CA1285103C - Radiolucent hospital bed surface - Google Patents
Radiolucent hospital bed surfaceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1285103C CA1285103C CA000584683A CA584683A CA1285103C CA 1285103 C CA1285103 C CA 1285103C CA 000584683 A CA000584683 A CA 000584683A CA 584683 A CA584683 A CA 584683A CA 1285103 C CA1285103 C CA 1285103C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- patient
- radiolucent
- area
- supporting member
- patient supporting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B6/00—Apparatus for radiation diagnosis, e.g. combined with radiation therapy equipment
- A61B6/04—Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like
- A61B6/0407—Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body
- A61B6/0442—Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body made of non-metallic materials
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
- A61G7/05—Parts, details or accessories of beds
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
- A61G7/05—Parts, details or accessories of beds
- A61G7/0507—Side-rails
- A61G7/0508—Side-rails characterised by a particular connection mechanism
- A61G7/0509—Side-rails characterised by a particular connection mechanism sliding or pivoting downwards
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G2210/00—Devices for specific treatment or diagnosis
- A61G2210/50—Devices for specific treatment or diagnosis for radiography
Abstract
RADIOLUCENT HOSPITAL BED SURFACE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Multiple elements of a blow-molded, integral patient support surface each include a synthetic sheet-like patient support element and an underlying synthetic corrugated reinforcing element spaced from the support element. When loaded, the patient support element engages the corrugated reinforming element which resists deflection and rigidifies the surface.
The corrugation angulation and the combined wall thicknesses of the flat support and corrugated reinforcing elements in a predetermined area are selected to provide an effective combined wall thick-ness within F.D.A. attenuation standards, yet still provide sufficient rigidity and aberration-free x-rays.
An adjustable x-ray plate cassette is disclosed.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Multiple elements of a blow-molded, integral patient support surface each include a synthetic sheet-like patient support element and an underlying synthetic corrugated reinforcing element spaced from the support element. When loaded, the patient support element engages the corrugated reinforming element which resists deflection and rigidifies the surface.
The corrugation angulation and the combined wall thicknesses of the flat support and corrugated reinforcing elements in a predetermined area are selected to provide an effective combined wall thick-ness within F.D.A. attenuation standards, yet still provide sufficient rigidity and aberration-free x-rays.
An adjustable x-ray plate cassette is disclosed.
Description
:`
;: :
RADIOLUCENT HOSPITAL BE~ SURFACE
This invention relates to patient support~
; and more particularly to radiolucent patient 3upport ~ surfaces.
:, The varied environments in whiah radlolucent . patlent supports are required are attended by certaln characteristics which make even pre~ent day ~upport~
in6ufficlent for universal use. Many such current fiupport~ are highly specialized for particular applica-', tions, such as the cantilevered, extendible support~
used in large, immobile tomography apparatus, or the ~:~ rigid ~upport tables provided on x-ray machines.
,:
~ While useful for their intended special function with , ~ --the noted equipment, these supports are not generally 8~ful in hospital patient support application~ where ,,.~
many other parameters mu~t be con,sidered.
For example, and particularly with respect ~ to p~tient supports or stretchers used in emergency, !.'`~ ~ critical care, or out-patient areas, mobility of the enti~e support structure and articulation of support ~: ~ sur~aces are important features. Stiffne~s of the ; ~ .
surface is also of prime importancel due to s~resses ~ 1 -.
, ~`
.,,~` :
. ~ , , ' ' . ~ :
:................. . .
~10~' placed on the surfaces during certain procedure~. The vigorous chest compresslon forces generated in the per~ormance of CPR, for example, tend to deflect the pa~ient support. It must be of rigid construction in ,~ order to withstand repeated use without fatigue and '~ failure.
; At the same tim~, it is desirable to use ~; x-ray, fluoro~copy, or "C"-arm mounted diagno~tic or treatment equipment with a patient supported on a i surface support o~ the type used in emergency, crltical care, or out-patient areas, For this rea90n, the Il, support must comply with the one millimeter of Series 1100 aluminum equivalency att~nuation standard of the ~i Unlted States Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.).
,:
This standard requires that any surface or ~tructure lying in the wave path must produce no more attenu~-tlon than a Series 1100 aluminum sheet one millimeter :::
thick. This attenuation standard makes it difficult ~ to increase ~upport rigidity without additional ,..,~ .
~ structure which would urther attenuate wave energy~
-~ The stretcher manufac~urer i~ thus caught ~ betw~en the necessity o providing an articulated but `~ rigid patient support structure capable of with-standlng repeated stresses such as those produced in CPR procedures on the one hand and the limitation of the F.D.A.'s one millimeter alumlnu~ equivalency standard on the other hand. When the support is . ~ .
'' , '': . .
.
' ~ , ~S~)3 strengthened by additional ~tructure or increa3ed support thicknesses to increase rigidity, the equiva-lency standard is breached, or the reinforcing struc-ture within the x-ray area causes aberrations on the , . .
x-ray film plate.
In an effort to provide a stress-resisting patient support, and to meet the F.D.A. radiolucency ~t~ndard, hospital beds or stretchers have hLstori-cally been constructed of aluminum or steel sheet, with an aluminum patient support pan, fox example, riveted to a support frame.
More recently, a variety of sheet pla~tics have ~een utilized for the pans to allow for radio-lucency of the surface. This increasing use of plastics is driven by an increased frequency of use of portable x-ray ~ C-arm apparatus in the patient and emergency room areas. While plastics thicker than one millimeter may meet the F.D.A. equivalency standard, the~r xolatively poor structural characteristics require wall thicknesses of 3/8" to 1/2" to provide some degree o rigidity. Toleran~es ~ecome very critical a~ t~e thicknes~es required for rlgidity approach the one millimeter of aluminum equivalency standard.
Such aluminum or plastic surfaces as are .
currently in use do not generally perform well in excessive loading situations, and may flex too much in ! ~
1, f~
'' ' ' : ' : . .
~, ' ' ' , ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' : ' ': , : ' . , ',~ , , ,' ' .,.:.
~128~ 3 CPR activities, for example, where downward forces applied to a patient's torso stress the bed surface. The patient surface deflects and "oil cans", bows, or creases. Such flexing can elongate the pan-to-~rame rivet holes. Even-3 5 tually, a new replacement pan is required. Flexing at notches on plastic material surfaces causes them to fatigue and fail. Moreover, joints associated with the prior pans and frames are difficult to clean of blood or other fluids.
It is thus desirable to provide an improved patient lo support surface which is both sufficiently rigid and strong enough to withstand repeated str~ess, such as pxoduced in CPR
procedures without undue ~atiyue and failure, and at the same time is suff:iciently radiolucent in a predetermined area ko meet or exceed the F.D.A. one millimeter of aluminum equivalency attenuation standard and to provide a clear x-ray plate without aberrations or artifacts due to support surface structure.
Accordingly, it is a feature of one embodiment of this invention to provide an improved radiolucent patient sup-port.
A further feature of one embodiment of the present invention provides an improved radiolucent articulated hos-pital bed or stretcher surface.
A further feature of one embodiment of this invention :::
has been to provide a reinforced radiolucent hospital bed or stretcher surface providing reduced, uniform, electromag-netic wave attenuation.
A further feature of another embodiment of the inven-tion provides an improved radiolucent hospital bed or stret-cher surface having uniform electromagnetic wave attenuation and being capable of withstanding CPR stresses without unde-sirable flex and surface fatigue.
~; A still further feature of an embodiment of the inven-tion provides an improved rigid patient surface constructed from thin plastic material and providing an x-ray window :
. ~
' ~
~, - .
: ' , ~l3Sl~
. ~,, within applicable F'.D.A. standards without producing aberr-ations or diagnostically significant artifact. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided an improved x-ray plate cassette.
In accordance with an embocliment o~ the present inven-,~ tion there is provided a patient surface comprising: a patient supporting member having a predetermined radiolucent area thereacross, and a non-planar radiolucent reinforcing member having portions disposed in operative, normally lo spaced-apart underlying relationship with the predetermined ji~ radiolucent area; wherein the patienk supporting member and the rein~orcing member are ~ormed as one integral unit: the rein~orcing member portions providing de~lection resisting ; support for the patient supporting member when it is loaded.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present , invention there is provided a patient sur~ace comprising: a patient supporting member having a predetermined radiolucent area therein, and a corrugated radiolucent reinforcing mem-ber having a plurality of ribs transversely disposed in operative, normally spaced apart and underlying relationship with the patient supporting member across the predetermined radiolucent area thereof when the patient supporting member is unloaded.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present 2s invention there is provided a patient supporting apparatus comprising: a stretcher frame having ~longated side members and transverse members lying the elongated side members; a trunnion mounted on each of the si~e members defining a pivot axis thereacross; a patient support frame pivoted to the trunnion; a patient support element mounted on the patient support frame and including: a patient supporting member with a predetermined radiolucent area therein, and a corrugated radiolucent reinforcing member having a plurality of ribs disposed in operative, normally spaced apart and underlying relationship with the patient supporting member :
~.
.
351()3 - 5a -across the predetermined radiolucent area thereof when the patient supporti.ng member is unloaded.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a patient support element com-s prising: a flat plastic sheet having a predetermined radio-lucent area therein; a corrugated plastic sheet underlying the flat plastic sheet, no section o~ the corrugated sheet ~ underlying the predetermined radiolucent area forming an ,~ angle greater than 45 with respect to the ~lat plaskic : lo sheet; and a perimeter structure outside the predetermined radiolucent area joining the peripheral edges of the sheets.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a patient surface comprising: a patient supporting member having a predetermined rad.iolucent area therein; and a corrugated radiolucent reinforcing mem-ber having a plurality of ribs transversely di.sposed in operative, underlying relationship with the patient sup-porting member across the predetermined radiolucent area thereof, the radiolucent area of the patient supporting member and the corrugated radiolucent reinforcing member thereunder comprisiny, in combination, a relatively uniform thickness for uniformly attenuating electromagnetic waves - passing through both the radioluaent area, and the reinfor-: cing member.
2s In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is providPd a patient ~urface comprising: a patient supporting member having a predstermined radiolucent area thereacross; a non-planar radiolucent reinforcing mem-ber having portions disposed in operative, normally spaced-~ 30 apart underlying relationship with the predetermined radio-; lucent area; the reinforcing member portions providing deflection resisting support for the patient supporting member when it is loaded; wherein the patient supporting ~;~ member in the radiolucent area and the reinforcing member thereunder in operative combination uniformly attenuate ~: ' ' ~ '' ". ' , ' ' ' 51C)3 ~' - 5b -. electromagnetic waves passing therethrough; and wherein the ,~ reinEorcing member portions comprise a plural.ity of trans-versely extending projections defining crests and depres-. sions underlying the radiolucent area of the patient sup-.. ~ 5 porting member.
