Radiological apparatus wherein the patient support and X-ray sources are supportedon a rotatable horizontal shaft

July 21« 1964 j. [_ garcia oller 3 141 972

RADIOLOGICAL APPARATUS WHEREIN THE PATIENT SUPPORT AND X-RAY

J A X a^^UR,^Caa ^{ARE SUPP0RTED} ON A ROTATABLE HORIZONTAL SHAFT Filed Oct. 25, 1961 ₂ sheets-Sheet 1

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ATTORNEYS

July 21, 1964 j. _L. garcia oller 3,141,972

RADIOLOGICAL APPARATUS WHEREIN THE PATIENT SUPPORT AND X-RAY

SOURCES ARE SUPPORTED ON A ROTATABLE HORIZONTAL SHAFT

Filed Oct. 25, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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INVENTOR

Josel, Gaiviu

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United States Patent Office

3,141,972

Patented July 21, 1964

3,141,972

RADIOLOGICAL APPARATUS WHEREIN THE, PATIENT SUPPORT AND X-RAY SOURCES ARE SUPPORTED ON A ROTATABLE HORIZONTAL SHAFT

Jose L. Garcia Oiler, 3401 Nashville Ave., New Orleans 25, La.

Filed Oct 25, 1961, Ser. No. 147,650

Claims. (Cl. 250—55)

This invention relates generally to a patient supporting apparatus for radiological studies. More specifically, the present invention relates to a patient supporting adjustable chair which cooperates with at least one source of radiant energy in a manner that permits a number of revolutions of the patient and the radiant energy sources to obtain X-ray studies of the patient in any position in space.

Current usage in diagnosis of diseases and injuries of the nervous system with X-ray and fluoroscopy requires visualization of the head, neck, and entire spine. These studies often require that a contrast medium be injected in the nervous system, and thereafter the patient be moved in space to successively visualize various parts of the nervous system. As medical knowledge has developed, it becomes desirable to X-ray complete movements of head and/or body while in motion in a full circle, and even various continuous successive circles, as well as at any point in space when stationary. The need has thus arisen for an X-ray mounting means that will follow the patient and obtain X-ray images during full rotation of one and more than one revolution, both from the front and from the side of the patient. The known prior art apparatus will accomplish only segments of this need. For instance, tilt and rotary tables for fluoroscopy and X-ray for horizontal and vertical positions of patient are well known, but for complete inversion (head-down) and full continuous circle X-rays of the head studies, the present equipment is found to be inadequate.

Additionally, there has been a need for an apparatus which will permit X-ray studies of patients undergoing operative procedures in the operating pavillion. For instance, during an operation on the brain the present method of obtaining X-ray views in the operating room are essentially limited to front and side views with portable X-ray machines, or floor or ceiling mounted machines which are independent of the operating table. Thus, any of the X-ray studies would of necessity be limited to those in which the patient would not have to be moved to a position such as in which the patient’s head would be directed downwardly. Because of this deficiency in the prior art, all the necessary X-ray images of the horizontally lying patient could not be obtained, since there was no satisfactory means whereby the patient could be rotated in space during an operation, and therefore it would not be possible to obtain ventriculograms of various parts of the brain and spine after injection of gas, or contrast ventriculograms or myelograms during spinal operations with the use of a fluid contrast medium.

Accordingly, it is the principal and primary objective of the present invention to provide a patient supporting X-ray apparatus which permits the patient to be rotated in a vertical circle any number of times during which X-rays are being taken of various parts of the patient’s body.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide apparatus for rotating the patient and at least in one source of radiant energy about a common axis, in order that the X-rays may be taken during the revolution of the patient in space and at any position in space.

A further objective of this invention is to provide free access to the patient from the side, front and back without hindering any surgical technique and with a minimum of apparatus being exposed to the atmosphere, thereby requiring less sterilization.

This invention also has as an objective the provision of a patient supporting X-ray apparatus in which the patient may be revolved in space during X-ray studies and in which the mechanism for the X-ray sources and revolution of the patient are remote from the working area 10 around the patient.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of X-ray source electric connections which permit the X-ray source to be not only adjusted in space, but also to be rotated any number of revolutions with15 out the usual cables becoming twisted or broken.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view in partial section of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the patient support as a chair, and in phantom lines the adjustability of the chair to support a patient in a horizontal position;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view partly broken away, showing the positioning of the radiant energy sources and the chair relative to the rotating shaft and also the projection of the shaft through a wall to separate the chair and radiant energy sources from the rotat30 ing means and high voltage source;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3—3 of FIGURE 1, showing the slide connections for supporting the radiant energy sources;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the chair mounting 35 means;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view through the rotatable shaft showing the slip ring connection;

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view along lines 6—6 of FIGURE 5, showing further details of the slip ring 40 connection.

