US2595260A - Multiplane X-ray apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 6 1952 o. 3.v HoLLsTElN 2,595,260

, MULTIPLANE x-'RAY APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEY O. C. HOLL'STEIN MULTIPLANE X-RAY APPARATUS May 6, 1952 3 Sheets-Shea'v 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1949 fwo- ` ATTORNEY May 6, 1952 o. c. HoLLsTl-:IN 2,595,260

MULTIPLANE x-RAY APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1949 s sheets-sheet :s

INVENTOR. 05u/a IM/T2722 A TTORNEY Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED MULTIPLANE X-RAY APPARATUS Oswald C. Hollstein, Secaucus, N. J., assignor to F-R Machine Works, a firm Application February 5, 1949, Serial No. 74,753

This invention is directed to novel X-ray apparatus and parts thereof. In one of its more specific aspects the invention is directed to novel apparatus for multiplane iluoroscopy and parts thereof.

It is well known that fluoroscopy has become practically indispensable in fracture work and also in the bronchoscopic clinic. In about 1935 Dr. W. Edward Chamberlain proposed a multiplane fluoroscopic apparatus shown on page 391 of Radiology. volume 34, No. 4 (1942) and later proposed driving its iiuoroscopic crescent shaped staging about the center inside of the crescent. While that apparatus was very useful, it was not entirely satisfactory because of the following disadvantages inherent therein: (a) rotation of the iuoroscopic crescent staging about the vertical axis of the vertical support moves the uoroscopic screen horizontally and away from the area under examination and consequently a readjustment is necessary after each of such rotations, (b) the control for rotating the crescent side-wise was located behind the crescent and consequently, effecting any such movement required the operator to leave his normal viewing position and go to the rear of the crescent to actuate the control to attain this side-wise movement, (c) the operator, standing in the normal position in front of the crescent, usually could not move the entire unit along the ceiling tracks without disturbing the adjustment unless he rst went to the rear of the crescent and locked the crescent to the support to prevent rotation about the vertical axis. It was proposed by said Dr. Chamberlain to employ a motor to drive the entire assembly to effect linear motion of the assembly along the ceiling tracks.

The present invention was made to provide multiplane X-ray apparatus in which the aforesaid disadvantages in the main were eliminated and to provide other advantages. This was accomplished by the novel'combination of parts exemplified in the illustrative embodiment herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig 1 is a side view of an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of a partof the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, with a portion being cut away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view. with a. part cut away, of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a set of shutters and part of its operating mechanism.

18 Claims. (Cl. Z50-53) Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of another pair of shutters.

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the motor drive circuit.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the drum switch part of Fig. 6, and shows the switch turned to down position so that the crescent may be turned clockwise.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7, with the drum switch turned to the up position so that the crescent may be turned counter-clockwise.

As shown in the drawings, the illustrative embodiment of the invention is supported from the ceiling by a pair of horizontally disposed tracks I0 mounted for transverse movement on a pair of tracks 9 ixedly secured to the ceiling and located close thereto. The novel apparatus may be moved horizontally in one direction along said tracks ID on Wheels II, and also in a direction at to said first direction on wheels 8 running on tracks 9. Connected to said wheels II and depending vertically below the tracks I9 is a vertically disposed telescopic support I2 having an outer member or tubing I3 and an inner member or column support Ill, movable up into anddownwardly out of the tubing I3. A counterweight (not shown) may be located in tubing I3 and connected to the upper end of the column I4 of the telescopic support I2 to counter-balance the downward force exerted upon the column I4 by the weight of the column I4 itself and by the weight of the elements supported thereby and hereinafter described.

A goose neck support I5 is secured to the lower end of the vertically adjustable column I4 for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of column Iii as the center. The goose neck support I5 may be swung to any desired angular position over an arc of 360, and may be latched in the desired angular position by a latch band I6 associated with the goose neck I5 and the column Ill. A downwardly extending hollow support or housing Il is pivotally secured to and depends from the vertically disposed leg of the goose neck I5 by a pivot-pin I8 extending through the housing and into said leg at about the mid-length thereof. The ypivotal supporting pin or axis I 8 is horizontally disposed at approximately right angles to the column I4. The lower extremity of the vertical leg of the vgoose neck I5 is forked, and located in said fork is a nut I9 pivotally connected to the tines thereof.

