RU2783016C2 - First element of case of articulation node for detachable connection of extension panel to patient support panel installed on base - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medical equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to an element of a case of an articulation node, which makes it easier to install a patient support node containing an extension panel and a patient support panel for support and preferably immobilization of the patient, for example, in radiotherapy, an extension panel containing the first case element, as well as to a patient support panel containing an extension panel, and, in addition, relates to a method for creation of a patient support node. First element (3) of the case of articulation node (2) for a detachable connection of extension panel (6) to patient support panel (7) installed on a base is made with the possibility of connection to the extension panel. Articulation node (2) contains second element (4) of the case, made with the possibility of connection to patient support panel (7), while first element (3) of the case contains one element from a row containing socket element (5) limited with upper surface (31) of the socket element and lower surface (32) of the socket element, passing in the direction of engagement between closed end (8) of the socket element and open end (9) of the socket element, and latch element (10) limited with upper surface (11) of the latch element and lower surface (12) of the latch element, passing in the direction of engagement between base end (13) of the latch element and free end (14) of the latch element. Second element (4) of the case contains another element from the row containing socket element (5) and latch element (10), while first element (3) of the case further contains one element from the row containing latch (15) and fastener (16), and second element (4) of the case contains another element from the row containing fastener (16) and latch (15), in which first element (3) of the case is made with the possibility of being engaged with second element (4) of the case by movement of socket element (5) relatively to latch element (10) and latching fastener (16) with latch (15). Socket element (5) is made with the possibility of being moved along latch (10) by linear movement in the direction of engagement to a locking position, in which latch (15) latches onto fastener (16).

EFFECT: simplification of mounting, in particular removal and installation, exclusion of personnel injuries.

15 cl, 10 dwg

Description

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a first element of an articulation body for releasably connecting an extension panel to a patient support panel mounted on a base. In particular, the present invention relates to a first articulation housing element that allows for easier installation of a patient support assembly comprising an extension panel and a patient support panel for supporting and preferably immobilizing a patient, for example in radiotherapy. The invention also relates to an articulation unit for releasably connecting an extension panel to a patient support panel mounted on a base, the articulation unit comprising a first housing element. The invention also relates to an extension panel containing the first housing element, as well as to a patient support panel containing an extension panel. The invention further relates to a method for creating a patient support unit.

Prior Art

The present invention relates to patient support devices for use in medicine, such as radiotherapy or radiodiagnosis, such as those used with linacs in cancer treatment. Patient support devices in this field of technology are subject to a number of severe limitations relating, among other things, to radiolucency and load capacity. Meeting these restrictions is complicated by the additional requirement of clinical specificity, since patient support devices must be specifically designed for a given treatment or diagnosis. Known, for example, patient support devices containing a side hollow element for lithotripsy. Otherwise, for example, in radiotherapy, the patient support unit must be equipped with means to immobilize the patient, such as fasteners for attaching an immobilizing mask. To meet clinical specificity constraints, therefore, there is a need for a modular patient support device comprising a relatively short patient support panel mounted on a base and a relatively long extension panel releasably attachable to the support panel. The extension panel can be given case-specific features, such as fasteners in the case of radiotherapy. Creating such a modular patient support device that meets all of the above hard limitations is not an easy task. For example, load-bearing beams are not permitted in an extension panel because such beams may interfere with patient care, such as tending to scatter and attenuate radiotherapy radiation, and may interfere with the homogeneity of the extension panel, especially when metal beams are used. The prior art thus provides patient support devices having a hinge assembly for connecting an extension panel to a patient support panel, wherein the hinge assembly comprises a first housing element connected to the extension panel and a second housing element connected to the patient support panel. . Such first body element, articulation assembly, extension panel and patient support assembly are known from EP2852325. This prior art document discloses a first body element of a hinge assembly for releasably connecting an extension panel and a patient support panel mounted on a base, wherein the first body element is configured to be connected to the patient support panel, the first body element comprising a tongue an element bounded by the top surface of the tongue element and the bottom surface of the tongue element extending in the engagement direction between the end of the base of the tongue element and the free end of the tongue element, and in which the second body element contains a socket bounded by the top surface of the socket element and the bottom surface of the socket element extending into direction of engagement between the closed end of the female element and the open end of the female element. The first housing element according to the prior art contains a latch, and the second housing element contains a fastener, in which the first housing element is designed to be engaged with the second housing element by moving the socket element and the tongue element relative to each other and snapping the fastener element with the latch. The first and second body elements of the prior art are designed so that the female element and the reed element must move relative to each other by rotating the reed element about an axis of rotation, which runs perpendicular to the direction of engagement and which passes through the free end of the reed element, to the locking position, in which the latch snaps onto the fastener.

Known patient support devices, while meeting many of the above limitations regarding, for example, radio transparency, are not ideal for everyday use. As stated above, the patient support devices are preferably clinically specific and thus often adapted, for example before each procedure, removal of the extension panel and installation of a new extension panel. The removal and installation of the extension panels from the patient support panel is a laborious process because the first housing element connected to the extension panel must be engaged with the second housing element connected to the patient support panel. In this engagement process, the reed must be inserted into the socket, which is a laborious process that requires the nurse or technician to be deeply focused. However, in the prior art, a final rotation is required to bring the tongue element and the socket element into the locking position and thus to engage the first housing element and the second housing element. Such final rotation in known patient support devices requires that the first body element and the second body element move obliquely towards each other until the final rotation. As noted above, the extension panel is often relatively long compared to the patient support panel, making it even more difficult to move at an angle, since the nurse or technician must apply a constant torque during installation. This makes installation difficult and may cause injury to the nurse or technician.

Detailed description of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a new first articulation body element for releasably connecting an extension panel to a patient support panel on a base that eliminates the problems of the prior art. Thus, according to the present invention, as defined in the first claim, there is provided a first articulation housing element for releasably connecting an extension panel to a patient support panel mounted on a base, for example, in the length direction of the panels. The first housing element is configured to be connected to the extension panel, and the articulation assembly includes a second housing element configured to be connected to the patient support panel. The first body element contains one element of the socket element, bounded by the upper surface of the socket element and the bottom surface of the socket element, passing in the direction of engagement, for example, in the direction of the length of the panels, between the closed end of the socket element and the open end of the socket element, and the reed element, limited by the upper the surface of the tongue element and the bottom surface of the tongue element extending in the direction of engagement, for example, in the direction of the length of the panels, between the base end of the tongue element and the free end of the tongue element. The second body element contains another element from the female element and the reed element. Thus, if the first housing element contains a tongue element, the second housing element contains a socket, and vice versa. The terms "upper" and "lower" here, for example, refer to the thickness of the tongue element and the housing element, as well as the thickness of the extension panel and the patient support panel. The first housing element further contains a latch or fastener, and the second housing element contains another element of the fastener or latch. Thus, if the first housing contains a latch, the second housing contains a fastener, and vice versa. The first housing element is intended to be engaged with the second housing element by moving the female element relative to the tongue element, for example, by moving these elements towards each other, for example, by moving one of the elements towards the other, and by locking the fastening element with a latch . According to the present invention, the socket element is adapted to be translated along the tongue in the engagement direction up to a locking position in which the latch locks the fastening element. The phrase "socket element is movable on the reed element" means that the reed element and the receptacle element can move towards each other, for example, so that the reed element moves inside the fixed reed element, or the receptacle element moves along the fixed reed element, for example, when the receptacle encloses the reed, or that the reed and the receptacle are both movably mounted. Preferably, the first housing element connected to the extension panel, whether equipped with a tongue or socket, is movable and the second housing element connected to the patient support panel is fixed.

