US2639206A

US2639206A - Apparatus for inverting patients during X-ray examinations

Info

Publication number: US2639206A
Application number: US195657A
Authority: US
Inventors: George V Butler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-11-14
Filing date: 1950-11-14
Publication date: 1953-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 1970-05-19

Description

May 19, 1953 G v, BUTLER 2,639,206

APPARATUS FOR INVERTING PATIENTS DURING X-RAY EXAMINATIONS Filed Nov. 14, 1950 INVENTOR. GEORGE l. BUTLER ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR INVERTING PATIENTS DURING X-RAY EXAMINATIONS George V. Butler,v Rochester, N. Y.

Application November 14, 1950, Serial 'No. 195,657

2 Claims. 1 v

My invention relates to apparatus for use in connection with an X-ray examination table of the so-called tip type to enable the patient to lie comfortably on the table in a partly inverted and supported position during X-ray or other diagnostic examinations. I

The idea of partially inverting the patient ior various radiological examinations is old. More over, the inverted position of the body of the patient is in common use in making various diag-- nostic' examinations. However, the inverting of a patient in the making of X-ray and other examinations does not seem to be as widely em ployed as my experience has shown it to be of very definite value. This is especially true of visualization of portions of the alimentary canal and of the urinary tract. I have also found the inverted position superior to any" other for gainihg information about other troublesome areas such as the lower esophagus and the sigmoid. The partially inverted position isin general of advantage wherever it is desired to hold a barium mixture in a particular position at least partly by gravity.

While other reasons may exist as to why the inverted position is not more commonly used in making X-ray and other diagnostic examinations, probably the major reason is that insofar as I am aware, no suitable apparatus exists for use in connection with a tip type X-ray examination table for maintaining the patient comfortable during the examination while in an inverted position.

Insofar as I am aware, the common method in connection with tip type X-ray examination tables, is to employ shoulder blocks or other shoulder supports against which the patients shoulder butt when the table is partly inverted. The inclination of the table and patient is limited by the arrangements now existing to support'the patient. The position is an uncomfortable one. At times this invertedposition cannot be maintained for the entire period of thex ray or other diagnostic examination. Moreover, if the patient pended from a rotatable disc adjacent the feet of the patient whereby the'patient may be positioned sidewardly on the table, rolled over or placed in any other desired partially suspended and inverted position to enable complete X-ray examination or other diagnostic treatment While the patient is in the inverted position.

More specifically, my invention contemplates the provision of a suspension garment or harness to be worn by the patient which is attached to a rotatable plate carried by the table whereby upon applying the garment to the patient with the patient on the table, the table may be inverted and the patient comfortably suspended in the partially inverted position and can be maintained in that position or rolled over while the X-ray or other diagnostic examination is carried out to completion without discomfort to the patient.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be set forth more particularly in the claims and will be apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a conventional tip type X-ray examination table with the apparatus of my invention attachedthereto and a patient indicated in dotted lines in position on the table;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, the tilted position with the patient, partly inverted, being shown in dotted lines;

3 is a view showing a suitable shoulder pad for use in connection with the apparatus of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a View taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 in the direction indicated by the, arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The apparatus of my invention, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, comprises a garment or harness generally indicated by the numeral l I which may be applied to the patient in a manner which will be presently described.

In the drawings, I have shown the apparatus Got my invention as applied to a tip type X- iay 3 examination table which may comprise side stands I2, a main frame l3 and a suitable hand wheel means |4 by which through suitable gearing the frame |3 may be swung about a pivot I6. While I have shown a specific X-ray examination table, it will be understood that the suspension garment of my invention may be used in connection with any tip type table. The frame supports a suitable cushion |1 upon which the patient rests, the table being capable of being swung about the pivot l6 so that the supporting cushion extends in a horizontal position or any desired tilted angular position as, for example, illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The table may also be tilted in the opposite direction if desired.

The garment or harness of my invention may be made of any suitable fabric material. For the purpose of providing the necessary strength I have found that canvas may be used to advantage. The garment is provided with side pieces or straps 2| which are relatively wide and fit part way around the sides of the patient as indicated most clearly in Fig. 5. The sides 2| are brought together to provide an integral chest portion 22 and an integral back portion 23 (Fig. 2). The central part is cut out as indicated at 24 to provide an opening for the head of the patient while the outer portions fit over the shoulders, these portions carrying the weight of the patient when the garment is in use. The garment further has cutouts or armholes 25. The side pieces 2| are longer than contemplated for use with the tallest patient and are provided with loops, as indicated at 26, at their lower ends for the reception of suitable eyes provided in clips 21. The clips have spring latches as indicated at 28.

Preferably adjacent the middle portion of the side pieces or side straps of the garment, straps 29 and 3| are secured to the garment as indicated at 32. One of these straps is provided with a buckle 33 while the other is provided with suitable spaced openings 34 for the reception of the buckle pin 36. As will be readily understood by the means shown, the combined length of the straps 29 and 3| may be lengthened or shortened. As indicated in Fig. 1, the excess material of the side pieces or straps is looped, as shown at 31, when the garment is in use on a patient of shorter stature than the maximum for which the garment is designed.

