JP2006525839A - Patient support table with wiring guidance means - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (10) for enabling patient handling according to the present invention comprises an electronic unit for enabling appropriate patient examination. The patient to be examined is placed on a patient support table. The patient support table has a table top (4a) that can be translated relative to a table base (4b). In order to operate this device, a control means (12) is provided. This control means (12) is electrically connected to the table-based connection box (6) via suitable wiring. The device according to the invention comprises a connection box (4c) for the table top, which is preferably attachable to the table top (4a) at the foot of the table top. The wiring to the control means is sent from the table base connection box (6) to the table top connection box (4c) via the table leg (4b) under the table top (4a). The connection box (4c) comprises a second connection means providing a suitable connector. The wiring extending from the exit point on the table leg to the connection box on the table top is accommodated in the guiding means, which keeps the individual cables in place during translation of the table top. Any suitable hollow container can be selected with an appropriate length to match the translation of the top. Preferably, the guiding means are fixed to two stationary fixing points, for example the table leg (2b) and the table top connection box (4c). A set of hooks (5) is arranged on a rail (not shown) of the tabletop (4a) to accommodate the wiring extending from the tabletop connection box (4c) to the control means (12). be able to.

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for enabling patient handling. The device comprises an electronic unit for performing the handling, a translatable patient support table and control means for controlling the device. The device further comprises a wiring to the control means.

  The invention further relates to a patient support table.

  Devices as described in the opening paragraph are known as prior art medical diagnostic equipment. An example of this known device is an X-ray diagnostic unit for enabling X-ray examination of a patient. For this purpose, the patient is placed on a patient support table, which is translatable in multiple directions, most commonly in three orthogonal x-, y-, and z-directions; It can rotate around an axis. In conventional devices, the patient support table is rotatable about a vertical axis, however, in more sophisticated devices, it is also foreseen to rotate around a horizontal axis. The X-ray inspection unit further includes a gantry equipped with an X-ray source and an X-ray detector. Conventionally, an X-ray source and an X-ray detection unit are mounted on a C-shaped gantry that can rotate around a horizontal axis. In order to examine the patient, the patient support table is placed in xyz space so that X-rays emitted from the X-ray source block the patient's target area. The known X-ray apparatus further comprises control means for controlling the translation of the X-ray source, the X-ray detector and the patient support table. Since the control means is arranged to be replaceable, the position of the control means on the patient support table is frequently changed by the operator relative to the patient support table due to the patient handling procedure. As such, it can be changed for the convenience of the operator. Providing wiring to the X-ray inspection apparatus is a common practice, and this wiring extends to a remote location where the remote computer is located. Most commonly, this wiring path is divided into two sub-paths. The first sub-path includes the distance between the remote point and the patient support table. This first sub-path terminates in a first connection means, commonly referred to as a table-based connection box, and the second sub-path is the distance between the table-based connection box and the control means of the device including. The wiring of this second sub-path is long enough not to interfere with translation and rotation of the patient support table to the maximum range. The wiring of the second sub-path is most often arranged so that the wiring is partially placed on the floor surface or hung near the table to have an unnecessary length.

  A disadvantage of the known device is that the wiring with a plurality of separate cables extends freely in the area where the patient is handled, which causes the wiring to become entangled and hooked around the patient support table. In addition, if the cables are substantially bent, they will easily break and limit the overall durability of the device.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for handling a patient with improved cable durability.

For this purpose, in the device according to the invention, the wiring is at least partly housed in a substantially flexible guiding means that substantially matches the displacement of the patient support table. Some criteria,
i) Wiring allows the patient support table to translate undisturbed to the maximum extent.
ii) Unnecessary cable length is minimal in the patient handling area.
iii) Limit wiring bending and twisting during translation of the table top.
There has long been a need in the field of device handling patients for solutions to arrange the wiring to meet.

  Different approaches are known in the art that aim to meet at least some of these criteria. Initially, the individual cables are arranged in individual spirals, which are stretched during translation of the table top. This approach creates even greater problems when individual helices are tangled or twisted together. When the individual helical loops are twisted together near the table top, translation of the patient support table in the longitudinal direction is prevented. Bending and twisting of individual cables can still occur. Moreover, if these cables are often pulled, the elasticity of the twisted cables decreases with time. Secondly, an attempt is made to select a unique position of the control means relative to the table top. This approach is not welcome in the medical field because it involves all the operator of the device having to select a unique position for operating the device. For example, for cardiac intervention procedures, this solution is opposed because the operator is constantly changing his position relative to the patient. Finally, it has been proposed to place all cables in a single tube that extends from the foot end of the patient support table to the table base. This solution is still disadvantageous because it thus impedes the accessibility of the patient support table. In addition, the tube body is bent over a significant angle which still causes the contained cable to break. Moreover, it is conventionally known in the medical community that multiple extra meters are provided to a patient during a procedure for handling the patient. This tube is an obstacle to extra instrument wiring.

