Abstract:
A mount ( 50 ) is adapted to be move along a table ( 20 ) without disturbing a patient (P) lying on a pad ( 130 ) on the table. The mount includes lips ( 52  and  72 ) which are joined by a cross member ( 90 ) which passes under the table ( 20 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to mounts for imaging tables, and more particularly relates to mounts capable of accommodating various accessories and peripherals, such as accessory rails, armboards and the like. 
     Connection of accessories to an imaging table must meet several requirements, and there are a number of desirable features as well. The requirements are onerous because the imaging table is typically constructed of carbon fiber and other composites, making attachment difficult. The requirements are: 
     The mounts must reduce scatter. 
     The mounts must be radiolucent. 
     The mounts must have sufficient strength. 
     The mounts must be easy to place and remove. 
     The mounts must be easy to disinfect. 
     In addition to these requirements, it is desirable to have a method of attachment that also has the following characteristics: 
     It must be lightweight. 
     It must have the ability to be placed/removed while a patient is in the imaging position without disturbing the patient, and in a brief period of time 
     It must have the ability to mount without interference to the table comfort pad. 
     Current mounts are either of the clamping variety, or, are an enclosed, slip-on box. This invention uses an open design that is slip on, but does not have the attendant problems of the box design. A comparative ranking of the various approaches, including the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown below: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Preferred 
               
               
                 Requirement/Need 
                 Clamp 
                 Box 
                 Embodiment 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Mounts must reduce scatter 
                 N 
                 N 
                 F 
               
               
                 Mounts must be radiolucent 
                 P 
                 N 
                 F 
               
               
                 Mounts must have sufficient strength 
                 P 
                 F 
                 F 
               
               
                 Mounts must be easy to place and remove 
                 F 
                 N 
                 F 
               
               
                 Mounts must be easy to disinfect 
                 P 
                 P 
                 F 
               
               
                 Lightweight 
                 F 
                 P 
                 F 
               
               
                 Ability to be placed/removed while a 
                 F 
                 N 
                 F 
               
               
                 patient is in the imaging position without 
               
               
                 disturbing the patient, and in a brief 
               
               
                 period of time 
               
               
                 Ability to mount without interference to 
                 N 
                 N 
                 F 
               
               
                 the table comfort pad. 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Legend:  
               
               
                 N does not meet;  
               
               
                 P partially meets;  
               
