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US 7,607,183 B2Granted
Braking system for a positioner in a medical imaging apparatus
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsBaskar Somasundaram, Shaji Alakkat
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a braking system for a positioner unit in a medical imaging apparatus includes a first brake coupled to a drive unit that is configured to drive the positioner unit along an axis susceptible to influence of gravity. A second brake is coupled to the positioner unit, and configured for operating independently of the first brake. Examples of positioner unit include a patient cradle in a patient support table, and a C-arm and a pivot in a vascular gantry.
Claims20
A braking system comprising:
- a first brake coupled to a drive unit;
- a guide mechanism unit coupled to the drive unit, wherein the guide mechanism comprises at least one telescoping member;
- the drive unit configured to drive the guide mechanism along an axis susceptible to influence of gravity;
- and
- a second brake coupled to the guide mechanism, and configured to operate independently of the first brake, wherein the second brake comprises at least one of a wedge and a clamp to hold the telescoping member against influence of gravity.
2 more elements
A patient support table in a medical imaging apparatus, comprising:
- at least a pair of rails configured for moving along an axis susceptible to influence of gravity;
- a guide mechanism comprising at least one telescoping member, the telescoping member comprising at least a pair of channels coupled to the at least a pair of rails;
- a patient cradle coupled to the guide mechanism;
- a drive unit coupled to the patient cradle;
- a first brake coupled to the drive unit;
- and
- a second brake coupled to the telescoping member of the guide mechanism.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.