Method and apparatus for tilting in a patient positioning system
AssigneeGE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
InventorShaji Alakkat
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Certain embodiments include a system and method for tilting in a patient positioning system. The system includes a tilt plate for tilting a patient positioning surface, a screw for moving the tilt plate, a nut for translating rotary motion into linear motion to drive the screw, and a motor for imparting rotary motion to the nut. In an embodiment, the screw is a ball screw. In an embodiment, the nut is a rotary nut. The system may also include a drive gear situated on the motor, a driven gear situated on the nut the meshes with the drive gear, and a brake gear that meshes with the driven gear. The system may also include a fail-safe brake preventing collapse of the tilt mechanism in the event of a component failure.
Claims13
A patient positioning system for medical applications, said system comprising:
- a patient positioning surface for supporting a patient;
- a lift subsystem for adjusting elevation of said patient positioning surface;
- a longitudinal subsystem including a motor for moving said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction;
- a tilt subsystem for tilting said patient positioning surface, said tilt subsystem capable of tilting said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction while supporting a patient load;
- a position sensor for determining a position of said patient positioning surface;
- at least one brake configured to stop motion of said patient positioning surface when power is removed from said brake;
- and
- a control subsystem for controlling operation of said patient positioning system.
A patient positioning system for medical applications, said system comprising:
- a patient positioning surface for supporting a patient;
- a lift subsystem for adjusting elevation of said patient positioning surface;
- a longitudinal subsystem for moving said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction;
- a tilt subsystem for tilting said patient positioning surface, said tilt subsystem capable of tilting said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction while supporting a patient load;
- a position sensor for determining a position of said patient positioning surface;
- and
- a control subsystem for controlling operation of said patient positioning system,
- wherein said tilt subsystem further comprises:
- a motor for turning a nut;
- a nut configured to translate rotary motion from said motor to linear motion;
- and
- a screw for moving a tilt plate using linear motion from said nut, wherein said nut is situated on said screw.
A patient positioning system for medical applications, said system comprising:
- a patient positioning surface for supporting a patient;
- a lift subsystem for adjusting elevation of said patient positioning surface;
- a longitudinal subsystem for moving said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction;
- a tilt subsystem for tilting said patient positioning surface, said tilt subsystem capable of tilting said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction while supporting a patient load;
- a position sensor for determining a position of said patient positioning surface;
- a control subsystem for controlling operation of said patient positioning system;
- a drive gear situated on said motor;
- a driven gear situated on said nut, said driven gear meshing with said drive gear;
- and
- a brake gear, said brake gear meshing with said driven gear,
- wherein said tilt subsystem further comprises:
- a motor for turning a nut;
- a nut configured to translate rotary motion from said motor to linear motion;
- and
- a screw for moving a tilt plate using linear motion from said nut, wherein said nut is situated on said screw.
A tilt mechanism for tilting a patient positioning surface, said mechanism comprising:
- a tilt plate for tilting a patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction;
- a screw for moving said tilt plate;
- a nut for translating rotary motion into linear motion to linearly drive said screw;
- a motor for imparting rotary motion to said nut;
- and
- an electromagnetic brake connected to said motor by at least one gear.
A tilt mechanism for tilting a patient positioning surface, said mechanism comprising:
- a tilt plate for tilting a patient positioning surface;
- a screw for moving said tilt plate;
- a nut for translating rotary motion into linear motion to drive said screw;
- a motor for imparting rotary motion to said nut;
- a drive gear situated on said motor;
- a driven gear situated on said nut, said driven gear meshing with said drive gear;
- and
- a brake gear, said brake gear meshing with said driven gear.
A method for tilting a patient positioning surface, said method comprising:
- vertically positioning a patient surface at a desired height to allow a patient to be loaded onto said patient positioning surface;
- tilting said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction to position said patient positioning surface for a medical procedure;
- returning said patient positioning surface to a horizontal position for an emergency situation;
- and
- locking said patient surface using at least one electromagnetic brake.
A method for tilting a patient positioning surface, said method comprising:
- vertically positioning a patient surface at a desired height to allow a patient to be loaded onto said patient positioning surface;
- tilting said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction to position said patient positioning surface for a medical procedure;
- and
- locking said patient positioning surface using at least one electromagnetic brake.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.