Support Structure for X-Ray Imaging Apparatus

This invention relates to a support construction for an X-ray imaging apparatus including an X-ray tube and an image intensifier respectively mounted on opposite ends of a C-arm structure (or the like) and, more particularly, relates to a vascular system for effecting movement of the C-arm structure (or the like) lengthwise and around a patient-table.

The use of an X-ray imaging apparatus including an X-ray tube and an image intensifier mounted on a C-arm structure or the like in general diagnostic procedures as well as in dedicated cardiac and/or vascular procedures is well known. However, improvements in various support constructions for effecting needed movement of the C-arm structure or the like are deemed to be useful in many applications. In particular now well known X-ray apparatus fails to provide adequate imaging coverage of a patient and does not permit examination from the patient's head side.

This invention provides a construction and a device, a combination of, for effecting a movement of a C-arm structure or the like having an X-ray source and an X-ray receptor mounted thereon, which movement is lengthwise and around a patient table.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a support construction for supporting the C-arm structure or the like to be moveable lengthwise and around the patient table.

It is another object of this invention to provide an X-ray imaging apparatus which provides complete imaging coverage of a patient.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an X-ray imaging apparatus which apparatus allows for a bi-plane examinations.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a presently preferred embodiment of the invention according to the mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a C-arm X-ray imaging system mounted on a vertically extending support which support is supported from a ceiling by an overhanging arm following a guide rail and rests on a base moveable following the support rail disposed lengthwise, adjacent to and around a patient-table.

FIG. 2 illustrates the base and a drive means for the base in some detail.

FIG. 3 is a cross section through a line A--A of FIG. 2 to illustrate the support rail and a device for covering same.

FIG. 4 illustrates the overhanging arm.

Shown in FIG. 1 is an X-ray imaging apparatus comprising an arc structure 4 supporting an X-ray tube 5 and an image intensifier 6 with a film changer 7 respectively disposed on two opposite extremities of thereof, wherein the arc structure 4 is secured to an arm member 3 which member is mounted on a sliding member 2 wherein the sliding member 2 is mounted on a vertically extending support structure 1 in a slideable relationship therebetween. The vertically extending structure 1 is secured to a base 8 moveable following a support rail 9 disposed lengthwise adjacent to and around a patient-table (not shown) and has an overhanging member 12 secured to an upper extremity thereof and pivotably supported at an overhanging extremity which extremity is slideable along a guide rail 14 disposed above the support rails 9 and retained by retainer means 13 while the overhanging member 12 pivots around the patient table. This overhanging member is curved on a plane generally perpendicular to a plane including said support rail.

The base 8 comprises a first member 10 extending horizontally in a direction generally perpendicular to the support rails 14 and secured to said vertically extending support and a pair of second members 11 respectively extending from the first member 10 in direction generally parallel to said support rails.

As shown in FIG. 2 an extremity of each of the pair of second members 11 includes a roller 15 following the support rail 9 and said extremity is pivotably connected to a section secured to the first member 10 by means of a pin 16 and pivoting relative to this section in a range limited by means of a groove and a pin arrangement 17 to a small angle allowing the movement of the roller 15 around the patient-table (not shown).

A means for indicating a position of the apparatus relative to the support rails 9 are disposed in the base 8 and comprises: a vertically extending axle 18, a rotating means 19 whereby the rotating means rotates the axle 18 while the base is being displaced and a sensing means 20 for sensing said rotation movement.

A drive means 21 for the base 8 includes a motor 22 with a worm gear reducer 23 which means imparts driving motion to the roller 15 by means of a sprocket and chain arrangement 24. However, it is alternatively possible to connect the axle 20 with a drive imparting means (such as an electric motor with a reducer) whereby eliminating a need for the drive means 21 and the roller 15.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 the support rail 9 comprises a pair of elongated rail members 25, each of which includes a wire member 26 disposed on a rolling surface therein, and a horizontal plate 27 connecting the elongated rail members 25 by means of adhesive and forming a groove. To prevent the roller 15 from separating from the rail support 9 the roller has a tapered rim and also the rail support includes a flange 28 slideably engaged by a retainer member 29 affixed to the base 8.

FIG. 3 also shows a covering means 30 for protecting the rail support from dust, which covering means includes a pair of flexible elongated members 31 respectively attached at one end to the support rail 9 on the opposite sides of its groove, wherein overhanging ends of said pair of the elongated members includes means removeably coupling the overhanging ends with one another, whereby the covering means becomes open by the roller 15 by means of opening members 32 and closes in regions away from the roller 15 by means of a closing member 33.

As shown in FIG. 4 the retainer means 13 comprises a pair of balls 34, each of which is respectively disposed in an opening 35 extending across side walls 36 of the rail guide 14 allowing a bearing 37 mounted on the overhanging extremity 12 to slide to an end of the rail guide 14, a pair of pivoting members 38 pivotably mounted on said rail guide and pivoting around pivoting axis P, and further connected to a weight member 39 whereby this weight member is lifted by pivotal action of the overhanging 12 causing the pivoting members 38 to extend inward presses on the balls 34 and hence prevent the bearing 37 from sliding along the rail guide while allowing said pivotal movement.