Abstract:
A body warm-keeping apparatus for keeping the core temperature of a human body during an X-ray examination is disclosed to include an apparatus body providing a platform for supporting an object to receive an X-ray examination, a heater device or a number of heater devices that allow penetration of X-rays therethrough and are arranged at the platform for the contact of the object to keep the object warm, one or a number of accommodation compartments disposed at one side relative to the platform, said platform defining a radiation region corresponding to an X-ray radiation path, said at least one accommodation compartment being disposed in said X-ray radiation path, said at least one accommodation compartment being adapted for accommodating a photographic receptor adapted for producing a shadow image of the internal structure of a part of the object being X-rayed. The space-saving arrangement of the heater device(s) facilitates design and fabrication of the body warm-keeping apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to warm-keeping apparatus and more specifically, to a body warn-keeping apparatus for keeping the core temperature of an object during an X-ray examination. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    When making an X-ray examination, the core temperature of the object to be X-rayed may have to be kept. For example, when a premature or weak baby is going to receive an X-ray examination, a medical person may cover a blanket on the patient or put a blanket on the platform beneath the patient to kept the body of the patient warm, avoiding the patient losing temperature that may risk the patient&#39;s life. 
         [0005]    However, a blanket does not provide excellent warm-keeping effect, and is difficult to wash. After one use, the blanket may be discarded. Therefore, using a blanket to keep a patient warm during an X-ray examination is not an economic way. Further, a premature or weak baby or a temperature-losing patient shall have to be kept in an infant incubator/medical bed that keeps the core temperature of the baby/temperature-losing patient stable. 
         [0006]    When a temperature-losing patient is going to receive an X-ray examination, the patient must be delivered from the medical bed to the X-ray system. It is difficult to move the patient from the medical bed to the X-ray system. This procedure takes much time and labor, and causes inconvenience to medical persons. To a temperature-losing patient carrying a life-support system, the problem will get worse, and the X-ray examination may be unable to perform on time, wasting precious time. 
         [0007]    Further, when a premature baby is going to receive an X-ray examination, the medical person needs to carry the premature baby from the infant incubator to the platform of the X-ray machine. After the examination, the medical person needs to carry the premature baby from the platform of the X-ray machine back to the infant incubator. This procedure wastes much time and labor, and interferes with the baby&#39;s sleep quality. To a baby carrying a life-support system, this procedure not only wastes time and labor but also increases life-threatening risk. Further, the warm-keeping effect of wrapping a premature baby with a blanket is limited. 
         [0008]    To avoid the aforesaid problems, a warm-keeping apparatus is known comprising a platform for the placing of a blanket, an X-ray tray provided beneath the platform for holding an X-ray film, and a hot air apparatus adapted for providing hot air to keep the patient warm. This warm-keeping apparatus allows the patient therein to receive an X-ray examination directly without interference, facilitating performance of an X-ray examination rapidly and safely. 
         [0009]    To avoid interference with the radiation of X-rays, the arrangement of the hot air apparatus and other devices (life-support device and etc.) is complicated. The arrangement includes an opening in the X-ray radiation path and other complicated structures to avoid blocking X-rays and affecting examination accuracy. Further, the cost of the hot air apparatus is high. The hot air apparatus consumes much energy and causes noises during its operation. 
         [0010]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a body warm-keeping apparatus that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks and problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a body warm-keeping apparatus, which provides excellent body warm-keeping effect and facilitates the performance of X-ray examinations. It is another object of the present invention to provide a body warm-keeping apparatus, which has the parts thereof skillfully arranged, effectively lowering the cost. 
         [0012]    To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the body warm-keeping apparatus is adapted for keeping the core temperature of a human body during an X-ray examination, comprising an apparatus body and at least one heater device. The apparatus body comprises a platform and at least one accommodation compartment disposed at one side relative to the platform. The platform defines a radiation region corresponding to an X-ray radiation path. The at least one accommodation compartment is disposed in the X-ray radiation path, for accommodating a photographic receptor. The at least one heater device is mounted on the radiation region of the platform and kept in contact with the human body receiving an X-ray examination. Each heater device comprises a conducting material and a conducting wire. The conducting material is arranged corresponding to the radiation region. The conducting wire electrically connects a power supply unit to the conducting material, and extends along the border of the conducting material. The conducting material allows penetration of X-rays therethrough for causing the photographic receptor to produce a shadow image of the internal structure of a part of the human body that is kept in contact with the at least one heater device and radiated with X-rays going through the X-ray radiation path. 