The first housing element of the present invention ensures that the last mounting step, i.e. the last step of engaging the first housing element and the second housing element, which is completed by latching the fastening element, is a purely linear (translational) movement of the female element relative to the tongue element and, therefore , the first housing element relative to the second housing element, and hence the extension panel relative to the patient support panel. This has the advantage that the installation of the patient support device is greatly simplified since it is no longer required that the nurse or technician move the extension panel obliquely to the point where she can make a final turn to bring the panel into the locked position. This facilitates installation and, in addition, makes the design ergonomic, which significantly improves the working conditions for nurses and technicians.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first housing element includes a socket. In one embodiment, the top surface of the tongue element supports the top surface of the socket element. This option is particularly useful when the first housing element connected to the extension panel is movably mounted, and the second housing element connected to the patient support panel is fixedly mounted. This option has the advantage that the nurse or technician, when inserting the tongue into the socket, can rest the top surface of the socket on the top surface of the tongue and can then rely on such support of the top surface of the tongue to receive part of the load of the extension panel. when the reed element and the socket move relative to each other, for example, when the socket element is inserted along the tongue to the locking position. This advantage of being able to insert the receptacle along the reed is particularly present when the top surface of the reed and the top of the receptacle are flat, as this facilitates sliding. It should be noted that in the embodiments described, the first housing element is movable, and the second housing element is fixed, and the first housing element contains a socket. However, the embodiments presented can be easily adapted, for example, so that the movable first body element comprises a tongue element. In such a case, the bottom surface of the receptacle in the second body element will support the bottom surface of the reed in the first body element, and preferably the bottom surface of the reed and the bottom surface of the receptacle are flat surfaces.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the top surface of the socket has a socket element locking element containing a protrusion or a groove, and the top surface of the reed element contains a reed element locking element containing another element, i.e., a groove or protrusion, and in which the top surface of the reed element has a tongue element locking element, containing another element of the groove and the ledge, and in which, when the female element is displaced relative to the tongue element, the locking elements of the female element and the tongue element are engaged with each other. Such engagement of the locking elements of the socket element and the tongue element ensures the safety of the patient support device, preventing spontaneous separation of the first and second housing elements. In one embodiment, the locking elements of the socket element and the tongue element are engaged with each other when the protrusion is driven into the groove. If the first housing element and the second housing element spontaneously move away from each other after installation, the protrusion will rest against the edge of the groove, preventing the first and second housing elements from completely disengaging. This option is particularly useful when the first housing element has a socket, since in this case the top surface of the socket element is supported by the top surface of the tongue element. Alternatively, where the first housing element comprises a tongue element, the socket element locking element and the tongue element locking element are preferably provided in the bottom surface of the socket element and the bottom surface of the tongue element, respectively, in which case the bottom surface of the tongue element is supported by the bottom surface of the socket element. In one embodiment, the engagement of the locking elements of the female element and the tongue element requires lifting, for example, an upward rotation or linear movement upwards or an approach at an angle or in a raised state of one of the body elements relative to the other. For example, if the first body element is movably mounted and has a socket, the first body element will have to be raised relative to the second body element in order to engage the locking elements of the socket element and the tongue element. In one embodiment, the socket element locking element is a protrusion located near the closed end of the socket element, for example, closer to the closed end of the socket element than to the open end of the socket element, and in which the element of the reed element locking is a groove made near the free end of the reed element, for example, is closer to the free ends of the reed element than to the base end of the reed element. This option is particularly useful in the case where the movable first body element has a socket, where the presence of a protrusion near the closed end of the socket element allows the nurse or technician, after inserting the tongue element into the socket element, to position the top surface of the socket element on the top surface of the tongue element and push, practically without efforts, the female element in the direction of the reed element for a significant distance along the surface of the reed element, until the protrusion rests against the free end of the reed element. When the protrusion abuts against the free end of the reed element, the first body element must be raised relative to the second body element, for example, slightly rotated along an axis lying perpendicular to the direction of engagement and lying on the free end of the socket element so as to raise the protrusion above the top surface of the reed element and insert into groove. In one embodiment of the present invention, the slot extends in the engagement direction and has a length _Lslot measured in the engagement direction, and the protrusion has a length _Lprotrusion measured in the engagement direction, with _Lslot greater than _Lprotrusion . Due to the fact that L _slot is larger than L _protrusion , there is a possibility of linear movement of the tongue element in the hollow element with the locking elements of the socket element and the tongue element in engagement. Preferably, L _slot is sufficiently larger than L _protrusion so that, with the locking elements of the socket element and tongue element engaged, linear movement of the socket element relative to the tongue element to the locking position is allowed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the slot has a depth of H _slot and the lip has a height of H _protrusion , with H _slot being greater than H _protrusion . Since H _slot is larger than H _protrusion , this allows for a tight sliding fit between the tongue and the surfaces of the socket element with the corresponding locking elements of the tongue element and the socket element, for example, between the tongue and the top surface of the socket element, or between the tongue and the bottom surface of the socket element. Such a tight sliding fit is a fit in which the surfaces are adjacent to each other, eg in contact, but still able to slide relative to each other. This fit will prevent contaminants such as dust, blood, or chemicals from entering between the surfaces, thereby maintaining the high degree of cleanliness required for medical patient support devices. In addition, such a tight fit, such as a sweaty slip fit or snug fit, creates a large load-bearing area or moment that would otherwise be in a small area of the protrusion contacting the groove.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the tongue element and the socket element form a section of finite length, where the upper surface of the tongue element lies essentially parallel, for example, parallel, to the bottom surface of the socket element. The tongue element or socket installed in the first body element and the other of the socket element and the tongue element installed in the second body element contain a section of finite length. In one embodiment, the finite length section contains a supporting segment. The supporting segment is defined as the segment of a finite length along which, when the first body element and the second body element are engaged, in particular when the tongue element and the socket element are in the locking position, the top surface of the socket element and the bottom surface of the socket element are located essentially in parallel, for example , parallel to, and preferably adjacent to, respectively, the top surface of the tongue element and the bottom surface of the tongue element. Along the support segment, the upper surface of the female element and the lower surface of the female element preferably create a tight sliding fit, respectively, with the upper surface of the tongue element and the lower surface of the tongue element. In another embodiment, a substantially snug fit is created along the support surface. The creation of a supporting segment has the advantage of a good bearing capacity, in particular with regard to moment. To do this, the support segment creates a large area of contact between the upper surface of the female element and the upper surface of the tongue element. In addition, providing a snug fit, such as a sweaty slip fit or a substantially snug fit, eliminates the risk of contaminants entering the socket. Additionally, the presence of the support segment facilitates linear movement, for example, to a locking position, between the socket and the tongue. The length of the support segment in the engagement direction is preferably 1-16 cm and more preferably 1-5 cm. In one embodiment of the present invention, the length L _slot is at least equal to the length of the support segment, preferably the total length of the support segment and L _protrusion . In this embodiment, linear movement of the tongue element and the socket element is provided to the locking position, when the socket element and the tongue element are engaged. In one embodiment of the present invention, the tongue element tapers in the thickness direction, increasing at the free end and base end of the tongue element. Preferably, the upper surface of the tongue element thus remains a flat surface. The presence of the tapered portion on the tongue allows the housing elements to converge at an angle, in particular to engage the locking elements of the tongue element and the socket element. In one embodiment of the present invention, portions of finite length in the tongue and in the socket, respectively, are located at the open end of the socket element and at the base end of the tongue element, for example, respectively, near the open end of the socket element and the base end of the tongue element, for example, respectively, closer to the open end of the female element than to the closed end of the female element, and closer to the base end of the reed element than to the free end of the reed element, for example, ending at the open end of the female element and at the base end of the reed element. The first body element containing the socket having a section of finite length at the open end of the socket element, and the second body element containing the tongue element with a section of finite length at the base end of the tongue element ensure that the linear movement is performed to the locking position. In one embodiment of the present invention, the tongue element tapers in the thickness direction, increasing between the free end of the tongue element and the base end of the tongue element, for example, the thinnest part of the tongue element, and a finite length portion present at the base end of the tongue element, for example, the thickest part of the tongue element element. This simplifies insertion of the reed into the socket, since the finite length portion located at the base end of the reed is the thickest part of the reed, corresponding to the large opening of the reed at the open end of the reed, while the free end of the reed is the thinnest part of the reed. element. Insertion of the thin free end of the tongue element into the large open end of the socket element is a simple operation. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, portions of finite length in the tongue and in the socket, respectively, are located at the closed end of the socket element and at the free end of the tongue element, for example, next to, respectively, the closed end of the socket element and the free end of the tongue element, for example, respectively, closer to the closed end of the socket element than to the open end of the socket, and closer to the free end of the tongue element than to the base end of the tongue element, for example, respectively, ending at the closed end of the socket element and at the free end of the tongue element. Preferably, the tongue element tapers from a finite length portion located at the free end of the tongue element, eg the thinnest part of the tongue element, increasing towards the base end of the tongue element, eg the thickest part of the tongue element. The length of the support segment, at the closed end of the female element, is preferably a substantial part of the length extending in the engagement direction of the finite length section. Preferably, a gap remains between the free end of the tongue and the closed end of the receptacle when the reed and the receptacle are in the locked position so as to take into account dimensional changes in the reed, such as those caused by thermal expansion or wear of the reed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the tongue element and the socket, which contain a finite length portion, respectively, located at the base end of the tongue element and at the open end of the socket element, contain a second finite length portion, respectively, located at the free end of the tongue element and at the closed end of the socket element. Preferably, the tongue element tapers from a second finite length portion located at the free end of the tongue element, such as the thinnest portion of the tongue element, increasing to a first finite length portion located at the free end of the tongue element, such as the thickest portion of the tongue element. The presence of the first and second sections of finite length, preferably having a supporting segment, increases the ability of the device to withstand the load and, especially, the moment. Preferably, the length of the support segment located at the closed end of the socket element is a substantial portion of the length of the final length portion extending in the engagement direction to create a gap between the free end of the tongue element and the closed end of the socket element when the first and second housing elements are in the locking position . Preferably, each of the support segments has a length of 1-16 cm, even more preferably 1-5 cm. Preferably, the length L _slot is at least equal to the length of the support segment having the longest length, preferably at least equal to the total length of the support segment, having the greatest length and L _protrusion .

