WO2003071948A1

WO2003071948A1 - Integrated apparatus for digital radiographic examinations

Info

Publication number: WO2003071948A1
Application number: PCT/IT2003/000103
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aldo Della Croce; Massimo Gaiani
Original assignee: Mecall S.R.L.
Priority date: 2002-02-28
Filing date: 2003-02-24
Publication date: 2003-09-04
Also published as: ITMI20020406A0; ITMI20020406A1; AU2003215905A1; EP1478272A1

Abstract

It is described an integrated apparatus for digital technology radiographic examinations comprising a telescopic ray-generating unit (1) mounted hanging from the ceiling through a rail system (10), a patient support table (2) rotatably mounted an arm (6) supporting a digital sensor of images or detector (3) rotatably mounted around an axis (9) at the external end of said arm (6). Also said column (4) is preferably rotatably around its vertical axis.

Description

I^NTRE^GR^ATED APPARATUS FOR DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHIC E_XAM_IN_ATI_ON_S

The present invention relates to an apparatus capable of accomplishing any radiographic examination wherein the patient may adopt many different positions while using the digital technology instead of that based on impressionable radiographic films.

It is known that recently the diagnostic techniques by image have developed more and more in the direction of the digital technology. At present time PACS modern networks, devices for digital recording and the more and more increasing quality of monitors and of reporting work stations have greatly rendered easy the utilization of a diagnostic methodology of the "film-less" type, that means that it works without the classic film or radiographic "sheet" and allows to directly visualize the radiographic image on a suitable monitor without the necessity of passing through laser printers or CD readers.

However, in the applications to the conventional radiology, this kind of technology had to be considerably limited due to the fact that the available image receptors or "detectors" were not provided with levels of size and definition sufficient to replace, with qualitatively similar results, the traditional radiographic technique.

On the other hand it is known that these last drawbacks have been overcome by the introduction on commerce of new image sensors having sizes of 43 x 43 cm and 35 x 43 cm, specifically developed for the needs of the general radiology, that is usable for every type of radiographic examination, for example of thorax, abdomen, small and big articulations, bones etc. Once this aspect has been solved, the more commonly used structure of general radiographic room is based on the utilization of a hanging ray-generating tube, normally ceiling-mounted, coupled to a fixed or preferably raising radiographic table and to a standard or preferably revolving teleradiograph, comprising the image receptor. With this structure almost all the possible radiographic examinations can be accomplished, in particular those required in a first-aid station, with a few limitations in the case of examinatiόns with lateral projection on patient lying on a stretcher being transparent to X-rays .

However there is the drawback, with this type of structure, to be obliged to use two image receptors or "digital detectors", with following doubling of the final cost of the system, which is not bearable from the great majority of the radiology departments.

An object of the present invention is therefore to make it possible to meet, using only one image sensor, a series of requirements, first of all to accomplish all the above mentioned radiologic examinations with the possibility to pass from one radiographic proj ection to another in a simple and rapid way.

Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to accomplish the above said different radiographic projections with reduced manual movements of the components of the system, through as automatized as possible modality and in presence of minimum mechanical restrictions. A further object of the present invention is to make it possible to use the radiologic apparatus both in a first-aid department and in routine radiologic examinations, with high productivity in both cases.

Said object are achieved through a radiographic apparatus whose main features are set forth in claim 1 and other features, preferred or optional, are reported in the subsequent claims.

A first advantage of the apparatus according to the present invention is to provide the greatest operative flexibility for all the radiologic requirements, as said before, even using only one digital image receptor, easily and, in case, automatically rotatable from vertical to horizontal position and vice versa. These and other objects, advantages and features of the apparatus according to the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description of one preferred embodiment thereof, reported as a non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: figures la and lb show perspective and partial views of the apparatus according to the present invention wherein, for the sake of representative clarity, the hanging, ceiling-mounted ray-generating unit, of known type, has been omitted, respectively in a position with digital detector horizontally placed under the patient support table and in vertical position with table rotated by 90°; figures 2 and 3 show perspective views of the apparatus according to the present invention, complete with an overhanging ray-generating unit, respectively in the position of the table of figure lb but with image receptor panel at a less high level, lightly rotated with respect to the vertical and in the position of figure la with vertical image receptor, beside the table; figures 4 and 5 show schematically the partial apparatus as represented in figure la in two views respectively frontal and lateral, the latter seen from the support end of the patient support table, which is represented, with dotted lines, also in an elevated position with respect to the normal one with continuous line; figure 6 shows a schematic top plan view, schematic and partial according to the above explained meaning, of the apparatus according to the present invention with the patient support table rotated of 90° from the position of figure la to that of figure lb and the image receptor like in figure la in three distinct positions along the patient support table; figure 7 shows a complete view of the apparatus like in figure 2 but predisposed for another type of radiographic examination; figures 8 and 9 show again two perspective views of the apparatus in its complete representation, but predisposed to radiographic examinations to be accomplished on patient lying on a stretcher in two different positions, respectively at the end of the table, with the image sensor-holder column rotated of 90°, and with stretcher replacing the patient support table, in this case rotated of 90° to be accessible; and figure 10 shows a view similar to that of figure la wherein the image receptor or "detector" has been represented in many alternative positions and the engines driving the different moving parts of the same apparatus have been schematically illustrated.