~: To these ends, a preferred embodiment of the invention is based on applicant' 5 discovery that a white or light-colored plastic patient support sheet typically about .093"
in thickness for a preferred material, backed up by a lo slightly spaced apart corrugated sheet of the same thickness where the corrugated walls do not exceed an included angle of about 45 with respect to the support sur~ace, will uni-~ormly attenuate electromagnetia wave energy within the F.D.A. equivalency standard, without producing aberration or diagnostically signi~icant artifact, and at the same time will provide sufficient resistance to ;
.~
"
` ' :~ 35 ~' , . ' ~ 1~85~L0~
deflectlon so a~ to wlth~tand procedural fstr~99e~ ~uch as those generated in the delivery of CPR. The preferred embodiment comprises a hospital bed or s~retcher surface having a flat sheet-like patient :; .
~- support element, and an underlying ribbed, sheet-like reinforcing element. ~oth sheets are made of synthetic materials and their combined wall thickness, over a predetermined area~ is substantially uniform. The ribbed rein~orcing element ifs a corrugated sheet :i~
~ having a plurality of transversely directed and .,:
parallel ribs or corrugatlons. The crest~ of the ribs are normally spaced from the patient support element, but engage and support that element when that el2ment is slightly deflected. The curving walls of the corrugated reinforcing element are maintained at angles of less than 45 with respect to the plane of the patient support element such that the effective ,~:
, wall thickness of the two overlying elements through-f~ ~ out a predetermined area of the surface is uniform, and f3ub~tantially equal to the combined thickne~e~ of ~.
~ tho ~heet material in each element. Preferably, the .
patient support and reinforcing elements are blow-molded in an integral piece. Joints and overlaps of material are eliminated. This makes the support more rigid and easier to clean.
,"
~ By careful choice of the mqlecular weight of ;::
f ~ the polymer chosen and the type of manufacturing f ~
, .:
~ -6- ~
, i ,: .:: .
.~`'' .,~
',~
' ~ ' ' .~ ~ . . . .
'~ ' . ' . .
, , ~ , .
~: , ' ';
~ 5~3 _7~
/ process, it i~ pos~ibls for the crests of the rib~ to be "kl~5ed off" or touch the patient support element, ~; In the preferred embodiment herein described, this ., contact is avoided. However, use of a lower molecular '~',' ~ weight material and a more dimensionally accurate `' process, for example injection molding, could allow :, ,~ this contact o~ the sections to take place. Such contact may include an int:egral contact of rib crests with the patient surface element wherein the material ' is fused together.
~, There are no vertical walls in the sur~ace within the predetermined x-ray window to cau~a non-unlform wave attenuation. The F.D.A. one millimeter of aluminum equivalency tandard is met, yet the patient ~upport element is adequately supported by the reinforcing element-against fatigulng flex. CPR
related and other stregses, can thus be applied to the surface without undue deformationl while accurate x-ray and other wave diagnostic or treatment processeR
can be provided without aberration due to the sur~ac~
:~ .
tructure and without exces~ive dosing.
An improved x-ray plate holding cassette i~
also provided with handles operatively coupled to cams for adjustably securing the cassette underneath the patient support by interacting with adjacent frames or rails of the supportO
':.' ''''`~'' ' ~ -7-.; . .
,0., ~
.. ~ .
, ()3 These and other objects and ~dvantages wlll , become even more readily apparent from t~e following ; description of a preferred em~odiment o~ the inven-: tion, and from the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a - preferred embodiment o:E the invention as a hospital ,~; stretcher;
,: Fig. 2 is a plan view o~ the invention as in Fig. 1, showing parts thereoE broken away ~or clarityt :
, Fig. 3 is an elevational view o~ the patient '~ . support elements oP Fig. 2~
Fig. 4 is a cross-~ectional view of a portion of the head and torso element show~ ln Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view ta~en along lines 5-5 of Fig. 2;.
Fig, 6 is a perspective diagrammatic view of ~`:
certain features of the underside of the torso section ~; of the patient support ~urface of the invention;
~: Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but having a oamed core as an altex~ative embodiment;
Fig. 8 i~ a diagrammatic plan view of the x-ray caq~ette locking cams; and Fig. 9 is a cross-sec~ional view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating an alternative embodiment of the ~ invention.
: Turning now to the drawings there is shown in Fig. 1 a hospital stretcher 10 according to a , ., ..
,.
-, ' , . .
', .
~,2~5~(~3 ,, g -~ preferred embocliment of the invention. While the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 has particular applicakion and utility as a mobile hospital stretcher, it will be appreciated that the invention has other applications such as for hospital beds or other types of supports for pat ' ients. The apparatus 10 as shown in Fig. 1 is outfitted with wheels so that it can be moved about from place to place. It includes a cantilevering lift apparatus 11, extending between the lower frame 12 and the upper suppor-ting frame 13 and the apparatus it supports as will be described. The lift apparatus is similar to that which is disclosed in the commonly owned United States Patent Mo.
;: :
RADIOLUCENT HOSPITAL BE~ SURFACE
This invention relates to patient support~
; and more particularly to radiolucent patient 3upport ~ surfaces.
:, The varied environments in whiah radlolucent . patlent supports are required are attended by certaln characteristics which make even pre~ent day ~upport~
in6ufficlent for universal use. Many such current fiupport~ are highly specialized for particular applica-', tions, such as the cantilevered, extendible support~
used in large, immobile tomography apparatus, or the ~:~ rigid ~upport tables provided on x-ray machines.
,:
~ While useful for their intended special function with , ~ --the noted equipment, these supports are not generally 8~ful in hospital patient support application~ where ,,.~
many other parameters mu~t be con,sidered.
For example, and particularly with respect ~ to p~tient supports or stretchers used in emergency, !.'`~ ~ critical care, or out-patient areas, mobility of the enti~e support structure and articulation of support ~: ~ sur~aces are important features. Stiffne~s of the ; ~ .
surface is also of prime importancel due to s~resses ~ 1 -.
, ~`
.,,~` :
. ~ , , ' ' . ~ :
:................. . .
~10~' placed on the surfaces during certain procedure~. The vigorous chest compresslon forces generated in the per~ormance of CPR, for example, tend to deflect the pa~ient support. It must be of rigid construction in ,~ order to withstand repeated use without fatigue and '~ failure.
; At the same tim~, it is desirable to use ~; x-ray, fluoro~copy, or "C"-arm mounted diagno~tic or treatment equipment with a patient supported on a i surface support o~ the type used in emergency, crltical care, or out-patient areas, For this rea90n, the Il, support must comply with the one millimeter of Series 1100 aluminum equivalency att~nuation standard of the ~i Unlted States Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.).
,:
This standard requires that any surface or ~tructure lying in the wave path must produce no more attenu~-tlon than a Series 1100 aluminum sheet one millimeter :::
thick. This attenuation standard makes it difficult ~ to increase ~upport rigidity without additional ,..,~ .
~ structure which would urther attenuate wave energy~
-~ The stretcher manufac~urer i~ thus caught ~ betw~en the necessity o providing an articulated but `~ rigid patient support structure capable of with-standlng repeated stresses such as those produced in CPR procedures on the one hand and the limitation of the F.D.A.'s one millimeter alumlnu~ equivalency standard on the other hand. When the support is . ~ .
'' , '': . .
.
' ~ , ~S~)3 strengthened by additional ~tructure or increa3ed support thicknesses to increase rigidity, the equiva-lency standard is breached, or the reinforcing struc-ture within the x-ray area causes aberrations on the , . .
x-ray film plate.
In an effort to provide a stress-resisting patient support, and to meet the F.D.A. radiolucency ~t~ndard, hospital beds or stretchers have hLstori-cally been constructed of aluminum or steel sheet, with an aluminum patient support pan, fox example, riveted to a support frame.
More recently, a variety of sheet pla~tics have ~een utilized for the pans to allow for radio-lucency of the surface. This increasing use of plastics is driven by an increased frequency of use of portable x-ray ~ C-arm apparatus in the patient and emergency room areas. While plastics thicker than one millimeter may meet the F.D.A. equivalency standard, the~r xolatively poor structural characteristics require wall thicknesses of 3/8" to 1/2" to provide some degree o rigidity. Toleran~es ~ecome very critical a~ t~e thicknes~es required for rlgidity approach the one millimeter of aluminum equivalency standard.
Such aluminum or plastic surfaces as are .
currently in use do not generally perform well in excessive loading situations, and may flex too much in ! ~
1, f~
'' ' ' : ' : . .
~, ' ' ' , ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' : ' ': , : ' . , ',~ , , ,' ' .,.:.
~128~ 3 CPR activities, for example, where downward forces applied to a patient's torso stress the bed surface. The patient surface deflects and "oil cans", bows, or creases. Such flexing can elongate the pan-to-~rame rivet holes. Even-3 5 tually, a new replacement pan is required. Flexing at notches on plastic material surfaces causes them to fatigue and fail. Moreover, joints associated with the prior pans and frames are difficult to clean of blood or other fluids.
It is thus desirable to provide an improved patient lo support surface which is both sufficiently rigid and strong enough to withstand repeated str~ess, such as pxoduced in CPR
procedures without undue ~atiyue and failure, and at the same time is suff:iciently radiolucent in a predetermined area ko meet or exceed the F.D.A. one millimeter of aluminum equivalency attenuation standard and to provide a clear x-ray plate without aberrations or artifacts due to support surface structure.
Accordingly, it is a feature of one embodiment of this invention to provide an improved radiolucent patient sup-port.
A further feature of one embodiment of the present invention provides an improved radiolucent articulated hos-pital bed or stretcher surface.
A further feature of one embodiment of this invention :::
has been to provide a reinforced radiolucent hospital bed or stretcher surface providing reduced, uniform, electromag-netic wave attenuation.
A further feature of another embodiment of the inven-tion provides an improved radiolucent hospital bed or stret-cher surface having uniform electromagnetic wave attenuation and being capable of withstanding CPR stresses without unde-sirable flex and surface fatigue.
~; A still further feature of an embodiment of the inven-tion provides an improved rigid patient surface constructed from thin plastic material and providing an x-ray window :
. ~
' ~
~, - .
: ' , ~l3Sl~
. ~,, within applicable F'.D.A. standards without producing aberr-ations or diagnostically significant artifact. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided an improved x-ray plate cassette.
