US1922738A - Radiographic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1933- J. R. KELLEY 1,922,738

RADIOGRAPHI G APPARATUS Filed Oct. '7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 15, 1933. J. R. KELLEY RADIOG-RAPHIC APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1929 N ENTOR g9 Xdf ATTORNEY 1933- J. R KELLIIEY 1,922,738

RADIOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed Oct. '7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ITQEZ ATTORNEY 1933- J. R. KELLEY 1,922,738

RADIOGRAPHI C APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,43 k I L I I l f I /2 INVENTOR g griwxmme ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 15, 1933 RADIOGRAPHIC APPARATUS John Robert Kelley, Covington, Ky., assignor to Y The Kelley-Koett Manufacturing Company, Covington, Ky., a Corporation of Kentucky Application October 7, 1929.

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in X-ray apparatus. One of its object is to provide an improved table or support for a patient for X-ray examinations and radiographs. is to provide improved means adapted to adjust the X-ray generator, to adjust the vertical and transverse exposure shutters, and to adjust the fluoroscopic screen or plate to facilitate making fluoroscopic examinations. Another object is to provide for adjusting the X-ray generator, vertically andtransversely of the table, adjustingthe respective exposure shutters, and universally adjusting the fluoroscopic screen, all from a position in frontof the patient and fluoroscopic screen. My invention also compri es certain details of form and arrangement and combination of components, all of which will be fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an X-ray table embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the X-ray generator and exposure shutters taken on a plane parallel to the rear face of the table, and slightly in rear of the rear face of the table.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the fluoroscopic screen and its carriage detached.

.Fig. 5 is a side elevation-of the fluoroscopic screen and its carriage.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of one of the fluoroscopic screen. adjusting handles.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the fluoroscopic screen and its supporting means.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the means employed to lock the main carriage in position relative to the patient supporting member. 7

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional detail through the shutters and shutter actuating mechanism, taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the horizontally movable shutters and their actuating means.

Fig. 12 is a view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11, taken on line 1212 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a sectional. detail taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the vertically movable shutters and their actuating means,

Fig. 15 is a sectional detail taken on line 15-15 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a sectional detail taken on line 16--16 of Fig. 5.

In practice the patient may be in a standing or vertical position or in a horizontal or inclined position. The examiner holding a fluoroscopic screen by means of two handles, one at each side of the screen stands in front of a vertical patient Another object I ly of the table.

Serial No. 398,036

or bends over a horizontal patient. The X-ray generator and its exposure slides are located at the rear of the patient and sends a beam of X- rays through an opening between the slides or shutters, through the body of the patient and then fall upon the fluoroscopic screen where an 1 image or shadowgraph is formed and observed by the examiner. In practice the X-ray generator and fluoroscopic screen require to be both adjusted lengthwise and also transversely of the patient, and the longitudinal and transverse slides or shutters require to be frequently adjusted to shape and'direct the beam of X-rays, while the fluoroscopic screen requires to be adjusted through substantially a range of universal adjustments in order to enable the examiner to view an organ from different angles and with different lighting adjustments .until a reliable diagnosis may be had. Heretofore it has been necessary to go to the rear of the patient to make some of these adjustments while others i were made from in front of the patient, requiring considerable time to effect the variousadjustments for a single examination or operation.

My present improvements are designed to enable bodiment of my invention in which 215 represents the base of an X-ray table, 216 the table which is pivotally mounted upon the base 215 at centers 17, and is adjustable uponsaid centers from a substantially vertical position as shown in Fig. 1 to a substantially horizontal position. An electric motor 18 has a pinion ,19 upon its shaft which meshes with and drives a segmental gear 20 toadjust the table 216 upon its centers 17 to any desired position. of adjustment. The table; is provided with a foot rest 21, which enables a patient to step upon the footrest and the table is thereafter adjusted by means of the motor to any desired position of inclination.

