US2490400A - Device fob medical examination with - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1949 D. E. BERGGREN 2,490,400

DEVICE FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATION WITH THE AID OF X-RA YS Filed May a, 1946 I .2 Sheds-sheet 1 DETLOFJEMANl/IL BERGGREV INVENTOR.

ATTGRJWY Dec. 6, 1949 E, B G 2,490,400

DEVICE FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATION WITH THEAID OF X-RAYS Filed May :5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DEILOFMANUZZBERGflREV INVENTOR.

AT T ORNZZK Patented Dec. 6, 1949 DEVICE FOR/MEDICAL EXAMINATIONfWITH THE AID OFX-RAYS Detlof Emanuel Bergzl'en, Eindhoven, Netherlands, assignor, by .mesne assignments, to .Hart ford National Bank and Trust Company,..Hartford, Conn., as trustee Application MayB, 1946, Serial No. 666,951

In the Netherlands May 13, 1942 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires May 13, 1962 ,2 Claims. (01. 250- .53)

The invention relates to a device for the medical examination with the aid of X rays, wherein the X-ray tube is movable parallel to the plane of the receiver of the rays so that it is possible :to send the beam of rays in different directions through the body of the patient. The receiver of the rays may be a fluorescent screen for direct observation or indirect photographyof the radiograph or a cassette with a photographic film or a plurality of such films for serial exposure. some cases there is in front of the vfilma .grid against secondary radiation, which grid issdisplaced simultaneously with the film cassette and may be brought in the correct place behind the body to be photographed.

Wherever hereinafter reference ismade to a screen inthe sense of .a receiver. of rays this :term should be considered to include all the abovementioned. cases.

There is known a device of this type wherein the X-ray tube is rotatableand is coupled with the screen insuch manner that-uponrelative displacement of the Xray tube with respect to the screen the central ray always strikes =upon.;the

screen at the same point.

With the known device this condition is fulfilled both .in the case of vertical displacement (the device is only suitable for the examination of standing or 'sitting'patients) and of horizonta displacement of the X-ray tube.

The invention is based on the idea that with lateral displacement of the X-ray tube it is rather the object to choose a determined portion of the patients body than to obtain an obliquely incident beam. For the latter purpose it is sufficient when the axis of the beam of rays can swing in .a vertical plane. It is desirable, it is true, that the tubes should also be movable in lateral direction, "but without the beam swinging round. Besides, at the same time the screen must be laterally displaced, and this in the same sense as the tube.

According to the invention, in a device for the medical examination with the aid of X rays wherein the X-ray tube is movable'parallel to the plane of the screen, the X-ray tube and the screen are movable,-in addition, simultaneously and in the same sense parallel to and in the transverse direction of a table board or supporting wall for the patient whilst for carrying out this movement there is provided a device with the aid of which the tube and the screen are coupled with one another in such manner that upon relative displacement of the X-ray tube with respect "to the screen in the longitudinal direction ofthe table board or the supporting wall thercentral 5 .cured a handle which permits it to rotate.

and the screen are secured to the .table itself and follow the rotary movement of the table about its shaft.

If desired, ..a rod. actingas a coupling element between the X-ray vtube and the screen may :be telescopic so that the ends need not be displaced with respect to the holder of the X-ray tube or .the screen when the distance between the 'X-ray tube and thescreen changes. 20

In one suitable embodiment of the device according to the invention the coupling rod is rotatable about its axis whilst there are provided .means of converting. the rotationof this :rod about sitsiaxis into .a-translation of the X-ray tube or .of

the latter andthe screen. To the rod may be se- In this case the movement has to be transferred fromtherod to thescreenand to the .X-ray tube.

.It is also possible toconstruct the screen itself in such manner that: it can be handled and be displaced in lateral direction, in which event the movement has to be transferred from the movable screen portion to the coupling rod and from :thezlatter again to the X-ray tube.