Pivotally mounted in the housing I1 is a ball bearing support 20 carrying a threaded shaft 2| making threaded engagement with the nut I9 and having one end thereof extending through the housing I1, with a crank-handle 22 tied to that end of the shaft 2|. The crank-handle 22 is located below and approximately in line with the exposed end of the goose neck 5 so that it is within reach of the operator when standing in normal position at the front of the apparatus. By turning the crank-handle 22 either clockwise or counterclockwise, the support I1 together with the elements supported thereby may be swung about the pivot or axis I8 as much as 30 to either side of the vertical. The swinging about axis i3 and latching in any desired angular location is accomplished by rotation of the crank-handle 22 to rotate the shaft 2| acting through nut I9 to cause rotation about the pivot I8.

The housing i1 is open at the lower part thereoi, and mounted in said housing are a pluralityI of pairs of roller bearings or supporting guide rolls 25 spaced from each other. Located in the housing i1 is anA electric motor 23 having a worm 21 keyed to its motor drive shaft and meshing with a, driven gear 2,8, which together with a larger spur gear 29 is keyed to a shaft carried bythe housing I1.

An arcuate support or crescent 3G supported by the housing, I1v and has an arcuate rail guide 3| extending outwardly from each side thereof, and located between the, pairs of rollers 25 which guide the crescent 33 during its rotation about its center or imaginary or virtual horizontal axis A. Secured to the backside of the vertically disposed crescent 33 is a gear rack 32 meshing with thespur gea-rL 2.9.

The crescentA 381` may be a hollow closed mem er ber in the; nature oi a housing having a housing 33 at the lower end thereof and extending outwardly therefrom for supporting an X-ray tube 3 I. The lower-end of the crescent 3G is enlarged, and mounted therein are lead shutter plates 35, 35 31- a-nd 33 for limiting the size and controlling the shape of; the X-ray eld on a iiuoroscopic screen 4i); The shutter plates 35 and 38 are slideably mounted on support bar 4! and are guided by a channel support 42. A pair of shutter plate control cables 43 and 44 are connected respectively at their lower ends to the shutters 35- and 3S. The shutter plate 35 is connected directly to the cable 43 through a rod G5 anchored tothe lower end of the cable 43 and to shutter plate 35. The shutter plate 36 is connected to the cable 44 through a rod L25 having one end thereof connected to cable 44 and its other end pivotally connected to one end of a link 41 pivotaily mounted on a stationary postJ 48, andl a link 49 having one end pivotally connected to the shutter plate 36 and its other end pivotally connected to the other end of the link 41.

A stationary shaft 50 is mounted in the upper end of the crescent 3U, and has pivotally mounted thereon four independently actuable bell crank-levers 5i, each having respectively inner arms 53 and outer arms5j4 with the latter extending outwardly forwardly towards the mouth side of the crescent 30.. The upper ends of the cables 43 and 44. are respectively connected to the inner arms 53 of separate bell-cranks 5|, so that the shutter plates are independently adjustable towards and away from one another.

The other pair of lead shutter plates 31 and 38 are disposedat rightA angles to the plates 35 and 36 and are also slideably mounted on a support rod 51 and are guided by aI channel support 58. One end of shutter cable is pivotally connected to one corner of a triangular link plate 6I whose opposite corner has a slot 52 and is mounted at its apex in a stationary pivot post 63. The slot 62 engages a pin 64. Pin 64 is mounted to shutter plate 31. The shutter plate 38 has an identical linkage connection 56 except that it is connected in a left hand manner and is connected to cable 68. These other ends of these shutter cables 60 and 68; are also connected to separate bell cranks 5I. With this arrangement, it is possible for the operator to adjust each of the four shutter plates independently and with dispatch, because each lead shutter plate has its own control lever near the luoroscopic screen. This arrangement permits coning of the X-ray beam d'own to any one of the four corners of the screen. With the conventional design the X-rays can be coned down only to areas whose centers coincide with the center of the uoroscopic screen. Coning down to one corner permits uoroscopy in close corners, as for example, when fluoroscoping thev femoral neck. In this case the fluoroscopic screen and the shutters can beA adjusted to any desired shape withoutv beingA limited to a eld around the center of thel iuoroscopic screen. Also, when used inthe bronchoscopic field,l the bottom edge of the screen frame can touch the table top alongside of thel patient and the fluoroscopic screen sizes: can be freely adjusted without the inherent limitations of a conventional shutter. The: four control levers 5| may be arrangedV in pairs, with one. pair controlling the longitudinal and the other pair the transverse adjustment of shutters. At those times where it is found desirable to operate the shutters in the conventional manner, each pair of controls 5I may be gripped by the operator and actuated as a unit.