The apparatus, according to the present invention, is best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, wherein the character 10 denotes the apparatus generally. One of the significant and important features of the invention is the rotatable 45 shaft 12, which is shown protruding through wall W forming one of the sides of an operating room, for instance. It is preferable that the shaft protrude through a wall for a number of reasons, one being that the weight of the shaft is easily supportable, as on suitable bearings 50 14, and also for the reason that the electrical wires 16 to a source of electric energy, not shown, are separated from the operating room, or at least shielded from the patient, thereby lessening the hazards of using high voltage current, which can cause an explosion. The wall 55 from which the shaft 12 protrudes can be used to shield and protect not only the electric wiring, but also the rotating mechanism 18. As shown in FIGURE 2, the motor 18 is provided with a switch 20 and conventional gearing 22 for engagement with gear 24, which is keyed g0 to the shaft 12, thereby effecting rotation of the shaft.

The motor IS is preferably reversible by means of the switch 20, in order that the shaft may be rotated in either direction. It has been found desirable to design the gears 22 and 24, as well as the speed of the motor, to produce _C5 one complete revolution in either direction of the shaft in about 45 seconds.

Suitably secured to the shaft as by struts 26 is the support member 28, which is preferably in the form of an enclosed circle on wheel, as best shown in FIGURE 1. 70 The wheel 28 may be made of any suitable material such as a heavy metal rod. Suitably secured within the plane of the wheel, as by welding, are upper and lower stand

3,141,972 supporting members 3®, which are mutually parallel, and take the form of cords within the circular wheel 28. Slidably received on the stand supporting members 30 are a plurality of stands 32, which extend longitudinally of the apparatus in an upright position. Each of the 5 stands slides at its upper and lower end by means of a bifurcation at 34. Each leg of the bifurcation is formed as a ring 36, which engages the stand supporting member 30. The positioning of the stands 30 on their support is maintained by conventional set screws 38, as shown. 10

The radiant energy sources in the form of X-ray cameras 40 and 41 must be adjustably positioned, in order that they may be directed as desired to promote, respectively, frontal and lateral views. For camera 40 camera holder 42 is slidable along stand 32. Any suit- 15 able means for maintaining the camera holder in a desired position, such as set screws 44, may be used. Alternatively, of course, the camera holder 42 may be geared to the stand 32 for positive movement along the stand. The camera 49 may be slidably mounted on arc 46, which 20 is approximately a 30° arc. The arc, in turn, may be permanently or movably affixed to a sleeve 48, which is slidable along the holder 42. Conventional means, such as set screws 50 or gearing similar to that proposed between the stand and the camera holder, may be provided 25 between the sleeve 48 and the holder 42, in order to permit the fine adjustment necessary for the camera. The camera 41 may be pivotally mounted on a similar camera holder 51, which is shorter in extent than holder 42, as shown in FIGURE 2. 30

The patient supporting means, shown generally at 52, takes the form of a chair which may be suitably opened to maintain the patient in the chair in a horizontal position. The chair is secured to an end of the shaft 12 in a manner best shown in FIGURE 4. The chair support 35 is in the form of an arm 54 having a sleeve 56 at one end, which is keyed as at 58 to the shaft 12. At the end of the arm 54 is an abutment plate 60, formed at right angles to the arm 54. The plate 60, as shown, is provided at its lower end with a bolt stem 62, having suit- 40 able screw threads thereon. The abutment plate 60 is designed to receive friction plates 64 and 66, which are provided with aligned openings 68 for receiving the bolt 62. The friction plates 64 and 66 are pivotable about bolt 62 and movable relative to each other, the movement being controlled by the stud 70, which cooperates with the arcuate slot 72 on plate 64. Wing nut 74 is provided to maintain the desired relative positioning of these plates. As shown in FIGURE 4, the plates also carry the back 76 and seat 78 support members in the integrally formed sleeves 80, which slidably receive the back and seat supports 76 and 78. The height of the back and seat is adjustable by means of suitable set screws 82, as shown. Secured to the base of the plate 66 is the transverse seat support 84, which is similarly affixed to similar pairs of friction plates 86 and 88 on the opposite side of the chair. Each of the plates §6 and 88 have similar adjusting means for relative angular movement, as by the stud 70 and arcuate slot 72, and are also provided with integral sleeves 80 to slidably receive corresponding similar back and seat supports 76 and 78.

The back supports 76 are suitably constructed to receive thereon the Cassette holder disclosed in applicant’s copending application, Serial No. 53,269, filed August 31, 1960, now Patent No. 3,072,788 granted January 8, 1963.

The ends of the seat support member 78 are suitably pivoted as at 90, in order to accommodate the lower part of the leg at the knee. Means such as screw 92 is provided to maintain any particular pivoted position of the member 78 relative to the extension 94. At the end of the seat extension 94, slidable foot rest 96 is positioned again with adjustment means 98. To hold the patient securely in the chair, at least one seat belt 100 is provided to enable the patient to be rotated in space.