         [0013]    In conclusion, the heater device of the body warm-keeping apparatus allows penetration of X-rays therethrough, and is arranged on the platform and kept in direct contact with the patient. The layout of the internal conducting wire of the heater device avoids interfering with the patient during an X-ray examination. In addition to excellent warm-keeping effect, the body warm-keeping apparatus of the present invention allows the patient to receive an X-ray examination directly, facilitating medical performance. Further, the design arrangement of the invention is easy, having an industrial value and market competitive power. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a body warn-keeping apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing showing the structure of the heater device used in the body warm-keeping apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates an image formed on the photographic receptor subject to an application of the body warm-keeping apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates the positioning relationship between the radiation region and another design of heater device according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 4 , illustrating the image of the conducting wire excluded from the photographic receptor. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic applied view of a body warm-keeping apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a schematic applied view of a body warm-keeping apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a body warm-keeping apparatus  100  for use during an X-ray photography application to keep the core temperature of a human body to be photographed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is made in the form of an infant incubator. However, the body warm-keeping apparatus is not limited to the form of an infant incubator. According to this first embodiment, the body warm-keeping apparatus  100  is comprised of an apparatus body  10  and a heater device  20 , and adapted for keeping the core temperature of an object P to be photographed (for example, a premature or weak baby). 
         [0023]    The apparatus body  10  can be constructed subject to the architecture of a commercial infant incubator, comprising a platform  11  on which the object (premature or weak infant) P is lying, a base  12  joined to the bottom side of the platform  11 , and a hood  15  movable relative to the platform  11  between an open position for complete access to the object P and a close position to enclose the platform  11 . 
         [0024]    The platform  11  has a radiation region  111  corresponding to an X-ray radiation path L for the mounting of the heater device  20 . 
         [0025]    The base  12  comprises an accommodation compartment  13  corresponding to the radiation region  111 , a tray  14  that can be inserted into or pulled out of the accommodation compartment  13  by an operator so that the operator can put a photographic receptor (for example, photographic film)  30  into the tray  14  for photography or take the photographic receptor  30  out of the tray  14  after photographed. According to the this embodiment, the photographic receptor  30  can be any means capable of receiving the radiation of X-ray and forming thereon the image of the object P (see  FIG. 4 ). The base  12  of the apparatus body  10  has installed therein a power supply unit  101  (for example, AC/DC converter) for providing the body warm-keeping apparatus  100  with the necessary electric power for operation. Further, a controller (not shown) is provided for controlling the power output of the power supply unit  101  to regulate the amount of thermal energy produced by the heater device  20 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  and  FIG. 1  again, the heater device  20  is mounted on the radiation region  111  for direct contact with the object P (the direct contact can be achieved by means of covering the heater device  20  on the object P for direct contact, or putting the heater device  20  under the object P). According to this embodiment, the heater device  20  is a flexible heat-emitting member that allows penetration of X-rays therethrough. The heater device  20  is comprised of a thin-sheet conducting material  21 , a flexible base material  22 , a warm-keeping bag  23 , and a conducting wire  24 . 
         [0027]    The thin-sheet conducting material  21  is a flexible electroheating material that allows penetration of X-rays therethrough. According to this embodiment, the thin-sheet conducting material  21  is prepared from, but not limited to, carbon fiber. Further, the thin-sheet conducting material  21  can be made in, but not limited to, the form of a thin piece of cloth, thin sheet of felt or thin film. 
         [0028]    The flexible base material  22  is formed of two flexible thin films that surround the thin-sheet conducting material  21  and allows penetration of X-rays therethrough. The flexible base material  22  supports and protects the thin-sheet conducting material  21 . 