In accordance with an embocliment o~ the present inven-,~ tion there is provided a patient surface comprising: a patient supporting member having a predetermined radiolucent area thereacross, and a non-planar radiolucent reinforcing member having portions disposed in operative, normally lo spaced-apart underlying relationship with the predetermined ji~ radiolucent area; wherein the patienk supporting member and the rein~orcing member are ~ormed as one integral unit: the rein~orcing member portions providing de~lection resisting ; support for the patient supporting member when it is loaded.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present , invention there is provided a patient sur~ace comprising: a patient supporting member having a predetermined radiolucent area therein, and a corrugated radiolucent reinforcing mem-ber having a plurality of ribs transversely disposed in operative, normally spaced apart and underlying relationship with the patient supporting member across the predetermined radiolucent area thereof when the patient supporting member is unloaded.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present 2s invention there is provided a patient supporting apparatus comprising: a stretcher frame having ~longated side members and transverse members lying the elongated side members; a trunnion mounted on each of the si~e members defining a pivot axis thereacross; a patient support frame pivoted to the trunnion; a patient support element mounted on the patient support frame and including: a patient supporting member with a predetermined radiolucent area therein, and a corrugated radiolucent reinforcing member having a plurality of ribs disposed in operative, normally spaced apart and underlying relationship with the patient supporting member :
~.
.
351()3 - 5a -across the predetermined radiolucent area thereof when the patient supporti.ng member is unloaded.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a patient support element com-s prising: a flat plastic sheet having a predetermined radio-lucent area therein; a corrugated plastic sheet underlying the flat plastic sheet, no section o~ the corrugated sheet ~ underlying the predetermined radiolucent area forming an ,~ angle greater than 45 with respect to the ~lat plaskic : lo sheet; and a perimeter structure outside the predetermined radiolucent area joining the peripheral edges of the sheets.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a patient surface comprising: a patient supporting member having a predetermined rad.iolucent area therein; and a corrugated radiolucent reinforcing mem-ber having a plurality of ribs transversely di.sposed in operative, underlying relationship with the patient sup-porting member across the predetermined radiolucent area thereof, the radiolucent area of the patient supporting member and the corrugated radiolucent reinforcing member thereunder comprisiny, in combination, a relatively uniform thickness for uniformly attenuating electromagnetic waves - passing through both the radioluaent area, and the reinfor-: cing member.
2s In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is providPd a patient ~urface comprising: a patient supporting member having a predstermined radiolucent area thereacross; a non-planar radiolucent reinforcing mem-ber having portions disposed in operative, normally spaced-~ 30 apart underlying relationship with the predetermined radio-; lucent area; the reinforcing member portions providing deflection resisting support for the patient supporting member when it is loaded; wherein the patient supporting ~;~ member in the radiolucent area and the reinforcing member thereunder in operative combination uniformly attenuate ~: ' ' ~ '' ". ' , ' ' ' 51C)3 ~' - 5b -. electromagnetic waves passing therethrough; and wherein the ,~ reinEorcing member portions comprise a plural.ity of trans-versely extending projections defining crests and depres-. sions underlying the radiolucent area of the patient sup-.. ~ 5 porting member.
~: To these ends, a preferred embodiment of the invention is based on applicant' 5 discovery that a white or light-colored plastic patient support sheet typically about .093"
in thickness for a preferred material, backed up by a lo slightly spaced apart corrugated sheet of the same thickness where the corrugated walls do not exceed an included angle of about 45 with respect to the support sur~ace, will uni-~ormly attenuate electromagnetia wave energy within the F.D.A. equivalency standard, without producing aberration or diagnostically signi~icant artifact, and at the same time will provide sufficient resistance to ;
.~
"
` ' :~ 35 ~' , . ' ~ 1~85~L0~
deflectlon so a~ to wlth~tand procedural fstr~99e~ ~uch as those generated in the delivery of CPR. The preferred embodiment comprises a hospital bed or s~retcher surface having a flat sheet-like patient :; .
~- support element, and an underlying ribbed, sheet-like reinforcing element. ~oth sheets are made of synthetic materials and their combined wall thickness, over a predetermined area~ is substantially uniform. The ribbed rein~orcing element ifs a corrugated sheet :i~
~ having a plurality of transversely directed and .,:
parallel ribs or corrugatlons. The crest~ of the ribs are normally spaced from the patient support element, but engage and support that element when that el2ment is slightly deflected. The curving walls of the corrugated reinforcing element are maintained at angles of less than 45 with respect to the plane of the patient support element such that the effective ,~:
, wall thickness of the two overlying elements through-f~ ~ out a predetermined area of the surface is uniform, and f3ub~tantially equal to the combined thickne~e~ of ~.
~ tho ~heet material in each element. Preferably, the .
patient support and reinforcing elements are blow-molded in an integral piece. Joints and overlaps of material are eliminated. This makes the support more rigid and easier to clean.
,"
~ By careful choice of the mqlecular weight of ;::
f ~ the polymer chosen and the type of manufacturing f ~
, .:
~ -6- ~
, i ,: .:: .
.~`'' .,~
',~
' ~ ' ' .~ ~ . . . .
'~ ' . ' . .
, , ~ , .
~: , ' ';
~ 5~3 _7~
/ process, it i~ pos~ibls for the crests of the rib~ to be "kl~5ed off" or touch the patient support element, ~; In the preferred embodiment herein described, this ., contact is avoided. However, use of a lower molecular '~',' ~ weight material and a more dimensionally accurate `' process, for example injection molding, could allow :, ,~ this contact o~ the sections to take place. Such contact may include an int:egral contact of rib crests with the patient surface element wherein the material ' is fused together.
~, There are no vertical walls in the sur~ace within the predetermined x-ray window to cau~a non-unlform wave attenuation. The F.D.A. one millimeter of aluminum equivalency tandard is met, yet the patient ~upport element is adequately supported by the reinforcing element-against fatigulng flex. CPR
related and other stregses, can thus be applied to the surface without undue deformationl while accurate x-ray and other wave diagnostic or treatment processeR
can be provided without aberration due to the sur~ac~
:~ .
tructure and without exces~ive dosing.
An improved x-ray plate holding cassette i~
also provided with handles operatively coupled to cams for adjustably securing the cassette underneath the patient support by interacting with adjacent frames or rails of the supportO
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, ()3 These and other objects and ~dvantages wlll , become even more readily apparent from t~e following ; description of a preferred em~odiment o~ the inven-: tion, and from the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a - preferred embodiment o:E the invention as a hospital ,~; stretcher;
,: Fig. 2 is a plan view o~ the invention as in Fig. 1, showing parts thereoE broken away ~or clarityt :
, Fig. 3 is an elevational view o~ the patient '~ . support elements oP Fig. 2~
Fig. 4 is a cross-~ectional view of a portion of the head and torso element show~ ln Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view ta~en along lines 5-5 of Fig. 2;.
Fig, 6 is a perspective diagrammatic view of ~`:
certain features of the underside of the torso section ~; of the patient support ~urface of the invention;
~: Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but having a oamed core as an altex~ative embodiment;
Fig. 8 i~ a diagrammatic plan view of the x-ray caq~ette locking cams; and Fig. 9 is a cross-sec~ional view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating an alternative embodiment of the ~ invention.
: Turning now to the drawings there is shown in Fig. 1 a hospital stretcher 10 according to a , ., ..
,.
-, ' , . .
', .
~,2~5~(~3 ,, g -~ preferred embocliment of the invention. While the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 has particular applicakion and utility as a mobile hospital stretcher, it will be appreciated that the invention has other applications such as for hospital beds or other types of supports for pat ' ients. The apparatus 10 as shown in Fig. 1 is outfitted with wheels so that it can be moved about from place to place. It includes a cantilevering lift apparatus 11, extending between the lower frame 12 and the upper suppor-ting frame 13 and the apparatus it supports as will be described. The lift apparatus is similar to that which is disclosed in the commonly owned United States Patent Mo.
4,751,754, issued June 21, 1988.
It will be appreciated that the lift 11 and the lower frame 13 do not constitute any part of the particular inven-tion of this present application. Suffice it to say that the lower frame 12 provides a stable mobile frame which can ;~ be moved about on the castors or wheels while the lift 11 ~; provides a means for raising and lowering the suppoxt frame 13 as may be desired.
~ The support frame 13 includes end frame members 14 and '"~ 15, and two elongated side frame members 16 and 17. Side frame member 16 and 17 may also be joined together inter-mediate their ends by ', .
,~ ~
' ' ~ 2~35~03 - 1 o -other frame members lnot shown). Al~ninutn pans 18 and 19 extend across the 3id~ rame members 16 and 17.
The frame 1~ is also provided with raisable side rails 20 and 21 which are shown in a lowered '~ position in Fig. 1. In their lowered position, the side rails 20 and 21 lie in approximately the same plane as do the respective elongated s,ide frame~ 16 and 17, and are spaced apart therefrom a pre~etsrmined distance as perhaps best seen in Fig. 2 and 5. When raised, the side rails inhibit a patlent'5 inadvertent falling from the stretcher.
A patient support surface 25 is carried by support frame 13 and includes a head and ~or~o s~pport .~ element 26, a hip and thigh support element 27, and a lower leg and foot support element 28. The elements ~ 26, 27, and 2B are articulated about pivot axe~ 29 and ,~ 30 (Fig. 2) so that they can be positioned in a flat horizontal plane as indicated in Fi~. 2 or in any articulated condition as shown in Fig. 1.
The pivot ax~s 29 is defined in part by trunnions 31 and 32 mounted on frame 13 and to which respective end~l of the elements 26 and 27 are pivo~ed.
Each of the elements 26 and 27 are provided with ~; ~orque arms 33 and 34, respectively. Torque axm 33 is attached to a rectangularl~-shaped frame 35 by means of brackets, such as the bracket 36 and frame element 37 as sho~n ~ Fig. 2. ~hile br~cke~ 36 and frame : ;
:: . . :
: . , ..
, . . .
~285~l03 element 37 are o~ly shown in the lower portion of Fig.
2, it will be appreciated that the upper portion has similar construction, which is simply not seen since it is beneath the patient support sur~ace 25 in the upper part of Fig. 2~ The rectangularly-shaped frame 35 includes side rails, such as at 3~, and another parallel side rail on t'he opposite side of the element 26 (llOt shown in Fig. 2), as well as an end rail 39, A bracket 40 is attached to the torque arm 33 and has one end attached to a pneumatic spring 41 which has an extensible rod 42 connected through a bracket 43 to a frame member 44. Any ~uitable and well-known pneumatic spring can be u~ed. The apring 41 has an actuating button 45 located in the end of extensible rod 42. A lever 46 is secured to pivot bracket 47 which is mounted on ~he bracket 43, and is connected to actuating cables 48, which extend respectively to control handles 49 and 50 located at - the left end of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 2.