It view of the fact that the chair and the cameras are fully rotatable any number of revolutions consecutively, there is provided a slip ring electric connection to 102 to prevent any tangling or damage to the camera wires 104. As best shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the wires are affixed to the shaft 12, as by means of collar 106, which is permanently attached to the shaft and rotates with the shaft. The wires 104 enter the shaft through conduits 108 and extend through the hollow portion of the shaft 110 to the slip ring connection 102. Each of the wires 104 leads to conventional brushes 112, which are resiliently edged outwardly from the surface of the shaft 12. Each brush is designed to make contact with a fixed sleeve 114 through a plurality of concentric spaced bands 116 of electrically conductive materials, which are embedded in suitable grooves in the sleeve 114. Suitable insulation 117 is provided, as shown in FIGURE 6. Thus, as the shaft rotates, the brushes are always in contact, each with its own band 116 of electrically conductive material.

Suitable pairs of bands 116 are selectively energized by means of the wires 118, which are in continuous contact with each of the bands; thus, a pair of the bands 116 may be used to energize one radiant energy source of camera 40, or all of the bands may be utilized to energize both of the cameras 40, in order that X-ray studies may be made of both the frontal and lateral views at the same time, and also during the time that the shaft is rotating.

The operation of the apparatus according to the present invention is believed clear and should be obvious from the description of the individual elements; however, a short description may be helpful. In operation the patient is supported in a chair 52 and the chair maintained in a position shown in FIGURE 1, and it may assume a horizontal position, as shown in the phantom lines, by releasing the wing nuts 74 to permit relative angular movement between the friction plates 64 and 66 on one side of the chair and frictional plates 86 and 88 on the other side. The cameras may be adjusted for lateral and frontal views by means of the adjustments along the stands 32 and along the camera holders 42 and 51. Additionally, the camera arranged for the frontal view is movable along a 30° arc, provided by plate 46, and the plate in turn is pivoted about the holder 42. The need for a variety of 45 adjustments is important for the camera taking the frontal view, while the camera taking the side view need only be vertically and laterally adjustable as regards the specific apparatus. However, camera 41 may be constructed to pivot about a horizontal axis, if such is desired.

It will be seen that the chair will permit the rotation of the patient in the sagittal plane of the nervous system, which will allow selective and systematic visualization of all parts of the patient’s central nervous system upon injection of air into the nervous system. It is possible, 55 therefore, to expose X-ray film while the patient is rotating in space in all degrees of arc, especially when the patient is erect, prone, supine and in a vertex-down position.

Further, the present invention will permit the chair used as an operating table, in which the X-ray unit is im60 mediately available without the necessity of moving the patient, and therefore will allow many diagnostic procedures to be carried out while operations are in progress. Thus, maximum information to the operating surgeon will be available through the medium of angiograms, ventric65 ulograms, contrast ventriculograms and myelograms. All of these views or studies of the patient may be obtained at the time of surgery, instead of the usual days or weeks later. Additionally, the invention will allow more accurate and precise operations under X-ray or fluoro70 scopy control. Operations, such as those for Parkinsonism, which are guided by X-ray, can be accomplished with a clearer degree of safety by obtaining the X-rays during the operation.

A further advantage of the invention is that by the 75 use of the single supporting shaft, the X-ray cameras

3,141,972 terial and brushes embedded within the shaft for moving contact with each ring to provide a continuous electrical circuit for said X-ray energy sources while the shaft is rotating.

4. A radiological apparatus comprising a support base member, a rotatable substantially horizontally disposed shaft mounted on said support base member, means for rotating said shaft, patient support means mounted adjacent one end of said shaft for rotation with said shaft, a 10 support member mounted on said shaft and lying in a plane substantially normal to the axis of said shaft, a pair of movable stands mounted on said support member each being independently adjustable along a line of travel normal to the lengths thereof in the plane of said support 15 member, first and second X-ray energy sources, a first mounting member mounted on a stand adjustable along the length thereof, said first mounting member having a holding member disposed substantially normal to the plane of said support member for mounting said first 20 X-ray energy source, a second mounting member being adjustably mounted along the length of the other of said stands and said second X-ray energy source being mounted on said second mounting member.

5. A radiological apparatus according to claim 4, 25 wherein the stands are parallel and the support member is mounted on the shaft between the support base member and the patient support means.

6. A radiological apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the patient support means is a chair, adjustable 30 means cooperating with the chair to permit the chair to present a flat surface for supporting a patient and said chair being supported beyond the end of the shaft to permit free movement about the shaft.

and the patient can be shielded from the hazards of the motor and high voltage lines, which may be on the other side of the wall or otherwise enclosed.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations, and 5 modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention, be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.