US2728860A - newman - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1955 L. B. NEWMAN SUPPORTING BRACKET FOR FLUOROSCOPIC VIEWING SCREENS Filed Nov. 21, 1952 INVENTOR. LUTHER B. NEWMAN, BY

ATroRA/Ex United States Patent 9 SUPPORTING BRACKET FOR FLUOROSCOPIC VIEWING SCREENS Luther B. Newman, Miami, Fla. Application November 21, 1952, Serial No. 321,902

4 Claims. (Cl. 250-79) This invention relates to an improvement in fluoroscopic machines and has particular reference to a novel support for the well known viewing screens employed in such machines.

The present invention has for its prime purpose, the provision of a novel support for the viewing screen of the well known clinical fluoroscopic machine that permits of more freedom by the examiner in positioning his patients, expedites mass examinations, since the screen is so supported as to permit the entry of a patient at one side and leave from the opposite, a distinct advantage not possible with machines now in use and, simplifies the examination of patients on a stretcher, a position not possible with fluoroscopic machines at present being employed.

A further important object of the invention resides in the extreme simplicity and flexibility of the supporting means for the viewing screen without removing the screen from the focal point of the tube.

Novel features of construction and operation will be more clearly apparent by reference to the following description, coupled with the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated a preferred manner of mounting the viewing screen and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof and,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device embodying the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates a conventional fluoroscopic machine as a whole, embodying the usual and well known casing 6, having a front rectangular panel 7, transparent to the rays from a conventional X-ray tube within the casing, not shown in this application. The X-ray tube is supported in the usual manner whereby it is shiftable both vertically and laterally to focus its rays upon all area of the panel 7. The support for the X-ray tube embodies a bracket arm 8, shown fragmentarily in Figures 2 and 3 and this bracket arm 8 serves as a means for the mounting support of a conventional viewing screen 9. In well known practice, the viewing screen 9 is shiftable in an identical vertical and lateral path with the X-ray tube, with the screen 9 being always in direct focus with the tube. The screen 9 includes a frame 10, provided with hand grips 11 at its opposite ends to facilitate the shifting of the screen by the examiner. The screen frame is provided with upper and lower trunnions 12, axially aligned, as a means for mounting the screen 10 within a U-shaped frame 13 to swing in a horizontal path.

The frame 13 is equipped with a preferably integral cylindrical bearing lug 14, having rotatable support upon the lower terminal end of a vertically disposed rod 15. The rod 15 at its upper end is flattened and apertured for pivotal support within the bifurcated end 16 of a 2,728,860 Patented Dec. 27, 1955 goose-neck 17, formed upon the upper portion of a vertically disposed fixed rod 18. The rod 18 is fixedly supported within the bracket arm 8 in any convenient manner to retain the viewing screen 9 against shifting laterally independent of the X-ray tube and its supporting bracket. The pivotal support as at 16 will permit the screen to be shifted forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the panel 7, but will at the same time maintain the screen in the focus range of the tube. The top of the casing is slotted at 19 to permit the shifting movement both vertically and laterally of the screen supporting means including the rods 15 and 18. At its lowermost position of adjustment, the goose-neck 17 extends sufficiently above the top of the casing to permit a patient to stand erect and pass therebeneath freely and without interference. The use of such a support for the viewing screen 9 permits a patient to enter from one side of the machine to stand behind the screen for examination and, upon completion of the examination, to pass from the opposite side. Fluoroscopic machines presently being employed, support the viewing screen forward of the panel 7, by extending the bracket arm 8 of the lamp mounting, forwardly of the casing and through a slot formed in the forward wall of the casing, thus permitting a patient to enter and leave the machine or range of examination from one side of the machine only. The screen support of this invention is entirely out of the path of movement of the patient and serves to speed up mass examinations, since the several patients may be progressively moved into range from one side and leave upon the other. The pivotal connection 16 permits the screen to be pulled forwardly by the examiner to facilitate the positioning of the patient therebehind and further facilitates the movement of the screen when examining a stretcher patient. The arms 15 and 18 will obviously be formed of any suitable material and may be formed either solid or tubular.

In the use of the device, the examiner has positioned himself in the usual position in advance of the screen 9. The patient enters and is positioned properly in front of the panel 7 and behind the screen 9. The examiner then proceeds with his examination, shifting the screen laterally and vertically and in firm contact with the body of the patient for each point of concentration. As the screen is elevated or lowered or shifted laterally, an identical movement of the X-ray tube and its associated bracket will take place through the medium of the support of the invention. Thus, the support of the present invention, while providing a very desirable clearance for the patient, serves to maintain the screen and tube in proper and essential focus. Upon completion of the examination, the examiner will pull the screen forwardly and the patient instructed to leave the machine from the side opposite to that upon which he entered.

The device of the present invention thus offers a very desirable improvement for fluoroscopic machines that very considerably increases the efiiciency of the device plus a very considerable saving of time for the examiner. The parts are simple, strong, cheap to manufacture and effective for the purpose designed.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a clinical fluoroscopic examining machine including a cabinet that is provided with a front panel transparent to X-rays, the machine having a source of X-rays movable within the cabinet and behind the panel and a viewing screen supported forwardly of the panel that is focused to the source of X-rays, the source of X-rays being supported upon and shiftable with a bracket, an arm connected with the bracket that is perpendicularly arranged and which projects upwardly through an opening formed in the top of the cabinet, the

arm shaped to extend forwardly of the cabinet and having-a terminal end providedwith a pivotal bearing, a second arm pivotally connected; at its upper end to the pivotal bearing and at its lower end connected with the viewingscreen, the viewing screenbeing shiftable in a horizontalplane laterally and toward and fromv the panel, the said arms supporting the viewing screen forwardly of the, panel to provide clearance for the entry or exit of a patient to be examined from either side of the machine, the said arms andthe viewing screen andithe said bracket being shiftable in a vertical plane in an identical and simultaneous path.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein the lower end of the second named arm has swivelled connection with a U-shapedbracket, the said viewing screen embodying a frame thatis provided with upper and lower trunnions axiallyarranged and having swivelled mounting in the U=sh;aped frame to swing in a horizontal plane with respect-to the U'-shaped bracket, the U-shaped bracket being swivelled; to swing in a horizontal plane and hand grips carried by the opposite ends of the viewing screen.

3. The device as in claim 1", wherein the first named arm and its forward extension is disposed at an elevation above the top of the machine to provide adequate patient clearance for a patient being examined with the machine when the view screen and associated parts are shifted to their lowermost position.

4. The device as in claim 1, wherein the first named arm is fixed with the bracket against turning and wherein the forward extension is in the form of a gooseneck that is bifurcated at its terminal end; the bifurcated'end being so positioned as to prevent axial turning movement of the second namedarm and with the second named arm being limited in its swinging movement in a plane toward and from the panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,285,283 McClintock Nov. 19, 1918 1,687,509 Pieper et. al. Oct. l6, 1928,, 2,132,076 Kotraschek et al. Oct. 4, 1938. 2,456,096 Wehmer Dec, 14, 1948 2,567,363 Blatz Sept. 11, 1951

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