               
                 F Fully Meets  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In summary, the preferred embodiment of the present invention addresses the problems presented by prior known mounts and provides a solution. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is useful in a medical table comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, a first edge portion and a second edge portion. In such an environment, the preferred embodiment provides a mount for supporting accessories comprising: 
     a first lip adapted to be carried by the first edge portion; 
     a second lip adapted to be carried by the second edge portion; and 
     a cross member coupling the first lip with the second lip, whereby the mount is able to move along the table while carried by the first lip and second lip. 
     By using a mount with the foregoing features, all the advantages described in the table of the background section can be realized. In addition, the preferred embodiment of the invention is highly beneficial to the clinician and technologist who use imaging tables for interventional procedures. Virtually all such procedures have a need for an accessory (or peripheral) device to be attached to the table to successfully complete the procedure. The preferred embodiment is superior to existing designs as described above. In addition, the preferred embodiment improves patient comfort, ease of access to peripherals in the event of an interventional emergency, may reduce radiation exposure to patients and clinicians, and requires less time to clean post-procedure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of mount made in accordance with the invention and employing accessory rails. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mount shown in FIG. 1 mounted on a medical table. 
     FIG. 3 is perspective view of another form of mount made in accordance with the invention and employing an armboard. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the left hand portion of the mount shown in FIG. 3 installed on the table shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the right hand portion of the mount shown in FIG. 3 installed on the table shown in FIG.  2  and with flange  112  removed. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another form of mount made in accordance with the invention and employing two armboards. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, a preferred form of the invention is useful in connection with a medical table  20 , which may be an interventional imaging table, such as a table used for computed tomography (CT) imaging, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, ultrasound imaging, x-ray imaging, and the like. Table  20  includes an upper surface  22  and a lower surface  24 . An edge portion  26  of table  20  includes a lateral surface  28  and a depending surface  30  which are joined at a junction  32 . An edge portion  36  of table  20  includes a lateral surface  38  and a depending surface  40  which are joined at a junction  42 . 
     A mount  50  includes a lip  52  having a lower surface  54  defining a plane P 1 . Mount  50  also includes a side member  60  having a joining surface  62  defining a plane P 2 . Plane P 1  make an acute angle A 1  with plane P 2 . Lip  52  is carried by lateral surface  28 . 
     Mount  50  also includes a lip  72  having a lower surface  74  defining a plane P 3 . Mount  50  also includes a side member  80  having a joining surface  82  defining a plane P 4 . Plane P 3  make an acute angle A 2  with plane P 4  which is equal to angle A 1 . Plane P 1  is coplanar with plane P 3 . Lip  72  is carried by lateral surface  38 . 
     Mount  50  also includes a cross member  90  which is cantilevered with respect to lower surface  24  of table  20 . Cross member  90  has an upper surface  92  and a lower surface  94 . Surface  92  is separated from surface  24  by a predetermined gap of about 0.25 inch adjacent centerline C 1  (FIG.  1 ). Referring to FIG. 4, at the left hand portion of mount  50 , surface  24  is separated from surface  92  by a gap G 2  which is less than the predetermined gap. At point PT 2 , there is nearly a zero clearance between surfaces  24  and  92 . Referring to FIG. 5, at the right hand portion of mount  50 , surface  24  is separated from surface  92  by a gap G 3  which is less than the predetermined gap. At point PT 3 , there is nearly a zero clearance between surfaces  24  and  92 . Surface  92  makes an angle A 3  with respect to surface  24 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1, members  60  and  80  become thicker as they approach the region where they join cross member  90 . Referring to FIG. 3, members  60  and  80  have parallel walls. The objects of the invention may be realized using either shape. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, mount  50  is joined to an accessory rail  100  by spacers  102  and  104 . An accessory rail  106  is joined to mount  50  by spacers  108  and  110 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a flange  112  is integrally formed with member  80 . An armboard  114  is rotatably mounted on flange  112  with a pivot  116 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, a flange  120  is integrally formed with member  60 . An armboard  122  is rotatably mounted on flange  120  with a pivot  124 . 
     A pad  130  lies on surface  22  of table  20 . A patient P is placed on top of the pad in the center portion CP. Mount  50  is constructed such that it can be slid onto the edge portions  26  and  36  of table  20  while the patient is lying on pad  130  without moving the patient. Lips  52  and  72  slip under the edges of pad  130  as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Mount  50  can be moved in either direction D 3  or D 4  without moving the patient. More specifically, lip  52  slides under side section S 1  and lip  72  slides under side section S 2 . The close spacing between surfaces  30  and  62  prevent motion of mount  50  with respect to table  20  in lateral direction D 1 . The close spacing between surfaces  40  and  82  prevent motion of mount  50  with respect to table  20  in lateral direction D 2 . Direction D 1  is the opposite of direction D 2 . The foregoing spacing also enables mount  50  is sustain a torsional load with respect to table  20 . 
     Cross-member  90  is designed to handle mechanical stress. The single cross-member enhances the ability to clean and disinfect mount  50  because there are no small areas where a gloved hand cannot wipe the mount. The open design also allows the device to be placed on table  50  under table pad, but only at the edges where the patient does not place a load on the pad, making the placement/removal easy, even with the patient in place. 
     Use of an interference joint (e.g., members  60  and  80 ) with the table shape (e.g., surfaces  30  and  40 ) provides additional strength. The strength capability is an order of magnitude beyond current designs, making possible new, previously impractical table peripherals (such as on-table injectors). The mount is manufactured from composite materials, providing strength, light weight, increased radiolucency, and reduced X-ray scatter. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that the preferred embodiments may be altered and modified without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.