When at l~ast one of the handles 49, 50 are squeezed outwardly, the cables 48 are tensioned, pulling the lever 46 toward the le~t hand or head end o~ the ~ ap~aratus. In view of the fact that the lever 46 is `~ pivoted at 51 to the bracket 47, the lever engages actuating bu~on 45, releasina the pneumatic spring and permitting the pis~on 42 to extend. Extension of the piston 42 rotates the bracket 40 and the torque , ~
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.
,~ .: . . . . .
. ' ' ' :
.
' ~ 3 -12-arm 33 in a clockwi3e direction with rcspec~ to the pivot axis 29, thereby ral5ing the element 26 to a desired inclination. It ~Jill be appreciated that the cables 48 run through interior frame members, such as fra~e ~ember 52, for example, secured to the outer side frame members 38 by means of bracket members 37 and 53, and providing further stiffening.
In a similar fashion, the torque arm 34 of element 27 is connected to the element 27 via brackets 55~ frame members 56~ inner frame members S7, and outer frame members 5~. ~dditional ~rame elements 59 secure opposite ends of the inner and outer ~rame~ 57 and 58 together. Torque arm 34 is secured to one end of a bracket 60. The other end of the bracket 60 i~
connected to a pneumatic spring 61, actuated in similar fashion as that of spring 41 by mean~ of .;
cables 62, extending to control handles 63 and 64 at the right hand or foot end of the apparatus as ~iewed in Fig. 2. Operation of at least .one of the control handle~ 63, 64 permits actuation of the pneumatic spring 61, causing torqu~ arm 34 to rotate in a `~ counter clockwise direction about pivo~ axi~ 29 and thereby raising the element 27 in a counter clockwise : fashion to a position, for example, such as that shown in Fig, 1.
pon this actuation, element 28 is carried by pivot elements 65 (Fig. 2) and a similar element :: ~
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.
, ~ .
. .
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~1 2~51~)3 not ~hown on the opposite side t.hereo~, such that it~
end which ls attached to element 27 i~ also raised, Each side of the opposite *nd of element 28 i5 provided with a pair of support links 66. Each link 66 has a lower end 67 operatively engagir.g a rack 68 on frame 13. As the element 28 is raised due to motion of the movable pivo~ axis 30, t:he end of the element 28 opposite the pivot axis 30 can also be raised and maintained in a desired position by mean~ of the support links 66 and their interaction with the rack 6~.
The head and torso support 26 of the patient support surface 25 is provided at its head end with legs ~9 for supportin~ the patient support surface 25 slightly above the side rail 16 and 17 of the frame 13. A pair of legs 70, only one of which is shown in Fig. 3, is disposed on the patien~ support surface 25 beneath the axis 30 to support the elements 27 and 28 above the side rails 16~ 17. Legs 71 are secured to the foot end of the element 28 and shown in Fig. 3 for supporting that end of the element above the side frames 16, 17, one leg 69, 70, 71 being located on each side of the patient support surface 25. Accord- -ingly, it will be appreciated that the multiple element patient support surface 25 is articulated and is mounted on the frame 13 for posltioning as desc~ibed, Thus the pa~ient's head and tor50 can be . .
..
' ' :
' ' .
~ ~5103 : rai~ed or a patient 15 thigh and lower leg area can ~e raised, and articulated at the patient's kneeq in order to provide an appropriate patient po~ition.
Turning now to the patient support surface ~ 25, it will be appreciated that that surface is :~ preferably comprised of three elements 26, 27, 28 a~
noted above. It will also be appreciated, however, .. that the support surface could be an integral 5upport sur~ace, not articulated, and lying in a common plane or in a plurality of planes a5 may be de~lred if :!:
movable articulation we:re not necessary. A1YO~ it should be appreciated that the patient ~upport surface 25 could comprise two, three, ~our or more elements articulated to~ether as might be desired ~or any particular application.
The patient support surface 25, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, provides a sufficiently rigid patient support surface so as to with~tand the stress and strain of certain procedures;
such as CPR, while at the same time providing a ~:
~ predetermined x-ray window which meets the one milli-,, . meter of aluminum equivalency ~tandard o~ ~he F.D.A.
¢~: and does not produce aberrations in the standard x-ray film which is normally utilized, Accordingly, it is ; contemplated that an x-ray plate can be placed beneath the patient support surface 25 for the purpose of receiving x-radiation directed through a patient 1. :
:~ :
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, ; , .~ .; .:,. ~ .
, : .
: ` ' ' " ' , ' ,, . , :
~ 5~03 supported on the sur~ace 25 well within the F.D.A. stan-dards.
In the drawings, it will be apprPciated that the depiction of the patient support surface 25 in Fig. 1 is , 5 diagrammatic. Details o~ the patient support surface are :; more clearly shown in Fig. 2, wherein torso section 26 is :,~ provided with side hand holes 80, corner hand holes 81, and ~ an end hand hole ~2. The hi.p and thigh section 27 i8 pro-:~ vided with side hand holes 83. The foot section 28 is . 10 provided with side hand holes 84, coxner hand holes 85 and end hand holes ~6. The side and corner hand hole~ on the ~, opposite side of the patient: support sur~ace 25 are not j shown in Fig. 2 ~or clarity as those sections are broken . away.
~ 15 The structural details o~ the patient support sur~ace j~ are perhaps best seen in Fiys. 4, 5 and 6. Fiys. 4 and 5 depict particular sections of a typical patient support sur~ace as represented by the head and torso section 26 of ~: Fig. 2. It will be appreciated that the cross-sections of the elements 27 and 28 o~ the patient support surface 25 are similar. Each of the elements 26,27 and 28 are pre~erably ~ constructed integxally by a blow molding process, such that .~ each of the elements compri.ses a sheet-like patient suppor-!~ ting element 90, and an underlying spaced apart, corrugated sheet-like reinforcing .~J' 'i~
,~
., .
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`:
3 ~16-element 91. While blow moldincJ i5 preferred, other processe~ such as injection molding or rotational molding could be used. As perhaps best seen in Fig.
It will be appreciated that the lift 11 and the lower frame 13 do not constitute any part of the particular inven-tion of this present application. Suffice it to say that the lower frame 12 provides a stable mobile frame which can ;~ be moved about on the castors or wheels while the lift 11 ~; provides a means for raising and lowering the suppoxt frame 13 as may be desired.
~ The support frame 13 includes end frame members 14 and '"~ 15, and two elongated side frame members 16 and 17. Side frame member 16 and 17 may also be joined together inter-mediate their ends by ', .
,~ ~
' ' ~ 2~35~03 - 1 o -other frame members lnot shown). Al~ninutn pans 18 and 19 extend across the 3id~ rame members 16 and 17.
The frame 1~ is also provided with raisable side rails 20 and 21 which are shown in a lowered '~ position in Fig. 1. In their lowered position, the side rails 20 and 21 lie in approximately the same plane as do the respective elongated s,ide frame~ 16 and 17, and are spaced apart therefrom a pre~etsrmined distance as perhaps best seen in Fig. 2 and 5. When raised, the side rails inhibit a patlent'5 inadvertent falling from the stretcher.
A patient support surface 25 is carried by support frame 13 and includes a head and ~or~o s~pport .~ element 26, a hip and thigh support element 27, and a lower leg and foot support element 28. The elements ~ 26, 27, and 2B are articulated about pivot axe~ 29 and ,~ 30 (Fig. 2) so that they can be positioned in a flat horizontal plane as indicated in Fi~. 2 or in any articulated condition as shown in Fig. 1.
The pivot ax~s 29 is defined in part by trunnions 31 and 32 mounted on frame 13 and to which respective end~l of the elements 26 and 27 are pivo~ed.
Each of the elements 26 and 27 are provided with ~; ~orque arms 33 and 34, respectively. Torque axm 33 is attached to a rectangularl~-shaped frame 35 by means of brackets, such as the bracket 36 and frame element 37 as sho~n ~ Fig. 2. ~hile br~cke~ 36 and frame : ;
:: . . :
: . , ..
, . . .
~285~l03 element 37 are o~ly shown in the lower portion of Fig.
2, it will be appreciated that the upper portion has similar construction, which is simply not seen since it is beneath the patient support sur~ace 25 in the upper part of Fig. 2~ The rectangularly-shaped frame 35 includes side rails, such as at 3~, and another parallel side rail on t'he opposite side of the element 26 (llOt shown in Fig. 2), as well as an end rail 39, A bracket 40 is attached to the torque arm 33 and has one end attached to a pneumatic spring 41 which has an extensible rod 42 connected through a bracket 43 to a frame member 44. Any ~uitable and well-known pneumatic spring can be u~ed. The apring 41 has an actuating button 45 located in the end of extensible rod 42. A lever 46 is secured to pivot bracket 47 which is mounted on ~he bracket 43, and is connected to actuating cables 48, which extend respectively to control handles 49 and 50 located at - the left end of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 2.
When at l~ast one of the handles 49, 50 are squeezed outwardly, the cables 48 are tensioned, pulling the lever 46 toward the le~t hand or head end o~ the ~ ap~aratus. In view of the fact that the lever 46 is `~ pivoted at 51 to the bracket 47, the lever engages actuating bu~on 45, releasina the pneumatic spring and permitting the pis~on 42 to extend. Extension of the piston 42 rotates the bracket 40 and the torque , ~
:, :
.' ~ ,.
.
,~ .: . . . . .
. ' ' ' :
.
' ~ 3 -12-arm 33 in a clockwi3e direction with rcspec~ to the pivot axis 29, thereby ral5ing the element 26 to a desired inclination. It ~Jill be appreciated that the cables 48 run through interior frame members, such as fra~e ~ember 52, for example, secured to the outer side frame members 38 by means of bracket members 37 and 53, and providing further stiffening.