To theX-ray tube orthe screen ,or to both of them-..may be secured a-toothed rack which engages a gear wheelmounted on the rod and which, upon r tation of the rod about its axis, is displaced inits longitudinal direction. :With the screen this is less simple than with the .X-rayrtube since the rod must be able to rotate about ahorizonta-l axis located in the plane of the screen. In order :to-achieve this, the rack may be connected to the rodin'such manner that it follows the movement of the rod about an axis in the plane of the screen and it may have a connection with the screen which can be displaced in accordance with this movement so that upon rotation of the rod about its own axis the rack displaces the screen inthe transverse direction .of the supporting table or of, the supporting wall, and this in the same. sense as the .Xeray tube.

Different solutions are possible with a rack rigidly secured to .the screen. Thus, for example, the movement .of the rotating coupling rod may be transferred to the rack by two gear wheels which are connected to one another by a flexible shaft and of which the one is coupled with the rack secured to the screen and the other with the coupling rod rotating about its axis. Another solution is that the coupling rod is connected to the screen by means of a universal joint whose centre is located in the plane of the screen. In this case a handle may be secured to the universal joint, but the device may also be constructed in such manner that the movement is transferredfrom the screen via the universal joint to the coupling rod.

The connection between the rod and the screen may also be obtained by a combination of a crank and a driving rod. Unless between the handle portions and which is rotatable about its own axis. To the thickest portion 24 are secured pins 25 whose axis is located in the plane of the screen I I and passes through the centre thereof. These pins are rotatable in an annular stirrup 25 formed by the frame 21 in which the screen is provided.

Since the axis of the rod 23, which axis intersects the axis 13 at right angles, and the central nd the p n rod a universal joint is utilized,

the plane of the crank and the driving rod must pass through the axis about which the coupling rod swings with respect. to the screen whilst the cross head must be secured to the screen so as to be rotatable about this axis. Y

The invention will be explained more fully with reference to the accompanying drawing which represents diagrammatically, by way of example, in two projections one embodiment of the invention wherein the tube and the screen are supported by a table which is rotatable about a horizontal axis, the table board taking up a vertical position.

Fig. 1 is an elevation perpendicular to the table board and Fig. 2 is a lateral elevation.

Fig. 3 is a portion of Fig. 2 with the omission of parts located in front of it.

Fig. 4 represents part of the device in a slightly different construction.

The supporting table consists of a frame I, a base 2 and a table board 3. The frame i is rotatable in the base 2 about a horizontal axis 4.

The rotation occurs electrically by means of a motor and a toothed segment enclosed in a casing 5; it may also take place by hand with the aid of a crank. Besides the table board 3 columns 6 and l are secured in the frame I. column slides a carriage. One of the carriages (8) carries an X-ray tube 9 and the other (H!) carries a screen ll. When the frame takes up a vertical position the movement of these carriages is facilitated by means of counterweights (not shown). These counterweights are movable in the hollow columns 6 and I and may be connected to the carriages with the aid of chains or steel ropes which run on pulleys. A slide I2 is movable in the carrier 8 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame I. This slide may also be connected with a counterweight in order to facilitate the movement when the table occupies a horizontal or inclined position. The X-ray tube is secured to the slide l2 so as to be rotatable about an axis l3. The screen II is secured to two rods I4 and I5 which are adapted to slide in bushes l6 and ll of the carriage l0 so that it is possible to modify the distance between the plane of projection and the table board. The carriages 8 and Ill, the slide l2 and the rod l4 may be secured against displacement with the aid of clamping screws I8.

The X-ray tube 9 is clamped in a holder [9 which terminates in a spindle which is rotatable in the supporting arm 2| of the slide l2 and which comprises a side piece 22. The axis l3 of the spindle 20 passes through the focal spot of the X-ray tube. In the side piece 22 terminates a telescopic rod 23 which consists of three On each ray of the X-ray tube are located in one plane and since the axis of rotation of the pins 25 is parallel to the axis of rotation I3 and passes through the centre of the screen H, the central ray strikes upon the centre. If the carriage 10 with the screen is raised out of the position shown along the column I whereas the carriage 8 is held fast, the distance between the focal spot and the centre of the screen decreases and the inclination of the rod 23 is modified. The portions of the rod 23 slide into one another and the rod rotates in the stirrup 26. The spindle 20 and consequently also the central ray follow the rotary movement of the rod 23. Independently of the place taken up by the carriage it on the column I, the central ray continues to pass through the centre of the screen.