  The technical measure of the present invention is based on the insight that it is advantageous to further subdivide the second sub-path of this wiring. By providing a substantially flexible guiding means for accommodating the cable that matches the displacement of the patient support table, the cables do not change position relative to each other and are subject to twisting during translation and rotation of the table top. There is no. The materials and configuration of these guiding means can be appropriately selected to avoid sharp bending of the resulting assembly. This technical measure protects the wiring from breakage, thereby increasing durability. In order to facilitate the reconnection of the wiring, it is further advantageous to arrange a first connection means and a second connection means at each end of the guiding means. Since the control means can be mounted on the side rails of the patient support table, a cable receiving means is provided on the side of the patient support table to accommodate the cable path between the control means and the second connection means. It can be seen that it is more advantageous to provide. An example of a suitable cable housing means is a hook.

  In an embodiment of the device according to the invention, the patient support table has a table top with a front surface and a rear surface for supporting the patient, and the guiding means is immediately behind the rear surface of this table top, which is substantially parallel to the plane of the table top. Located nearby.

  This technical measure has the advantage that the plane of the table top is used as a protective member for the guiding means due to the spatial configuration of the guiding means according to the invention. As a result, there is no interference with auxiliary equipment wiring. When the table top is translated vertically, the guiding means as a whole move with this table top and are not exposed to the surrounding environment. In the field of interventional applications, this leads to the surprising advantageous effect that the cable remains uncontaminated, for example with blood, during patient handling.

  In another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the guiding means comprises an assembly of interconnected segments arranged in a movable manner just below the table top of the patient support table. A person skilled in the art can translate the table top to the maximum range in the long axis direction by selecting a control means having an appropriate length and installing the guide means in a movable state under the table top. I understand that. Suitable flexible hollow chains assembled from a plurality of segments are known per se. The e-chain carrier system available in the market under the igus® trade name is a suitable example of a hollow chain. The use of this assembly to accommodate a cable for a patient handling device is a surprising and stunning solution that meets the above criteria, as described above. When the assembly is attached to two stationary points, for example, the table top foot and the table leg, the assembly slides in the table top while being oriented substantially horizontally in space. Demonstrate the sliding movement between the position and the position to slide out. This assembly can have only one degree of freedom in the horizontal direction. This is advantageous because the assembly does not flex under the action of gravity and does not require additional securing means to keep the assembly in place.

  In yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention, a patient support table is provided which comprises a boundary part for steering the movement of the guiding means. It has proved advantageous to arrange a patient support table with a boundary portion that limits the space utilized by the guiding means. This technical measure is particularly advantageous for guiding means that allow bending in the horizontal plane beyond the width of the table top. In order to reduce cable breakage due to sharp bend radii, it has been found particularly advantageous to limit the bend radius to about 15 cm.

  These and other aspects of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the figures.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a conventional device for handling a patient, as known in the art. This apparatus 1 is an X-ray diagnostic unit having an electronic unit 2 for enabling X-ray examination. The electronic unit 2 includes an X-ray source 2a and an X-ray detector 2b. The patient to be examined is placed on the patient support table 4. The patient support table 4 has a table top 4a that can be translated with respect to the table base 4b. The table top 4a is defined by a table head 4e and a table foot 4e '. In order to operate this apparatus 1, a set of control means 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d and 12e is provided. All the control means 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d, 12 e are electrically connected to the table base connection box 6 through the wiring 8. The control means 12 has the necessary user interface that allows the operator to perform patient handling. It should be noted that the control means 12 can have a plurality of independent units placed at different locations around the table top 4a. The table-based connection box 6 is connected to a remote location via wiring, most commonly this wiring extends under the floor. During patient handling, the table top 4a is placed in xyz space such that the x-ray beam emanating from the x-ray source 2a is blocked by the patient's target area. In order to have an orientation that is tilted with respect to the x-ray beam, the table top can be rotated about a vertical axis (not shown), which is preferably located approximately in the middle of the table top. In order to be able to see different parts of the patient, the position of the X-ray beam relative to the patient is optimal through proper positioning of the table top 4a and proper rotation and angulation of the unit 2 It becomes. In order to achieve this proper positioning, the operator of the device 1 uses the control means 12c. In order to minimize the X-ray exposure to the operator and improve the operability, the control means 12 is frequently placed at different positions on the table top 4a. Since the control means 12 includes the wiring 8 that is entangled in the table foot 4e 'or hooked on the hook, the exchange of the control means is not easy. Next, the wire 8 is bent by the operator pulling the wires to unwind the wires while wrapping behind the table foot or hanging on the hook, or by repetitive movement of the table top 4a. Or torsion, which leads to breakage of the wiring 8.