Referring to the figures, the apparatus according to the present invention comprises, apart from an hanging ray-generating unit 1, of known telescopic type, motorized and mounted on a system 10 of upper rails which allows its radio- 03 00103

controlled moving along two. orthogonal axes, in order to reach any point of the covered radiographic area, as represented in figures 2, 7, 8, and 9, a patient support table 2 vertically movable and able to rotate around one end thereof and an image receptor or "detector" 3 mounted on a vertical support column 4. According to the present invention, said support column 4 or "detector holder stand" is movable being able to translate along a couple of rails 5 and 5' placed parallel and beside the position adopted for the patient support table 2 in the condition represented in figure la. Moreover the column 4 is capable of rotating around its vertical axis, as represented for example in figure 7. On lateral guides of column 4 is slidably mounted a block 4a integral with a protruding arm 6 at whose end, as better visible in figure lb, the so called "detector" 3 is jointed around an axis 9, for example on a motorized shaft not represented in detail.

According to the diagnostic requirements, the apparatus according to the present invention, due to the high operative flexibility thereof, may assume the most suitable configuration for accomplishing the required radiographic examination. Some of these configurations are represented in the attached drawings; in particular in figures la, 3, 4 and 5, as well as in the part represented with continuous line in figure 6, it is expected the case of radiographic examinations to be accomplished on patient lying on table 2. This last is preferably formed of a cantilevered carbon fibre panel raisable, as represented in particular in figures 4 and 5, with a vertical movement obtained in any known way, for example with an asynchronous triphase motor group 11 regulated by inverter, provided with permanent magnet safety brake in order to keep the reached position and joined, for example through ball-rolling screws, to the vertical supporting axis 12 of table 2, placed inside a protection and casing box 7 at one end of the same table, the opposite end being free. Preferably the patient support table 2 is also provided with lateral translation movement, after permanent magnet brakes releasing. A centering cam (not represented) identifies the central position of the movement and a microswitch to which corresponds a specific entry in the controlling electronics can be combined therewith.

The third possible movement for the patient support table is a rotation around its supporting vertical axis 12 to pass from the position of figure la to that of figure lb (see. also figures 2, 6, 7 and 9). This rotational movement is of manual type, regulated as for the drive of all the above-mentioned movements, for example by handle driven bolt. The longitudinal movement of column 4 or detector holding "stand", shown in particular in figures 6 and 10, is achieved through a servomotor with piloting driver 14 by making a pinion or a toothed wheel engaging with a toothed belt parallel to rails to 5, 5' rotate, also there being provided brakes and limit microswitches, with automatic or manual drive through a push-button placed on the frontal part of detector.

The vertical movement of block 4a with arm 6 along the column or stand 4 is adjustable both in manual and motorized way. The motion transmission provides preferably for a magnetic clutch which links the motor to the movement members formed of a toothed belt and provides the starting of the motor piloting driver. Said motor is schematically represented by element 15 at the upper end of stand 4 in figure 10.

The rotational movement of detector 3, particularly important for the present invention, is provided completely motorized, controlled through two push-buttons placed on the stand at the supporting arm 6. The motor is schematically represented by 16 in figure 10, there being provided a regulating circuit, which has to enable the associated driver with the same motor to move in the required direction, as well as the required stroke-end limiting contacts.

Finally, the rotational movement of the column or detector holder stand 4, as illustrated in figure 8 by means of example, is of manual type, regulated by a pedal (not represented) mounted on the lower back part of the same column. The rotational movement is stopped by a purely mechanical device without any electric component. Naturally also in this case there are provided safety interblocks driven by a microclutch and by a regulating electric circuit.