Conversely, the carriage ill may be set tightly and the carriage 8 may be displaced along the column 6. In this case, too, the condition that the central ray should pass through the centre of the screen II is always fulfilled. It is consequently possible to submit any portion of the trunk of a patient standing upon a foot board 28 or, in the case of a horizontal or inclined position of the supporting. table, lying on the table board 3 to fluoroscopic examination at any desired angle, the shadow image will always be located approximately in the centre of the screen H.

The X-ray tube 9 can be displaced not only along the column B and in a direction perpendicular to the table board but also horizontally in the transverse direction of the table board. To that end the spindle 2D is not only rotatable but also slidable in the supporting arm 2|. Moreover, the screen I l is movable not only along the column I and in a direction perpendicular to the table board but also horizontally in the transverse direction of the table board. To that end the ray-receiver proper is constructed as a slide located in the frame 21.

The transverse movement of the X-ray tube 9 and the screen ll may be brought about with the aid of the rod 23, that is to say by rotating the latter about its axis. At its end the rod 23 carries a gear wheel 29 which engages a toothed rack 30 which is attached to the spindle 20 which is horizontally slidable in the arm 2 I. The sidepiece 22 is not rigidly secured to the spindle 20 but to a bush which is slidable along the spindle but is not rotatable with respect to the latter, the said bush being enclosed in a fork formed by the supporting arm 2|. I

When the rod 23 is rotated about its axis, the gear wheel 29 rotates and the X-ray tube is displaced in the lateral direction, the spindle 2D sliding through the supporting arm 2| and the bush of the side-piece 22. At that end of the rod 23 which passesv through the stirrup 26 is provided a handle 3| so that the rod 23 can be utilized as a handle for bringing about the movements of the carriages 8 and I0 along the columns. This handle serves at the same time to rotate the rod 23.

The pins 25 arenotsecured directly tothe portion 24 of the rod 23, but they are secured to a bush 32 in which the rod is rotatable. The portion 24 carries a gear wheel 33 whose diameter is equal to thatof the gear wheel 29. It engages a toothed rack 34which cannot be immovably secured to the screen H since otherwise it would leave the gear wheel as soon as the carriage I is raised or would prevent this carriage from being lowered. For this reason the rack 34 is mounted so as to be slidable in a bush '35 which is secured to any of the pins 25 or to the bush 32itself (see Figs. 1 and 3). Upon rotation of the rod 23 about the pins 25 the rack 34 follows this rotary motion and remains in engagement with the gear wheel 33.

The one end of the rack 34 has a connection with the screen H which can be displaced in accordance with the movement around the pins 25 so that upon rotation about the horizontal axis the toothed rack runs clear of the screen but upon displacement in its longitudinal direction also sets the screen in motion. To that end the end of the rack passes through a circular slot 36 in a vertical plate 31 which is secured to the screen II. In order to prevent the rack from sliding through the slot the end is made thinner and the slot is accordingly narrower; in order to prevent it from being drawn out of the slot it is provided on the other side of the plate with a boss 38.

Instead of a slotted plate it would also be possible to utilize a crank secured to the screen II and adapted to rotate about an axis which coincides with that of the pins 25, said crank gripping around the rack. It is also possible to provide two gear wheels which are connected to one another by means of a flexible shaft and of which the one is coupled with the toothed rack of the screen and the other is coupled with the gear wheel 33. In the latter case the rack may be rigidly connected to the screen ll.

Fig. 4 shows the manner in which the coupling rod 23 may be connected to the screen H by means of a combination of a crank and a driving rod. A crank 38 which is secured to the portion 24 passes to the outside through a slot 40 in the bush 32 and is connected with a driving rod 4|. The plane of the driving rod 4| and the crank 39 passes through the axis 42 of the pins 25. A cross head 43 is secured to the screen H so as to be rotatable about this axis. When the rod 23 swings around the pins 25, the plane of the crank and the driving rod follows this swinging motion. The cross-head rotates in this case with respect to the screen about the axis 42 so that the movement of the rod 23 is not hampered. When the handle Si is turned, the crank 39 swings through the slot 53 and the driving rod 4| pushes or pulls the screen H in the direction of the axis 42.