  FIG. 2a shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a device comprising guiding means according to the invention. The guiding means (not shown) is placed in the immediate vicinity of the rear surface of the table top 4a and is substantially parallel to the plane of the table top. As a result, this guiding means is protected by the table top, thereby providing a compact structure that does not require any special space to accommodate it. Next, when the table top 4a is translated in the vertical direction, the guiding means moves as a whole with the table top and is still substantially accommodated by the table top 4a. This feature is particularly advantageous for invasive applications, where the cable and the guiding means are not contaminated, for example by blood. In addition, for the purpose of sterilization, the table top 4a can be easily covered with a protective cloth together with the guiding means. The device 10 comprises a tabletop connection box 4c, which can be attached to this tabletop 4a, preferably at the foot of the tabletop. Wiring (not shown) is sent from the table base connection box 6 to the table top connection box 4c via the table leg 4b below the table top 4a, which is connected to the control means 12a-12e. The second connecting means 4d is provided to provide an appropriate connection to a wiring (not shown) extending in the direction. Profile 7 is preferably provided on the flange at the end of the foot of the table top on which the control means is mounted. The wiring extending from the exit point of the table leg to the connection box on the table top is accommodated in the guiding means 16, examples of which are shown in FIG. 2b (direction B to the table head) and FIG. 2c (direction A to the table foot). Are shown in detail. Preferably, all of the necessary wiring to the control means 12 is a single guiding means that leaves the freedom to be arranged to move the control means 12 or the convenience of the operator In any one of the modules located anywhere on the patient support table. This is because there is a second connecting means 7, and a relatively short path of the wiring coming out of the second connecting means 7 extends freely in the space, and the control means 12 or any one of its modules This is possible due to the fact that any desired displacement along the table top is possible. The guiding means 16 can be a suitable hollow container that is selected with a suitable length to keep the individual cables in place during the displacement of the table top 4a and to match the maximum displacement of the table top. . Preferably, this guiding means is fixed to two stationary fixing points, for example the table leg 4b and the table top connection box 4c. During translation of the table top 4a, the guiding means 16 slides under the surface of the table top 4a, thereby coinciding with the movement of the table top. The configuration and material of this guiding means can be selected from products known per se. An example of a suitable guiding means is a tube of suitable diameter and suitable stiffness to avoid sharp bend radii. In this case, the tube must be fixed to the rear surface of the table top to prevent deflection. After this, a chain assembled from a plurality of segments can also be used as guiding means. If this chain has only one degree of freedom in the horizontal plane, it will not bend under the influence of the Earth's gravitational field. In order to accommodate the wiring extending from the table top connection box 4c to the control means 12, a set of hooks 5 can be arranged on a rail (not shown) of the table top 4a.

  FIG. 2b shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the first fixed point of the guiding means. In this embodiment, a chain 16 having segments connected to each other is selected as the guiding means. The dimensions of the chain 16 are selected such that the wire 8 is housed within the volume of the chain, while the wire 8 is not bent sharply during the sliding movement of the chain and the wire is not twisted. The chain 16 at its first end 16 "is fixed to the leg 4b in the immediate vicinity of the rear surface 4f of the table top. In this way, the wiring together with the guiding means prevents translation of the table. Without being entangled with auxiliary medical device wiring (not shown), Fig. 2c shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the second fixed point of the guiding means 16, facing the table foot. The means 16 is fixed at its second fixing point 16 ′ to the table top connection box 4 c and is supplied with electrical connection with the control means by a suitable electronic unit 18.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a patient support table comprising guiding means according to the present invention. For ease of understanding, the table top has been removed to show the guiding means 16 over its entire length. The guiding means 16 has a plurality of interconnected segments 16a that preferably allow only one degree of freedom of the entire assembly in the horizontal direction, schematically indicated by the arrow H. When the table top occupies the position where it slides, the guiding means 16 represents an O-shaped structure. Due to the fact that the guide means is fixed in the first fixed position 16 ′ and the second fixed position 16 ″, as the table top translates in the longitudinal direction along the arrow T, the guide means slides and The connection box 4c on the table top is provided with a plurality of connectors 4d to allow electrical connection to the wiring of the guiding means 16 and the wiring of the control means (not shown) .Limiting the width of the O-shaped structure In order to do this, it is advantageous to provide a boundary part on the patient support table, in this embodiment a plurality of boundary parts 19 are shown, which are preferably distributed along the path of the guiding means 16.

1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a conventional device for handling a patient, as known in the art. Figure 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of an apparatus comprising guiding means according to the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a first fixed point of the guiding means. Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a second fixed point of the guiding means. Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a patient support table comprising guiding means according to the present invention.

Claims (7)

  An apparatus for enabling handling of a patient, comprising an electronic unit for performing the handling, a translatable patient support table, and a control means for controlling the apparatus, the apparatus further comprising: A device having wiring to said control means, at least partly housed in a substantially flexible guiding means to substantially match the displacement of the patient support table.   The patient support table has a table top with a front surface and a rear surface for supporting the patient, and the guiding means is in the immediate vicinity of the rear surface of the table top that is substantially parallel to the plane of the table top. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is placed.   3. The guide unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide means has an assembly composed of mutually connected segments, and the assembly is arranged so as to be movable substantially immediately below a table top of the patient support table. The device described.   4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the patient support table is provided with a boundary portion for steering the movement of the guiding means.   4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the assembly is bendable with a minimum radius of 15 cm.   6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the device enables X-ray examination of a patient.   A patient support table for use in the apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.

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