Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a linear slide assembly to assist in the motion of an arm that moves vertically in an arc with the center of access statically attached to the linear slide assembly which is to be utilized in the field of portable x-ray imaging and more specifically, a system and method for extending and retracting a vertically moveable arm in a limited linear motion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/363,376 filed Jul. 18, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Present Disclosure 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a linear slide assembly to assist in the motion of an arm that moves vertically in an arc with the center of axis statically attached to the linear slide assembly which is to be utilized in the field of portable x-ray imaging utilized to image patients and more specifically, a system and method for extending and retracting a vertically moveable arm in a limited linear motion. 
       Description of the Related Art 
       [0003]    The present disclosure is directed to a method of and apparatus for extending and retracting a vertically moveable mechanism/arm in a limited linear distance. 
         [0004]    The x-ray is the most valuable imaging modality in the assessment of neonatal/human subjects with respiratory distress as well as orthopedic abnormalities. Portable X-ray units can be very heavy and cumbersome to move, for example, around a crowded neonatal department between incubators and/or beds. This disclosure includes an apparatus that allows a technician to move the arm to which an x-ray source is attached laterally in a limited increment along the same axis of the arm to facilitate the accurate focusing of the x-ray tube on the patient without having to move the complete portable x-ray unit. 
         [0005]    In typical x-ray imaging the subject/patient is immobilized. The subject/patient or a part or portion thereof is placed between an x-ray source and a digital imaging device (detector) to create a two-dimensional radiographic image of the subject/patient. Neonatal unit patients are small but this doesn&#39;t make the job is easier . . . in many respects it makes the job harder. The multitude of attachments (e.g., ekg, respirator, etc.) to the baby is also a challenge. The attachments seem to dominate the space around the baby and the bed or incubator in which it rests. 
         [0006]    The problem that arises with the above scenario is that space between, for example, isolette incubators is minimal with all of the equipment that is needed for the care of the newborns in the incubators. This systems, methods and apparatus of the present disclosure will allow for the imaging of the subject newborn from a greater number of different positions of the x-ray source and x-ray receptor relative to the subject while allowing the main body of the portable x-ray system to remain stationary. To do this, the arm that the x-ray source is attached to is mounted to a linear slide that is mounted on the vertical arm of the mobile unit. This facilitates placement of the main unit close to the isolette and allows the technician to make minute adjustments to the positioning of the x-ray source and its arm without moving the main x-ray unit. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 9,150,355 B2, entitled “Telescoping Mechanism and Method of Extending and Retracting a Telescoping Mechanism”, Hortig et al. refers to a system that extends and retracts a telescoping arm. In the present disclosure, the arm moves linearly horizontally and vertically within an arc. 
         [0008]    It would be advantageous to have a compact portable x-ray system with a limited linear motion to enable the operator to not have to move the complete unit to incrementally adjust the x-ray source and be able to target the subject/patient. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    As described herein, the exemplary embodiments overcome one or more of the above or other disadvantages known in the art. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a method and system for extending and retracting the movable arm on a portable neonatal x-ray unit. In one embodiment, the method and system includes an x-ray source, a flat panel digital x-ray detector, an arm that moves vertically with a point attached to the main portable x-ray unit with the x-ray source attached, and a linear slide attached to both the main portable x-ray unit and the arm (collectively referred to herein as the “unit”). 