Patient support with digital X-ray cassette

Details Patient support with digital X-ray cassette Patient support with digital X-ray cassette

2000-02-29

2002-06-04

Kim, Robert H. (Department: 2882)

X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices

Accessory

Object holder or support

C378S189000, C378S208000, C005S600000, C005S601000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06398409

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a patient support such as a hospital bed, surgical table, stretcher or chair. More particularly, the present invention relates to a patient support that is configured to receive a digital x-ray device.
Numerous types of hospital beds, surgical tables, hospital chairs, and other devices for supporting a patient are known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,548 to Weismiller et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/188,785 entitled “Surgical Table”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,284, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/798,317 entitled “Ambulatory Care Chair”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,593, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/009,522 entitled “Hospital Bed”, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,888, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/895,847 entitled “Trauma Stretcher”, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,149, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,111 to Heimbrock, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Numerous types of digital x-ray systems are also known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,964 to Aichinger et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,401 to Robinson; U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,500 to Baba et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,961 to McEvoy et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,610 to Yamamoto et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,530 to Godlewski et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Digital x-ray machines allow x-rays to be viewed and stored as digital images on computers without ever having to make a film copy. The digital x-ray images created by these x-ray machines can be e-mailed or otherwise transmitted between doctors or radiologists in different cities over an electrical communication network or via the Internet.
According to the present invention, a patient support apparatus includes a patient support portion and at least one digital x-ray cassette coupled to the patient support portion. In an illustrated embodiment, a transmitter is electrically coupled to the at least one digital x-ray cassette. The transmitter is coupled to the patient support portion. The transmitter can be either a port connector or an infrared transmitter.
In another illustrated embodiment, a storage device is electrically coupled to the at least one digital x-ray cassette. The storage device is coupled to the patient support portion and is used to store a digital image.
In another illustrated embodiment, the patient support portion is a mattress. In one version of this embodiment, the at least one digital x-ray cassette is located within an interior region of the mattress. In another version of this embodiment, the at least one digital x-ray cassette is coupled to a bottom surface of the mattress.
In another illustrated embodiment, the patient support portion includes a base and a deck coupled to the base. The at least one digital x-ray cassette is coupled to the deck. The port connector is coupled to one of the base and the deck. In one illustrated embodiment, the deck includes a back section, a seat section, and a leg section. The at least one digital x-ray cassette is coupled to one of the back section, the seat section, and the leg section. In one embodiment, separate digital x-ray cassettes are mounted to each of the back section, the seat section, and the leg section.
In another illustrated embodiment, the deck is formed to include a cassette receiving aperture configured to receive the at least one digital x-ray cassette, and a fastener is configured to hold the at least one digital x-ray cassette within the aperture. In yet another illustrated embodiment, the at least one digital x-ray cassette is mounted to a top surface of the deck. In still another illustrated embodiment, the at least one digital x-ray cassette is mounted to a bottom surface of the deck.
In a further illustrated embodiment, a plurality of digital x-ray cassettes are coupled to the patient support portion. In one version of this embodiment, the port connector is coupled to the plurality of digital x-ray cassettes through a switch. In another version of this embodiment, a plurality of port connectors are coupled to one of the base in the patient support portion. Each port connector is coupled to one of the digital x-ray cassettes.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4501414 (1985-02-01), Mason et al.
patent: 4584989 (1986-04-01), Stith
patent: 4589124 (1986-05-01), Ruiz
patent: 4665574 (1987-05-01), Filips et al.
patent: 4847929 (1989-07-01), Pupovic
patent: 4893323 (1990-01-01), Cook, III
patent: 4905266 (1990-02-01), Kuck et al.
patent: 5016268 (1991-05-01), Lotman
patent: 5155758 (1992-10-01), Vogl
patent: 5270530 (1993-12-01), Godlewski et al.
patent: 5291401 (1994-03-01), Robinson
patent: 5448610 (1995-09-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5485500 (1996-01-01), Baba et al.
patent: 5596437 (1997-01-01), Heins
patent: 5638521 (1997-06-01), Buchala et al.
patent: 5661309 (1997-08-01), Jeromin et al.
patent: 5664270 (1997-09-01), Bell et al.
patent: 5687717 (1997-11-01), Halpern et al.
patent: 5715548 (1998-02-01), Weismiller et al.
patent: 5806111 (1998-09-01), Heimbrock et al.
patent: 5844961 (1998-12-01), McEvoy et al.
patent: 5844964 (1998-12-01), Aichinger et al.
patent: 5864708 (1999-01-01), Croft et al.
patent: 5877501 (1999-03-01), Ivan et al.
patent: 5933888 (1999-08-01), Foster et al.
patent: 5996149 (1999-12-01), Heimbrock et al.
patent: 6073284 (2000-06-01), Borders
patent: 6089593 (2000-07-01), Hanson et al.
patent: 6151732 (2000-11-01), Heimbrock et al.
patent: 6202230 (2001-03-01), Borders
patent: 6266831 (2001-07-01), Heimbrock
patent: 6296386 (2001-10-01), Heidsieck et al.
patent: WO 99/03396 (1999-01-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Patient support with digital X-ray cassette does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Patient support with digital X-ray cassette, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Patient support with digital X-ray cassette will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2898935