Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/04—Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B6/00—Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
  • A61B6/10—Safety means specially adapted therefor
  • A61B6/102—Protection against mechanical damage, e.g. anti-collision devices
  • A61B6/105—Braking or locking devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
  • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
  • A61N5/10—X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy
  • A61N5/1048—Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
  • A61N5/1049—Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an adjusting member for adjusting an angle of inclination between an adjustable supporting part and a fixed supporting part of a patient supporting system, in which the adjustable supporting part is rotatable around an axis in relation to the fixed supporting part .
• Such a patient supporting system having an adjustable supporting system is known -per se and is used in radiotherapy, among other things.
• the system is used for keeping a patient in exactly the right position, in which this position should be immediately reproducible in a later moment .
• the upper part of the body must often be placed across an angle in relation to the horizontal, to which end an adjustable part having adjustable supports bears on the underlying fixed part of the support in the known system.
• the fixed part extends across the entire or almost the entire length under- neath the adjustable part, with the adjustable supports being mounted near the extremity.
• An important disadvantage of such a system is that both the fixed part on which the adjustable part rests and the adjustable part are in the path of the radiation beam, thereby causing a weakening of the radiation beam, and, when using metal parts, scatter in the target area as well.
• a further disadvantage is the size of such a structure, representing a limitation of the freedom of movement for the radiation apparatus in the target area .
• the object of the invention is to overcome said disadvantages and to provide an adjusting member by which the angle of inclination can be easily and accurately adjusted.
• the invention provides for, that the adjusting member comprises a first part and a second part in which the first part of the adjusting member is fixedly mounted on one of the supporting parts and the second part of the adjusting member is mounted movably along the other supporting part, first means being provided for moving the second part of the adjusting member and second means being provided for fixing the parts of the adjusting member in relation to one another.
• First and second parts of the adjusting member are in the immediate vicinity of the axis between fixed and adjustable supporting part so that the fixed supporting part so that the fixed supporting part need only project across a limited distance past said axis.
• the fixed supporting part remains completely out of the way of the radiation beam.
• an adjustng member according to the invention it is possible to provide for a patient supporting system in which the adjustable supporting part can protrude freely in relation to the table and in which a considerably improved irradiating capacity can be effected.
• the first fixed part of the adjusting member is mounted on the fixed supporting part
• the second movable part of the adjusting member is movable along the adjustable supporting part
• the first means for moving the movable part of the adjusting member are mounted on the adjustable supporting part.
• the two parts of the ad- justing member together form a support between the fixed and movable supporting parts, in which moving both parts of the adjustable member in relation to one another will change the support formed by the adjusting member changes and thus the angle of inclination between the supporting parts.
• Said second means for fixing the parts of the adjusting member in relation to one another are used for maintaining an adjusted angle of inclination.
• the second means comprise complementary parts, being mounted on or being part of the movable part of the adjusting member and the fixed part of the adjusting member or one of the supporting mem- bers .
• the complementary parts are designed in such a way that a series of parallel extending grooves is provided in the first fixed part of the adjusting member allowing for at least partly receiving the second movable part of the adjusting member.
• the angle of inclination can be adjusted in more or less steps.
• means for moving the movable part of the adjusting member means can be provided by which the movable part can be operated from a side of the adjustable supporting part, or means can be provided by which operating can take place from the extremity of the movable supporting part .
• At least one wire extending across spaced-apart rollers is provided for moving the movable part of the adjusting member, the movable part of the adjusting member being arranged between the rollers and being connected to the wire concerned with at least one connecting point per wire.
• the term wire is understood to mean both a wire having free extremities and an endless wire.
• a wire can extend across a roller or can be wound around a roller one or more times. This can be around one single roller but also around spaced-apart rollers.
• An endless wire can be wound around a roller in one or more turns, however, this will not be neccesary if the wire engages at least one roller to a sufficiently large degree.
• a possible development is e.g. a wire having spaced-apart thickened portions or bulges and an accompanying roller provided with recesses for receiving the thickened portions or bulges of the wire therein.
• the roller or rollers are formed by one rotatable shaft at one extremity, having at least one freely operable extremity, the movable part can be easily and exactly moved across the desired distance, thus adjusting the the angle of inclination.
• the rotatable shaft is situated at the extremity of the adjustable supporting part causing the wire or wires to extend in a straight line and causing the movement to require the smallest force.
