Scanning device for scintigraphy of the human body

#The present invention relates to a device for the scintigraphic scanning according to a horizontal plane, for detecting the distribution of radio-isotopes in the body of patients, said device consisting of a scanner of a known type for scanning an area limited to a portion of the human body (such as for instance that described in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,886 filed on July 5, 1972 and granted on Mar. 11, 1975) provided with accessories allowing the scanning area on the patient to be extended to the entire body.

#In the known scanning devices of the known type for entire body, the scintigraphy recording device has normally a reduced scale and forms a unit separate from that for the movement of the detectors on the patient; in the scanning devices of the limited area type, on the contrary, the recording device has usually a full size scale and forms a single unit with the movement unit of the detectors; the parts forming the scanner are therefore substantially different in the two cases. Also scanners have been embodied for the entire body using the main component parts of scanners of the limited area type, by having recourse to devices moving the bed of the patient synchronically with the movement of the scanners.

#The scanner as hereinafter described has the advantage with respect to the scanning devices of known types, of utilizing the same component main parts of a limited area scanner also for scanning the entire body, utilizing for this purpose simple accessories which do not require the bed of the patient to be moved in the checking room, and which accordingly require an area reduced like the one required by the entire-body scanning device, with separate recording unit.

#For a more complete disclosure of this invention, hereinafter reference will be made to the attached drawings wherein:

#FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a scanner with two detectors.

#FIG. 2 shows the diagram of the system driving the movements of the various parts of the scanning device.

#With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there has been shown the frame 1, provided with longitudinal horizontal guides 2 and 3 whereon the carriage 4 slides, said carriage containing transversely slidable supports within which the rods 5 and 6 slide to which are fastened the detectors 7 and 8 over and under the bed 9 for the patient. On the upper plane 10 of the frame the paper for recording the scintigraphy is fixed, which is printed by the writing heads 11 and 12. These heads move crosswise with respect to the carriage 4, and are supported slidably by transverse guides not shown in the figure, fixed to the carriage itself.

#The frame 1 moves lengthwise guided by the rail 13 whereon it rests by the groups of bearings 14 and 15, and by means of the wheel 16 rolling on the floor.

#In FIG. 2 there is shown the motor 35 driving all movements of the rods, of the carriage, of the frame and of the recording devices. The transverse movements of the rods 5 and 6, occur while the carriage 4 is braked with respect to the frame 1, for example, by an electromagnetic brake, not shown in the drawings, and are imparted by the motor to the electromagnetic clutch 17 by means of toothed belts and therefrom to the driving chain 18. This chain, driving the chain 19 by means of the pair of gears 20 rigid with one another, and the axis of which is rigid with the carriage, drives the rod 6. During this time, an electromagnetic brake 29, adapted to lock the chain 18 with respect to the carriage, remains free. The driving chain 18, furthermore, by means of the driving shaft 20', with supports rigid with the carriage, and of the gears mounted thereon, drives the chain 21 which operates the rod 5.