An X-ray generator or X-ray tube is mounted in a shield 22 of lead-glass, which shield is mounted upon a metal secondary or auxiliary carriage 23 which is adjustable transversely of the table 216 upon two cross-bars 24. The bars 24 are connected together by 'a framework .of angular pattern which constitutes a main carriage 29 and is adjustable longitudinally of the table 216. The main carriage is guided upon the guides or bars 25 carried rigidly and longitudinal- The main carriage is counterbalanced by means of a weight 26 connected by a chain 2'7 over a pulley 28 to the main carriage to cause the main carriage to move readily relative to the table. The auxiliary carriage 23 is mounted relative to the cross-bars 24 by means;

of antifriction rollers 57 so as to move freely upon said bars 24.

from each other in guides in said shutter hous The respective shutters 31 and 32 are connected together by lever mechanism to move in unison toward each other or away from each other. A rectangular tubular member 101 is journaled in a bracket relative to the main carriage 29 and is provided with a crank arm 130 by means of which it maybe rocked, and has substantially no movement endwise thereof. A rectangular bar 33 is journaled in a bearing 34 in a bracket carried rigidly upon the auxiliary carriage 23, and bar 33 is adjustable telescopically into and out of the rectangular tubular member 101 whenever the auxiliary carriage 23 is adjusted relative to the main carriage 29. The bar 33 is rocked with the tubular member 101 due to the rectangular bar interlocking with the rectangular tube 101. A yoke-shaped crank arm 35 is attached to the bar 33 close to the bearing 34 and rocks with the bar 33. The free end of the crank arm 35 is connected pivotally to one end of a link 102. The opposite end of the link 102 is attached pivotally to the free end of a relatively short crank arm 103 carried by a rock shaft 104. The rock shaft 104 is mounted upon the lower shutter 31 and with its axis projecting transversely to the shutter and transversely to the axis of the bar 33. The rock shaft 104 carries a crank arm 105 moving in a plane parallel to the plane of the shutter 31 and close to the face of the shutter 31. A bell crank lever 36 is pivotally attached at its angle at 37 to the shutter casing 30, and one of its ends is pivotally attached to the free end of the crank arm 105. The opposite end of the bell crank lever 36 is slotted lengthwise thereof to receive a stud 39 extending from one end of a bell crank lever 40 which is pivotally mounted relative to the shutter housing 30 upon a stud or center 41. The opposite end of the bell crank lever 40 is pivotally connected by-a link 106 to vertically movable shutters. When the free end of the crank arm 35 is depressed the shutter 31 is depressed while the center 37 is fixed, hence members 103, 104, and 105 rock to a limited extent and, the stud 39 is forced toward the shutters and thereby rocks the bell crank 40 upon its 'fiXGd center 41 causing the stud 42 and shutter 32 to be elevated, thereby increasing the distance between adjacent edges of the shutters 31 and 32, a reverse movement of the rock shaft 33 and crank arm 35 causes the shutters 31 and 32 to move toward each other and decrease or entirely close the aperture for the passage of X- rays between the shutters 31 and 32 or vertically.

A pair of horizontally movable shutters 43 and 44 are mounted to slide to and from each other rock the same. A rectangular bar 45 is journaled at one end in a bearing 46 in a bracket 108 at-- tached to the shutter housing30, and bar 45 is telescopically engaged and interlocked with the tubular member 107 so as to be rocked thereby. A crank arm 47 is mounted upon the bar 45 close to the bearing 46, and its free end is provided with a pin or stud 109 which serves to pivotally attach the free end of said crank arm 47 to one arm or section 110 of a bell crank lever 48, which is pivotally mounted relative to the housing 30 upon a fixed stud or center 49. The arm 48 is provided with a pin 52. The other arm 112 of the bell crank lever 43 is slotted and pivotally attached to one of the horizontally movable shutters 44. A bell crank lever 53 is pivotally attached to the shutter housing 30 at a fixed center 54.' One arm of bell crank lever 53 is slotted and pivotally attached by a stud 55 to the shutter 43. The opposite arm of the bell crank lever 53 is slotted at 114 to engage the stud 52 of the bell crank lever 48. When the free end of the crank arm 47 is depressed, the

shutter 44 is moved toward the left hand in movement of the rocker shaft 45 and crank arm 47, moves the shutters 43 and 44 horizontally in a reverse direction to entirely or partially close the opening between the shutter 43 and 44.