An open frame 1i) i-s secured to the upper end of the crescent 30. Mounted on the frame 1|) through a pivot rod 1| at theV forward end thereof is the fluoroscopio screen 46. The space` in the frame 10 is provided to permit the insertion of an X-ray lm cassette 13 and grid 14 to allow the taking of radiographic records during operation.

A spring assemb1y-15 is mounted in the4 housing I1 and a stretch of the spring tape 16 passes under a guide roller 11 out through the housing I1 along the side of gear track 32 and isanchored to the crescent near the lower part thereof in bearing 18. The spring 15 constantly acts upon the crescent 30 and tends to rotate it counter clockwise about its center which is approximately coincident with the vertical axis of theI column I4, which also is the axis of rotation of the gooseneck I5.

While the force exerted by spring 15 on the crescent 30 is insuicient in itself to cause rota,- tion of the crescent 3U, it serves to aid the motor 26 in driving the crescent. 30 in that it, prevents too fast a rotation of the crescent 30 in a clockwise direction and acts to speed the-rotation ofcrescent 30 in a counter-clockwise direction. When the motor is energized to drive the crescent 30 clockwise, the worm 21 acting through the gear 28 drives the spur gear 29, which in turn acting on the rack 32 drives the crescentY 33. In this operation the spring 15 acts in conjunction with the motor 26 to drive the crescent 39. When the motor is energized to drive the crescent 30 in a clockwise direction, the motor drive acts against the force exertedby the spring 15.Y

Mounted in the crescent 30; atV the upper end thereof andnear the frame 1I)Y is a drum switch 80 having a rotatable handle 8| which is' located just behind and adjacent to the iiuoroscopic screen 40 when the screen is in operative position. The drum switch 80 has contacts 82, 83, 84, 85 and 86. Conductor 81 has one end thereof connected to a terminal or junction plate 88 mounted in the lower part of the crescent 30 and its other end connected to a fuse 89, all being located in the crescent 30. The other end of the fuse 89 is connected to a conductor 90 which is also connected to the contact 82. Also connected to the contact 82 is one end of a conductor 9|, whose other end is connected to one terminal of anormally closed limit switch 92 including a lever 93 having a roller 94 at one end thereof.

A- conductor 95 has one end thereof connected to the other terminal of the switch 92 and its other end connected to one end of a variable resistance 96, whose other end is connected to a variable resistance 98 connected to the contact 83 through a conductor 99. Shunted across the variable resistance 98 is a mercury switch 0| disposed vertically in crescent 30 and being in closed position when the crescent support is in the position shown in Fig. 3. A conductor |02, which together with the conductor 81, constitutes the motor supply line and is connected to a variable resistance |03, which is connected to the contact 86. A conductor |04 is connected to the cond-uctor |02 and to a terminal of a normally open switch |05. Another conductor |06 is connected to the contact 86 and to the other terminal of the switch |85.

When the switch |05 is open the resistance |03 is in the motor circuit as hereinafter described, however, when the switch |05 is closed the resistor 03' is out of that circuit, thus providing a means for controlling the speed of the motor 26. The

switch 05 is also mounted in the crescent 30 near the frame 10, and extending therefrom and located adjacent to the actuator 8| is a linger trigger 91 for actuating the switch |05. A conductor |08 is connected to one end of the field winding |01 of the motor 26 and has a pair of contact lingers |09 and ||0 connected thereto. Connected to the other end of the winding |01 is a conductor ||2 having a pair of contact lingers ||4 and ||5 connected thereto. A conductor ||6 is connected to the armature |1 of the motor and also to the contact 84. Conductor I9 is connected to the armature ||1 and to a contact finger |20.

