| JP10099313 | MEDICAL X-RAY SYSTEM |
| JP05257258 | SHEET DIRECTION CHANGING DEVICE |
| JP2903279 | CASSETTE |
REEVES, Mark (235 Campbell Road, Oxford OX4 3NS, GB)
| Claims 1. A support for a radiographic imaging plate, the support including at least one stand for holding the plate, the stand having a magnet fixed on a lower surface of the stand, the magnet for releasably securing the stand to a base, the stand having a lever moveable between a first position and a second position, the lever for moving the stand between a first position in which the magnet is in contact with the base and a second position in which the stand is raised from the base causing the magnetic attractive force between the stand and the base to weaken. 2. The support of claim 1 wherein the lever has a first end for selectively engaging the base and a second end operable to move the first end, the lever being supported by a pivot mounted on the stand, 3. The support of claim 2 wherein the pivot is arranged between the first end and second end of the lever. 4. The support of claim 1 , 2 or 3 wherein the lever remains inboard of the stand when the lever is in its first position. 5. The support of claim 3 or 4 wherein the first end moves in an arc upon operation of the second end to permit the first end to extend below the lower surface of the stand so as to raise the stand away from the base. 6. The support of claim 5 wherein the lever rotates through an arc of 12.5 to 17.5 degrees in moving between the first and second positions, preferably 15 degrees. 7. The support of claim 5 or 6 wherein the first end of the lever extends beyond the lower surface of the stand by up to 5 mm, preferably 3mm when the lever is in its second position. 8. The support of any of claims 2 to 7 when dependent on claim 2 wherein the pivot is positioned between 50 and 70 mm from the first end, preferably 60mm. 9. The support of claim 2 wherein the first end of the lever rests against an inner surface of the stand when the lever is in the first position. 10. The support of claim 2 wherein the second end of the lever rests against an inner surface of the stand when the lever is in the second position. 11. The support of any preceding claim wherein the lever is between 100 and 200 mm in length, preferably 120mm. 12. The support of any preceding claim wherein the lever moves to an over centre position in moving from the first to the second position. 13. The support of claim 1 wherein the lever has a first end for selectively engaging a drive mechanism to, in use, raise the stand from the base, and a second end operable to move the first end, the lever being supported by a pivot mounted on the stand. 14. The support of claim 13 wherein the pivot is arranged between the first end and second end of the lever. 15. The support of claim 14 wherein the drive mechanism includes a drive pin having a first end for engaging the first end of the lever and a second end for engaging the base. 16. The support of claim 15 wherein the drive pin includes a foot plate at its second end, the foot plate for engaging the base. 17. The support of claim 13 wherein the drive mechanism includes a housing which retains a piston moveable to raise the stand from the base, the piston having a upper surface defining a ramp portion, the mechanism further including a ball bearing which engages the ramp portion and the first end of the lever such that the ball bearing acts on the ramp portion to move the piston to raise the stand from the base when the lever is moved to its second position. 18. The support of any preceding claim wherein the raising of the stand away from the base weakens the magnetic attraction between the stand and the base allowing the stand to be easily moved relative to the base. 19. The support of any preceding claim wherein the support has two stands interconnected by a brace. |
The present invention relates to a support for radiography image plates and in particular, but not exclusively, to a support for holding image plates for medical imagery devices, such as x-ray machines.
The use of radiography to generate images of the internal structure of an object is widespread and perhaps most prevalent in the medical industry. X-ray images are used to provide medics with an image of patients' skeletal and muscular structures. The x-ray machine generates an x- ray beam which passes through the body at contrasting rates of absorption. This contrast is captured by an image plate positioned on the opposite side of the body to the machine. The imaging plate is held in place by a support and the accurate and stable positioning of the support is critical to successful image generation. Certain prior art supports suffer from the disadvantages that they are insufficiently stable to guarantee blur-free radiographic recording, or are very large and intrusive structures to use and store, or are over-complicated in use. Supports typically used for lateral Xray recording in resuscitation environments are heavy and cumbersome to move, take up space around an intensive care bed or stretcher equivalent to at least one person, and also occupy the same large space while not in use.
It is known to provide a support which has a magnetic base for attaching to a metallic base. Whilst this solves the problem of stability it can make the base difficult to move relative to the base as a result of the strength of the magnet. Prior art attempts to solve this problem have only been partially successful and technically complex.
It is an object of this invention is to provide a support for medical image media which at least mitigates some of the above problems. According to the invention there is provided a support for a radiographic imaging plate, the support including at least one stand for holding the plate, the stand having a magnet fixed on a lower surface of the stand, the magnet for releasably securing the stand to a base, the stand having a lever moveable between a first position and a second position, the lever for moving the stand between a first position in which the magnet is in contact with the base and a second position in which the stand is raised from the base causing the magnetic attractive force between the stand and the base to weaken.
