Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02361984 2001-11-13
By F.xpra~c Ma~111 EL831448970US
RerxGROUND OF THE TION
1. ' FI d of the Ynveutlon
The invention. pertains to a device for positioning persons who arc staDding
upright to have radiographs made,
2. Description of tire slated Art
When radiographs are made, the person being examined is usually laid on a
table
or, vc%hen upper areas of the body are to be radiographed, made to stand in
front of the vertical x-
ray fllm cartridge. The x-ray camera itself can be pivoted or raised arld
lowered otlly within a
certain range with respoct to the person to be examined.
' The simplest way to record images of the ankles is usually while the person
is
lying down. The disadvantage here, however, is that, when the parson to be
examined xs in this
position, the areas to be radiographed are not under load. Undor certain
conditions, however, it
can be of particular diagnostic interest to radiograph the joint or bone while
it is positioned under
load:
2
CA 02361984 2001-11-13
By ~5tpras Mail # B1.831448970US
SUM1VIARX OF THE NTI0~1
The obj ect of the invention is therefore to create a device by means of which
radiographs of standing persons, especially radiographs of the feet of persons
standing upright,
can be made easily.
This obj ect is accomplished according to the inveu~tion by a horizontally
movable
platform, which can also be raised and lowered in the vertical direction, on
which the peason to
be examined can stand. A holding or gripping arrangement is comrected to the
platform and
mounted with respect to the platform in such a way that the person to be
examined can hold fast
to it, where the vertical distance between the platform and the holding or
gripping arrangement
remains unchanged when the platform is rained or lowered. The object is also
accomplished by
holders for x-ray film cartridges mounted at or on the platform.
The platform is preferably arranged on four columns, which consist of
telescoping column lengths. The platform is axtached to the bottom end of the
outer column
lengtbs, and the holding or gripping arraagemcnf is attached to their upper
end, so that the
vertical distance between the platform and the holding or gripping arrangement
remains
unchanged when the platform is raised and/or lowered.
To improve the mobility of the device, rollers are provided at the bottom end
of
the columns, these rollers being free to rotate around. a vertical axis, so
that the stand can be
moved in any desired direction.
~n a modified design, at least one telescoping column is provided undazneath
the
platform, by means of which the platform can be raised and lowered.
3
CA 02361984 2001-11-13
~~#~1~
According to another embodiment of the invention, vertical and borizontal
holdc~xs for holding x-ray film cartridges are pmvidod at or on the platform.
Thus it is possible
not only to radiograph the ankles from the side but also to radiograph them
from underneath,
again wader load.
It is especially advantageous to provide a support fox the lmee or the lower
part of
the leg of the person to be examined, the height o~ this support above the
platform being
adju.5table. Thus one leg or foot can be moved out of the area in which the
other foot or leg is
being radiographed without changing the type of load beiag oxertod on the foot
to be eacamiued.
The tolescoping function caa bo accomplished by a hydraulic device, by cables,
or
IO by electac motors.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from
the
following detailed description considered iz~ conjunction with the
accompanying drawings. It is
to be understood, however, that tho drawings are desigaod solely for purposes
of illustration and
not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for wbnch reference should
be made to the
appended claims. Yt should be bother understood that the drawings are not
necessarily drawn to
scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, thoy are merely intended to
conceptually illustrate the
structures and procedures described herein.
4
CA 02361984 2001-11-13
By Expt~es Mail # P1831448970U5
BRT~' bESCB~PTIOISLOF T DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side view of the device;
Figure 2 is a rear view of the device;
Figure 3 is a side view of the device, in a raised position, with the lmee
support in
use; and
Figure 4 is a plan view of the device.
5
CA 02361984 2001-11-13
By F~pmss Mail # 81,831448970US
DETAILED DES ON OF PRES~NTL PREFEB~3ED EI~OD NTS
Referring to Figures 1 and Z, the device includes a platform. 1 connected to
four
columns 2. The individual columns are designed as telescoping column lengths,
so that the
platform 1 arranged between the columns and connected to them can be raised
and louvered. In
the embodiment shown, the platform is fixed to the lower end of the outer
sleeves of the
telescoping columns. The motive force for telescoping may be provided by means
of hydraulics,
electric motors, and/or cables.
Of course, other types of desigps are possible here, such as a design with one
or
more telescoping columns arranged underneath the platforn~, as long as the
central idea of the
invention is realized, namely, the construction of the platform in such a way
that it can be raised
and lowered, because as a result of this feature the position of the standing
persoa 3 relative to
the x-ray camera (not shown in the drawing) can. be changed.
The person to be examined can support himself/herself on an upper holding or
gripping arrangamant 4. This arrangement retains its vertical distance to the
platform when the
platform is raised and lowered.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, holds S, 6a for x-ray fiilm cartridges are
indicated in the area of the feet of the person to be examined. rt is
therefore possible to
radiograph the foot or ankle areas under load. The holder 5 is located
underneath the platform
while the holder 6A is located on the side of the platform or between the
feet, Position 6b
iz~dicat~s that x-ray film cartridges can also be provided in the arcs of the
lmees, for example by
means of a telescoping firame for the cartridge holder.
6
CA 02361984 2001-11-13
Dy H~ee M,fi ~ EL8314489y0(JS
At a variable distance above the platform, a supporC 7 is provided for the
lanec or
lower leg of the person to be examined. As eau be seen in Fi~urd 3, it is
ttiercforc poasiblo to
radiograph only one of the ankles, it being cumu'ed flint this is accvmpliahed
under realistic load
ennditions, i.e., only half the pGrsun's weight being home by the ankle being
filmed.
' The hciyt of both the support 7 and the holding or gripping arrangement. 4
relative to the platform l can be adjusted, so that the unit can be adapted tn
persons of different
heights.
Thus, whi le there have shown arid describod and puiuLcd uut fiuldamcntal
novel
features of the invention as applied to a preferred ertibudiur~sul tlir~~eof,
it will ba understood that
various omissions and subbliluliuus and chanRcs in the form and dotails of the
devices illustrated,
and in lhcir upomtiou, may be made by thoac skilled in the art vsrithout
departing from the spirit
of the iawention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations
of tlwse slement~a
and/or method steps which perform substantially the same fimctinn in
substantially the same way
tv achieve the same results are within the sc~e of the invention. Moreover, it
should ba
recognized that stmen~res and/or elements and/or me(hud al.cp~ ~lmwn andJor
described in
connection with any disclosed form ur ouiLoduucnt of the invention may be
incorporated in any
other disclosed or drecribod trr suggostcd form or cmbocbmcat as a general
matter of design
cliuice. It is the intention, thvrofore, to be limited only as indicated by
the scope c~f the claims
appcndod hereto.
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