Patient support device and method of operation
AssigneeTomotherapy Incorporated
InventorsSerge Nukhim Kuro, Graham T. Reitz, Bradley J. Brunker, Brent Harper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A patient support device of a radiation therapy treatment system includes an electromechanical motor and control system for raising and lowering the support device in the Z direction. The control system utilizes regenerative braking concepts, converting the motor into a generator as the support device is lowered such that no matter the load, the support device will be lowered at a constant speed. The control system also allows for lowering of the support device in the powered off situation (i.e., when there is no power to the support device).
Claims10
A patient support device comprising:
- a base;
- a table assembly supported by the base and configured to support a patient;
- an actuator assembly electrically coupled to and operable to control motion of the table assembly, the actuator assembly including a motor and a brake;
- a controller electrically coupled to the actuator assembly, the controller operable to generate a signal to activate the brake when power to the actuator assembly is interrupted;
- and
- an dynamic brake assembly electrically coupled to the actuator assembly and the controller, the dynamic brake assembly operable upon deactivation of the brake, the dynamic brake assembly including a passive dynamic load module electrically coupled to the motor to increase speed of the motor,
- a rectification module electrically coupled to the motor and operable to convert AC voltage to DC voltage when the AC voltage reaches a predetermined value,
- a controlled dynamic load module electrically coupled to the passive dynamic load module, and
- a switch operable to deactivate the brake and electrically couple the controlled dynamic load module and the actuator assembly to control a braking operation of the motor.
A radiation therapy treatment system comprising:
- a patient support device including
- a table assembly configured to support a patient,
- an actuator assembly electrically connected to the table assembly and operable to control movement of the table assembly, the actuator assembly including a motor and a brake;
- and
- a control system electrically connected to the actuator assembly the control system including a dynamic brake assembly operable upon release of the brake and operable to control a speed of the motor and provide linear motion of the table assembly when power to the actuator assembly is interrupted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.