         [0029]    The warm-keeping bag  23  can be made to detachably wrap the flexible base material  22 . Alternatively, the warm-keeping bag  23  can be fixedly fastened to the flexible base material  22 . According to this embodiment, the warm-keeping bag  23  is made of a flexible thermal insulation material such as silicon rubber or plastic foam material, and therefore the warm-keeping bag  23  effectively lowers the heat dissipation speed of the thin-sheet conducting material  21 , extending the warm-keeping time and saving the energy. However, the warm-keeping bag  23  is not a requisite element and can be omitted. Further, the warm-keeping bag  23  may be wrapped with a layer of waterproof covering material (not shown) to enhance water resistance. For example, the warm-keeping bag  23  can be covered with a layer of waterproof nylon fabric covering to match with the thin-sheet conducting material  21  and the flexible base material  22 , so that the heater device  20  imparts comfort to the user and can be washed and kneaded in water without losing its function. 
         [0030]    The conducting wire  24  is electrically connected with the thin-sheet conducting material  21  and the power supply unit  101  of the apparatus body  10  to transmits output electric energy from the power supply unit  101  to the thin-sheet conducting material  21 , causing the thin-sheet conducting material  21  to produce heat. According to this embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the conducting wire  24  extends along the border of the thin-sheet conducting material  21  to avoid blocking the X-ray when the object P is being photographed, so as not to affect the image forming result, i.e., the arrangement of the conducting wire  24  must not block the X-ray from passing through the object P. 
         [0031]    The material for the hood  15  allows penetration of X-rays therethrough. According to this embodiment, the hood  15  can be made having ventilation holes or equipped with an air circulation system (not shown) to maintain ventilation. This part is not within the scope of the present invention, no further detailed description in this regard is necessary. 
         [0032]    In conclusion, when compared with the use of a blanket according to the prior art, the heater device  20  of the present invention has better warm-keeping effect and is relatively easier to clean. When compared with the use of a hot air equipment according to the prior art, the heater device  20  of the present invention has the advantages of small size, less space occupation, ease of arrangement Furthermore, the heater device  20  allows penetration of X-rays therethrough so that a medical person can directly apply an X-ray examination to the object P without moving the object P from the body warm-keeping apparatus  100 , saving much labor and time. Further, the layout of the conducting wire  24  of the heater device  20  is kept away from the area bearing the object P, and therefore the heater device  20  does not interfere with the performance of an X-ray examination that is being applied to the object P. When compared with the arrangement of the conventional hot air equipment, the design and preparation cost of the present invention is relatively cheap, and the body warm-keeping apparatus  100  provides extra space for accommodating other devices to provide added value. 
         [0033]    After understanding of the arrangement and relative positions of the component parts of the body warm-keeping apparatus  100 , the operation and effects of the body warm-keeping apparatus  100  are outlined hereinafter. 
         [0034]    When applying an X-ray examination to the object P in the body warm-keeping apparatus  100 , the X-ray source is started to emit X-rays through the hood  15 , the object P, the heater device  20  and the platform  11 , and the radiation is then received by the photographic receptor  30  to produce an X-ray image after exposure, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The image includes the object P and the conducting wire  24  around the border of the heater device  20 . The layout of the conducting wire  24  does not interfere with the object P when the object P is receiving an X-ray examination. Further, preventing presence of the conducting wire  24  in the image obtained from the photographic receptor  30  can be achieved by means of increasing the surface area of the heater device  20  to have the conducting wire  24  be arranged outside the radiation region  110 , as shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 6  illustrates an image obtained from the photographic receptor  30  after an X-ray examination where the conducting wire  24  is not shown. The image shown in  FIG. 6  facilitates reading. Of course, by means of contracting the surface area of the photographic receptor  30  can also achieve the same effect. 
         [0035]    As stated above, the object P is kept in contact with the heater device  20  during an X-ray examination, therefore an excellent warn-keeping effect is obtained. Further, because the heater device  20  has light and thin characteristics and allows penetration of X-rays therethrough, as well as the advantage of the special layout of the conducting wire  24 , the arrangement of the heater device  20  in the body warm-keeping apparatus  100  is easy. Therefore, the cost of the body warn-keeping apparatus  100  can be relatively reduced while image quality is maintained. The body warm-keeping apparatus  100  allows a medical person to conveniently apply an X-ray examination to the object P carried therein. Further, the conducting material  21  consumes low power, and therefore the heater device  20  is durable and safe in use, and the matched power supply unit  101  can be a small-sized design. Further, because the body warm-keeping apparatus  100  does not use any pump to provide hot air, the operation of the body warm-keeping apparatus  100  is smooth and making no noise, not interfering with sleep or rest of the object (infant) P. 
