US 2019/0313985 A1 · ADJUSTABLE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY HEAD FIXATOR FOR NEUROLOGICAL SCANS

Abstract

Systems and methods for securely positioning a patient's head during medical imaging are presented. A fixation device includes a headrest which may be provided with inflatable chambers to adjust the headrest to the patient's head, a neck section which may be adjustable, and a base designed to couple to a patient bed or gurney forming part of a medical imaging system. The fixation device allows adjustment of the patient's head to an orientation which may variously minimize scanning time, improve imaging results, and/or protect sensitive tissues from unnecessary irradiation.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A head fixator for positioning a patient's head during imaging comprising:

a headrest dimensioned to cradle a patient's head;
a neckpiece coupled to the headrest by a first hinge at a first end of the neckpiece;
a track coupled to a bottom surface of the headrest;
an adjustable angle arm coupled to the track at a first end of the angle arm and coupled by a second hinge to the neckpiece at a second end of the angle arm, the first end of the angle arm configured to slide within the track, a position of the angle arm within the track determining an angle between the headrest and the neckpiece;
and
a base coupled to a second end of the neckpiece, the base dimensioned to form an insertion tab configured to fasten the head fixator to a patient bed.

3 more elements

A system for positioning a patient during imaging comprising:

a patient bed having a first end and a second end;
a headrest dimensioned to cradle a patient's head;
a neckpiece coupled to the headrest by a first hinge at a first end of the neckpiece;
a track coupled to a bottom surface of the headrest;
an adjustable angle arm coupled to the track at a first end of the angle arm and coupled by a second hinge to the neckpiece at a second end of the angle arm, the first end of the angle arm configured to slide within the track, a position of the angle arm within the track determining an angle between the headrest and the neckpiece;
and
a base coupled to a second end of the neckpiece, the base dimensioned to form an insertion tab fastened to the first end of the patient bed.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/383,151Filed 12 Apr 2019

Priority

13 Apr 2018

Published

17 Oct 2019

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

A61B 6/0421
Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body: with immobilising means
A61B 6/032
Computed tomography [CT]: transmission computed tomography [CT]
A61B 6/0407
Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like: supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body
A61B 6/501
Specially adapted for specific body parts; specially adapted for specific clinical applications: for diagnosis of the head, e.g. neuroimaging or…

Adjustable computed tomography head fixator for neurological scans

Life of this patent

Adjustable computed tomography head fixator for neurological scans

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14