Secured to the lower part of the frame I 3 is a pair of brackets 4|. The brackets may be secured to the frame in any suitable manner so as to be rigid therewith and are preferably located towards the sides of the table. These brackets extend upward to a level, as indicated at 42, above the level of the top of the table; are turned inwardly as indicated at 43; and are joined together at 44 adjacent the longitudinal center line of the table. Adjacent this center line of the table an axle or shaft 46 is provided which fits into a bored boss 41, the boss being rotatable on the axle. The boss 41 is preferably integral with a plate 48 which may be circular as indicated in Fig. 4.

Preferably the plate and its associated parts are made of a light strong material such as aluminum. Extending inward from the periphery of the plate and preferably along radii of the plate are T slots 49 which terminate at spaced points from the axis of the disc or plate 48. The T slots are adapted to slidably receive blocks which carry eye bolts 52 which extend through the slots or openings 53 which constitute the legs of the T slots.

For the purpose of adding to the comfort of the patient, I have provided a shoulder pad generally indicated by the numeral 55 (Fig. 3). The exterior of the pad may be made of canvas while the interior may be stuffed with cotton or any suitable soft material. If desired, the front and back may be provided with semi-circular cutouts 56 to provide a better fit. The central part of the pad is provided with an opening 51 adapted to slip over the head of the patient.

When the garment or harness is to be worn, the pad 55 is positioned on the shoulders of the patient and then the garment is applied by fitting it over the head of the patient and extending the side straps 2| around the sides of the patient. The clips 21 are then latched over the eyebolts 52 with the patient in a horizontal position on the table. With the soles of the patients feet then resting on the disc, the straps 29 and 3| are adjusted by means of the buckles so that the side pieces 2| are pulled reasonably taut. The blocks 5| may then be adjusted to the position desired by the radiologist so as to allow the patient to spread his legs to a comfortable position.

The table may then be tilted to the position shown in Fig. 2 or any other desired position. If desired the table may be tilted so that the patients head is above the feet. When the patient is in a partially inverted position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the weight is partly supported by the table but a major portion 01' the weight is carried by the shoulders of the patient. The patient may be suspended in this position with the weight partly on the shoulders throughout any examination of reasonable length without discomfort to the patient. Moreover, the radiologist or other person making a diagnostic examination may roll the patient over with the disc rotating on the axle or shaft 46. The patient may be easily and quickly rolled over on his side or on his stomach without the necessity of lowering the table to a horizontal position. The suspension garment shown and described not only greatly adds to the comfort of the patient but facilitates the work of the radiologist in placing the patient in the desired position for making proper X-rays. If desired to further aid in supporting the patient, strips of canvas or other suitable material may be wound around the ankles of the patient and the side straps, or instead of being wound around the side straps may be secured to the eyes 52.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it will be apparent that various changes may be made particularly in the form and relation of parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in connection with an examination table of the tip type having a table surface for the reception of the patient comprismg, in combination, a support secured to the table adjacent one end thereof, an element carried by said support and rotatable in a plane substantially normal to said table surface, fastening members carried by and movable approximately radially of the axis of rotation of said element, said element forming a surface against which the feet of the patient may rest, a garment which includes shoulder portions and side portions having ends extending along the sides of the patient, means for detachably securing the ends of said side portions to said fastening members, and means for varying the length of said side portions to the end that the side portions may be drawn taut and when the table is tipped so that the feet of the patient are uppermost the feet of the patient still lie at least adjacent said element and the side portions are in tension and exerting a straight pull on the shoulders along the sides of the patient to support a major portion of the weight thereof.

2. Apparatus for use in connection with an examination table of the tip type having a table surface for the reception of the patient comprising, in combination, a support secured to the table adjacent one end thereof, an element having a planar surface carried by said support and rotatable with said planar surface substantially normal to said table surface, the planar surface of said element defining a surface against which the feet of the patient may rest, spaced fastening members carried by said element, a garment which includes shoulder portions and side por tions having ends extending along the sides and sides of the legs of the patient, means for detachably securing the ends of said side portions to said spaced fastening members, and means for varying the length of said side portions to the 25 end that the side portions may be drawn taut and when the table is tipped so that the feet of the patient are uppermost the feet ofthe patient still lie at least adjacent said planar surface and the side portions are in tension and exerting a straight pull on the shoulders along the sides and sides of the legs of the patient to support a major portion of the weight thereof.

GEORGE V. BUTLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 857,507 Wilson June 18, 1907 894,052 Radtke July 21, 1908 1,369,456 Meredith Feb. 22, 1921 1,693,810 Daniels et al. Dec. 4, 1928 1,808,496 Dillon June 2, 1931 1,837,872 Johnson Dec. 22, 1931 2,225,018 Reason Dec. 17, 1940 2,480,585 La Mere Aug. 30, 1949 2,524,429 Devin Oct. 3, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 117,992 Sweden Jan. 21, 1947