Advantageously the provision of a lever allows the device to apply mechanical advantage to the force applied to the lever by the hand of the user. Thus, a moderate force applied to the lever by the user is sufficient to overcome the significant attractive force between the stand and the base. Preferably the lever has a first end for selectively engaging the base, a second end operable to move the first end and a pivot mounted on the stand.
Preferably the pivot is located between the first end and second end of the lever. Preferably the lever remains inboard of the stand when the lever is in its first position.
Preferably the first end of the lever moves in an arc upon operation of the second end to permit the first end to extend below the lower surface of the stand so as to raise the stand away from the base.
Preferably the lever rotates through an arc of 12.5 to 17.5 degrees in moving between the first and second positions.
Preferably the first end of the lever extends beyond the lower surface of the stand by up to 5 mm, preferably 3 mm when the lever is in its second position.
Preferably the pivot is positioned between 50 and 70 mm from the first end.
Preferably the first end of the lever rests against an inner surface of the stand when the lever is in the first position.
Preferably the second end of the lever rests against an inner surface of the stand when the lever is in the second position.
Preferably the lever is between 100 and 200 mm in length. Preferably the lever moves to an over centre position in moving from the first to the second position.
Alternatively, the lever has a first end for selectively engaging a drive mechanism to, in use, raise the stand from the base, and a second end operable to move the first end, the lever being supported by a pivot mounted on the stand.
Preferably the pivot is arranged between the first end and second end of the lever.
Preferably the drive mechanism includes a drive pin having a first end for engaging the first end of the lever and a second end for engaging the base.
Preferably the drive pin includes a foot plate at its second end, the foot plate for engaging the base. Alternatively, the drive mechanism includes a housing which retains a piston moveable to raise the stand from the base, the piston having a upper surface defining a ramp portion, the mechanism further including a ball bearing which engages the ramp portion and the first end of the lever such that the ball bearing acts on the ramp portion to move the piston to raise the stand from the base when the lever is moved to its second position.
Preferably the raising of the stand away from the base weakens the magnetic attraction between the stand and the base allowing the stand to be easily moved relative to the base.
Preferably the support has two stands interconnected by a brace.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the imaging plate support according to the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of a stand of the support of Fig 1 with the stand in its first position;
FIGURE 3 is a sectioned side view of the stand of Fig 2 with the stand in its first position;
FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a stand of the support of Fig 1 with the stand in its second position;
FIGURE 5 is a sectioned side view of the stand of Fig 4 with the stand in its second position;
FIGURE 6 is a sectioned side view of an alternative embodiment of the stand of the imaging plate support of Figure 1 with the stand shown in its first position;
FIGURE 7 is a sectioned side view of the stand of Figure 6 with the stand shown in its second position; FIGURE 8 is a sectioned side view of a further alternative embodiment of the stand of the imaging plate support of Figure 1 with the stand shown in its first position; and
FIGURE 9 is a sectioned side view of the stand of Figure 8 with the stand shown in its second position.
Referring to Figure 1 a support 10 is shown having a first stand 12 and a second stand 14 which are substantially identical. The first and second stand 12, 14 are connected by a brace 16. The first stand 12, second stand 14 and the brace 16 have a channel indicated generally at 18 for receiving a radiography image plate (not shown for clarity).
Each of the stands 12, 14 has an upstanding body section 20 and an angled foot section 22. The body section 20 carries a lever 24 of approximately 120mm in length within a cavity 25. The cavity 25 having an inner surface defined in part by a rear wall 27. The lever has a first, lower end 26 shown only in Figure 2 to 5 and a second, upper end 28. The upper end 28 is operable by the user to actuate the lower end 26 as will be described in further detail shortly. Turning now to Figures 2 and 4, a lower surface 30 of the foot section 22 of the stand 12, 14 carries magnets 32 for engaging a flat base (not shown for clarity).
The lever 24 is supported on the stand 12, 14 by a pivot in the form of a pin 34 which is inserted through the body section 20 of the stand 12, 14 and the lever 24 to allow the rotation of the lever 24 relative to the stand 12, 14. The pin 34 is located approximately 60mm from the first end of the lever 24.
In Figures 2 and 3, the lever 24, and thereby also the stand 12, 14, is in its first position in which the magnets 32 are in contact with the base resulting in a strong magnetic attraction between the stand 12, 14 and the base. With the stand 12, 14 in this position the support is fixed in position relative to the base. The lower end 26 of the lever 24 rests against the rear wall 27 of the cavity 25 when the lever is in its first position, as shown in Figure 3.