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, a linear slide apparatus for an x-ray source is provided where the x-ray source is mounted to a first end of an arm. The linear slide includes a top panel to which a second end of the arm is mounted, two linear rails, two bearing housings each slideably engaged with one of the linear rails to produce a linear movement along the path of the linear rails and the two bearing housings are also connected to the top panel and a linear slide base to which the linear rails are mounted, the linear slide base also attached to a structural base unit via an attachment structure such as a post capable of permitting rotational movement of the linear slide base around the structural base unit. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, a portable x-ray unit is provided. The portable x-ray unit includes an arm, an x-ray source mounted to a first end of an arm, a moveable structural base unit to which the linear slide base is attached via an attachment structure such as a post capable of permitting rotational movement of the linear slide base around the moveable structural base unit and an x-ray detector. The linear slide apparatus includes a top panel to which a second end of the arm is mounted, two linear rails, two bearing housings each slideably engaged with one of the linear rails to produce a linear movement along the path of the linear rails and the two bearing housings are also connected to the top panel and a linear slide base to which the linear rails are mounted. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, a portable x-ray unit is provided. The portable x-ray unit comprises an arm, an x-ray source mounted to a first end of an arm, a linear slide apparatus, a monitor, an x-ray detector and a moveable structural base unit. The linear slide apparatus comprises a top panel to which a second end of the arm is mounted, two linear rails, two bearing housings each slideably engaged with one of the linear rails to produce a linear movement along the path of the linear rails, the two bearing housings connected to the top panel and a linear slide base to which the linear rails are mounted. The moveable structural base unit to which the linear slide base is attached via an attachment structure is capable of permitting rotational movement of the linear slide base around the moveable structural base unit, the moveable structural base unit including an x-ray operation and control system used to control the x-ray source unit and the x-ray detector, where the x-ray detector is hard wired or wirelessly in communication with the x-ray operation and control system. 
         [0014]    The above aspects of the disclosed embodiments overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by advantageously allowing the operator to be able to adjust and/or move the arm of the portable x-ray unit to better align the x-ray beam on the subject and to ensure that the physician/technician (the operator of x-ray unit) has attained the intended procedure/image in an expedient manner without having to manipulate the patient. 
         [0015]    These and other aspects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. Moreover, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a linear slide apparatus. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  displays a front view of the linear slide apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  displays a back view of the linear slide apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  displays a side view of the linear slide apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an exploded bottom side view of the linear slide apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an exploded top end view of the linear slide apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate the movement of the linear slide apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is the exemplary view of a linear slide apparatus attached to and utilized in an x-ray unit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The systems, apparatus and methods of the present disclosure address the needs of the art by providing the operator (e.g., physician, technician, etc.) an apparatus and technique for imaging subjects/patients that overcome the shortfalls of portable x-ray units by allowing the fine tuning of the x-ray source and x-ray receptor (i.e., the detector) relative to the subject/patient or a part or portion thereof such that the subject/patient or part or portion thereof is positioned between the x-ray source and x-ray receptor (i.e., the detector) for the preparation of imaging and performing the x-ray imaging process to obtain an x-ray image of the subject/patient or part or portion thereof without having to move the entire x-ray unit. The systems, apparatus and methods of the present disclosure enable the use of a linear slide mounted to a structure on the cart to efficiently provide accurate imaging of a subject/patient by allowing the technician to move the arm incrementally in a limited linear motion thereby ensuring that the region of interest is imaged properly. 
