# US 7,607,183 B2 · Braking system for a positioner in a medical imaging apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,183 B2 - Document ID: US7607183B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/280,525 - Filed: 2005-11-15 - Published: 2007-05-17 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-11-15 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Inventors: Baskar Somasundaram; Shaji Alakkat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607183B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/10: Safety means specially adapted therefor - A61B 6/04: Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like - A61B 6/0421: {with immobilising means} - A61B 6/105: {Braking or locking devices} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The braking system according to claim 1, wherein the first brake further comprises at least one rotary brake. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The braking system according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is configured to have at least one driving member driveably coupled to a driven member that is coupled to the guide mechanism, wherein the first brake is coupled to the driving member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The braking system according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit further comprises an auxiliary timing belt. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The braking system according to claim 1 further comprising a synchronous rack that is fixedly coupled to the guide mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The braking system according to claim 5, wherein the drive unit further comprises an auxiliary timing belt coupled to a synchronous pinion for transmitting the drive from the drive unit to the synchronous rack. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The braking system according to claim 1, wherein the second brake further comprises a positive locking configuration with the telescoping member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The braking system according to claim 6 further comprising at least one a drive pinion mounted to a shaft, and engageably coupled to a main rack. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The braking system according to claim 6, further comprising a processor to operate the second brake in response to a failure in the drive unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The braking system according to claim 1, wherein the positioner further comprises at least one of a patient support table and a vascular gantry. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The braking system according to claim 1, wherein the also allowable by virture of dependency on an allowable claim includes at least one of a patient cradle in a patient support table, a C-arm and a pivot in a vascular gantry. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The patient support table according to claim 12, further comprising at least one rotary brake in the first brake. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The patient support table according to claim 12, further comprising at least one linear brake in the second brake. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The patient support table according to claim 12, further comprising a processor to operate the second brake in response to a failure in the drive unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The patient support table according to claim 12 further comprising a synchronous rack that is fixedly coupled to the guide mechanism. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The patient support table according to claim 16, wherein the drive unit further comprises an auxiliary timing belt coupled to a synchronous pinion for transmitting the drive from the drive unit to the synchronous rack. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The patient support table according to claim 12, wherein the second brake is coupled to at least the pair of rails. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The patient support table according to claim 16 wherein the second brake further comprises a positive locking configuration in combination with the telescoping member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The patient support table according to claim 17 wherein the axis susceptible to influence of gravity includes longitudinal axis in tilted position of the patient cradle.