In a similar fashion, the torque arm 34 of element 27 is connected to the element 27 via brackets 55~ frame members 56~ inner frame members S7, and outer frame members 5~. ~dditional ~rame elements 59 secure opposite ends of the inner and outer ~rame~ 57 and 58 together. Torque arm 34 is secured to one end of a bracket 60. The other end of the bracket 60 i~
connected to a pneumatic spring 61, actuated in similar fashion as that of spring 41 by mean~ of .;
cables 62, extending to control handles 63 and 64 at the right hand or foot end of the apparatus as ~iewed in Fig. 2. Operation of at least .one of the control handle~ 63, 64 permits actuation of the pneumatic spring 61, causing torqu~ arm 34 to rotate in a `~ counter clockwise direction about pivo~ axi~ 29 and thereby raising the element 27 in a counter clockwise : fashion to a position, for example, such as that shown in Fig, 1.
pon this actuation, element 28 is carried by pivot elements 65 (Fig. 2) and a similar element :: ~
:~ -12-, :
' : ............................. .
.. . , .. : .
.
, ~ .
. .
' '~ ':, ''~ ' ' ' ' ' ' ' . ~ , .
~1 2~51~)3 not ~hown on the opposite side t.hereo~, such that it~
end which ls attached to element 27 i~ also raised, Each side of the opposite *nd of element 28 i5 provided with a pair of support links 66. Each link 66 has a lower end 67 operatively engagir.g a rack 68 on frame 13. As the element 28 is raised due to motion of the movable pivo~ axis 30, t:he end of the element 28 opposite the pivot axis 30 can also be raised and maintained in a desired position by mean~ of the support links 66 and their interaction with the rack 6~.
The head and torso support 26 of the patient support surface 25 is provided at its head end with legs ~9 for supportin~ the patient support surface 25 slightly above the side rail 16 and 17 of the frame 13. A pair of legs 70, only one of which is shown in Fig. 3, is disposed on the patien~ support surface 25 beneath the axis 30 to support the elements 27 and 28 above the side rails 16~ 17. Legs 71 are secured to the foot end of the element 28 and shown in Fig. 3 for supporting that end of the element above the side frames 16, 17, one leg 69, 70, 71 being located on each side of the patient support surface 25. Accord- -ingly, it will be appreciated that the multiple element patient support surface 25 is articulated and is mounted on the frame 13 for posltioning as desc~ibed, Thus the pa~ient's head and tor50 can be . .
..
' ' :
' ' .
~ ~5103 : rai~ed or a patient 15 thigh and lower leg area can ~e raised, and articulated at the patient's kneeq in order to provide an appropriate patient po~ition.
Turning now to the patient support surface ~ 25, it will be appreciated that that surface is :~ preferably comprised of three elements 26, 27, 28 a~
noted above. It will also be appreciated, however, .. that the support surface could be an integral 5upport sur~ace, not articulated, and lying in a common plane or in a plurality of planes a5 may be de~lred if :!:
movable articulation we:re not necessary. A1YO~ it should be appreciated that the patient ~upport surface 25 could comprise two, three, ~our or more elements articulated to~ether as might be desired ~or any particular application.
The patient support surface 25, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, provides a sufficiently rigid patient support surface so as to with~tand the stress and strain of certain procedures;
such as CPR, while at the same time providing a ~:
~ predetermined x-ray window which meets the one milli-,, . meter of aluminum equivalency ~tandard o~ ~he F.D.A.
¢~: and does not produce aberrations in the standard x-ray film which is normally utilized, Accordingly, it is ; contemplated that an x-ray plate can be placed beneath the patient support surface 25 for the purpose of receiving x-radiation directed through a patient 1. :
:~ :
, ~ .
:: :
, ; , .~ .; .:,. ~ .
, : .
: ` ' ' " ' , ' ,, . , :
~ 5~03 supported on the sur~ace 25 well within the F.D.A. stan-dards.
In the drawings, it will be apprPciated that the depiction of the patient support surface 25 in Fig. 1 is , 5 diagrammatic. Details o~ the patient support surface are :; more clearly shown in Fig. 2, wherein torso section 26 is :,~ provided with side hand holes 80, corner hand holes 81, and ~ an end hand hole ~2. The hi.p and thigh section 27 i8 pro-:~ vided with side hand holes 83. The foot section 28 is . 10 provided with side hand holes 84, coxner hand holes 85 and end hand holes ~6. The side and corner hand hole~ on the ~, opposite side of the patient: support sur~ace 25 are not j shown in Fig. 2 ~or clarity as those sections are broken . away.
~ 15 The structural details o~ the patient support sur~ace j~ are perhaps best seen in Fiys. 4, 5 and 6. Fiys. 4 and 5 depict particular sections of a typical patient support sur~ace as represented by the head and torso section 26 of ~: Fig. 2. It will be appreciated that the cross-sections of the elements 27 and 28 o~ the patient support surface 25 are similar. Each of the elements 26,27 and 28 are pre~erably ~ constructed integxally by a blow molding process, such that .~ each of the elements compri.ses a sheet-like patient suppor-!~ ting element 90, and an underlying spaced apart, corrugated sheet-like reinforcing .~J' 'i~
,~
., .
~"`
,'~ :
~. ' .1`;
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`:
3 ~16-element 91. While blow moldincJ i5 preferred, other processe~ such as injection molding or rotational molding could be used. As perhaps best seen in Fig.
5, the patient support element 90 is slightl~ spaced from the corrugated sheet~ e reinforcinq element 91.
Each of the elements 26, 27 and 28 has an integral blow-molded side structure (be5t seen in Fig, 5), which comprises an integral reinforced side ~rame 92. Integral side framle 92 includes a raised 9ection 93 tapèring down at 94 into the integral patient ~upport element 90. The sidewalls of the element 26, as shown at 9S and 96 depend perpendicularly from ths ralsed element 93 and are laterally spaced from an internal reinforcing rib defined by walls 97 and 98.
It will be appreciated that the space between the facing walls 96 and 97 accommodate the interior and exterior frame members such as 52 and 38, respectively (Flg. 2) which themselv~s are preferably 1" by ~"
,:
~ formed metallic tubing.
.~ Accordingly , and from Fig . 5, it will be apprec~ated that the entire patient support ~urface 25 ~ integral, with the upper element 90 spaced from the : lower element 91 such that ~he entire element, such a~
element 26 for example, can be blow molded. During ~; the blow moldi~g process, particular cores and the `; like are utili~ed in order to provlde for the side, ~ corner and e~.d hand holes such as those illustrated at :~ -16-~ ' .
";
,.~.
:. ;
' ' , ' ':
' ' - ' :: ' ' ~ 51~ -17-80, 81 and ~2 in Fig. 2, lt being understood and appreciated that the various bends in not only the hand holes but in the edge walls 95, 96 and the reinforcing rib walls 97, 98 add to the rigidity of the entire patient support surface 25. A~ain, it will be understood that while the cross section of Figs. 4 and 5 are taken through the element 26, the element 27 and 28 preferably have similar cross sections.
Turning now momentarily to Fig. 4, it will be appreciated that the corrugated reinforcing element 91 has a series of elongated parallel ribs, includlng parallel crests or projections 99 and valleys or depressions 100 extending transversely acroqs portion~
o~ the patient support surface 25 and the re~pective elements 26, 27 and 28. The crests 99 are slightly spaced from the patient supporting element 90, while the valleys 100 are further spaced from the patient support element 90. At the ends of the elements adjacent the pivots axis 29 and 30 for example, the patient supporting element 90 is curved to meet the reinforcing element 91 as at end 101 as shown in Fig.
As sho~n in Flg. 5, each of the corrugations or ribs such as the rib 10', for example, terminates in a vertical ~all 103, which is aenerally perpendicular to the patlent supporting element 90. The ver~ical wall 103 provides siynificant support in a perpendicular , . - .
~ .
.
.
.
.
~ 2~5103 -18-direction with re~pect to the patient support element 90, and par~icularly upon any contact therewith.
It will be appreciated, particularly from Fig. 4, tha~ the ribs, comprised of the alternating crests 99 and valle~s 100 of the reinforcing element 91, are of uniform wall thickness. The walls of the ribs are disposed at an angle of no more than approxi-mately 45 with respect to the patient supporting element 90. Accordingly, it will be apprec~ated that the combined thicknesses o~ the element 90 and 91 at any place thro~qh their cross ~ection between the end walls 103, are substantially uni~orm, and will not produce undcsirable aberrations or diagno~tlcally , significant artifacts on a standard x-ray plate.
For description purposes, Fig. 6 illustrates a predetermined area or radiolucent x-ray window "w"
which is considered ~o be an x-ray window in the surface 25, This window lles over the surface 25 interiorly of end walls 103, the head and foot end~ of the ribbed reinfor~ing element 91, and all frame structure.
~.
While it i9 recognized that there i5 a very slight variation in the effective thickness of the .~ element 91, depending on the precise location at which such thicknes~ would be measured within the window "w", the thickness variation, caused by the angulation of the element 91 with respect to the element 90, is : :
~, , ~ .
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, . :
. . , . . :
~ 285103 -19-not sufficiently great enough to generate any a~erra-tion in an x-ray plate of the type normally Utilized in a diagnostic x-ray procedure. It has been deter-mined that if the an~ulation of the element 91 with respect to the patient support element 90 i5 main-tained within this 45 range, vertical support walls beneath the patient and in the predetermined x-ray willdow are eliminated. Accordingly, there i8 no support or xeinforclng structure in the predetermined area "w". Aberrations or artifacts normally cauqed by such vertical walls in the area "w" are not produced on the standard x-ray plate placed beneath area "wn.
Thus electromagnetic waves directed through the predetermined area "w" are uniformly attenuated without aberrations so that an accurate x-ray picture can be formed.
Turning now to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be appreciated that the patien~ support surface 25, a~d particularly its elements 26, 27 and 28, are. pre~erably made of a synthetic material such as the plastic material known a f NORYL 190, manufactured by The General Electric Company prior to this invention, u~e of this or of similar materials, in the thin sheets contemplated herein, was not suitable due to lack of rigidity which is required in the suppo~t. While NORYL 190 is a ~referred material, other polymers and copclymers could be used. Preferably the wall , ;,:
", -19-~ .
~ ' .
: ~ ~l2~5~
thicknesses of elements 90 and 91 of the patient support surface 25 as illustrated by the arrows A and B o~ Fig. 4 are each preEerably less than about .100" and particularly are preferably about .093", making the combined wall thick-s ness approximately 0.186" throughout the predekermined area "w" as shown in Fig. 6. These wall surfaces are normally spaced apart at the peak 99 of the corrugated reinforcing element 91 a distance such that the overall thlckness, including the distance "C" between the uppermost surface of the patient support element 90 to the lower surface o~ the reinforcing element 91 is approximately 0.250~'. Accor~
dinyly, the normal spacing between the reinforcing element 91 and the patient support element 90 at the crests 99 i8 approximately 0.064". In the preferred embodiment, the ;~ crests 99 are parallel and spaced apart about 4 1/2ll and the distance l'DII is about 1". The entire support sur~ace is about 26" wide. Element 26 is about 32 1/2" long, element 27 about 24 1/2" long and element 28 about 24 1/2" long.