As regards the different possibilities of radiographic examinations allowed by the present invention, for a patient lying on table 2 the examination can be accomplished both in the position represented in figures la, 4 and 5, with horizontal detector underneath the table wherein the supporting panel (for example in carbon fibre) must be transparent to rays, and also like in figure 3 in lateral projection and detector in vertical position beside table 2. hi both cases the operator has only to align the RX beam on desired anatomic area by moving the hanging ray-generating unit 1 along the rail system 10, also in order to correct the focal length. Control systems of known type which set automatically in position detector 3 providing the aligning of its center as function of possible movements of the telescopic unit 1 along vertical axis of RX beam, are provided.

The apparatus is arranged in the same configuration even for tomographic examination, with the only difference that in this case the focal length is predetermined and is automatically kept, with means available for the one skilled in the art. The tomographic system is automatically started after the tomographic angle and the pendulation rate have been chosen.

For examinations of thorax or loaded limbs, which provides vertical teleradiograph and maximum focal length of 180 cm, the system is automatically disposed as in figure lb (naturally with simultaneous arranging of the position of the hanging ray-generating unit not represented in this figure; vertical arrangements carry out the automatic aligning of detector 3). Since the detector can be brought nearly in contact with the floor, in this position it is possible to accomplish even all the examinations of the loaded lower limbs. Obviously in the meantime the patient support table, useless in this case, has been rotated of 90° in the cleared position with dotted lines of figure 6.

It is to be noticed that the possible rotation of detector 3 is not limited to 90° from vertical to horizontal position but, for a greater utilization flexibility, it can reach a negative inclination as for example of about -15° as indicated in figure 2. This position is available even in the configuration of figure 3, for example with similar inclination of the patient support table.

In the case of radiographic examinations of the small limbs (hands, arms, elbow etc.) with unloaded limb to be put in contact with the detector, this is rotated in horizontal position, with table out of the way, like in figure 7. Also in this case it will be provided a convenient positioning of the RX unit 1. Finally, referring to figures 8 and 9, are represented two different ways of utilization of the apparatus according to the invention for radiographic examination for a patient lying on a stretcher. In the case of figure 8, the stretcher is arranged perpendicularly to patient support table 2, at the free end thereof opposite to that of box 7 and stand 4 has been rotated of 90° in order to place the panel of detector 3 in horizontal position immediately under stretcher 17 at the desired anatomic area. Obviously stretcher 17 must be transparent to RX like also that represented in figure 9, where it is arranged parallel to rails 5, 5' for the stand 4 translation, in the position normally occupied by patient support table 2 which is instead in this case rotated of 90° in order to clear the way.

Obviously the regulating system, possibly remote controlled, provides for the presence of a keyboard and control panel, safety circuits, limiting microswitches and photoelectric cells, as well as whatever provided as electromagnetic brakes, signal light on board etc. in an integrated radiographic room according to the prior art.

Possible additions and/or modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to the embodiments above described and illustrated of the apparatus according to the present invention without departing from the scope of the same invention.

Claims

CLAMS

1. An integrated apparatus for digital technology radiographic examinations comprising a telescopic ray-generating unit (1), mounted hanging from the ceiling through a rail system (10), a patient support table (2) rotatably mounted at one end (7, 12) and a column (4) on which is vertically slidably mounted an arm (6) supporting a digital sensor of images or detector (3) rotatably mounted around an axis (9) at the external end of said arm (6).

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said detector holding column (4) is slidably mounted beside the patient support table (2), there being provided means (14) adapted to move the same along two directions along a couple of rails (5, 5') parallel to a first position of said table (2).

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said patient support table (2) has a variable height, being mounted at one end on a supporting axis (12) vertically drivable by motive members (11).

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises on a supporting arm (6) or on a supporting element integral with the same detector (3) driving means (16) for the rotation of this latter with respect to arm (6) around axis (9).

5. An apparatus according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises, inside said column detector holding (4) motive means (15) to regulate, with magnetic clutch, the vertical movement in both directions, along lateral guides, of a block (4a) on which said detector holding arm (6) is mounted protruding therefrom.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising driving means, manually controlled, for the rotation of said column (4) around the longitudinal vertical axis thereof.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising driving means manually controlled for the rotation of said table (2) from said first position to a second position perpendicular thereto.

8. An apparatus according to one of the previous claims further comprising means to rotate said patient support table (2) around a longitudinal horizontal axis.

9. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said driving means (16) for the rotation of detector (3) are adapted to cause this latter to rotate from a horizontal position along an angle greater than 90° up to an inclination beyond the vertical.