X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Source support – Including movable source
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-02
2002-04-02
Kim, Robert H. (Department: 2882)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Source support
Including movable source
C378S195000, C378S196000, C378S209000, C074S089220
Reexamination Certificate
active
06364525
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an x-ray examination apparatus of the type having a base with at least one fixed part and a carriage that shifts vertically in relation to the fixed part, the carriage having a horizontally projecting shaft to which an apparatus component is connected and around the center axis of which the apparatus component can rotate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An x-ray examination apparatus of the above type is commercially available from the Siemens company called “Polystar T.O.P”. The projecting shaft is provided with a worm drive that is itself firmly connected to the apparatus component via a beam. The apparatus also has a patient table, a C-arm support with an x-ray tube and a radiation detector. The patient table and the C-arm support are attached at the beam and are arranged to be movable independently of one another at this beam. A carriage is arranged at the base, and thus also at the beam, and can be shifted vertically with a threaded screw driven by a motor. The beam can rotate around the center axis of the worm drive by means of the worm drive. Whenever the center of gravity of the apparatus is shifted along the beam in connection with an examination, a worm drive with exact tolerances is required so that only very little play is present between the flights of the worm screw and the teeth of the worm gear. Only then can a stability be attained in the apparatus such that sudden jerks or angle changes of the beam can be avoided. Worm drives of this type are extremely expensive. The threaded screw and the motor for the vertical shifting of the carriage must also be dimensioned such that they can raise and lower the apparatus without difficulty. This design is complex overall and expensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a lifting and rotating device for an x-ray examination apparatus of the type described above that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and also maintains the apparatus stable during a shifting of the center of gravity.
This object is achieved in an x-ray examination apparatus having a first lifting and rotating device with a shaft to which a pulley is rotationally mounted that has a peripheral surface, at least a portion of the peripheral surface being round. The pulley is firmly connected to an apparatus component. A pair of wheels is arranged at a fixed part of the base and a connector connects the pulley to the wheels such that whenever the wheels of the pair of wheels are simultaneously turned in different directions, the pulley and thus the apparatus component are shifted in a vertical direction and whenever the wheels of the pair of wheels are turned in the same direction, the shaft and thus the apparatus are rotated around the center axis. As a result, a lifting and rotating device is attained that is relatively simple in construction, and thus inexpensive to manufacture and is substantially stable.
In a further embodiment of the lifting and rotating device according to the invention, a second pair of wheels is arranged at the carriage or at the fixed part of the base, and the connector in sequence encompasses a part of one wheel of the first pair of wheels, and partially encompasses one wheel of the second pair of wheels, and partially encompasses the pulley, and partially encompasses the second wheel of the second pair of wheels and partially encompasses the second wheel of the first pair of wheels. The first pair and the second pair of wheels are arranged at different levels. A further stabilization of the device is achieved by the second pair of wheels and the described path of the connector.
The wheels of the first pair of wheels are driven in accordance with the invention and the wheels of the second pair of wheels are deflection wheels.
The connector is preferably a chain, but alternatively can be a toothed belt.
In another embodiment of the invention, a second lifting and rotating device is arranged parallel to the first lifting and rotating device. This is a safety measure that assures a steady functioning of the device.
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Mellström Erik
Narfström Jan
Stenfors Per
Ho Allen C.
Kim Robert H.
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Elema AB
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