One angular portion of the main frame 29 including the guide rods 24 is mounted and guided by means of rollers upon the vertical rods 25 in rear of the table 216, and supports the X-ray generator and the shutter housing and shutter actuating mechanism in rear of the table 216, while the other angular portion of the main frame including the tubular guide rods 58 and 59 extends forward at one side of the table and at right angles to the guide rods 24 into position to support and guide the fluoroscopic screen 60 to and fro toward and fromthe front face of the table 216, with room for the patient to be interposed between the fluoroscopic screen and the front face of the table.

The fluoroscopic screen comprises a panel 60 of material charged with a fluoroscopic substance encased in a frame 61, which is mounted pivotally at 62 relative to the free ends of a yoke a stud 42 attached to the upper one 32 of the or fork 115, which fork is pivotally mounted by means of a stud shaft 116 upon a tertiary carriage 117 and allowed a limited adjustment by means of a set screw 244. The carriage 117 is supported by means of rollers 118 relative to the tubular guide rods 58 and 59 of the main carriage so as to readily move the carriage 117 and screen 60 to and from the face of table 216. A counterweight 119' is mounted to move readily upon the guide rods 58 and 59 by means of rollers 120. A shaft 121 journaled to the main frame is provided with two sprocket wheels 230 and 231. A shaft 122 journaled to the main frame is provided with two sprocket wheels side by side. One sprocket chain 123 is trained over one pair of sprocket wheels on the shafts 121 and 122 and opposite ends of said chain are attached to the carriage 117, to thereby cause the shafts 121 and 122 to move in unison with the carriage 117. Another sprocket chain 124 is trained over the opposite set of sprocket wheels upon the shafts 121 V and 122 and opposite ends of the chain 124 are attached to the counterweight 119, thereby causing the counterweight to move along the guide rods 58 and 59 in a direction opposite to that of the carriage 117, and in unison with the movements of the carriage 117, and to thereby counterbalance the weight of the carriage 117, at any position of adjustment. The fluoroscopic screen is provided with a rigidly mounted handle 63 to be grasped by the right hand of the examiner and a relatively long and jointed handle 64 to be grasped by the left hand of the examiner. The examiner is able, by grasping the handles 63 and 64 with both hands, to tilt the fluoroscopic screen either upon a vertical axis or upon a horizontal axis or partially upon both vertical and horizontal axes and to press the screen into intimate relation to the body of the patient or to withdraw the screen out of contact with the patient.

The screen handle 64 comprises a rigidly mounted handle section 66 carried by a rod 67 attached rigidly at opposite ends by a bracket 126 to the frame 61 of the screen. The section 68 of handle 64 is mounted rotatably upon the rod 67' and at its upper end is provided with a wheel or grooved pulley 69. A flexible rod or flexible shaft is looped about the pulley 69 so as to be moved endwise when the handle section 68 is rotated upon the rod 67. All except a short section of the flexible member 70 is encased in two tubular guide members 71 and 72, which extend from close to the pulley 69 to and through the tubular guide member 58, at the rear of the main carriage where opposite ends of the flexible rod 70 passes over guide pulleys 73 where the ends of the rod 70 emerge from the tube 58. One end of the rod 70 is then connected to the auxiliary carriage 23 at 74, so as to pull the carriage 23 along the rods 24 toward the rod 58. The opposite end of rod 70 passes through the bore of the upper rod 24, and is there drawn over a grooved guide pulley 75, and thence back to the auxiliary carriage to which it is attached at 76, and is adapted to pull the auxiliary carriage 23 away from the end of the rod 58. The rotation of the handle section 68 therefore serves to adjust the carriage 23, the X-ray generator, and the shutter housing 30 in either direction along the guide rods 24.