A conductor |2| has one end thereof connected to the contact 84 and its other end connected to a normally closed limit switch |22 located in the lower part of the crescent 30 and including a lever |29 having a roller at the end thereof. A conductor |23 is connected to the other terminal of said limit switch |22 and also to a variable resistance |24, which in turn is connected to the contact 85 by a conductor |26. Shunted across the variable resistance |24 is a mercury switch |28 disposed horizontally in crescent 30 and being in open position when the crescent 30 is in a position as shown in Fig. 3. v

'The cable |30 carries conductors 81 and |02, which terminate in a plug (not shown), which may be inserted in a femal plug in the celing and generally carry 110 or 220 volts. Also carried by the cable 30 are additional conductors for remotely controlling the X-ray generator with pushbuttons near the luoroscopic screen.

A pair of cables 3| are high tension cables for energizing for the-X-ray tube 34 mounted to housing 33. Another cable |32 carries the conductors from the drum switch to the motor 26. All of these cables extend along the outside of the' crescent 30.

The operation is as follows:

With the embodiment of the invention depending from the ceiling as shown in Fig. 1, a patient is placed on a table (not shown) whose top normally extends in the space between the frame 10 and the Alower part of the crescent 30. The assembly may be moved up or down in the outer tubular part |3 of the telescopic member |2 at any time to adjust the vertical position thereof. With the crescent 30 disposed in the f-ull line position shown in Fig. 1, it is possible for the 0perator, who normally stands in front of the open end. of the crescent, to look down upon the fluoroscopic screen 40, because the supporting housing |1 together with the crescent are off-set with respect to the column |4 by virtue of the gooseneck I5. When it is desired to rotate the crescent in a counter-clockwise direction, the operator may, without changing his position, reach up over the screen 40 and turn the handle 8| to actuate the dead man controlled drum switch so that the connections are changed from those shown in Fig. 6 to those shown in Fig. 8; and this position is maintained as long as the operator manually holds the actuating handle 8| in that new position. The motor is thus energized to drive the worm 21, spur gear 29 which in turn drives the crescent by its action upon the gear rack 32. While this condition is maintained the crescent moves quite slowly in a counter clockwise direction due to the resistance |03 being in the motor circuit.

If it is desired to speed up the drive of the crescent, the operator, while still maintaining the handle 8| in new position, moves one of his fingers over to the upper part of the trigger finger 91 and rocks it and maintains it in rocked position in order to close and maintain closed the normally open switch |05, whereby the resistance |03 is cut out of the motor circuit. Then as the crescent approaches the desired position, the operator removes his nger from the trigger 91 while maintaining the actuator 8| in new position, and the crescent again resumes its slower speed. When the crescent reaches the approximate desired position the operator lets go of the actuator 8|, which automatically turns to move the drum switch to the open position shown in Fig. 6.

To rotate the screen in a clockwise direction the same procedure as before is followed, except that the actuator 8| is turned in the opposite direction to provide the connections shown in Fig. '7. If for some reason the operator neglects to remove his hand from the actuator 8| and the crescent reaches its limit to travel in either direction, then the normally closed switches 92 or |22 are actuated by the housing |1 which strikes an element thereof to open them.