In one embodiment of the present invention, the tongue element has a shape substantially consistent with the shape of the socket element. The reed element contains two side walls spaced apart in the lateral direction. Both side walls of the tongue element preferably taper laterally along the engagement direction such that the width of the tongue element, measured laterally, is greater at the base end of the tongue element than at its free end. The socket element preferably comprises two side walls of the socket element spaced laterally. Both side walls of the socket element preferably taper laterally in the engagement direction so that the width of the socket opening, measured at the open end of the socket element, is greater than at its closed end. In one embodiment of the present invention, the side walls of the tongue element have a shape consistent with the shape of the side walls of the socket element. In one embodiment of the present invention, after the reed and socket are engaged, the sidewalls of the reed fit against the sidewalls of the socket, preferably forming a snug, sliding fit. An advantage of this embodiment is that the socket element is firmly attached over the reed elements so as to impede, or substantially prevent, any lateral movement of the socket element and the reed element relative to each other. Preferably, the reed locking element and the receptacle locking element have substantially the same width, thereby further inhibiting, substantially preventing, any lateral movement of the receptacle and reed relative to each other.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first housing element or the second housing element contains two socket elements, and the other of these housing elements contains two reed elements. The presence of two tongues and two sockets makes it possible to separate the two tongue elements and the two socket elements from each other in the lateral direction, perpendicular to the direction of engagement, for a certain distance [passing, respectively, along the free end of the tongue element and the closed end of the socket element]. The presence of two sockets and two tongues spaced laterally increases the load-bearing capacity, in particular in terms of moment, in particular the ability to withstand a moment applied to the extension panel along the engagement direction, for example, when the patient is placed on one side of the extension panel, for example, when the patient rolls onto their side. In another embodiment, the first body element includes a tongue element and a seat, and the second body element also contains a tongue element and a socket positioned to engage with the tongue and seat of the first body element. In one embodiment, the latch and fastener are in an intermediate position between one of the two sockets and two tabs. Preferably, a latch is provided at an intermediate position between the reed members so that when dropped, the reeds protect the latch from damage by substantially absorbing impact.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the socket is formed by a socket top plate and a socket bottom plate, where the socket top surface and the socket bottom surface are the inner surfaces of the socket top plate and the socket bottom plate, respectively. In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer surface of the top plate of the socket element is part of the outer surface of the extension panel, for example, the surface on which the patient is located.

