US3652851A - Patient{40 s couch for radiological radiation - Google Patents

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.

Description

United States Patent Zaalberg [451 Mar. 28, 1972 [54] PATIENT'S COUCH FOR [56] References Cited RADIOLOGICAL RADIATION UMTED STATES PATENTS [721 Invent: balms Emmasingel Eindhmen' 3 428 307 2/1969 Hunter et al. ..2so/s4 x Netherlands 3,466,439 9/1969 Setala ..250/54 [73] Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation, New York, NY. [22] Filed; July 14 1969 Primary Examiner-James W. Lawrence Assistant Examiner-A. L. Birch [21] APPINO': 841336 AttorneyFrank R. Trifari [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT July 18, 1968 Netherlands ..68 I01 32 A table f r supporting a patient during radiological treatment, the table having first and second surfaces longitudinally U-S- 250/54, paced defining between them a transveme gap and a 2; beam connecting and supporting the second surface with the 1 le o are 269/322, first surface, the beam being movable between different mum verse positions in the gap area to provide unimpeded radiation.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMMBIQIZ v 3.652.851

sum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. WILLEM ZAALBERG BY M 16- AGENT PATENTED 2m2 3, 652.851

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR.

WILLEM ZAALBERG AGET PATIENT'S COUCH FOR RADIOLOGICAL RADIATION In radiological treatment of patients with X-rays or gammarays 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 selfsupporting 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 patients 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 joumaled 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 patients 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 rated 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 patients 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 patients couch of FIG. 1 comprises a supportingcolumn 1, to which one supporting surface of the couch top is secured, which is formed by the supportingsurfaces 2 and 3. The two supporting faces are separated from each other by a clearance space 4 and interconnected by a supportingbeam 5, provided at each end with atransverse arm 6 and 7 respectively, which are rotatably joumaled by means of stub shafts to be described hereinafter in bearing bushings fastened to the supporting surfaces.

The supportingsurfaces 2 and 3 are provided withsemicircular toothed segments 8 and 9 respectively (FIG. 2). The teeth of the segments are in mesh with thepinions 10 and 11, which are each fastened to one end of acommon shaft 12. Theshaft 12 is rotatably joumaled in a bore in the supportingbeam 5 so that thepinions 10 and 1 l are rotatable in common and not rotatable separately. The engagement between the teeth of the pinions and the segments renders the supportingbeam 5 rotatable about thestub shafts 13 and 14, while the mechanical coupling prevents a displacement of the supportingsurface 3 with respect to the supportingsurface 2 held by the supportingcolumn 1.

The supportingbeam 5 with the twoside arms 6 and 7 and the stub shafts l3 and 14 secured thereto provides the required rigidity for ,the connection of the self-supportingsurface 3 with the supported surface Z because thestub shaft 13 beneath the supportingsurface 2 is held in abushing 15 in thecircular toothed segment 8 and in asecond bushing 16 in abearing block 17 secured to the supportingsurface 3, whereas beneath the supportedsurface 2 in thecircular toothed segment 9 and in abearing block 18 secured to said surface bearing bushings l9 and 20 are provided for holding theother stub shaft 14. (FIGS. 3, 4, 5). The supportingbeam 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 it can be moved into the horizontal position on the other side, while the beam can occupy any intennediate position, while the pinions 10-11 roll along the toothed segments 8-9 so that they prevent fatigue of the self-supportingsurface 3. The supportingsurfaces 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 withbearing cradles 21 bolted thereto and comprisingbushings 22. On one side the cradles serve for journaling astub shaft 13, fastened to one of theside arms 7 of the supportingbeam 5 and on the other side the cradles serve for journaling thesecond stub shaft 14, connected with theother side arm 6 of the supportingbeam 5. The two bearing cradles, arranged at a short distance from the side arms, have rigidly connected with them acircular guide disc 23 and ashaft 12 is taken through the supportingbeam 5 and is provided at each end with achain sprocket 24. Anendless chain 25 is taken along each of theguide discs 23 and each of thechain sprockets 24, the chain being secured against displacement around the guide discs by asafety pin 26, fastened to the bearing cradles and penetrating in a link of the chains. Consequently a turn of the supportingbeam 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 supportingsurfaces 2 and 3 the self-supportingsurface 3 may be provided with a displaceable cover 27 (FIG. 1).

What is claimed is:

l. A patients 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 toclaim 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 toclaim 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 coplaner with the first section.

4. Apparatus according toclaim 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 toclaim 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 toclaim 1 further comprising a cover positionable to bridge the gap between said spaced sections.

7. A patients 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.

Claims (7)

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.

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