         [0025]    One embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 , includes a fixture and/or unit constructed of metal (preferably aluminum and/or steel) herein called a linear slide apparatus  1 . Linear slide apparatus  1  is mounted at a secured point to an attachment structure, for example, a post  6 , located on a portable x-ray unit  17 . The linear slide apparatus  1  is attached at position  7  to an arm  2 . The arm  2  can move vertically up and down within an arc with an x-ray source  16  attached to the end of the arm  2  at position  19  opposite to the end of the arm  2  attached to the linear slide apparatus at position  7 . The linear slide apparatus  1  allows the arm  2  to move in a limited linear motion  20  as well as a 360 degree circular motion  21  isocentered around its attachment point at post  6  to the main base  18  of the portable x-ray unit  17 , as shown in  FIGS. 7A, 7B and 8 . The movement of the linear slide apparatus can be performed manually by a human operator (e.g., physician/technician) 
         [0026]    The assembly of linear slide apparatus  1  includes a linear slide base  55  that includes three steel or aluminium panels including a bottom structure plate  13 A and two side structure plates  13 B and  13 C and a steel or aluminium top panel  14  where the arm  2  is attached at position  7 . Side structure plates  13 B and  13 C are both mounted to bottom structure plate  13 A using acceptable fastening devices  21  (for example, screws, rivets or other fastening devices). Side structure plates  13 B and  13 C are positioned on opposing sides of bottom structure plate  13 A, side structure plates  13 B and  13 C preferably being substantially perpendicular to bottom structure plate  13 A and substantially parallel to each other. Side structure plate  13 B may also include end pieces  22 A and  22 B and side structure plate  13 C may also include end pieces  23 A and  23 B. Each pair of end pieces are positioned on opposite sides of the side structure plate to which they are attached using acceptable fastening devices  24  (for example, screws, rivets or other fastening devices). The end pieces may also be attached to bottom structure plate  13 A using acceptable fastening devices  21  (for example, screws, rivets or other fastening devices). Side structure plates  13 B and  13 C may also include side shield panels  15 A and  15 B respectively. Side shield panels  15 A and  15 B may be attached to side structure plates  13 B and  13 C via bar structures  25 A and  25 B that are themselves attached to side structure plates  13 B and  13 C using acceptable fastening devices  26  (for example, screws, rivets or other fastening devices). 
         [0027]    Steel roller bearings are attached to top panel  14  to provide linear motion relative to linear slide base  55 . The steel roller bearings include two bearing housings  12 A and  12 B and two corresponding linear rails  5 A and  5 B. Bearing housings  12 A and  12 B are substantially identical and each includes bearing elements positioned in linear slots  27 A and  27 B, respectively. The linear slots  27 A and  27 B may be tapered in cross-section as illustrated in  FIG. 6  such that the openings  28 A and  28 B at the bottom of the respective linear slots are smaller in cross-section than their respective slot bases  29 A and  29 B. Bearing housings  12 A and  12 B are attached to top panel  14  and positioned such that linear slots  27 A and  27 B are substantially parallel to one another. 
         [0028]    Side structure plates  13 B and  13 C include linear rails  5 A and  5 B respectively connected thereto. Linear rails  5 A and  5 B are substantially identical and may be positioned between and connected to the respective end pieces should side structure plates  13 B and  13 C include same. Linear rail  5 A includes linear rail slots  30 A and  30 B on opposing sides of linear rail  5 A and linear rail  5 B includes linear rail slots  31 A and  31 B on opposing sides of linear rail  5 B. Linear rail slots  30 A,  30 B,  31 A and  31 B may be substantially U-shaped or other shape so that these linear rail slots are of a complementary size and shape to engage linear slots  27 A and  27 B of bearing housings  12 A and  12 B such that bearing housings  12 A and  12 B are slideable along linear rails  5 A and  5 B, preferably so that the bearing housings can only be engaged and disengaged at one of the two ends of the rails. 
         [0029]    A friction lock  3  is also connected to bearing housing  12 A through slot  32  in side shield  15 . Friction lock  3  can be used to limit the linear motion speed (including limiting the speed of travel of or stopping the linear motion for a given amount of force imposed by an operator of the apparatus) of bearing housing  12 A as well as top panel  14  and those components attached thereto. 
         [0030]    As included previously, the end of the arm  2  attached to the linear slide apparatus at position  7 . Position  7  may include a hollow sleeve  33  attached to top panel  14  and a collar  34  which is positioned inside hollow sleeve  33 . Collar  34  may include a linear cavity  35  through the length thereof with an opening  36  through which electrical and other connective wires and cables are fed that lead through arm  2  to x-ray source  16 . An embodiment can include collar  34  being fixed within hollow sleeve  33  or such that collar  34  can have rotational motion relative to hollow sleeve  33 . This structure may also provide an attachment to post  37  to which arm  2  may be attached via, for example, a pin  38  passing though post  37  and arm  2  such that arm  2  can pivot around pin  38 . 