In other embodiments, a different latch and fastener are used. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first housing element is provided with a fastening element. In this embodiment, the second housing element is provided with a latch. The presence of a latch on the first housing element increases the risk of damage to the device. Preferably, the latch is a movable part, preferably extending from the housing element on which it is present. If the housing element on which the latch is installed is dropped, the latch may be damaged. By installing the latch on the second housing element, which is less subject to movement relative to the replacement extension panel, the risk of damage to the latch is drastically reduced. In addition, the latch is preferably mounted in a hole provided in the housing element in order to reduce the risk of damage to the latch. The fastening element is then mounted so as to protrude from the housing element on which it is mounted. Alternatively, the fastening element is installed in the hole, and the latch protrudes from the housing element or is partially located in the hole and partially protrudes from the housing element. Preferably, the latch is mounted on the housing element containing the tongue element so that drop shocks are absorbed by the tongue element and not by the latch. The fastening element is preferably a protrusion on which the latch can be snapped. The latch is thus movable in the latching direction between the unlocked state and the latched state, preferably by rotating the latch about an axis of rotation of the latch, preferably parallel to the thickness direction of the panels. Preferably, the fastener protrudes in a direction comprising a component parallel to the direction of the rotational axis of the latch, preferably extends in a direction parallel to the direction of the rotational axis of the latch. The fastening element is preferably connected at both ends to the housing element containing the fastening element, thereby reducing the risk of unintentional unlocking of the latch from the fastening element, for example, by sliding the latch along the protrusion to its free end. In one embodiment of the present invention, the latch comprises a thrust portion and a latch member, and upon linear movement of the socket member along the tongue towards the base end of the tongue member, the fastener abuts against the thrust portion, causing the fastener to push the thrust portion, and the latch transitions from the unlocked state into a latched state in which the latching piece is latched onto the fastener. The latch is preferably biased into the unlocked state, for example by the constant action of a spring biasing the latch into the unlocked state. Due to the fact that the latch is displaced to the unlocked state when the female element is translated over the tongue element towards the free end of the tongue element, the fastening element preferably releases the stop portion, causing the latch to move from the latched state to the unlocked state. The advantage of such embodiments is that the latch is automatically latched when the nurse or technician slides the socket element and the tongue element towards each other into the locking position. No additional action is required from the nurse or technician, which means the knot can be assembled by one person. In one embodiment of the present invention, the latch includes a pivot pin that secures the fastener to the housing element on which the latch is mounted and has a degree of freedom of rotation, for example, about the axis of rotation of the latch. In this embodiment, when the fastener abuts against the thrust portion, the latch rotates about the hinge axis, for example, due to the fastener pushing the thrust portion, thereby applying a moment to the latch causing the latch portion to snap onto the fastener. The thrust portion thus preferably has a thrust surface which is inclined with respect to the engagement direction when the fastener and the hinge pin are not separated laterally, perpendicular to the engagement direction and the direction of the axis of rotation of the latch. In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing element containing the latch includes a latch locking device that is translated from an unlocked state to a latched state when the latch enters the latched state, for example, as a result of movement of the latch from the unlocked state to the latched state, for example, when the latch reaches latched position. The device for locking the latch in the locked state prevents the latch from moving to the unlocked state. When the latch locking device is in the locked state, the latch is fixed in the latched state. This option greatly increases the safety of the patient support device. Furthermore, this embodiment has the advantage that the latch locking device automatically locks the latch in the latched position after the nurse or technician slides the tongue element and the socket element towards each other into the locked position. No further action is required on the part of the nurse or technician, which means installation can be done by one person. In one embodiment of the present invention, the latch locking device is brought into the locked state by rotating the latch about the hinge axis, for example, when the fastener applies a moment to the latch, pushing the stop portion of the latch. In one embodiment of the present invention, the latch locking device comprises a locking pin and the latch includes a locking hole, and the locking finger is inserted into the locking hole when the latch is latched to bring the latch locking device into the locked state. More specifically, the latch locking device is brought into the locked state because when the latch changes from the unlocked state to the latched state, more specifically, when the latch comes into the latched state, the locking pin is inserted into the locking hole. The latch locking device, specifically the locking pin, is thus biased into the locked state, for example the locking pin is constantly biased towards the latch, for example by gravity acting on the locking pin or by a spring pushing the locking pin. To this end, the locking pin is movably mounted in the direction along which the biasing force is applied, for example perpendicular to the surface of the latch, preferably along the direction of the axis of rotation of the latch. Thus, the latch is movable in a direction intersecting the direction of the biasing force on the locking pin, for example movable in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the biasing force, for example along the direction of the latch caused by the rotation of the latch about its e-axis. The latch has a locking hole positioned such that when the latch is in the latched state, the position of the locking hole in the lateral and engagement direction corresponds to the position of the locking pin. When the latch is in the unlocked state, the locking finger is displaced towards the latch in a position different from the position of the locking hole. When the latch moves into the latched position, for example, when the latch comes into the latched position, the locking pin is inserted, for example pushed into the locking hole, and held in the locking hole by a biasing force. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first housing element or the second housing element includes a latch actuator configured, when actuated, for example, manually, to move the latch locking device from a locked state to an unlocked state. In one embodiment, the latch actuator is configured to, when actuated, remove the locking pin from the locking opening. Such actuation includes generating a force opposing a biasing force applied to a latch locking device, such as a locking pin. In one embodiment of the present invention, actuation of the latch actuator requires pulling the handle. Preferably, the latch actuator, in addition to being subjected to a biasing force acting on the locking device, is subject to biasing forces acting directly on the latch actuator, such as gravity or spring force. Preferably, the handle is located on the outer surface of the panel containing the housing element in which the latch actuator is installed. Preferably, when the handle is pulled out, it rises above the outer surface of the panel containing the housing element in which the latch drive is provided. This option improves the safety of the system because the latch actuator can only be activated by raising the handle above the outer surface of the panel and thus can be activated when there is no patient on the outer surface of the panel. In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing element containing the latch contains a movable plate. This movable plate is capable of transitioning between an open state and a closed state, wherein the movable plate in the closed state prevents the latch locking device from being brought into the locked state. The movable plate is brought into the closed state when the latch locking device is brought into the unlocked state, for example by actuating the latch actuator, and the latch is in the latched state. In one embodiment, the movable plate closes the locking hole when the movable plate is in the closed state, thereby being positioned between the locking hole and the locking pin. In this case, the locking pin is pressed against the movable plate by the biasing force acting on the locking pin, thereby preventing the latch locking device from going into the locked state and thereby preventing the latch actuator from switching back to the non-activated state, so that the user does not need to hold latch actuator in activated state. Preferably, the movable plate is biased into a closed state, eg by a biasing force applied to the movable plate, eg by a spring. The biasing force acting on the movable plate, for example, constantly pushes the movable spring to a position corresponding to the position of the locking hole in the latch when the latch is in the latched state. Preferably, both the locking device of the latch in the locked state, for example, when the locking pin is exposed to the locking hole, and the latch in the unlocked state, prevent the movable plate from going into the closed state. Both states, as mentioned above, prevent the movable plate from entering the closed state independently of each other. In addition, when the latch is brought to the latched state, during the transition, this latch gradually ceases to block the transition of the movable plate to the closed state, but at the same time, the locking device, although not fully latched, already begins to block the transition of the movable plate to the closed state. It should also be noted that the latch locking device cannot be in the locked state when the latch is in the unlocked state. Therefore, the movable plate can become closed only when the latch is in the latched state and after the latch locking device is brought to the unlocked state. It should be noted that the states of the movable plate are not controlled directly by the user, such as a nurse or technician. The nurse or technician can only control the latch drive and linear movement of the extension panel and patient support panel relative to each other to respectively unlock the latch locking device and move the latch to the latched or unlocked states. In addition, it should be noted that the latch locking device cannot be in the locked state when the latch is in the unlocked state. Therefore, the movable plate can only be brought into the closed state when the latch is in the latched state and the latch locking device is brought into the unlocked state. It should be noted that the user, such as a nurse or a technician, cannot directly control the states of the movable plate. The nurse or technician can only control the latch drive and the linear movement of the extension panel and the patient support panel relative to each other to respectively unlock the latch locking device and place the latch in the unlocked or latched state. It should be noted that the locking of the locking device, and thus switching the drive to the inactive state, is carried out by a biasing force acting on the locking device under the user's control inputs. In addition, it should be noted that unlocking and locking the latch is facilitated by a biasing force that biases the latch to the unlocked state. The states of the movable plate result from the combined states of the locking device under the control of the latch drive and the latch under the control of a user-generated movement. In one embodiment of the present invention, the movable plate in the closed state is moved to the open state when the latch is moved to the unlocked state. The presence of a movable plate allows you to create a patient support unit, with three phases of installation and removal. The Patient Support Unit can be in any of three sequential states: unlocked and ready to mount, latched and locked, and locked and ready to remove. The main advantage of such options is that the nurse or technician can unlock the latch locking device by actuating the latch actuator and then, without holding the actuator, for example without applying a counterforce to the latch locking device, linearly move the tongue element and the socket element away from each other. to disconnect, for example, remove the extension panel from the patient support panel. No combined action is required from the nurse or technician, such as simultaneously actuating the latch actuator and moving the socket element, which means that the device can be mounted by one person. In one embodiment of the present invention, the movable plate is a pivot plate comprising a pivot pin securing the pivot plate to a body member containing a latch, the plate having a degree of freedom to rotate, for example, along a direction parallel to the direction of the latch's axis of rotation. turn plate to attempt to rotate the turn plate to a position corresponding to the position of the locking hole in the latch when the latch is in the latched state.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an extension panel containing the first body element of the articulation assembly. Preferably, the extension panel and likewise the patient support panel have a length direction along which the extension panel and the patient support panel are releasably connected. Preferably, the extension panel, and likewise the patient support panel, have a thickness direction extending through the thickness of the panel, extending between the top surface of the patient support panel and the bottom surface of the panel. The lower surface of the patient support panel is preferably connected to the base. The panels have a transverse direction perpendicular to the length direction and the thickness direction. In one embodiment of the present invention, when the first housing element is connected to the second housing element, the top surface of the patient support panel lies in the same plane, substantially flush with the top surface of the extension panel. In one embodiment, the top surface of the extension panel and the top surface of the patient support panel are separated by a gap. In one embodiment, this gap is sealed with a seal, for example one or more seals, extending from the edges of one or both panels in the lengthwise direction. Preferably, the seal acts as a sealing element, preventing contaminants from entering, for example, the seat. In a preferred embodiment, the seal acts as a cushioning element to protect the edges of the panels when the panels are joined, for example in addition to the sealing function. In one embodiment of the present invention, the extension panel is a radio-transparent panel. This option allows you to use the patient support node for radiotherapy or diagnostics.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an articulation unit for releasably connecting an extension panel and a patient support panel mounted on a base, wherein the articulation unit comprises a first housing element configured to connect to the extension panel and a second housing element configured to connect to the panel patient support.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a patient support assembly comprising an articulation assembly in which a first body element is connected to an extension panel and a second body element is connected to a patient support panel which is preferably mounted on a base. In one embodiment, the first housing element and the second housing element are connected integrally, for example, without the possibility of separation, respectively, to the extension panel and to the patient support panel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a patient support assembly, wherein the extension panel is releasably engaged with a patient support panel mounted on a base, and the method comprises the step of engaging a first housing element with a second housing element by inserting a tongue element. into the socket, and then linearly moving the socket element and the reed element in the direction of each other, for example, by moving the socket element over the reed element, in the engagement direction to a locking position in which the latch snaps onto the fastening element.

