Mobile X-Ray Examination Unit

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a mobile X-ray examination unit including a C-bend which carries an X-radiator and a radiation receiver at its ends and is displaceably seated on a carriage which includes a horizontally disposed boom, whereby the C-bend is adjustably guided in a support along its circumference.

2. Description of the Prior Art

X-ray examination units of this type allow a universal adjustment of the X-ray beam path in space and are employed for X-ray monitoring in the execution of operations. The C-bend thereby embraces the body part to be transilluminated.

An object of the invention is to fashion an X-ray examination unit of the type described above such that both a height adjustment as well as an adjustment of the C-bend along its circumference are enabled by means of a simple mechanism.

This object is achieved in accord with the invention in that the holder for the C-bend is arranged on the boom in height-displaceable fashion. A height adjustment of the C-bend with the X-radiator and the radiation receiver is thus possible by means of a simple height adjustment mechanism between the holder and the boom of the carriage. The height adjustment mechanism can be formed by a scissors rodding or linkage in a simple way.

An especially practical embodiment derives when the cables for the X-radiator and the radiation receiver are conducted in the C-bend, whereby a roll for the opposed winding and unwinding of the cables is provided in the holder. In this execution, cables laid in the open to the X-radiator and to the radiation receiver are eliminated.

The invention shall be set forth in greater detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. Thereby shown are:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an X-ray examination unit embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of the cable laying of the X-ray examination unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cable drum of FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 shows a C-bend 1 which carries an X-radiator 2 and an X-ray image intensifier 3 at its ends. During an X-ray examination, the patient lies between the X-radiator 2 and the X-ray image intensifier 3, i.e. the C-bend 1 thereby embraces the part of the patient's body to be examined. The C-bend 1 is adjustably seated at a holder 4 along its circumference, this holder 4 being connected to a boom 6 of a carriage 7 via a scissors rodding or linkage 5. The carriage 7 carries three wheels for moving the X-ray examination unit on the floor. One of these wheels is provided at the boom 6.

For the adjustment of the X-ray beam path, the C-bend 1 including the X-radiator 2 and the X-ray intensifier 3 is adjustable, first, over its circumference relative to the holder 4 and, second, is adjustable together with the holder 4 relative to the boom 6 and, thus, to the carriage 7, being adjustable in height. The scissors rodding 5 is thereby covered with an accordion sheath 8.

The cables to the X-radiator 2 and to the X-ray image intensifier 3 are conducted out of sight in the inside of the C-bend 1. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the essential elements of the cable guidance. The C-bend 1 is schematically shown in FIG. 2. The cable 11 leads to the X-ray image intensifier 3 and the cable 12 leads to the X-radiator 2. The cables 11, 12 are oppositely would onto a cable drum 13 which is only schematically shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows the cable drum 13 in greater detail. The cable drum 13 is mounted in the holder 4. As a consequence of the opposed cable winding, one of the cables 11, 12 unwinds from the cable drum 13 and the other is wound up when the C-bend 1 is adjusted relative to the holder 4. Cable loops thus do not occur in the inside of the unit. FIG. 2 shows that the cable drum 13 is covered toward the outside by a cover band 14 guided over rollers, this band 14 being secured to the C-bend 1.

As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. It should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.