Positioning systems and methods
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorJonathan Carl Boomgaarden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A positioning system configured to move a patient or support into position or in a guided manner. The system includes a table that is configured to hold the patient or object and a column that is coupled to the table. The column is configured to support and move the table and includes a plurality of links pivotably coupled to each other in series. Adjacent links are configured to pivot in only one direction from a linear stacked arrangement. The system also includes a guide that is configured to receive and direct the links of the column into the linear stacked arrangement when the links are moved by a lifting force along the guide.
Claims20
A positioning system for moving a patient into position or in a guided manner, the system comprising:
- a table configured to hold the patient;
- a flexible column coupled to the table and configured to support and move the table, the column comprising a plurality of links pivotably coupled to one another in series, wherein adjacent links are configured to pivot between a linear stacked arrangement and a flexed arrangement, the links forming a lift extension that supports the table when the links are in the linear stacked arrangement;
- and
- a guide configured to receive and redirect the links of the column into the linear stacked arrangement when the links are moved by a lifting force thereby adding the links to the lift extension, the table moving away from the guide as the links are added to the lift extension.
A positioning system for moving a patient into position or in a guided manner, the system comprising:
- a table configured to hold the patient;
- a flexible column coupled to the table and configured to support and move the table, the column comprising a plurality of links pivotably coupled to one another in series, wherein adjacent links are configured to pivot in only one direction from a linear stacked arrangement;
- and
- a guide configured to receive and redirect the links of the column into the linear stacked arrangement when the links are moved by a lifting force, wherein the positioning system further comprises a bias chain coupled to the links, the bias chain being configured to maintain the links of the column in the linear stacked arrangement when the column is not being redirected by the guide.
A method for moving a patient into position or in a guided manner, the method comprising:
- coupling a table, configured to hold the patient, to a flexible column that is configured to support and move the table when a lifting force is applied, the column including a plurality of links pivotably coupled to one another in series, wherein adjacent links are configured to pivot between a linear stacked arrangement and a flexed arrangement, the links forming a lift extension that supports the table when the links are in the linear stacked arrangement;
- and
- moving the column along a guide configured to receive and redirect the links of the column, the guide configured to direct the links into the linear stacked arrangement when the links are moved by the lifting force thereby adding the links to the lift extension, the table moving away from the guide as the links are added to the lift extension.
A method for moving a support into position or in a guided manner, the method comprising:
- coupling the support to an end of a flexible column, the column including a plurality of links pivotably coupled to one another in series, the links forming an adjustable linear lift extension and a reserve extension, the lift extension being configured to support the table and extending in a load direction and the reserve extension having at least a portion that extends in a non-load direction;
- coupling the support to a rotation system configured to rotate the support about a rotation axis proximate to the end of the column;
- and
- moving the column along a guide configured to receive the links as the column is moved in the load direction, the guide redirecting the links such that links received from the reserve extension are added to the lift extension, the rotation axis moving with the support when the links are added to the lift extension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.