Another object of the present invention is the use of an articulation unit, for example in a patient support unit, for immobilizing a patient during radiotherapy.

Blueprints

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the patient support assembly illustrating the components of the second housing element.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the patient support assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating the components of the first housing element.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the patient support assembly of FIG. 1 in a plane perpendicular to the transverse direction and passing through the tongue element and the socket.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of part of the patient support assembly of FIG. 1 in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction, with the patient panel device in the unlocked state and ready for mounting.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the patient support assembly shown in FIG. four.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of part of the patient support assembly of FIG. 1 in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction with the patient support assembly in a locked state.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the patient support assembly shown in FIG. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the patient support assembly of FIG. 1 in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction where the patient support assembly is unlocked and in a state ready for disassembly.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the patient support assembly shown in FIG. eight.

Fig. 10 is a three-stage diagram of a patient support assembly.

Description of drawings

The following is a description of specific embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings, however, the present invention is not limited to them, its scope is defined only by the formula. The drawings described are schematic and do not limit the scope of the invention. In the drawings, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated and not to scale for purposes of illustration. Dimensions and relative dimensions do not necessarily correspond to the actual implementation of the invention.

In addition, the terms first, second, etc. in the description and in the claims are used to distinguish between like elements and not necessarily to describe sequential or chronological order. These terms are interchangeable in appropriate circumstances, and embodiments of the invention may operate in a sequence other than those shown or described herein.

In addition, the various variations, while referred to as "preferred", are to be considered exemplary and not limitative.