The travel of the crescent 30 is further controlled, and in this instance automatically, by virtue of the mercury switches |0| and |28, which come into operation when the crescent approaches either limit of travel. When the crescent approaches its limit of travel in a counterclockwise direction, the mercury in switch |0| flows to break the connection between its contacts continues thereby cutting in resistance 98 to reduceY the speed of the motor 26. When the travel of the crescent 30 is in the opposite direction and .it approaches. its limit, the switches are in the positions shown in Fig, 6. In the course of travel of the crescent 30 between about these extreme positions, connection is maintained by the mercury between the contacts Vof switches lill and |28 and itis only after the luoroscopic screen passes the horizontal and its vertical positions that the connection is broken in either of these switches to bring either the resistance 98 or V24 in the circuit. These variable resistors 8B or I2-i may be kso set that the Vsum of the resistance -of either one of them and that of the resistor H33 may be such that the motor 2B may be rendered inoperable and, therefore, stopped and may be set to control the speed of the motor 2S. The mercury switches, therefore, act ,as automatic vertical and horizontal stops. If it is desired that the screen go past either the hori zontal or vertical position. then the trigger nger Sl may be actuated to thereby cut out the resistance |03 and the crescent will move at a slower speed to the desired or iinal end position, at which point the limit switch 92 or 122 will be automatically opened to prevent any further travel of the crescent 30. By providing these various controls, the crescent 30 may be rotated at variable speeds about an imaginary horizontal axis which :is located close to and preferably intersected by the vertical or longitudinal axis of the column It, which is approximately at right angles thereto.

The X-ray tube in the housing 33 is located in line with the shutter plates and the iiuoroscopic screen 4u, with the vertical Vaxis of the column lll passing approximately through the centers of said screen, shutters and target of the X-ray tube, when the screen is located in the horizontal position as shown in full lines vin Fig. 1. The off-setting of the housing l] by means of the goose-neck l5 not only permits viewing of :screen 4t, but serves the significant and equally important purpose of permitting the vertical axis of rotation of the crescent 30 to intersect and to be disposed at 90 to the horizontal axis of rotation of the crescent 30. This arrangement permits viewing of a particular area by Apassage .of

the X-ray beam at any angle over a vertical arc of 126 and also at any angle over a horizontal arc of 360, the limitation being only the body acted upon.

Besides being able to rotate the crescent about its vertical axis through column I4, and about its horizontal axis, it is also possible to rotate the screen by turning the crank 22 to swing the crescent about the pivot i8.

I claim:

l. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending vertical support, a crescent support for an X-ray tube and fluoroscopic screen and means connecting said crescent support with said vertical support for rotation 4of said crescent about a virtual horizontal axis passing through the space within the periphery of said crescent, and for rotation about said support whose axis when extended downwardly is at about right angles to and approximately intersects said virtual horizontal axis.

2. A multiplane X-ray ,apparatus ,comprising ya normally depending telescopic vertical support, ,a crescent support for an jX-ray tube and `fluoroscopic screen and means connecting said crescent support with said vertical support for 'rotation of said crescent about a virtual horizontal axis passing through the space 'within the periphery of said crescent, and for rotation about said support whose axis when extended downwardly is at 8 about right angles to and approximately inter.- Sects said virtual horizontal axis.

3.. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending vertical support, a crescent support for an X-ray tube and iiuoroscopic screen and means including an approximately horizontally disposed pivot and connecting said c1165- cent support with said vertical support for rotation of said crescent about a virtual horizontal axis passing through the space within Athe periphery of said crescent, for rotation about Said support whose axis when extended downwardly is 4 at about right angles to and approximately intersects said virtual horizontal axis and for rotation of said crescent about said pivot whose ,axis is at about right angles to the axis of said vertical support and to said virtual horizontal axis and is located above said crescent.

ll. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending vertical support, a crescent support for an X-ray tube and iiuoroscopic screen, means connecting said crescent support with said vertical support ior rotation o said crescent about a virtual horizontal axis passing through the space 'within the periphery of said crescent, and for rotation about said support whose axis when extended downwardly is at about right angles to and approximately intersects said virtual horizontal axis, and means for rotating said crescent about said virutal horizontal axis, said second mentioned means supported by said first mentioned means.

5. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending vertical support, a crescent support for an X-ray tube and uoroscopic screen, means connecting said crescent support with said vertical support for rotation of said crescent about a virtual horizontal axis passing through the space within the periphery of said crescent, and for rotation about said support whose axis when `extended downwardly is at about right angles to and approximately intersects said virtual horizontal axis, a motor for rotating said crescent about said virtual horizontal axis, and means for controlling said motor thereby to lvary the speed of rotation of said crescent, said second mentioned means supported by ysaid irst mentioned means.

6. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally Ydepending vertical support, a crescent support for an X-ray tube and fluoroscopic screen, means connecting said crescent support with said Vertical support for rotation of said crescent about a virtual horizontal axis passing through the space within the periphery of said crescent, .and for rotation about said support whose axis when extended downwardly is at about right angles to and approximately intersects said virtual horizontal axis, a motor for rotating said crescent about said virtual horizontal axis, means for controlling said motor thereby to vary the speed of rotation of said crescent, said second mentioned means supported by said first mentioned means, and a spring connected to said crescent and normally tending to rotate said crescent in one direction and aiding Said motor when said motor drives said crescent in said direction, and acting against the action of said motor when said motor drives said crescent in the opposite direction.

7. lA multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending vertical support, a crescent support for an X-ray tube and iluoroscopic screen, means connecting said crescent support with said 75 vertical support for rotation of said crescent about a virtual horizontal axis passing through the space within the periphery of said crescent, and for rotation about said support whose axis when extended downwardly is at about right angles to and approximately intersects said virtual horizontal axis, a motor for rotating said crescent about said virtual horizontal axis, and means including manually actuable means for controllingr said motor thereby to vary the speed of rotation of said crescent, said second mentioned means supported by saidv irst mentioned means, and said manually actuable means carried by said crescent at the screen supporting end thereof.

8. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending vertical support, a crescent support for an X-ray tube and fluorosoopic screen, means lconnecting said crescent support with said vertical support for rotation of said crescent about a Virtual horizontal axis passing through the space within the periphery of said crescent, and for rotation about said support whose axis when extended downwardly is fat about right angles to and approximately intersects said virtual horizontal axis, a motor for rotating said crescent about said virtual horizontal axis, means for controlling said motor thereby to vary the speed of rotation of said crescent, said second mentioned means supported by said rst mentioned means, and automatically operable crescent travel-limit switches for deenergizing said motor.

9. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending vertical support, a crescent support for an X-ray tube and fiuoroscopic screen, means connecting said crescent support with said Vertical support for rotation of said crescent about a virtual horizontal axis passing through the space within the periphery of said crescent, and for rotation about said support whose axis when extended downwardly is at about right angles to and approximately intersects said virtual `horizontal axis, a plurality of shutter plates carried by said crescent at the X- ray tube supporting end thereof, means extending along the arc of said crescent and connected to said shutter plates, and actuable means con'- nected to said second mentioned means for actuating said plates and located at the screen supporting end of said crescent support.

10. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending vertical support, a crescent support for an X-ray tube and fiuoroscopic screen, means connecting said crescent support with said vertical support for rotation of said crescent about a virtual horizontal axis passing through the space within the periphery of said crescent, and for rotation about said support whose axis when extended downwardly is at about right angles to and approximately intersects said virtual horizontal axis, a motor for rotating said -crescent about said virtual horizontal axis, means including manually actuable means for controlling said motor thereby to vary the speed of rotation of said crescent, said second mentioned means supported by said rst mentioned means, and said manually actuable means carried by said crescent at the screen supporting end thereof, a plurality of shutter plates carried by said crescent at the X-ray tube supporting end thereof, means extending along the arc of said crescent and connected to said plates and manually actuable means connected to said last mentioned means for actuating said plates and located lat the screen supporting end of said crescent.

11. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending vertical support, a crescent support for an X-ray tube and fluoroscopic screen, means connecting said crescent support with said vertical support for rotation of said crescent about a virtual horizontal axis passing through the space within the periphery of said crescent, and for rotation about said support whose axis when extended downwardly is at about right angles to and approximately intersectsl said virtual horizontal axis, a motor for rotating said crescent about said virtual horizontal axis, said crescent including a cassette receiving and-screen supporting frame at one end thereof, and means including manually actuable means for controlling said motor thereby to vary the speed of rotation of said crescent, said second mentioned means supported by said rst mentioned means, and said manually actuable means carried by said crescent at the screen supporting end thereof, and located near one end of said frame. l2'. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending vertical support, goosenecl; support, a crescent support for an X-ray 'tube and fluoroscopic screen and means connecting said crescent support with one leg of said goose-neck support for rotation of said crescent abouta virtual horizontal axis passing through the space vWithin the periphery of said crescent, said goose-neck pivotally connected to said vertical support for rotation about said vertical support whose axis when extended downwardly is at about right angles to and approximately intersects said virtual horizontal axis.

13. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending telescopic vertical support, a goose-neck support, a crescent support for an X-ray tube and iiuoroscopic screen, means connecting said crescent support with one leg of said' goose-neck, said crescent being rotatable about a virtual horizontal axis passing through the space Within the periphery of said crescent, said goose-neck being pivotally connected to said means, and said goose-neck pivotally connected to said vertical support for rotation about said vertical support whose axis when extended downwardly is at about right angles to and approximately intersects said virtual horizontal axis.

14. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending Vertical support, a gooseneck support and a crescent support for an X-ray tube and fluoroscopic screen, means connected to said crescent support with said goose-neck support for rotation of said crescent about a virtual horizontal axis passing through the space within the periphery of said crescent, an approximately horizontally disposed pivot connecting said means with one leg of said goose-neck, said Vertical support pivotally connected to the other leg of said goose-neck, for rotation about said Vertical support whose axis when extended downwardly is at about right angles to and approximately intersects said Virutal horizontal axis, the axis of said pivot being at about right angles to the axis of said Vertical support and to said virtual horizontal axis, being located above said crescent.

15. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending vertical support, a gooseneck support and a crescent support for an X-ral tube and fluoroscopic screen, means connected to said crescent support with said goose-neck support for rotation of said crescent about a virtual horizontal axis passing through' the space within atadas@ the periphery of said crescent, an approximately horizontally disposed pivot connecting` said means with one leg of said goose-neck, said vertical support pivotally connected to the other leg of said goose-neck, for rotation about said vertical support whose axis when extended downwardly is at about right angles to and approximately intersects said Virtual horizontal axis, the axis of said pivot being at about right angles to the axis of said vertical support and to said virtual horizontal axis, being located above said crescent, and means for swinging said rst mentioned means about said pivot.

16. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending supportJ` a goose-neck s upport, a crescent support for an X-.ray tube and luoroscopic screen, one leg of` said goose-neck being normally disposed approximately horizontally and being connected thereto for rotation in an approximately horizontal plane, means, connected to said crescent support and said crescent support being rotatable about a virtual horizontal axis within the periphery thereo, an approximately horizontally disposed pivot connecting said means to the normally approximately vertige cally disposed leg or said goose-neck, the axisA of said normally depending support being at about right angles to and when extended downwardly approximately intersects said virtual. horizontal axis, the axis ci said pivot being at righi-,angles to said Virtual horizontal axis and located above the crescent.

17. A multiplane X-ray apparatus comprising a normally depending support, a goose-neck support, a crescent support for an X-ray tube and fluoroscopic screen, one leg of said goose-neck being normally disposed approximately horizontally and being connected thereto for rotation in an approximately horizontal plane, means connected to said crescent support and said crescent support being rotatable about a virtual horizontal axis within the periphery thereof, an approximately horizontally disposed pivot connectingA said means to the normally approximately vertically disposed leg of said goose-neck,l the axis of said normally depending support being at about right angles to and when extended downwardly approximately intersects said virtual horizontal axis, the axis of said pivot being at right angles to said virtual horizontal axis and located, aboveithecrescent, a nut pivotally carried by said approximately vertically disposed leg of said, goose-neck and an actuable threaded shaft mately horizontally disposedl pivot connecting Said means. to the normally approximately Vertically disposed leg of said goose-neck, the axis of said. normally depending support beine at about rigbtarleles toV and when extended downwardly approximately intersects said Virtual horizontal aids, theaxis, of said pivot being at right angles to said virtual horizontal axis and located above the, crescenta nutA pivotally carried by said approximately vertically disposed leg of said goose-neck at a position below the vertical level of. said pivot, and an actuable threaded shaft cooperating with said nut and said means for swinging said means about said pivot.

OSWALD C. HOLLSTEIN.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,599,696 Wentz Sept. 14, 1926 2,476,776 SmathersV July 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 418,214 Germany Sept. 4, 1925

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