If the conversion of the rotary motion of the rod 23 about its axis into a rectilinear motion is effected, in the case of the X-ray tube, with the aid of a gear wheel and a toothed rack and, in the case of the screen, with the aid of a crank and a driving rod, the movement of the X-ray tube is only approximately similar to that of the screen, but in the case of a crank which is not excessively short the approximation within the stroke of the screen is sufficient.

A further possibility is that the handle 3| is secured to the frame 21 in such manner that it occupies an invariable position with respect to the screen H and is connected with the rod 23 by means of a universal joint whose centre is located in the axis 42. In this case the rotary .motioiiof the handle may :be transferred to the screen by means of :a gear wheel and a toothed rackwhich is rigidly-secured to the screen or by means of'a simple crank mechanism.

In all these cases the handle may also be secured directly to the slidable portion of the screen so that the movement is transferred from the screen via a gear wheel or a crank to the coupling rod 2 3. The slider may be provided, for example, on the sides, with straps for taking hold thereof.

What I claim is:

1. X-ray apparatus comprising a screen member, an X-ray tube movable in a plane parallel to said screen, two column members, a tube supporting member comprising a housing adapted to move along one of said columns for moving said tube longitudinally in a plane parallel to said screen and a rotatable spindle supported by said housing adapted to move said tube transversely in a plane parallel to said screen, a flexible telescopic shaft member adapted to Vary in length as said X-ray tube is moved longitudinally in a plane parallel to said screen, means to rotate said shaft member corresponding to a transverse movement of said tube, a screen supporting member comprising a housing adapted to move along the other of said columns for moving said screen longitudinally in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said tube and a transverse member supported by said housing adapted to move said screen transversely in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said tube, means coupling said shaft member to said transverse member to produce a corresponding movement of said screen when said tube is moved transversely relative to said shaft, and a pivotal member coupling said shaft member to said screen supporting member to permit axial movement of said shaft about said screen supporting member for positioning said tube so that the center of the beam from the tube remains aligned with the center of the screen as said tube is moved longitudinally relative to said screen.

2. X-ray apparatus comprising a screen member, an X-ray tube movable in a plane parallel to said screen, two column members, a tube supporting member comprising a housing adapted to move along one of said columns for moving said tube longitudinally in a plane parallel to said screen and a rotatable spindle member supported by said housing adapted to move said tube transversely in a plane parallel to said screen, a flexible telescopic shaft member adapted to vary in length as saidX-ray tube is moved longitudinally in a plane parallel to said screen, means to rotate said shaft member, means to couple said shaft member to said spindle member to move said tube transversely to said shaft member when said shaft is rotated, a screen supporting member comprising a housing adapted to move along the other of said columns for moving said screen longitudinally in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said tube and a transverse member supported by said housing adapted to move said screen transversely in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said tube, means coupling said shaft member to said transverse member to produce a corresponding movement of said screen when said tube is moved transversely relative to said shaft so that the beam from the tube remains aligned with the center of said screen, and a pivotal member coupling said shaft to said screen supporting meme ioq ioo 8 her to permit axial movement of said shaft about UNITED STATES PATENTS said screen supporting member for positioning 1 i r .7 i said tube so that the center of the beam from the Number Name Date tube remains aligned with the center of the 2,000,497 Pohl May 7, 1935 screen as said tube is moved longitudinally rela- 5 Gross a 5, 3 tive to said screen, 2,156,170 Augustin et a1 Apr. 25, 1939 2,353,145 Chamberlain, Jr. July 11, 1944 DETLOF EMANUEL BERGGREN. FOREIGN PATENTS REFERENCES CITED m Number Country Date The following'references are of record in the 120,097 Austria June 15, 1930 file of this patent: 558,066 France May 16, 1923

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