X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Photographic detector support
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-02
2004-05-11
Bruce, David V. (Department: 2882)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Photographic detector support
C378S177000, C378S180000, C378S208000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06733175
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a child positioning apparatus for X-ray photography or imaging and more particularly to a child positioning apparatus for X-ray photography with adjustable dial lock features an improved upright latch and adjustment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An X-ray positioner for an upright child is first described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,051,832 ('832) issued to Jalmer Pigg, Sr. on Aug. 28, 1962, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. While the device described in the '832 patent was effective in the upright positioning of a child being X-rayed, there were several shortcomings in its operation.
A significant problem with the '832 invention was the complex method used to adjust the position of the X-ray film cassette relevant to the position of the patient. As best seen in
FIG. 1
, the '832 film positioner
100
principally comprised film carriage
104
which included hooks
101
with the X-ray cassette
103
resting on the hooks
101
. Film positioner
100
had rear side tracks (not shown) which extended to the rear of the L-angle
108
. Latch
105
in the '832 patent was employed to secure carriage
104
in position after having been adjusted upward or downward by an X-ray technician. In tightening the latch
105
, the hard surface of the latch
105
was tightened against the hard surface of the rear tracks
106
of the carriage
104
. To create adequate friction between the two hard surfaces the latch
105
was often over-tightened, placing great stress on mounting pin
109
and resulting in frequent breakage. A similar mechanism was used on the shield and indicia device located on the front of the child positioner, also shown in
FIG. 1
as
110
.
A subsequent patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,702 ('702) attempted to resolve these latching issues by adding pads at the end of the latch to increase friction between the latch and the film holder. As best seen in
FIG. 2
, friction pads
107
were added to the end of the latch against the sidetracks of the carriage
104
to attempt to obviate the necessity of over-tightening the latch. Similarly, friction pads
107
were added to latch
111
that secures indicia plate
112
into position. While the problem of ineffective latching is mitigated by this improvement, the process remains unwieldy and generally requires the use of two hands to adjust the position of the X-ray film cassette. One hand is used to hold the cassette carriage while another hand operates the latching mechanism.
A second problem not addressed by either U.S. Pat. No. 3,051,832 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,702 is the difficulty associated with placing the child in the positioner while adjusting the left and right upright restraints in place around the child. Formerly, the uprights were secured to the carousel by sliding a wedge attached to the upright by an L-bracket, into a slide block by passing the wedge over a pop-up button. The upright would then be held in place as the pop-up button released, blocking passage of the wedge out of the slide block. Over time, these pop-up buttons have tended to become increasingly less responsive, permitting the wedges to slide out of the slide blocks at inopportune times. The pop-up button fastener is particularly problematic when, over time, the pop-up button wears a groove on the bottom of the slide block. In this instance the pop-up button begins to rest at the bottom of the wear-groove and the wedge is able to slide out of the channel unimpeded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an upright child positioning apparatus for X-ray photography with improved adjustment mechanisms.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a child positioning apparatus with improved placement and locking of the left and right upright restraint members.
The present invention provides for these and other objectives with at least three material advantages over the prior art. First, the invention uses an X-ray film cassette positioning system that can be operated by using a single hand. The film cassette is restrained in position by two friction fasteners such as dial knobs. One dial knob restrains the film cassette vertically and a second dial knob restrains the cassette horizontally. Second, a similar positioning system is used to hold the position of the shield and indicia plate. A single dial knob maybe used to hold the position of the shield on which the various indicia markers are placed. Third, the upright restraints are more securely held in place with improved fasteners at the ends of the channels of the slide block and an improved strap assembly. In addition, a new turntable locking mechanism has been devised.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3051832 (1962-08-01), Pigg
patent: 5600702 (1997-02-01), Pigg
Bruce David V.
Miller & Martin LLP
Thomas Courtney
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