X-ray transparent hospital bed compatible with open geometry portable CT scanners

A hospital bed adapted for use with an open geometry imaging system, said hospital bed comprising:

• a base;
• a frame;
• an elongated bed top supported by the base, the bed top having at least one support rail for attaching the bed top to the frame, a main section and a lateral section, the main section being substantially radiotransparent;
• means for allowing axial displacement of the main section between an initial position and an extended position along the lengthwise axis of the bed top and independent of the lateral section;
• means for allowing the selective movement of the lateral section away from the main section;
• a patient support surface disposed on the bed top and having a first portion being substantially radiotransparent and substantially similar in shape to the main section of the bed top, and a second portion substantially similar in shape to the lateral section of the bed top, the first portion positioned adjacent the main section and the second portion positioned adjacent to the lateral section;
• wherein the lateral section is adapted to move away from the main section of the bed top to reduce the overall width of said hospital bed and the axial displacement of the main section and first portion allow said hospital bed to be used with said open geometry imaging system without interference from the base

A hospital bed adapted for use with an open geometry imaging system, said hospital bed comprising:

• a mobile base;
• a frame;
• an elongated bed top supported by the base, the bed top having at least one support rail for attaching the bed top to the frame, first and second lateral sections and a main section disposed between the lateral sections, the main section being substantially radiotransparent and capable of independent axial displacement between an initial position and an extended position along the lengthwise axis of the bed top, and the lateral sections being capable of independent selective movement away from the main section;
• a patient support surface comprising first, second, and third portions, the first portion being substantially radiotransparent and substantially similar in shape to the main section of the bed top and the second and third portions being substantially similar in shape to the lateral sections and selectively detachable from the first section, the first portion positioned adjacent the main section and the second and third portions independently positioned adjacent the lateral sections;
• and
• a support projection disposed on the main section of the bed top and adapted to support the main section in the extended position;
• wherein the lateral sections independently move away from the main section to reduce the overall width of said hospital bed and the axial displacement of the main section allow said hospital bed to be used with said open geometry imaging system without interference from the base.

A patient transportation system adapted for independent use as a stretcher and a hospital bed and compatible with an open geometry imaging system, the patient transportation system comprising:

• an elongated bed top having at least one support rail, a main section and at least one lateral section, the main section being substantially radiotransparent and capable of independent axial displacement between an initial position and an extended position along the lengthwise axis of the bed top, and the lateral section being capable of selective movement away from the main section while in the initial position;
• and
• a patient support surface disposed on the bed top, the patient support surface having a first portion being substantially radiotransparent and substantially similar in shape to the main section of the bed top, and a second portion substantially similar in shape to the lateral section of the bed top and detachable from the main section, the first portion positioned adjacent the main section and the second portion positioned adjacent to the lateral section;
• a base;
• a frame;
• a first connection for securing the bed top to the base;
• and
• a second connection between the main section and the lateral section, the second connection preventing the axial displacement of the main section and being removable.