The term "comprising" as used in the claims is not to be interpreted as being limited to the elements or steps listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It should be construed as a term indicating the presence of the mentioned features, integers, steps or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more of the other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "device comprising A and B" should not be limited to devices containing only components A and B, and with respect to the present invention, the only numbered components of such a device are A and B, and such a claim is to be construed as including the equivalents of these components.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an articulation body element for releasably connecting an extension panel to a patient support panel mounted on a base. In particular, the present invention relates to a first articulation housing element that facilitates mounting of a patient support assembly comprising an extension panel and a patient support panel for supporting and preferably immobilizing a patient, for example in radiotherapy. In FIG. 1 is a perspective view of such a patient support assembly 1, specifically illustrating the components of the second housing element 4. Specific components of the first housing element 3, as well as other components of the second housing element 4, are shown in FIG. 2 and 3. In FIG. 1 specifically shows the first housing element 3 of the articulation unit 2 for releasably connecting the extension panel 6 to the patient support panel 7 mounted on a base (not shown). The first housing element 3 is designed to be connected to the extension panel 6, for example, permanently connected to the extension panel 6. The extension panel 6, for example, a radio-transparent panel, has holes for attaching a fastener, for example, an immobilizing mask. The extension panels 6 are essentially modular, which means that they can be easily replaced with other extension panels 6 specially designed for the occasion, for example for a particular radiotherapy. The extension panel 6 should thus be easily connected to and detached from the patient support panel 7 . The articulation assembly 2 of the present invention allows such simplified connection and detachment while minimally hindering the functionality of the panels, e.g. does not affect radio transparency, while maximizing the ability of the assembly to withstand load and moment, thus allowing 6 heavy loads to be supported on the extension panel. patients even when the patient is at the edge of the extension panel 6. FIG. 1, the extension panel 6 and the patient support panel 7 are shown in a disconnected state. The patient support panel 7 is mounted on a tray 35 adapted to adapt the position of the base relative to the second body element 4 . In FIG. 1 in particular shows an articulation assembly 2 comprising a second housing element 4 adapted to be connected to a patient support panel 7, for example permanently connected to a patient support panel 7. As shown in FIG. 1-3, the second housing element 4 has two tongue elements 10, each of which is defined by the upper surface of the tongue element 11 and the lower surface of the tongue element, which extend in the engagement direction between the base end 13 of the tongue element and the free end 14 of the tongue element. The tongue element 10 has a substantially flat upper surface 11 and a partially inclined lower surface 12. This is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3 further shows that the tongue element 10 comprises two regions 19, 20 of finite length, where the upper surface 11 of the tongue element and the lower surface 12 of the tongue element lie substantially parallel to each other. The tongue element 10 comprises a first end length section 20 located at the base end 12 of the tongue element and a second end length section 19 located at the free end 14 of the tongue element. The bottom surface 12 of the tongue element is inclined between the second final length portion 19 of the tongue element, which is the thinnest part of the tongue element 10, and the first final length portion 20 of the tongue element, which is the thickest part of the tongue element 10, increasing the thickness of the tongue element. In addition, it is shown that the tongue element 10 includes a tongue element locking element 17, which is an elongated groove. As shown in FIG. 2 and 3, the first housing element 3 contains features that correspond to those of the second housing element 4. The first housing element 3 is shown to comprise two socket elements 5 designed to receive two reeds 10 and each of the sockets 5 is defined by the upper surface 31 of the socket element and the bottom surface 32 of the socket element extending in the engagement direction between the closed end 8 of the socket element and the open end. the end of the 9 socket element. The socket element 5 comprises a first section 20 of finite length at the open end 9 of the socket element, and a second section 19 of finite length at the closed end 8 of the socket element. The lower surface 32 of the socket element is inclined between the second final length section 19, which is the thinnest part of the socket element 5, for example, having the smallest opening, and the first final length section 20 of the socket element, which is the thickest part of the socket element 5, having the largest opening. In addition, it is shown that the socket element contains a locking element 18 of the socket element, which is a ledge. Part of the first and second finite length portions 19, 20 are supporting segments, respectively supporting segments 33 and 34. The first supporting segment 34 is part of the first finite length portion 20, where when the tongue element 10 and the socket element 5 are engaged and specifically , are in the locked position, the upper surface 11 of the tongue element and the lower surface 12 of the tongue element, respectively, adjoin, for example, with a tight sliding fit, the upper surface 31 of the socket element and the lower surface 32 of the socket element. As shown in FIG. 3, this first support segment extends in the engagement direction between the open end 9 of the socket element and the beginning of the inclination of the lower surface 12 of the tongue element. The second supporting segment 33 is part of the second section 19 of finite length, where when the tongue element 10 and the socket element 5 are engaged, specifically when they are in the locked position, the upper surface 11 of the tongue element and the lower surface 12 of the tongue element respectively adjoin, for example, with a tight sliding fit, to the upper surface 31 of the socket element and to the bottom surface 32 of the socket element. As shown in FIG. 3, such a second support segment 33 extends in the engagement direction between the free end 14 of the tongue element and the beginning of the inclination of the lower surface 32 of the socket element. As shown in FIG. 1-2, the second housing element 4 includes a latch 15 actuated by an actuator 26. The latch 15 partially protrudes from the second housing element 4 and is located between the reed elements 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the first housing element 3 comprises a fastening element 16 located in a position corresponding to the position of the latch 15 of the second housing element 4, more specifically between the socket elements 5. The fastening element 16 is a protrusion extending in the thickness direction from the underside of the first housing element 3 to the top side of the first body element 3. The protrusion is attached to the upper and lower sides of the first body element 3 and is located in the hole in the first body element 3.

In FIG. 1-3 furthermore show the engagement process of the first housing element 3 and the second housing element 4. In FIG. 1, the extension panel 6 and the patient support panel 7 are shown in an uncoupled state, ready for mounting. In FIG. 2 of the socket element 5 of the first body element 3 and the tabs 10 of the second body element 4 are aligned in the engagement direction. The first housing element 3 is pushed against the second fixed housing element so as to insert the tongues 10 into the socket element 5. The upper surface 31 of the socket element is placed on the upper surface 11 of the tongue element by a nurse, a technician, or, for example, a robot arm. The upper surface 11 of the tongue element thus supports the upper surface 31 of the socket element. Then, the first and second elements of the body 3, 4 are shifted towards each other in a linear motion, while the socket element 5 slides over the reed element 10, for example, the upper surface 31 of the socket element slides over the upper surface 11 of the reed element, while the locking element 18 of the reed element element does not rest against the free end 14 of the reed element. This movement is typically performed by pushing the extension panel 6 towards the patient support panel 7, for example by manual pushing by a nurse, by a technician, or by automatic pushing by a robot arm, for example. When the locking element 18 of the socket element rests against the free end 14 of the tongue element, the extension panel 6 is lifted, for example tilted relative to the patient support panel 7, for example by a nurse, a technician or, for example, a robot arm. The tapering shape of the tongue element 10 allows for such a tilt. Then, the locking element 18 of the socket element enters the locking element 17 of the tongue element when the extension panel 6 is advanced relative to the patient support panel 7 at an angle for a small distance and when lowered, for example, by aligning the extension panel 6 relative to the patient support panel 7. Finally, the tongue element 10 is moved in the socket 5 in a linear motion in the engagement direction to a locking position in which the latch 15 is latched onto the fastening element 16, for example by a nurse, technician or robotic arm, which pushes the extension panel 6 towards the patient support panel 7. This last linear movement is made possible by an elongated groove, which is the locking element 17 of the tongue element, into which the locking element 18 of the socket element can fit. The patient support assembly 1 of the present invention, having a tongue and socket locking element 17, 18, requires only one lifting of the extension panel 6 relative to the patient support panel 7 and movement in this raised state, for example, at an angle, for a short distance, after which a lowering operation follows to engage the locking elements 17, 18. The subsequent movement of the extension panel 6 and the patient support panel 7 is facilitated by the linear movement of the extension panel 6 towards the patient support panel 7, for example by supporting the upper surface 11 of the tongue element on the upper surface 31 nest element. Known patient support units 1, however, provided with tongue and socket locking elements 17, 18, require at least one lifting and one tilting operation, for example two tilting operations of the extension panel 6 relative to the patient support panel 7, for example one operation for engagement of the locking elements 17, 18, followed by the lowering of the extension panel 6 relative to the patient support panel 7, and one operation for the final rotation to the locking position. Alternatively, known patient support units 1 provided with tongue and socket locking elements 17, 18 require one lifting operation, for example, one tilting operation, followed by a complex movement of the extension panel 6 towards the patient support panel 7 over a long distance, for example, under angle, to the position where the extension panel undergoes the last rotation into the locking position.

In FIG. 4-9 show in more detail the operation of the latch 15 and the thrust element 16 when the first and second housing elements 3, 4 are engaged. In FIG. 10 is a state diagram of the machine showing the three successive states that the patient support assembly 1 may enter at the time of actuation of the latch 15 and the fastener 16, namely "unlocked and ready to mount", "latched and locked", and "latched and ready". for extraction". These three states of the patient support unit 1 are determined by a combination of the states of the latch actuator 26 and the latch 15, each of which contains two states, in particular in the order of logic 1 and logic 0, namely, a non-activated state of the latch actuator or an activated state of the latch actuator, and a latched state and not latched state. It should be noted that the combination of the non-latched state and the non-activated state of the latch actuator is physically impossible and therefore does not participate in the operation steps of the patient support unit 1. In addition, it should be noted that the movable plate 27 can also assume two states, in particular, respectively, logical 1 and logical 0, namely, the closed state and the open state. In addition, the locking device 24 can also be in two states, in particular logic 1 and logic 0, namely, the locked state and the unlocked state. The states of the movable plate 27 and the states of the locking device 24 are referred to as dependent states because they are linearly dependent on the combination of states of the latch actuator 26 and latch 15, which are referred to as variable states. More specifically, the movable plate 27 is in a logical AND relationship with the variable states, and the locking device 24 is in a logical NOT relationship with the states of the latch actuator 26.

