carrying an X-ray tube as a source and an image intensifier as a receptor on opposite ends of a two-limbed C-Arm has a horizontal support arm extending from a base to a vertical support arm for the C-arm. The vertical arm has a plurality of telescoping tubular sections which can be extended or contracted along a vertical axis to raise or lower the C-arm relative to the level of the base. The horizontal arm also extends telescopingly to increase the space between the base and C-arm to give free passage of medical personnel through the space, the base having a height sufficient to hold the horizontal arm above a moderately tall operator. The horizontal arm is pivoted on a vertical axis through the base to swing the C-arm, X-ray tube and image intensifier over a patient table in coordination with extension of the horizontal arm or rotation of the vertical arm sections to scan the X-ray tube and receptor over a large area of the patient table. All movements may be manual or motorized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: John K. Grady
    Inventor: John Galando
  • Patent number: 5469492
    Abstract: Assemblies for mounting X-ray generating apparatus, and permitting the horizontal and vertical adjustment thereof, are provided, which mounting assemblies comprise(a) a frame comprising a pair of horizontally spaced vertical members and one or more horizontal members extending transversely across the vertical members;(b) a first carriage extending transversely across the vertical members of the frame;(c) slidable engaging means for enabling the first carriage to travel vertically up and down in respect to the vertical members of the frame;(d) a second carriage comprising means for attaching X-ray generating apparatus;(e) slidable engaging means for enabling the second carriage to travel horizontally from side to side in respect to the first carriage; and(f) removable decorator panels mounted to said frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Optima Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Burbury, Phillip P. Nuccio
  • Patent number: RE36415
    Abstract: An improved, portable X-ray tomography system is disclosed wherein lateral movement of the various tomography components relative to a stationary patient during a scanning procedure is precisely controlled by mechanical displacement means which, in tarn, is coupled to electro-mechanical means for simultaneously measuring and monitoring the amount of the displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Analogic Corporation
    Inventor: Gilbert W. McKenna