         [0036]    Any suitable material that allows penetration of X-rays may be provided between the heater device  20  and the object (premature or weak baby) P, preventing from keeping the object (premature or weak baby) P too warm. Further, as shown in  FIG. 2 , an overheat protection switch (for example, bimetal switch)  25  may be installed in the conducting wire  24  of the heater device  20  for overheat protection. A temperature sensor  26  may be installed in the heater device  20  to detect the temperature of the conducting material  21 . Through the temperature sensor  26 , the user knows the current temperature of the conducting material  21 . When the temperature surpassed a predetermined value, the overheat protection switch  25  turns off the circuit of the conducting wire  24  to stop the supply of electricity from the power supply unit  101  to the heater device  20 , avoiding danger to the object P when the temperature sensor  26  malfunctions and assuring high safety of the body warm-keeping apparatus  100 . 
         [0037]    Further, the aforesaid accommodation compartment  13 , heater device  20 , photographic receptor  30  and radiation region  111  are not limited to one single number. For example, to satisfy the demand for photographing many parts of a premature or weak baby by X-rays at a time, the body warm-keeping apparatus can be made having multiple accommodation compartments for accommodating a respective tray for photographic receptor (photographic film) corresponding to multiple heater devices in multiple radiation regions on the platform of the apparatus body. Alternatively, the body warm-keeping apparatus can be made having one single heater device that can be moved in the platform to one of a number of locations for enabling one of a number of parts of the body of the object being carried on the heater device to be photographed by X-rays. A big area heater device may be used to substitute for a number of relatively smaller heater devices in matching with the multiple accommodation compartments design. Further, the photographic receptor  30  may be directly put in the accommodation compartment  13  without the aforesaid tray  14 . 
         [0038]    Further, the power supply unit  101  can be a DC battery directly installed in the apparatus body  10 , or a discrete DC battery disposed outside the apparatus body  10 . DC battery allows the medical person to use the body warm-keeping apparatus  100  conveniently, extending the moving distance and application range of the body warm-keeping apparatus  100 . Alternatively, the power supply unit  101  can be a device that outputs AC power supply. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  illustrates an application of a body warm-keeping apparatus  200  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The design of this second embodiment is for supporting the object in a standing position for receiving an X-ray examination.  FIG. 8  illustrates an application of a body warm-keeping apparatus  300  in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The design of this third embodiment is for supporting the object in a lying position for receiving an X-ray examination. Same as the aforesaid first embodiment of the present invention, the body warm-keeping apparatus  200  of the second embodiment and the body warm-keeping apparatus  300  of the third embodiment commonly comprise an apparatus body  210  or  310 , a heater device  220  or  320 , a photographic receptor  230  or  330 , and an accommodation compartment  240  or  340 . The second and third embodiments of the present invention are designed for an adult user. The heater device  220  or  320  is directly bonded to the platform  211  or  311  or fixed thereto by means of any suitable fixation measures. The power supply unit  201  or  301  in the apparatus body  210  or  310  provides the heater device  220  or  320  with the necessary electric energy for working. The heater device  220  or  320  can be packaged with a DC battery, and then attached to the apparatus body  210  or  310  before an X-ray examination. The body warm-keeping apparatus  300  of the third embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  further comprises a second heater device  320 ′, a second photographic receptor  330 ′, and a second accommodation compartment  340 ′. The two heater devices  320  and  320 ′ use one common power supply unit  301 . The medical person can move the X-ray source  400  to photograph the chest and legs of the patient by X-rays. Alternatively, the body warm-keeping apparatus can be equipped with one single heater device that can be shifted between two locations corresponding to different photographic receptors for photographing two different parts of the patient. Further, one single big-size heater device (about the same size of the platform  311 ) may be used to substitute for the arrangement of the two heater devices  320  and  320 ′ for full body X-ray photograph. 
         [0040]    Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.