In FIG. 10 shows the states of the patient support unit 1. Associated state variables are shown in the solid line cells, and the corresponding dependent states are shown in dashed lines within the solid line cell. In FIG. 10 further shows the transitions between the states of the patient support unit 1, which are made possible by the application of a single control action, such as linear movement of the extension panel 6 to the locking position, linear movement of the extension panel 6 from the locking position, or actuation of the latch actuator 26. It should be noted that the user, such as a nurse or a technician, can only perform the above controls. In addition, it should be noted that switching the latch actuator 26 from the activated state to the non-activated state is performed by biasing forces acting on the latch actuator 26 due to the control action, in which the user linearly slides the extension panel 6 to the locking position. In FIG. 4, 6 and 8 mainly show the components of the second housing element 4 such as the latch 15 and the tongues 10, in particular the upper surface 11 of the tongue element extending between the free end 14 of the tongue element and the base end 13 of the tongue element, provided with a tongue element locking element 17 . The only component of the first housing element 3 in FIG. 409 is the fastening element 16. The second element 4 furthermore has specific components for cooperating with the fastening element 16, for example for the three-stage assembly of the patient support assembly 1 as shown in FIG. 10. Other special components of the second body member 4 include latch parts 15, a movable plate configured as a pivot plate 27, a locking device 24, and bias springs 29, 30. The latch 15 specifically includes a stop portion 21 and a latch part 22. The latch part 22 and thrust part 21 depart from the second element 4 of the body. Other aforementioned other components of the second housing element 4 are located in the hole in the second housing element 4. The latch 15 further comprises a locking hole 25 and a bias spring 29. The latch 15 is rotatably mounted about a hinge pin 23. The locking device 24 includes a locking pin movably mounted in the thickness direction substantially along the gravitational acceleration vector. The locking pin 24 is thus biased towards the latch 15. Finally, the second housing element also includes a pivot plate 27 pivotally mounted around the pivot pin 28. The pivot plate 27 is biased by the bias spring 30. In FIG. 4 shows a section through part of the patient support assembly 1 of FIG. 1 in a plane perpendicular to the thickness direction and the patient support assembly is unlocked and ready for mounting. In FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the patient support assembly of FIG. 4. When the socket member 5 is translated onto the tongue member 10 towards the base end 13 of the tongue member, the fastening member 16 abuts against the thrust portion 21 and pushes the thrust portion 21, causing the latch 15 to change from the unlocked state to the latched state, in which the latch portion 22 snaps onto the fastener 16. The latch is displaced to the unlocked state by the constant action of the biasing spring 29, retracting the latch 15 to the unlocked state. The abutment of the fastener 16 against the thrust portion 21, for example by a nurse or technician pushing the extension panel 6 towards the patient support panel 7, counteracts the bias spring 29 being pressed, thereby moving the latch 15 from the unlocked state to the latched state. More specifically, when the fastener 16 abuts against the thrust portion 21, the latch 15 rotates about the hinge axis 23 as a result of the fastener 16 pushing the thrust portion 21, thereby applying a moment to the latch 15, causing the snap portion 22 to snap onto the fastener 16. latch, specifically the locking pin 24, is pressed against the latch 15 in a position different from the position of the locking hole 25. Thus, the locking device is in the unlocked state. Until the latch is latched, as shown in FIG. 4 and 5, the locking device 24 cannot be in the locking state in which the locking pin 24 is inserted into the locking hole. The bias spring 30 constantly applies a torque to the pivot plate 27, pushing it towards the latch 15. However, the latch 15 is designed so that when it is in the unlocked state, as shown in FIG. 4 and 5, the latch 15 resisted the biasing force acting on the pivot plate 27 because the latch 15 has a protrusion blocking the rotation of the pivot plate 27 when the latch 15 is in the unlocked state. The pivot plate 27 is thus unable to rotate to a position where the pivot plate 27 is under the locking pin 24. Thus, the pivot plate 27 is forcibly left in a state referred to as the open state, i.e. not between the locking hole 25 and the locking pin. 24. It should also be noted that the locking pin 24 is displaced towards the surface of the latch 15, thus further blocking the rotation of the pivot plate 27 to a closed state in which the pivot plate 27 is between the locking pin 24 and the locking hole 25. FIG. 10 shows the state of the patient support unit 1 of FIG. 4 and 5, in the top cell symbolizing the "unlocked and ready to mount" state. As shown in FIG. 10, During the transition from the upper state cell to the lower right state cell, the latch actuator automatically changes from the activated state to the non-activated state, and at the same time, the locking device 24 changes from the unlocked state to the locked state when the latch 15 reaches the latching position, due to causing the latch 15 to move to a position where the locking hole 25 is located under the locking finger 24, allowing the locking finger 24 to enter the locking hole 25. the right status cell to the top status cell in FIG. 10. When the latch 15 enters the latched state, the protrusion of the latch 15 no longer prevents the rotation of the pivot plate 27. hole 25 before the pivot plate 27 can rotate to a position between the locking pin 24 and the locking hole 25 when the latch reaches the latched state. Therefore, the pivot plate 27 remains in the open state because the biasing force acting on the pivot plate 27 is counteracted by the pivot plate 27 itself in contact with the locking pin 24 inserted into the locking hole 25. In particular, while the latch 15 is in the latched state , the protruding part of the latch 15 gradually ceases to block the turning plate 27. However, during this transition, the locking device 24 moves to the surface of the latch 15 and therefore gradually increases the blocking effect on the movable plate 27 until the locking finger does not enter, for example, falls, into the locking hole 25, thereby ensuring that the movable plate remains in the open state. After the latch locking device 24 is in the locked state and the latch 15 is in the latched state, the patient support unit 1 will be in the state shown in FIG. 10 is indicated by the lower right cell, referred to as "latched and locked". This "latched and locked" state of the patient support assembly 1 is shown in Figures 6 and 7. Finally, when it is desired to remove the extension panel 6 from the patient support panel 7, the latch actuator 26 is activated, causing the locking pin 4 to lift out of the locking hole 25 and up to the height at which the locking pin no longer applies an opposing force to the pivot plate 27, thereby allowing the pivot plate 27 to pivot under the biasing force to a position between the locking hole 25 and the locking pin 24. This position is referred to as the pivot plate 27 closed position. device 24, i.e., removing the locking finger from the locking hole, and with the latch 15 remaining in the latched state, the patient support assembly is in the "latched and ready to withdraw" state, as shown by the lower left cell in FIG. 10. The patient support unit 1 in this state is shown in FIG. 8 and 9. The hinged panel 27 in the closed position prevents the latch actuator 26 from moving to the non-activated state, and hence the locking device 24, from moving to the locked state, as shown in FIG. 10 with a crossed out transition from the lower left state cell to the lower right state cell. It should be noted that in this state, the user is no longer required to apply force to the latch actuator 26 to keep it in the activated position despite the biasing force acting on the latch actuator 26, since the latch actuator 26 is pressed by, for example, gravity or a spring, to the surface of the pivot plate 27 in its closed position. Finally, the user, such as a nurse or technician, linearly moves the extension panel 6 away from the patient support panel 7, thereby moving the latch 15 from the latched position to the unlocked position. This linear movement is shown in Fig. 10 with an arrow from the lower left state cell to the upper state cell. The latch, pressed to the unlocked state by the constant action of the biasing spring 29, helps to release the fastener 16 from the thrust portion 21 and the latch portion 22. The latch 15, when turned to the unlocked state, counteracts the biasing force applied to the rotary plate 27 by its protruding part in order to move the rotary plate 27 from the closed state to the open state, i.e., to move it from the position between the locking pin 24 and the locking hole 25 and specifically from the position under the locking finger 24. The latch 15 by sliding from the latched position to the unlocked position, thus shifts the position of the locking hole 25 from the position of the locking pin 24. Under the action of the biasing force, the locking pin 24 is pressed against the latch 15 in a position different from the position of the locking hole and is therefore in the unlocked state. The latch actuator 26 is also forced to remain activated because the locking device 24 cannot be locked. As stated above, the latch 15, specifically the protrusion of the latch 15, the locking device 24 and the pivot plate 27 are designed so that the locking pin enters the locking hole before the pivoting plate 27 can rotate into position between the locking pin 24 and the locking hole 25 after the latch 15 has reached the latched position, in particular due to the fact that the locking device 24, in particular the locking pin, is displaced towards the surface of the latch 15, one hundred prevents the rotary plate 27 from moving into the closed state, where it would be located by the latch 15 and, afortiori, the locking hole 25 and the locking finger 24. This is shown in FIG.

