US2679442A - Serialographic attachment for X-ray examination tables - Google Patents

Description

y 1954 H. E. KOERNER EIAL SERIALOGRAPHIC ATTACHMENT FOR X-RAY EXAMINATION TA Filed Dec. 2, 1952 wmwssss:

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VENTORS Harry E. Koerner 8| Robert J. Wagner.

ORNEY Patented May 25, 1954 SERIALOGRAPHIC ATTACHMENT FOR X-RAY EXAMINATION TABLES Harry E. Koerner and Robert J.

more, Md., assignors to Corporation, East Pitts tion of Pennsylvania burgh,

Wagner, Balti- Westinghouse Electric Pa., a corpora- Application December 2, 1952, Serial No. 323,649

2 Claims. (Cl. 311-42) Our invention relates to X-ray examination tables and in particular relates to a pivoted support by which a fluorescent screen or spot-film may be moved in and out of table top when it is desired to graphic to fluoroscopic or other uses of the table.

In current practice in X-ray examinations, the patient is usually supported usually tiltable through a wide range of angles relative to the horizontal, make fluoroscopic or spot-film examinations, and also to make radiographic pictures. In the former, a screen on which the image appears is positioned parallel to and above the table, while in the latter case the X-ray tube is positioned in the space above the table. It is accordingly necessary to provide a frame for holdin the fluoroscopic screen and spot-film device above the table in the former case, but which may be moved out of the way of the X-ray tube when radiographs are to be taken.

One object of our invention is accordingly to being made.

Another object of our invention is to provide the distance of the X-ray tube or view-screen from the X-ray table is adjustable by the operator, such mechanism operating to hold the screen parallel to the table and then to move it out-of-the-way when radiographs are to be taken, without interference from such adjustments by the operator.

Another object is to provide a mechanism capable of performing the above-mentioned functions in which the weights of the moving parts are counterbalanced so that all changes may be carried out by the operator without substantial exertion.

provide a new and improved type of medical X-ray apparatus.

Other objects of our invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

and is equipped tov perspective of the mechawith the screen-support frame positioned parallel to the X-ray table in position for a fluoroscopic examination,

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the frame parked in its out-of-the-way position while a radiography is in progress.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the X-ray table i is supported in conventional fashion on a base (not shown) on which it may be tilted through angles up to degrees to the horizontal. The U. S. Patent 2,504,687 to O. C. Hollstein may be referred to if more detailed information as to such an X-ray table support is desired. The

Figure l is a view in stands always perpendicular to table I. tower is well known in X-ray table practice and its connections to table I will accordingly not be described here other than to note that it may be moved lengthwise or crosswise of table I to any desired position within travel limits. The thus, in accordance with present X-ray practice, adjust the position of tower 4 along or across table I and adjust the position of carriage 3 in the directions perpendicular thereto.

The frame 2 is pivotally supported by two yoke arms 5 at its opposite edges, the arms 5 being supported in turn on axle 6 which passes through journals in the end-walls of carriage 3. The inner end of frame 2 is held by a lock 2A to the front side of carriage 3 when the arms 5 are turned to the Fig. 1 position in which frame 2 is parallel to table I, and when unlocked can slide downward in contact with said front side.

An arm 7 is attached to the end of arm 5 inside the carriage 3 ing a grooved rim may run. A grooved idler-pulley II is supported on a bearing on the end-walls of carriage 3. The cable 9 having one end fastened at l2 to the wall of carriage 3 runs under idler 8, over idler I I, down through the bottom of carriage 3, under a grooved idler pulley 13 supported on bearings from the side wall of tower 4, through that side wall around another grooved idler-pulley l4 and vertically upward to a spring I 5 attached to counterweight IS. A second cable l1 attached to the top of counterweight l6 passes over idler pulleys l8 and 19 at the top of tower 4, then downward around a pulley 21 having bearings affixed to carriage 3, and out through the wall of the latter to a collar on the pivot which interconnects frame 2 to support arm 5.

When the operator adjusts the height of the its other end journalled about one of the pivots at said second horizontal axis, and a second cable fastened to said counterweight and passing over a third idler-pulley journalled to said tower near fluorescent screen in frame 2 above the table l, it lower end, then over a fourth idler-pulley the carriage 3 slides on tower 4 but the cables 9 and I! move the counterweight it in the opposite direction, and its weight is of such value as to approximately balance that of carriage 3 and journalled to pulley journa end of sai 2. In comb said carriage, then over a fifth idlerlled on one of said yoke-arms, the d cable being fastened to said carriage. ination with an X-ray examination the parts attached to it, so that only a Sli h force table, a tower supported perpendicular to said need be exerted in making this adjustment.

When the operator wishes to have the frame 2 removed to its out-of-the-way position as shown in Fig. 2, he releases the lock 2A and the tension table at one side thereof, a carriage movable along said tower, a pair of yoke-arms journalled on a first horizontal axis to the walls of said carriage, a frame pivoted to said yoke-arms on exerted by counterweight 16 through cable i1 a second horizontal axis which is higher than said moves the outer ends of arms 5 upward folding the frame 2 back against the face of carriage 3 into a perpendicular position to table I as shown in Fig. 2. The idler 8 on arm I is moved when end of said terweight w a1 axis, means to releasably lock the frame to hold it horizontal, a counithin said tower free to move longitudinally with respect to said tower, a first cable arm 5 films, to take p the Slack in cable 9 Which fixed at one end to said counterweight and passresults from the slight lowering of counterweight l6 incident to this change in the position of frame 2. Spring l5 helps to maintain a constant tension on the cables 9 and I1 to insure that they ing over a first idler pulley journalled to said tower near the center of the upper end, then passing over a second idler pulley journalled to said tower near an edge of the upper end, then never slip out of the grooves in the pulleys over passing over a third idler pulle journalled on which they run. The lock portion at 2A slides downward in a groove in the face of carriage 3.

In the following claims the term horizontal merely means parallel to the table face which said carriage closer to a horizontal plane passing through said second horizontal axis than is said first horizontal axis, said cable having its other end journalled about one of the pivots at lies against the patients y, and up, down 30 said second horizontal axis, and a second cable and such words merely mean directions perpendicular to that face.

We claim as our invention: 1. In combination with an X-ray examination fastened to said counterweight and passing over a fourth idler pulley journalled to said tower near the center of the lower end, then over a fifth idler pulley journalled to said tower near an edge table, a tower supported perpendicular to said of the lower end, then over a sixth idler pulley table at one side thereof, a carriage movable up and down said tower, a pair of yoke-arms journalled on a first horizontal axis in the walls of said carriage, a frame pivoted to said yoke-arms on a second horizontal axis which is higher than said first horizontal axis, means to releasably lock the end of said frame to hold it horizontal, a

counterweight within said tower free to move up plane passing through said second horizontal axis than is said first horizontal axis, said cable having journalled to idler pulley journalled on one of said yoke-arms, the end of said second cable being fastened to said carriage.

said carriage, then over a seventh References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Humphreys Sept. 10, 1929 Pohl Oct. 31, 1939 Swaisgood Dec. 22, 1942 Grobe Apr. 6, 1943 Mueller et al May 15, 1951

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