Patent ID: 6288398
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: A61B,Y10S

Abstract:
A support structure for supporting and positioning a scintillation camera detector relative to a patient, the support structure comprising:(a) a base positionable on a ground surface and comprising:(i) a pair of spaced apart lower rollers;(ii) a pair of spaced apart upper rollers; and(iii) a plurality of stabilizing rollers;(b) a vertically oriented annular rotating support defining an orifice and a first vertical plane and being rotatable in the first vertical plane, the rotating support comprising:(i) an outside surface in rolling contact with the lower rollers and upper rollers;(ii) an inside surface for supporting a patient support;(iii) a front surface in rolling contact with at least one stabilizing roller;(iv) a rear surface in rolling contact with at least one stabilizing roller; and(v) two spaced apart apertures extending through the front and rear surfaces;(c) an elongate support comprising a pair of spaced apart arms extending through the apertures in the rotating support, the elongate support comprising:(i) a camera end for supporting a scintillation camera detector at a distance from the front surface of the rotating support; and(ii) a counter weight end for supporting a counter weight at a distance from the rear surface of the rotating support;(d) a guiding linkage connecting the rotating support to the elongate support such that pivotal movement of the elongate support relative to the rotating support results in movement of the camera end of the elongate support in a second vertical plane, the guide comprising:(i) a pair of rigid links, each link having a rotating support end pivotally attached to the front surface of the rotating support, and an elongate support end pivotally attached to one of the spaced apart arms;(ii) a pair of parallel linear tracks attached to the front surface of the rotating support; and(iii) a pair of rigid sliding arms, each sliding arm being slidable in respective planes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the rotating support, each sliding arm comprising:(a) a track end comprising two spaced apart guides slidable along one of the linear tracks; and(b) an elongate support end pivotally attached to one of the spaced apart arms at the camera end;(e) a counter weight depending from the counter weight end of the elongate support, the counter weight comprising:(i) a pair of elongate counter weight members, each counter weight member being pivotally attached to and depending from one of the spaced apart arms and comprising an upper end and a lower end;(ii) an upper counter weight spanning the upper ends of the counter weight members;(iii) a lower counter weight spanning the lower ends of the counter weight members, the lower counter weight being heavier than the upper counter weight; and(iv) a pair of rigid counter weight links, each link having an annular support end pivotally attached to the rear surface of the annular support, and a counter weight end pivotally attached to the lower counter weight;(f) an actuator for pivoting the elongate member relative to the annular support, the actuator being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the actuator comprising:(i) an annular support end pivotally attached to the annular support; and(ii) an elongate support end pivotally attached to the elongate support at a distance from the rear surface of the elongate support;(g) a drive unit for rotating the annular support relative to the base, the drive unit comprising an electric motor driving one of the lower rollers which then drives the annular support; and(h) a cylindrical patient support coaxially mounted to the annular support within the orifice defined by the annular support.