Band Strap Fastening System for Imaging Equipment Tables
AssigneeColumbus Healthcare Products, LLC
InventorJanet M. Kellogg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fastening apparatus for an imaging device having a table upon which a patient may rest. A first track portion has spaced lips defining a channel with a first longitudinal axis. The lips are separated at their terminal ends to define an elongated slot. A second track portion includes a panel attached to a rod. The rod has a second longitudinal axis and may be disposed in the channel of the first track portion with the first and second longitudinal axes substantially parallel and the panel disposed in the slot. The first track portion is thus longitudinally movable relative to the second track portion. One of the track portions may attach to the table and the other track portion may attach to a band for extending around the patient.
Claims12
A fastening apparatus for an imaging device having a table upon which at least part of a patient may rest while an image is taken of the at least part of the patient, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first track portion having spaced lips defining a channel with a first longitudinal axis, the lips separated at their terminal ends to define an elongated slot;
- (b) a second track portion having a panel attached to a rod, the rod having a second longitudinal axis and a size that permits the rod to be disposed in the channel of the first track portion with the first and second longitudinal axes substantially parallel and the panel disposed in the slot, whereby the first track portion is longitudinally movable relative to the second track portion;
- wherein one of the first and second track portions is configured for attachment to the table and another of the first and second track portions is configured for attachment to a first band that may extend around the at least part of the patient.
An imaging apparatus having a table upon which at least part of a patient rests while an image is taken of the at least part of the patient, the imaging apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first track portion having spaced lips defining a channel with a first longitudinal axis, the lips separated at their terminal ends to define an elongated slot;
- (b) a second track portion having a panel attached to a rod with a second longitudinal axis, the rod being disposed in the channel of the first track portion with the first and second longitudinal axes substantially parallel and the panel disposed in the slot, whereby the first track portion is longitudinally movable relative to the second track portion;
- wherein one of the first and second track portions is mounted to the table and another of the first and second track portions is mounted to a first band that extends at least partially across the at least part of the patient while the image is taken.
A method of taking an image of at least part of a patient while the at least part of the patient rests upon a table, the method comprising:
- (a) extending a first band over the at least part of the patient, the first band mounted at one end to one of first and second track portions and another of the first and second track portions is mounted to the table, wherein:
- (i) the first track portion has spaced lips defining a channel with a first longitudinal axis, the lips separated at their terminal ends to define an elongated slot;
- and
- (ii) the second track portion has a panel attached to a rod with a second longitudinal axis, the rod is disposed in the channel of the first track portion with the first and second longitudinal axes substantially parallel and the panel disposed in the slot;
- (b) tightening the first band around the at least part of the patient by applying to the first band a tensile force that is transverse to the first and second longitudinal axes;
- and
- (c) displacing at least one of the track portions along the first and second longitudinal axes relative to the other of the track portions while the first band extends over the at least part of the patient and the transverse tensile force is applied to the first band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.