• this embodiment provides for a wire being connected to the movable part of the adjusting member in one or two connecting points and having its ends connected to the rotatable shaft .
• a further advantage with this embodiment is that only the wire or wires will fall in the area of the radiation beam.
• plastic wires for the wires the occurring influence of the irradiating capacity by the wires is negligible.
• movement of the rotatable shaft between the two extreme positions occurs stepwise, each step corresponding to a next possible position of the movable part of the adjunsting member.
• a possible embodiment is e.g. a snap system in which the shaft will snap into the predetermined positions with a click.
• fig. 1 illustrates a view of a known supporting system having a support at the extremity
• fig. 2 illustrates a view of a fixed supporting part and an adjustable supporting part with an embodiment of the present adjusting member
• fig. 3A,B,C illustrate a plan view of a fixed and an ad- justable supporting part and two cross-sections of the adjusting member in two different positions, respectively
• fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the movable part of the adjusting member, the rotatable adjustableting shaft and the wires by which the movable part is connected to the rotatable shaft
• fig. 5 illustrates a more detailed perspective view and partial cross-section of the rotatable adjusting shaft and the wire connected to it; fig.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a view a partial cross-section of an adjusting button on the rotatable shaft
• fig. 7 illustrates a view and partial cross-section of a blocking member for fixing the adjustable supporting part in relation to the fixed supporting part
• fig. 8 illustrates a view of a belt between the adjustable supporting part and the fixed supporting part .
• the supporting system according to claim 1 is de state of the art and comprises a fixed horizontal part a, an adjustable part b movable in relation to former part a and being adjustable around a horizontal axis, and a support c provided at the extremity.
• the whole is positioned on a fixed table or can be part of a fixed table.
• Fixed part a is a limiting factor in the irradiating capacity of said known supporting system.
• the supporting system does not have this disadvantage.
• the supporting system comprises a fixed part 1 and a part 2 adjustable in relation to it, an adjusting member 3 being provided which is mounted between both parts near the shaft 4, the shaft around which the adjustable part 2 can rotate in relation to the fixed part 1.
• Fixed part 1 can be a table or, as illustrated, be part of a raodu- lar system that can be coupled to the extremity of a table.
• Such a modular system is known from NL-C-1024063.
• the fixed part 1 of such a modular system can also be designed in such a way, that it can be mounted on a regular tabel, so that an adjusting member 3 can also be made available on a regu- lar table in a simple way.
• Fig. 3A illustrates a plan view of the fixed and adjustable supporting parts 1, 2.
• the fixed supporting part 1 is provided with bearings 5 for receiving the shaft 4 of the adjustable supporting part 2.
• the fixed supporting part 1 has its extremity provided with coupling members 6 for coupling fixed supporting part 1 to the extremity of a table suitable to this end, and not further illustrated in the drawing.
• the adjustable supporting part 2 is provided with series of recesses 7 providing for that the field of light is visible and that in case of obliquely inciding radiation said supporting part 2 is of sufficiently irradiating capacity.
• a head rest 8 and mounting points 9 for arm rests to be mounted have been provided.
• An adjus- ting member 10 having adjusting buttons 11, 12 is provided at the extremity, which is used for adjusting the angle of inclination of the adjustable supporting part 2 in relation to the fixed supporting part 1.
• Figs, 3B,C illustrate cross-sections according to the line A-A in fig. 3A of the smallest possible angle of inclination of adjustable supporting part 2 and an intermediate angle of inclination, respectively.
• the adjusting member 3 comprises a fixed part 13 , being fixedly mounted on fixed supporting part 1, and a movable part 14, being movable along the adjustable supporting part 2.
• Fixed part 13 contains slotted recesses 15 into which a portion of movable part 14 can be received.
• Illustrated movable part 14 has a cylindrical shape of circular cross-section.
• Adjustable supporting part 2 contains a recess 16 into which fixed part 13 of the adjusting member can be partly received.
• the adjustable supporting part 14 projects at both sides of the fixed part 13, in which adjustable supporting part 2 will come to bear on the extremities of movable part 14.
• the bottom side of adjustable supporting part 2 can come to bear on said extremities, however, to this end, edges 17 can be provided within the recess 16, causing the wires 18 for moving mova- ble part 14 can be directed as closely along the bottom of the adjustable part 2 as possible.
• the wires 19 have guides 19 and return rollers 20.
• Fig. 4 illustrates in an orthographical representation the adjusting member 10, wire or wires 18 and movable part 14.