The predetermined area "w" is ahout 18" wide between rib end walls 103 and about 26" long in a head-to-foot direction in element 26. The size of area "w" may be varied in the dif-,~ fering elements 26,27 and 28 to accommodate a desired aber-ration-free x-ray window within the F.D.A. minimum equi-valency standard.
.
~:
.
~,2~ 03 When a patlent is placed on the patient sUpport sur~ace 25 and on its various elements, i~
will be appreciated that the p~tient support element 90 may slightly deflect, coming into contact with the crest portions 99 of the underlying reinforcing element 91. Vpon contact with the reinforcing element, further deflection of the p~tient supporting element 90 is slgnificantly resisted such that the overall patient support sur~ace 25 ~provides a rigid support for the patie~t. The surface 25 is khus capable o~
withstanding procedural stresse~, such as any CPR
stresses applied to the surface through the patient.
The vertical wall sections 103 are close enough to aid in providing perpendicular resistance to de~Lections required, without impinging in the predetermined area "w". Al~so, the integrated structure of the support element, whether it is element 26, 27 or 28, serve to further rlgidify each of the respective elements and resist deflection.
I~ should be kept in mind that while this preferred embodiment spaces the patient support element 90 from the crest portions 99, it is possible to select a molecular weight of polymer or copolymer .,: , and a process that would allow these portions to contact one another.
Fig. 9 shows one such type of contact wherein the reinCorcing element 91a is integral with i;:
,:~
.
~ - .
:
,~
, 1~5~(33 ~22-patient support element 90a at crest 99a in an ~lterna-tive patlent head and torso support element 26a, The thickness of the in~egral crest area 90a i5 preferably about the same as that of the patient support element 90a and reinforcing element 91a where not joined, in order to reduce or eliminate diagnostically significant artifacts.
In addition, it will be appreciated that an alternative embodlment o~ the patient support suriace 25 might include slmilarly constructed element~ but one or more having a foam material F deployed in the internal section of the patient support between the patient supporting element 90 and the rein~orcing element 91. This could ~urther rigidlfy and ~trengthen each particular patient supporting surface. Thi3 ls shown diagra~natically in Fig. 7, which is similar ~o Fig. 4 with the exception of the illustra~ion of the foamed core F. Like numbers in Fig. 7 designate elements like those of the preferred embodiment. In such a construction, the wall thicknesses of the elements 90 and 91, togethex with the foam material F
are ~elected in order to meet the F.D.A. attenuation standards and yet at the same time provide a rigid patient support. While this foam-filled structure can meet the~attenuation standards, it does create some-what more o~ artifact problem than does the previ-ously described preferred embodlment.
. .
..
In another aspect of this invention, (Pigs.
1, 2 and 8) the stretcher 10 is provided with an x-ray cassette 110, comprising a tray 111, a bracket 112, and actuatiny handles 113, 114. The tray is particu-larly configured for holding a standard x-ray plate (not shown). Each of the handles 113, 114 are secured via pins 115, 116 through bracket 112 to respective underlying cams 117, 118. The cams axe respectively configured so that when the handle 113 i5 turned in a counter clockwise direction, and handle 114 in a clockwise direction, the cams present an enlarging ramp between the side rail 16 of the stretcher 10 and the lowered raisable side rail 20 as shown in Fig. 2, A diagrammatic picture of this is shown in Fig. 8.
Accordingly, the cams are wed~ed between the frame rail 16 and the side rail 20 to retain the cassette 110 in its proper position. When ~he handles are rotated in the opposite directions respectively, the cassette can be loosened for adjustment forwards or backwards to properly mount an x-ray plate beneath the predetermined area or x-ray window "w". Of course, such a ca3sette is located above the aluminum pan 18 or above the aluminum pan 19 when performin~ x-ray procedures in the thigh or leg area. As noted above, each of the elements 27 and 28 include a predetermined area or x-ra~ window "w" which provides rigid patient ~ L~8~;~03 support and uniform attenuation within the F.D,A, standard and 9imilar to area "w" of element 26, It will thus be appreciated that the in~en-tion provides a patient support surface having pre-determined areas which provide uniform radiolucency therethrough such that there are no aberrations or diagnostically significant artifacts depicted on the normal-type x-ray plate and F.D.A. attenuation standards are met. Also, despite its preferably thin wall thicknesses, the pat:ient support sur~ace i~
sufficiently rlgid so as to be capable o~ with~tanding stresses and strains such as those normally applied to a patient support surface such as by CPR procedure, for example. ~he rigid structure in the preferred embodiment of the invention substantially re~ists deflection of the type o the which will tend to flex the patient support surface and cause it to fatigue or crack during normal usage. In addition, the integrated ; blow molded patient support surface elements provide unitary surfaces without cracks, depressions and joints which are difficult to clean.
It will also be appreciated that whil~ the described corrugation configuration of the reinforcing element is preferred, other non-planar reinforcing element configurations might also be used to produce rigidifying results, maintain the F.D.A. attenuation standards, an~ provide aberration-free x-rays.
-~4-, .,' ' ~ .
.
.
~351()3 Moreover, it should also be appreciated that the inven-tion renders possible the usa of thin plastic materials which are highly radiolucent and which otherwise could not be used as a result of the interplay between the F.D.A.
attenuation standard and the need for stress resistiny rigidity. Thus the selection of thin plastic materials which could not ordinarily be expected to be used for a radiolucent patien-t surface is made possible as a result of lo the invention.
These and other advantages and modification6 will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of this invention, and the applicant intends to be bound only by the claims appen~
ded hereto.
Each of the elements 26, 27 and 28 has an integral blow-molded side structure (be5t seen in Fig, 5), which comprises an integral reinforced side ~rame 92. Integral side framle 92 includes a raised 9ection 93 tapèring down at 94 into the integral patient ~upport element 90. The sidewalls of the element 26, as shown at 9S and 96 depend perpendicularly from ths ralsed element 93 and are laterally spaced from an internal reinforcing rib defined by walls 97 and 98.
It will be appreciated that the space between the facing walls 96 and 97 accommodate the interior and exterior frame members such as 52 and 38, respectively (Flg. 2) which themselv~s are preferably 1" by ~"
,:
~ formed metallic tubing.
.~ Accordingly , and from Fig . 5, it will be apprec~ated that the entire patient support ~urface 25 ~ integral, with the upper element 90 spaced from the : lower element 91 such that ~he entire element, such a~
element 26 for example, can be blow molded. During ~; the blow moldi~g process, particular cores and the `; like are utili~ed in order to provlde for the side, ~ corner and e~.d hand holes such as those illustrated at :~ -16-~ ' .
";
,.~.
:. ;
' ' , ' ':
' ' - ' :: ' ' ~ 51~ -17-80, 81 and ~2 in Fig. 2, lt being understood and appreciated that the various bends in not only the hand holes but in the edge walls 95, 96 and the reinforcing rib walls 97, 98 add to the rigidity of the entire patient support surface 25. A~ain, it will be understood that while the cross section of Figs. 4 and 5 are taken through the element 26, the element 27 and 28 preferably have similar cross sections.
Turning now momentarily to Fig. 4, it will be appreciated that the corrugated reinforcing element 91 has a series of elongated parallel ribs, includlng parallel crests or projections 99 and valleys or depressions 100 extending transversely acroqs portion~
o~ the patient support surface 25 and the re~pective elements 26, 27 and 28. The crests 99 are slightly spaced from the patient supporting element 90, while the valleys 100 are further spaced from the patient support element 90. At the ends of the elements adjacent the pivots axis 29 and 30 for example, the patient supporting element 90 is curved to meet the reinforcing element 91 as at end 101 as shown in Fig.
As sho~n in Flg. 5, each of the corrugations or ribs such as the rib 10', for example, terminates in a vertical ~all 103, which is aenerally perpendicular to the patlent supporting element 90. The ver~ical wall 103 provides siynificant support in a perpendicular , . - .
~ .
.
.
.
.
~ 2~5103 -18-direction with re~pect to the patient support element 90, and par~icularly upon any contact therewith.
It will be appreciated, particularly from Fig. 4, tha~ the ribs, comprised of the alternating crests 99 and valle~s 100 of the reinforcing element 91, are of uniform wall thickness. The walls of the ribs are disposed at an angle of no more than approxi-mately 45 with respect to the patient supporting element 90. Accordingly, it will be apprec~ated that the combined thicknesses o~ the element 90 and 91 at any place thro~qh their cross ~ection between the end walls 103, are substantially uni~orm, and will not produce undcsirable aberrations or diagno~tlcally , significant artifacts on a standard x-ray plate.
For description purposes, Fig. 6 illustrates a predetermined area or radiolucent x-ray window "w"
which is considered ~o be an x-ray window in the surface 25, This window lles over the surface 25 interiorly of end walls 103, the head and foot end~ of the ribbed reinfor~ing element 91, and all frame structure.
~.
While it i9 recognized that there i5 a very slight variation in the effective thickness of the .~ element 91, depending on the precise location at which such thicknes~ would be measured within the window "w", the thickness variation, caused by the angulation of the element 91 with respect to the element 90, is : :
~, , ~ .
;~ ~
' , . ~ .
, . :
. . , . . :
~ 285103 -19-not sufficiently great enough to generate any a~erra-tion in an x-ray plate of the type normally Utilized in a diagnostic x-ray procedure. It has been deter-mined that if the an~ulation of the element 91 with respect to the patient support element 90 i5 main-tained within this 45 range, vertical support walls beneath the patient and in the predetermined x-ray willdow are eliminated. Accordingly, there i8 no support or xeinforclng structure in the predetermined area "w". Aberrations or artifacts normally cauqed by such vertical walls in the area "w" are not produced on the standard x-ray plate placed beneath area "wn.
Thus electromagnetic waves directed through the predetermined area "w" are uniformly attenuated without aberrations so that an accurate x-ray picture can be formed.
Turning now to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be appreciated that the patien~ support surface 25, a~d particularly its elements 26, 27 and 28, are. pre~erably made of a synthetic material such as the plastic material known a f NORYL 190, manufactured by The General Electric Company prior to this invention, u~e of this or of similar materials, in the thin sheets contemplated herein, was not suitable due to lack of rigidity which is required in the suppo~t. While NORYL 190 is a ~referred material, other polymers and copclymers could be used. Preferably the wall , ;,:
", -19-~ .