The section 77 of handle 64 is mountedupon a sleeve 78 which is rotatably mounted upon the rod 67. The sleeve 78 is provided with a crank arm 79 to the free end of which is attached a flexible rod 80, which is encased and guided in a flexible tubular casing 81 from a point close to the crank arm 79 to and through the tubular guide rod 59, from which the opposite end of the flexible rod emerges and is attached to the free end of a crank arm 130, mounted upon the end of the tubular rocker arm 10]. to rock the bar 33. Rocking of the handle section 77 therefore serves to rock the shaft 33 and thereby open or close the vertically movable shutters 31 and 32.

The section 82 of the handle 64 is mounted rotatably upon the sleeve 131, andis provided with a crank arm 83 to the free end of which is attached one end of a flexible rod 84. The rod 84 is encased from close to the crank arm 83 to and through the tubular guide rod 59 in a tubular casing 85. The opposite end of the flexible rod 84 after it emerges from the tubular guide rod 59 is attached to the free end of a crank arm 86 mounted upon one end of the tubular rocker shaft 107. Rocking of the handle section 82 therefore serves through the crank arm 83 and flexible rod 84 and crank arm 86 to rock the rocker shaft 45, and to thereby-open or close the horizontally movable shutters 43 and 44. The ad justment of the shutters 31, 32, 43 and 44 provides for the passage of a beam of X-rays of relatively different shape and volume, as'for instance, narrow vertical, wide vertical, narrow horizontaL'or wide horizontal to pass through the shutters and through the body of the patient and to form an image upon fluoroscopic screen, and the screen and beam to be freely moved from place to place and from organ to organ as may be required in an X-ray fluoroscopic examination, and the various adjustments to be made quickly without removing the hands of the examiner from the fluoroscopic screen.

In order to conveniently lock the primary carriage 29 to any desired position longitudinally of the table216, a tube 145 is mounted and journaled within the tube 58, and is rotatably adjustable by means of a hand-wheel 146 above or in front of the table 216 in convenient reach of the operator standing in front of the table. At the opposite end of the tube 145 is mounted a crank arm 147. A link 148 is pivotally attached at one end to the crank arm 147. The opposite end of the link 148 is pivotally connected to a crank arm 149 which is carried by a screw rod 150. The rod 150 is screwed by means of a coarse pitch thread 151 into a sleeve 152 forming part of the primary carriage 29 at the point Where said carriage is guided along the rod 25. A soft metal brake shoe 153 is inserted in the bore of the sleeve 152 between the end of the screw rod 150 and the tube 25. When the hand wheel 146 is turned in a direction to screw the rod 150 into the sleeve 152, the shoe 153 is forced against the tube 25, and locks the primary carriage 29 to the tube 25. When the hand wheel 146 is turned in a reverse direction pressure on the shoe 153 'is released and the carriage 29 may be adjusted to a new position relative to the table 216.

A longitudinal slot 90 in the table 216 enables a Bucky diaphragm 91 to be moved along the slot 90 to any desired position. A sensitive plate holder is adapted to be substituted at will for the fluoroscopic screen by introducing the plate holder between the patient and the screen. The standards 93 and 94 serve to hold the high tension wires carrying current to an X-ray generator out of the way above the heads of persons moving in the vicinity.

The apparatus herein shown and described is capable of considerable modification within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is: Radiographic, apparatus comprising a base, a patient supporting member adjustable to different positions of angularity relative to said base, a main carriage adjustable longitudinally of said supporting member, means to rigidly lock said main carriage to its adjusted positions relative to said supporting member, an X-ray generator mounted upon said main carriage at one side of said supporting member, a fluoroscopic screen supporting carriage mounted adjustably upon said main carriage, a counterweight adjustably mounted upon said main carriage, a pair of sprocket wheels and sprocket chains operatively connecting said screen carriage and said counterweight to cause said screen carriage and said counterweight to move in opposite directions upon said main carriage to counterbalance said screen carriage irrespective of various angular positions of said screen carriage, a fluoroscopic screen adjustably mounted upon said screen carriage and located upon the opposite side of said patient supporting member from said X-ray generator.

' JOHN ROBERT KELLEY.

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