• movable part 14 In an extreme position, movable part 14 abuts the guides 19, which corresponds to the smallest possible angle of inclination.
• the wires 18 extend through sets of bores 21 in movable part 14, in which each wire is fixed in one bore of a set of bores 21 and is freely movable through the other bore.
• the adjusting member 10 mainly comprises a rotatable shaft 22 having its ends provided with adjusting knobs 11, 12.
• the wire or wires 18 are tied around the rotatable shaft 22 and are fixed to it with their outer ends.
• Further guides 23 are provided directly in front of rotatable shaft 22.
• Fig. 5 illustrates in more detail how a wire 18 is led through bores 43 provided in adjustable shaft 10.
• Rotatable shaft 10 is further provided with screw holes 44 being square to the bores 43, intended for receiving locking screws 45 by which wire 18 can be locked in the bores 43.
• Screw holes 44 being square to the bores 43, intended for receiving locking screws 45 by which wire 18 can be locked in the bores 43.
• One single wire 18 was used in the example given.
• the single wire 18 is mounted by feeding it through the two bores 43 at both sides of the centre of the rotatable roller 10, then leading it through bores 21 of the movable part 14 of adjusting member 3 and after that, through the return rollers 20, returning it to movable part 14 and fixing it therein.
• This can be done with locking means such as further locking screws or with a knot, for example.
• Positioning movable part 14 parallel to the slotted recesses 15 in the fixed part 13 of the adjusting member 3 can be effected by sliding and/or locking the wire 18 within the central bores 43 in such a way, or locking it in movable part 14, that movable part 14 will abut the return rollers 20 with straight contact.
• the free parts of the wire 18 are returned to the rotatable shaft 10 from movable part 14, will be pulled taut and be locked in the outer bores 43 by locking screws 45.
• the wire 18 is preferably tied around the rotatable shaft 10 with some turns in order to reduce the tension on the locking screws.
• the freely protruding outer ends of the wire 18 are locked onto rotatable shaft 10 in a way not further indicated so that they can be re-used later for pulling the wire 18 taut, should this be necessary.
• the adjusting knobs 11, 12 are mounted in the correct positions on the outer ends of rotatable shaft 10.
• adjustabele supporting part 2 should first be raised manually so that movable part 14 is lifted from fixed part 13 and will have enough room to be moved. After moving movable part 14 across a predetermined distance, adjustable supporting part 2 can be brought down again in which movable part 14 will end up in the intended slotted recess in fixed part 13 and adjustable supporting part 2 will be arranged in the desired angle of inclination.
• Fig. 6 illustrates a view and a partial cross-section of an adjusting knob 11. The adjusting knob is fixedly- mounted to an end 24 of rotatable shaft 22.
• Adjusting knob 11 mounts a pin 25 and housing 26 has a slot 27 for recei- ving the pin 25, the slot 27 having its ends provided with a stop by which the rotational movement of the rotatable shaft 22 is stopped. Further, a resilient pin 28 is provided having its outer end 29 snap in specially provided recesses in the bottom 29 of the adjusting knob 11, in which each next snapping position corresponds to a next position of movable part 14 within fixed part 13 of the adjusting member.
• Fig. 7 illustrates a locking member 31 comprising a holder 32 having a locking pin 33 mounted therein and inten- ded to fall into a pin hole 34 when adjustable supporting part 2 is brought into the extreme position, the position having the smallest possible angle of inclination.
• Adjustable supporting part 2 has a recess 35 for receiving holder 32.
• a bevelled plane 36 is provided for pushing the blocking pin 33 into the holder 32 against a spring pressure.
• a push button 37 with a pushing bar 38 mounted in a guide 39 directly connecting to the pin hole 34 is provided.
• Fig. 8 illustrates in a perspective view fixed supporting part 1 and adjustable supporting part 2 and a flexible belt 40 mounted between them.
• the belt 40 is fastened to the respective supporting parts 1, 2 and serves for limiting the maximum angle of inclination of adjustable supporting part 2 to a predetermined maximum. This maximum position can at the same time serve as point of reference in manually lifting adjustable supporting part 2 for being able to move the movable part 14.

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Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Cited By (1)

Citations (10)

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• 2005
  • 2005-08-17 NL NL1029756A patent/NL1029756C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2006
  • 2006-07-20 WO PCT/NL2006/000381 patent/WO2007021171A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (10)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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