Claims (15)

1. The first element (3) of the body of the assembly (2) of the joint for detachable connection of the extension panel (6) with the patient support panel (7) installed on the base, while the first element (3) of the body is configured to be connected to the extension panel, in in which the articulation unit (2) contains a second body element (4) configured to be connected to the patient support panel (7), while the first body element (3) contains one of the female element (5) bounded by the upper surface (31) of the female element and the bottom surface (32) of the socket element, passing in the direction of engagement between the closed end (8) of the socket element and the open end (9) of the socket element, and the reed element (10), limited by the upper surface (11) of the reed element and the bottom surface ( 12) tongue element, passing in the direction of engagement between the base end (13) of the tongue element and the free end (14) of the tongue element, and the second element (4) cor the starter contains one other of the socket element (5) and the tongue element (10), while the first element (3) of the body additionally contains one of the latch (15) and the fastener (16), and the second element (4) of the body contains the other of fastener (16) and latch (15), wherein the first element (3) of the body is made with the possibility of engagement with the second element (4) of the body by moving the female element (5) relative to the tongue element (10) and snapping the fastener (16 ) a latch (15), characterized in that the socket element (5) is movable along the tongue element (10) by translational movement in the engagement direction to the locking position, in which the latch (15) snaps onto the fastening element (16). 2. The first element (3) of the body according to the preceding paragraph, in which the first element (30) of the body contains a female element (5) and in which the upper surface (11) of the tongue element supports the upper surface (31) of the female element, when the cavity (5) progressively move along the tongue (10). 3. The first element (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the reed element (10) and the socket element (5) contain a section (19, 20) of finite length, in which the upper surface (11) of the reed element lies parallel to the lower surface ( 12) tongue element and in which the upper surface (31) of the female element (5) lies essentially parallel to the lower surface (32) of the female element (5), and moreover, when the first element (3) of the body is engaged with the second element (4 ) of the body, the upper surface 31 of the socket element (5) and the bottom surface (32) of the socket element (5) respectively adjoin the upper surface (11) of the tongue element (10) and the bottom surface (12) of the tongue element (10) along the supporting segment (33, 34) section (19, 20) of the final length to create a tight sliding fit. 4. The first element (3) of the housing according to any of the preceding paragraphs, in which the latch (15) contains a thrust part (21) and a latch part (22), and in which, when the socket element (5) is translated along the tongue (10), in direction of the base end (13) of the tongue element, the fastening element (16) abuts against the thrust part (21), forcing the latch (15) from the unlocked state to the latched state, in which the latch part (22) snaps onto the fastening element (16), in in which the latch (15) is displaced to the unlocked state so that when the female element (5) is translated along the tongue (10) towards the free end (14) of the tongue element, the fastening element releases the thrust portion (21), causing the latch (15) to move from the latched state to the unlocked state. 5. The first housing element (3) according to any of the preceding claims, in which the housing element containing the latch (15) contains a latch locking device (24) that changes from an unlocked state to a locked state when the latch (15) changes into a latched state, and in which the device (24) locking the latch in the locked state prevents the transition of the latch (15) in the unlocked state. 6. The first element (3) of the housing according to any of the preceding paragraphs, in which one of the first element (3) of the housing and the second element (4) of the housing contains a latch drive (26), configured to translate the latch locking device (24) when activated from the locked state to the unlocked state. 7. The first element (3) of the body according to any one of paragraphs. 5, 6, in which the housing element containing the latch (15) contains a movable plate made with the possibility of transition between an open state and a closed state, in which the movable plate (27) in the closed state prevents the transition of the latch locking device (24) into a locked one. a state and in which the movable plate (27) enters the closed state when the latch locking device (24) is turned to the unlocked state and the latch (15) is in the latched state. 8. The first element (3) of the housing according to the preceding paragraph, in which the movable plate (27) is displaced to the closed state and in which both the latch locking device (24) in the locked state and the latch (15) in the unlocked state prevent the movement of the movable plate (27) to the closed state. 9. The first element (3) housing according to any one of paragraphs. 7, 8, in which the movable plate (27) in the closed state is moved to the open state when the latch (15) is in the unlocked state. 10. Extension panel (6) containing the first body element (3) of the articulation unit (2) according to any one of the preceding paragraphs. 11. Extension panel according to the preceding claim, in which the extension panel (6) is a radio-transparent panel. 12. The joint assembly (2) for detachable connection of the extension panel (6) with the patient support panel (7) installed on the base, containing the first body element (3) according to any of the preceding paragraphs. 1-9 and containing the second element (4) of the body. 13. The patient support unit (1), comprising the articulation unit (2) according to the preceding paragraph, in which the first element (3) of the body is connected to the extension panel (6), and the second element (4) of the body is connected to the patient support panel (7) established on the basis. 14. A method for manufacturing a patient support unit according to the preceding paragraph by releasably engaging an extension panel (6) and a patient support panel (7) mounted on a base, comprising the step of engaging the first housing element (3) with the second element (4) body by inserting the reed element (10) into the socket element (5) and subsequent translational movement of the socket element (5) along the reed element (10) in the engagement direction to the locking position, in which the latch (15) snaps onto the fastening element (16). 15. The use of the articulation assembly (2) according to any of the preceding paragraphs for immobilizing a patient during radiotherapy.

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