         [0031]    Linear slide apparatus  1  is secured to post  6  (an attachment structure) to which it is mounted to the main base  18 . The mounting apparatus may include stationary shaft  39  and sleeve structural tube  40  which are connected using eye bolt  41  that is connected to structural tube  40  and passes through a central passage  57  in stationary shaft  39 . Another embodiment can include a similar structure where structural tube  40  is stationary and shaft  39  is moveable. In between stationary shaft  39  and sleeve structural tube  40  may be a plurality of washers and bearings including, for example, bearing washers  42 , thrust bearings  43 , sleeve bearing  44  and steel washer  45 . Steel screw  46  can also pass through a hole in structural tube  40  for holding stationary shaft  39  within the tube. Sleeve bearing  44  runs over stationary shaft  39  to allow rotational movement. 
         [0032]    A friction lock  11  is also connected to through a hole  58  in bottom structure plate  13 A to engage and limit rotational motion of the linear slide apparatus  1  relative to the main base  18 . Friction lock  11  can be used to limit the rotational motion speed (including limiting the speed of travel of or stopping the rotational motion for a given amount of force imposed by an operator of the apparatus) of linear slide apparatus  1  and those components attached thereto. 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a moveable x-ray source unit  17  that includes a base  18 , a linear slide  1  and a vertically moving arm  2 . The base  18  may include various electrical, power, computer and other systems used to control and optionally power to the x-ray source unit  16  and the x-ray detector  56  (an x-ray operation and control system). Various cables, electrical and other conduits may pass from the base  18  up through column  47 , linear slide  1  and arm  2  to x-ray source  16 . X-ray source unit  17  also includes computer monitor or display  48  and an x-ray detector  56  (for example, a digital x-ray detector and a flat panel x-ray detector including a flat panel x-ray digital detector). As used herein, the term “display” or “monitor” means any type of device adapted to display information, including without limitation CRTs, LCDs, TFTs, plasma displays, LEDs, and fluorescent devices. Computer monitor  48  can be physically attached to column  47  and electrically connected to base  18  and in communication with the various electrical, power, computer and other systems housed therein, can be moveable from the base  18  and physically attached to and electrically connected (e.g., hard wired) to base  18  and in communication with the various electrical, power, computer and other systems housed therein or can be independent from base  18  as well as independently powered (e.g. a battery or separate power source) and wirelessly connected to and in communication with (e.g., WIFI, Bluetooth, etc.) the various electrical, computer and other systems housed therein. X-ray detector  56  can be moveable from the base  18  and physically attached to and electrically connected (e.g., hard wired) to base  18  and in communication with the various electrical, power, computer and other systems housed therein or can be independent from base  18  as well as independently powered (e.g. a battery or separate power source) and wirelessly connected  59  to and in communication with (e.g., WIFI, Bluetooth, etc.) the various electrical, computer and other systems housed therein. Moveable x-ray source  17  also includes a plurality of wheels  49  or other suitable attachment to permit movement thereof, for example, four wheels, one located at the corners of base  18 , if the bottom  50  of base  18  is generally square in shape positioned parallel to the floor. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate the linear movement along path  20 , the rotational movement around axis  21  and vertical movement of arm  2  and the x-ray source attached to it  51  of for example, about 75°. As a result of the linear slide apparatus  1 , the arm  2  and attached x-ray source  16  can be raised from the position shown in  FIG. 8  so has to reduce the vertical footprint to be within the area of the base  18  should the sides of base  18  be extended upwards. As a result, the moveable x-ray source unit  17  can be manoeuvred in the tight quarters of, for example, a neonatal unit where there is minimal floor space due to the presence of incubators and other hospital equipment taking up floor space. 
         [0035]    The embodiment of  FIG. 8  may also include a mounting arm  52  which is connected to arm  2  and may allow pivot up and down of x-ray source  16  relative to arm  2  at position  53 . Mounting arm  52  may be connected to x-ray source  16  at position  54  and may allow axial rotation of x-ray source around position  54  relative to mounting arm  52 . 
         [0036]    Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.