~ ' .
: ~ ~l2~5~
thicknesses of elements 90 and 91 of the patient support surface 25 as illustrated by the arrows A and B o~ Fig. 4 are each preEerably less than about .100" and particularly are preferably about .093", making the combined wall thick-s ness approximately 0.186" throughout the predekermined area "w" as shown in Fig. 6. These wall surfaces are normally spaced apart at the peak 99 of the corrugated reinforcing element 91 a distance such that the overall thlckness, including the distance "C" between the uppermost surface of the patient support element 90 to the lower surface o~ the reinforcing element 91 is approximately 0.250~'. Accor~
dinyly, the normal spacing between the reinforcing element 91 and the patient support element 90 at the crests 99 i8 approximately 0.064". In the preferred embodiment, the ;~ crests 99 are parallel and spaced apart about 4 1/2ll and the distance l'DII is about 1". The entire support sur~ace is about 26" wide. Element 26 is about 32 1/2" long, element 27 about 24 1/2" long and element 28 about 24 1/2" long.
The predetermined area "w" is ahout 18" wide between rib end walls 103 and about 26" long in a head-to-foot direction in element 26. The size of area "w" may be varied in the dif-,~ fering elements 26,27 and 28 to accommodate a desired aber-ration-free x-ray window within the F.D.A. minimum equi-valency standard.
.
~:
.
~,2~ 03 When a patlent is placed on the patient sUpport sur~ace 25 and on its various elements, i~
will be appreciated that the p~tient support element 90 may slightly deflect, coming into contact with the crest portions 99 of the underlying reinforcing element 91. Vpon contact with the reinforcing element, further deflection of the p~tient supporting element 90 is slgnificantly resisted such that the overall patient support sur~ace 25 ~provides a rigid support for the patie~t. The surface 25 is khus capable o~
withstanding procedural stresse~, such as any CPR
stresses applied to the surface through the patient.
The vertical wall sections 103 are close enough to aid in providing perpendicular resistance to de~Lections required, without impinging in the predetermined area "w". Al~so, the integrated structure of the support element, whether it is element 26, 27 or 28, serve to further rlgidify each of the respective elements and resist deflection.
I~ should be kept in mind that while this preferred embodiment spaces the patient support element 90 from the crest portions 99, it is possible to select a molecular weight of polymer or copolymer .,: , and a process that would allow these portions to contact one another.
Fig. 9 shows one such type of contact wherein the reinCorcing element 91a is integral with i;:
,:~
.
~ - .
:
,~
, 1~5~(33 ~22-patient support element 90a at crest 99a in an ~lterna-tive patlent head and torso support element 26a, The thickness of the in~egral crest area 90a i5 preferably about the same as that of the patient support element 90a and reinforcing element 91a where not joined, in order to reduce or eliminate diagnostically significant artifacts.
In addition, it will be appreciated that an alternative embodlment o~ the patient support suriace 25 might include slmilarly constructed element~ but one or more having a foam material F deployed in the internal section of the patient support between the patient supporting element 90 and the rein~orcing element 91. This could ~urther rigidlfy and ~trengthen each particular patient supporting surface. Thi3 ls shown diagra~natically in Fig. 7, which is similar ~o Fig. 4 with the exception of the illustra~ion of the foamed core F. Like numbers in Fig. 7 designate elements like those of the preferred embodiment. In such a construction, the wall thicknesses of the elements 90 and 91, togethex with the foam material F
are ~elected in order to meet the F.D.A. attenuation standards and yet at the same time provide a rigid patient support. While this foam-filled structure can meet the~attenuation standards, it does create some-what more o~ artifact problem than does the previ-ously described preferred embodlment.
. .
..
In another aspect of this invention, (Pigs.
1, 2 and 8) the stretcher 10 is provided with an x-ray cassette 110, comprising a tray 111, a bracket 112, and actuatiny handles 113, 114. The tray is particu-larly configured for holding a standard x-ray plate (not shown). Each of the handles 113, 114 are secured via pins 115, 116 through bracket 112 to respective underlying cams 117, 118. The cams axe respectively configured so that when the handle 113 i5 turned in a counter clockwise direction, and handle 114 in a clockwise direction, the cams present an enlarging ramp between the side rail 16 of the stretcher 10 and the lowered raisable side rail 20 as shown in Fig. 2, A diagrammatic picture of this is shown in Fig. 8.
Accordingly, the cams are wed~ed between the frame rail 16 and the side rail 20 to retain the cassette 110 in its proper position. When ~he handles are rotated in the opposite directions respectively, the cassette can be loosened for adjustment forwards or backwards to properly mount an x-ray plate beneath the predetermined area or x-ray window "w". Of course, such a ca3sette is located above the aluminum pan 18 or above the aluminum pan 19 when performin~ x-ray procedures in the thigh or leg area. As noted above, each of the elements 27 and 28 include a predetermined area or x-ra~ window "w" which provides rigid patient ~ L~8~;~03 support and uniform attenuation within the F.D,A, standard and 9imilar to area "w" of element 26, It will thus be appreciated that the in~en-tion provides a patient support surface having pre-determined areas which provide uniform radiolucency therethrough such that there are no aberrations or diagnostically significant artifacts depicted on the normal-type x-ray plate and F.D.A. attenuation standards are met. Also, despite its preferably thin wall thicknesses, the pat:ient support sur~ace i~
sufficiently rlgid so as to be capable o~ with~tanding stresses and strains such as those normally applied to a patient support surface such as by CPR procedure, for example. ~he rigid structure in the preferred embodiment of the invention substantially re~ists deflection of the type o the which will tend to flex the patient support surface and cause it to fatigue or crack during normal usage. In addition, the integrated ; blow molded patient support surface elements provide unitary surfaces without cracks, depressions and joints which are difficult to clean.
It will also be appreciated that whil~ the described corrugation configuration of the reinforcing element is preferred, other non-planar reinforcing element configurations might also be used to produce rigidifying results, maintain the F.D.A. attenuation standards, an~ provide aberration-free x-rays.
-~4-, .,' ' ~ .
.
.
~351()3 Moreover, it should also be appreciated that the inven-tion renders possible the usa of thin plastic materials which are highly radiolucent and which otherwise could not be used as a result of the interplay between the F.D.A.
attenuation standard and the need for stress resistiny rigidity. Thus the selection of thin plastic materials which could not ordinarily be expected to be used for a radiolucent patien-t surface is made possible as a result of lo the invention.
These and other advantages and modification6 will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of this invention, and the applicant intends to be bound only by the claims appen~
ded hereto.
Claims (36)
1. A patient surface comprising:
a patient supporting member having a predetermined radiolucent area thereacross, and a non-planar radiolucent reinforcing member having por-tions disposed in operative, normally spaced-apart under-lying relationship with said predetermined radiolucent area;
wherein said patient supporting member and said rein-forcing member are formed as one integral unit;
said reinforcing member portions providing deflection resisting support for said patient supporting member when it is loaded.
a patient supporting member having a predetermined radiolucent area thereacross, and a non-planar radiolucent reinforcing member having por-tions disposed in operative, normally spaced-apart under-lying relationship with said predetermined radiolucent area;
wherein said patient supporting member and said rein-forcing member are formed as one integral unit;
said reinforcing member portions providing deflection resisting support for said patient supporting member when it is loaded.
2. A patient surface as in claim 1 wherein said patient supporting member in said radiolucent area and said reinforcing member thereunder in operative combination uni-formly attenuate electromagnetic waves passing therethrough.
3. A patient surface as in claim 2 wherein said rein-forcing member portions comprise a plurality of transversely extending projections defining crests and depressions under-lying said radiolucent area of said patient supporting mem-ber.
4. A patient surface as in claim 3 wherein said crests are spaced from said patient supporting member when it is not loaded, and wherein said depressions are further spaced from said patient supporting member.
5. A patient surface as in claim 3 wherein said patient supporting surface and said reinforcing member are joined along respective edges thereof in a rigidifying elongated edge configuration perpendicular to said crests and depressions.
6. A patient surface as in claim 3 wherein said crests and depressions are defined by a corrugated sheet-like rein-forcing element.
7. A patient surface as in claim 6 wherein the com-bined perpendicular wall thickness of said patient suppor-ting member in said radiolucent area and of said underlying reinforcing member thereunder is substantially uniform and provides uniform radiolucency through said radiolucent area.
8. A patient surface as in claim 2 wherein said under-lying reinforcing member is comprised of corrugated walls angulated throughout at less than 45° with respect to the plane of said patient supporting member.
9. A patient surface as in claim 2 wherein said rein-forcing member comprises a plurality of rib forming walls disposed at angles other than perpendicularly to said patient supporting surface in order to provide uniform radiolucency therethrough.
10. A patient surface as in claim 3 wherein said patient surface includes at least two such integral units pivotally joined together.
11. A patient surface as in claim 1 including a core of foam material disposed between said patient supporting mem-ber and said reinforcing member.
12. A patient surface as in claim 3 wherein said patient supporting member and said reinforcing member are not normally spaced apart and wherein said crests are nor-mally in contact with said patient supporting member.
13. A patient surface as in claim 12 wherein said crests and said patient supporting member are integral with each other.
14. A patient surface comprising:
a patient supporting member having a predetermined radiolucent area therein, and a corrugated radiolucent reinforcing member having a plurality of ribs transversely disposed in operative, normally spaced apart and underlying relationship with said patient supporting member across said predetermined radio-lucent area thereof when said patient supporting member is unloaded.
a patient supporting member having a predetermined radiolucent area therein, and a corrugated radiolucent reinforcing member having a plurality of ribs transversely disposed in operative, normally spaced apart and underlying relationship with said patient supporting member across said predetermined radio-lucent area thereof when said patient supporting member is unloaded.
15. A patient surface as in claim 14 wherein said sup-porting-member in said area and said underlying reinforcing member in combination uniformly attenuate electromagnetic waves passing through predetermined overlying areas thereof.
16. A patient surface as in claim 14 wherein the effec-tive perpendicular combined thickness of said patient sup-porting member in said area and said underlying reinforcing member is substantially uniform.
17. A patient surface as in claim 14 wherein said ribs terminate in walls perpendicularly underlying said patient supporting member in a region outside said predetermined radiolucent area thereof.