In Figures 4 and 5, the lever 24, and thereby also the stand 12, 14, is in its second position in which the magnets 32 are no longer in contact with the base since the lower end 26 of the lever 24 is positioned below the lower surface 30 of the stand 12, 14. In this position the stand 12, 14 is raised away from the base. With the stand 12, 14 in this position the support 10 can be easily moved relative to the base. The upper end 28 of the lever 24 rests against the rear wall 27 of the cavity 25 with the lever in its second position as shown in Figure 5.
In use with the support 10 fixed in position on the base and with the stands 12, 14 in their first position as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the user grips the upper ends 28 of the of the levers 24 and squeezes the upper ends 28 of the levers towards the body section 20. This causes the levers 24 to rotate about the pins 34 causing the lower end 26 of the levers 24 to move in an arc of approximately 15 degrees. This causes the end 26 of the levers 24 to extend below the lower surface 30 of the stands 12, 14 by approximately 3mm so as to raise the stand away from the base by 3mm. Since this distance is considerably less than the distance the upper end 28 of the levers 24 moves upon operation by the user, the load applied by the user is magnified by mechanical advantage over this short distance of 3mm. This allows the stands to be easily moved for considerably less load than would be required in the absence of the levers 24. Referring now to Figure 6, a stand 1 12 is provided as an alternative to the stands 12, 14 of Figure 1. The stand 112 has a different exterior profile and operating mechanism to the stand of Figure 1 but, like the stands 12, 14 acts to raise the stand 112 from the base so as to make the support easier to move. The stand 1 12 has an upstanding body section 120 and a foot section 122. The body section 120 includes a channel indicated generally at 118 for receiving a radiography image plate (not shown for clarity). A lower surface of the foot section 122 carries magnets 132 for engaging the base (not shown for clarity). The body section 120 carries a lever 124 operable between a first position shown in Figure 6 and a second position shown in Figure 7. The lever is operable by way of a handle section 126 to rotate about a pivot 128. At the other end of the lever 124 from the handle section 126 is a drive portion 130. The drive portion 130 engages a drive mechanism in the form of a drive pin 134 and foot plate 138 as follows. The drive portion 130 engages a first end of the drive pin 134 which is slidable within a slot 136 in the foot section 122. The lower end of the drive pin 134 is attached to the foot plate 138 (shown most clearly in Figure 7) which rests on the base when the support is in use.
In Figure 6 the support is shown fixed in position on the base with the lever 124 in its first position. In order to release the support 112 from the base, the operator moves the lever 124 from its first position to its second position as shown in Figure 7. This action rotates the lever 124 about the pivot 128 causing the drive portion 128 of the lever 124 to engage the drive pin 134 forcing the drive pin 134 down through the slot 136 in the foot section 122. This in turn applies a load to the foot plate 138 causing the stand 112 to rise up from the base thereby reducing the attractive force between the magnets 132 and the base so as to make the support easier to move.
Referring now to Figure 8, a stand 212 is provided as a further alternative to the stands 12, 14 of Figure 1 and 1 12 of Figure 2. The stand 212 has a different exterior profile and operating mechanism to the stand of Figure 1 but, like the stands 12, 14 acts to raise the stand 1 12 from the base so as to make the support easier to move.
The stand 212 has an upstanding body section 220 and a foot section 222. The body section 220 includes a channel indicated generally at 218 for receiving a radiography image plate (not shown for clarity). A lower surface of the foot section 222 carries magnets 232 for engaging the base (not shown for clarity). The stand 212 has a lever 224 operable between a first position shown in Figure 8 and a second position shown in Figure 9. The lever 224 is operable by way of a handle section 226 to rotate about a pivot 228. At the other end of the lever 224 from the handle section 226 is a drive portion 230. The drive portion 230 engages a drive mechanism in the form of a ball bearing 234 and a piston 240 as follows. The drive portion 230 engages the ball bearing 234 which is located within a housing 236 so as to be in contact with an upper surface of the housing interior. The ball bearing 234 also engages a ramp portion 238 of the piston 240 which is slidable vertically within the housing 236 and which has a foot section 242 for contacting the base.
In Figure 8 the support is shown fixed in position on the base with the lever 224 in its first position. In order to release the support from the base, the operator moves the lever 224 from its first position to its second position as shown in Figure 9. This action rotates the lever 224 about the pivot 228 causing the drive portion 228 of the lever 224 to engage the ball bearing 234. This forces the ball bearing 234 from its Figure 8 position to its Figure 9 position. As the ball bearing 234 moves within the housing, it applies a load to the ramp section 238 of the piston 240 causing the stand 1 12 to rise up from the base thereby reducing the attractive force between the magnets 132 and the base so as to make the support easier to move.
It will be appreciated that the shape of the foot section 138 and 242 could very without departure from the scope of the invention. Furthermore in the embodiment described in Figures 6 and 7, the foot section 138 could be omitted allowing the drive pin 134 to engage directly with the base without departure from the scope of the invention.