18. A patient supporting apparatus comprising:
a stretcher frame having elongated side members and transverse members lying said elongated side members;
a trunnion mounted on each of said side members defin-ing a pivot axis thereacross;
a patient support frame pivoted to the trunnion;
a patient support element mounted on said patient sup-port frame and including:
a patient supporting member with a predetermined radio lucent area therein, and a corrugated radiolucent reinforcing member having a plurality of ribs disposed in operative, normally spaced apart and underlying relationship with said patient suppor-ting member across said predetermined radiolucent area thereof when said patient supporting member is unloaded.
a stretcher frame having elongated side members and transverse members lying said elongated side members;
a trunnion mounted on each of said side members defin-ing a pivot axis thereacross;
a patient support frame pivoted to the trunnion;
a patient support element mounted on said patient sup-port frame and including:
a patient supporting member with a predetermined radio lucent area therein, and a corrugated radiolucent reinforcing member having a plurality of ribs disposed in operative, normally spaced apart and underlying relationship with said patient suppor-ting member across said predetermined radiolucent area thereof when said patient supporting member is unloaded.
19. A patient supporting apparatus as in claim 18 further including a second patient support frame pivoted to said trunnions and a second radiolucent patient support element mounted on said second patient support frame.
20. A patient supporting apparatus as in claim 19 further including a third patient support frame pivoted to said second patient support frame, and a third radiolucent patient support element mounted on said third frame.
21. A patient supporting apparatus as in claim 18, 19 or 20 wherein said ribs extend across said predetermined area and provide, in combination with said patient suppor-ting member, uniform electromagnetic wave attenuation through said area.
22. A patient support element comprising:
a flat plastic sheet having a predetermined radiolucent area therein;
a corrugated plastic sheet underlying said flat plastic sheet, no section of said corrugated sheet underlying said predetermined radiolucent area forming an angle greater than 45° with respect to said flat plastic sheet; and a perimeter structure outside said predetermined radio-lucent area joining the peripheral edges of said sheets.
a flat plastic sheet having a predetermined radiolucent area therein;
a corrugated plastic sheet underlying said flat plastic sheet, no section of said corrugated sheet underlying said predetermined radiolucent area forming an angle greater than 45° with respect to said flat plastic sheet; and a perimeter structure outside said predetermined radio-lucent area joining the peripheral edges of said sheets.
23. A patient support element as in claim 22 in which said sheets and perimeter structure are an integral struc-ture.
24. A support element as in claim 22 in which said cor-rugated sheet is out of contact with said flat sheet when support element is unstressed.
25. A patient support element as in claim 22 in which said perimeter structure includes parallel side structures that have ribs generally perpendicular to said flat sheet, the side structure providing resistance to bending of said patient support element.
26. A patient surface comprising:
a patient supporting member having a predetermined radiolucent area therein; and a corrugated radiolucent reinforcing member having a plurality of ribs transversely disposed in operative, under-lying relationship with said patient supporting member across said predetermined radiolucent area thereof, the radiolucent area of said patient supporting member and the corrugated radiolucent reinforcing member thereunder comprising, in combination a relatively uniform thickness for uniformly attenuating electromagnetic waves passing through both said radiolucent area, and said reinforcing member.
a patient supporting member having a predetermined radiolucent area therein; and a corrugated radiolucent reinforcing member having a plurality of ribs transversely disposed in operative, under-lying relationship with said patient supporting member across said predetermined radiolucent area thereof, the radiolucent area of said patient supporting member and the corrugated radiolucent reinforcing member thereunder comprising, in combination a relatively uniform thickness for uniformly attenuating electromagnetic waves passing through both said radiolucent area, and said reinforcing member.
27. A Patient surface comprising:
a patient supporting member having a predetermined radiolucent urea thereacross;
a non-planar radiolucent reinforcing member having por-tions disposed in operative, normally spaced-apart under-lying relationship with said predetermined radiolucent area;
said reinforcing member portions providing deflection resisting support for said patient supporting member when it is loaded;
wherein said patient supporting member in said radio-lucent area and said reinforcing member thereunder in opera-tive combination uniformly attenuate electromagnetic waves passing therethrough; and wherein said reinforcing member portions comprise a plurality of transversely extending projections defining crests and depressions underlying said radiolucent area of said patient supporting member.
a patient supporting member having a predetermined radiolucent urea thereacross;
a non-planar radiolucent reinforcing member having por-tions disposed in operative, normally spaced-apart under-lying relationship with said predetermined radiolucent area;
said reinforcing member portions providing deflection resisting support for said patient supporting member when it is loaded;
wherein said patient supporting member in said radio-lucent area and said reinforcing member thereunder in opera-tive combination uniformly attenuate electromagnetic waves passing therethrough; and wherein said reinforcing member portions comprise a plurality of transversely extending projections defining crests and depressions underlying said radiolucent area of said patient supporting member.
28. A patient surface as in claim 27 wherein said crests are spaced from said patient supporting member when it is not loaded, and wherein said depressions are further spaced from said patient supporting member.
29. A radiolucent patient surface as in claim 27 where-in said patient supporting surface and said reinforcing members are formed as one integral element and are joined along respective edges thereof in a rigidifying elongated edge configuration perpendicular to said crests and depres-sions.
30. A radiolucent patient surface as in claim 27 where-in said crests and depressions are defined by a corrugated sheet-like reinforcing element.
31. A patient surface as in claim 30 wherein the com-bined perpendicular wall thickness of said patient suppor-ting member in said radiolucent area and of said underlying reinforcing member thereunder is substantially uniform and provides uniform radiolucency through said radiolucent area.
32. A radiolucent patient surface as in claim 27 where-in said underlying reinforcing member is comprised of cor-rugated walls angulated throughout at less that 45° with respect to the plane of said patient supporting member.
33. A radiolucent patient surface as in claim 27 where-in said reinforcing member comprises a plurality of rib forming walls disposed at angles other than perpendicularly to said patient supporting surface in order to provide uniform radiolucency therethrough.
34. A radiolucent patient surface as in claim 27 where-in said patient supporting member and said reinforcing mem-ber are formed as one integral element, and wherein said patient supporting apparatus includes at least two such elements pivotally joined together.
35. A radiolucent patient surface as in claim 27 where-in said patient supporting member and said reinforcing mem-ber are not normally spaced apart and wherein said crests are normally in contact with said patient supporting member.
36. A radiolucent patient surface as in claim 35 where-in said crests and said patient supporting member are integ-ral with each other.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US150,075 | 1988-01-29 | ||
| US07/150,075 US4926457A (en) | 1988-01-29 | 1988-01-29 | Radiolucent hospital bed surface |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1285103C true CA1285103C (en) | 1991-06-25 |
Family
ID=22533027
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000584683A Expired - Lifetime CA1285103C (en) | 1988-01-29 | 1988-12-01 | Radiolucent hospital bed surface |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4926457A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0325850B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2716764B2 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR970002927B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE72622T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1285103C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3868502D1 (en) |
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| EP2095374A4 (en) * | 2006-11-21 | 2012-05-30 | Univ Loma Linda Med | Device and method for immobilizing patients for breast radiation therapy |
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| US8176584B2 (en) * | 2008-08-29 | 2012-05-15 | Hill-Rom Services, Inc. | Patient-support apparatus with movable top |
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| US8245335B2 (en) * | 2009-03-30 | 2012-08-21 | Imns Inc. | Support component for use in imaging by magnetic resonance and x-ray |
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| US10188567B2 (en) | 2014-10-30 | 2019-01-29 | Byron Wade Wurdeman | Hospital chair beds with extendable/retractable foot sections |
| US10980692B2 (en) * | 2016-08-29 | 2021-04-20 | Mobius Imaging, Llc | Table system for medical imaging |
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| KR102022477B1 (en) | 2019-01-07 | 2019-09-18 | 임병학 | Sickroom Bed with Cassette Tray for Radiographic Imaging |
| KR102423316B1 (en) * | 2020-09-18 | 2022-07-21 | 사회복지법인 삼성생명공익재단 | Radiography assistance apparatus |
| KR102498181B1 (en) * | 2020-11-23 | 2023-02-10 | 주식회사 동양카본 | The X-ray photographic bed comprised splite type stiffener with higher X-ray transmittance |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3783863A (en) * | 1971-02-01 | 1974-01-08 | W Kliever | Method and apparatus for immobilizing a patient and conducting an x-ray examination |
| US4146793A (en) * | 1972-07-27 | 1979-03-27 | Siemens Ag | X-ray devices using epoxy resins strengthened with carbonic fibrous material |
| CA985433A (en) * | 1973-07-20 | 1976-03-09 | Melvin L. Foster | High strength low attenuation couch top |
| US3947686A (en) * | 1974-04-25 | 1976-03-30 | The Babcock & Wilcox Co. | Graphite composite X-ray transparent patient support |
| CH615587A5 (en) * | 1977-05-27 | 1980-02-15 | Schaerer Ag M | |
| US4134019A (en) * | 1977-06-16 | 1979-01-09 | Hipoint Research, Inc. | Object support surface and method for X-ray examination |
| US4145612A (en) * | 1977-08-31 | 1979-03-20 | The Babcock & Wilcox Company | X-ray patient support stretcher and method for fabrication |
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| US4891851A (en) * | 1983-12-12 | 1990-01-09 | General Electric Company | Flexible patient transfer cradle |
| DE3405425A1 (en) * | 1984-02-15 | 1985-08-22 | Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München | X-RAY UNIT WITH A PATIENT POSITIONING PLATE |
| US4584729A (en) * | 1984-04-20 | 1986-04-29 | Roberts Jess D | Disposable full spinal immobilization backboard |
| JPS62166837U (en) * | 1986-04-12 | 1987-10-23 |
-
1988
- 1988-01-29 US US07/150,075 patent/US4926457A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-12-01 CA CA000584683A patent/CA1285103C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-12-07 EP EP88311562A patent/EP0325850B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-12-07 DE DE8888311562T patent/DE3868502D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-12-07 AT AT88311562T patent/ATE72622T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-12-16 JP JP63316541A patent/JP2716764B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1989
- 1989-01-28 KR KR1019890000922A patent/KR970002927B1/en active IP Right Grant
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE3868502D1 (en) | 1992-03-26 |
| EP0325850A1 (en) | 1989-08-02 |
| JPH025948A (en) | 1990-01-10 |
| KR970002927B1 (en) | 1997-03-13 |
| KR890011578A (en) | 1989-08-21 |
| EP0325850B1 (en) | 1992-02-19 |
| ATE72622T1 (en) | 1992-03-15 |
| JP2716764B2 (en) | 1998-02-18 |
| US4926457A (en) | 1990-05-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 19980625 |