Abstract:
The present invention discloses an (x-ray) bone densitometer comprising a stand including an “L”-shape handle consisted of an horizontal and a vertical plate capable of rotating between an horizontal position and a vertical position on the horizontal plate, a handle groove, the first and the second guide pins, and a stand groove; and a housing including an opening formed perpendicular in the center of the upper part (of said housing), the opening having one or more of the first and the second guide grooves for guiding the movements of said first and said second guide pins, a stand settle groove for settling the stand when the stand is settled horizontally, and a stand erecting groove for supporting the stand when the stand is erected in slope.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a bone densitometer for measuring bone density for the purpose of diagnosis of osteoporosis using x-ray, and, in particular, to an integrated bone densitometer having a stand for supporting the part of a body to be measured which is so designed that the position of the stand can be adjusted.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
         [0002]    Generally, density of a human bone decreases with increase of the age as it can be observed from a cross-sectional view of a bone showing devastation by pore formations in the tissue of the bone, resulting in decrease of the bone strength. When the density of a bone decreases, the bone can easily be injured by small impact and, in extreme cases, even a patient&#39;s life can be menaced. A bone densitometer is an apparatus for measuring the density of a bone for the purpose of preventing or stopping this decrease process in bone density.  
           [0003]    For obtaining an accurate result, it is preferable that the bones of the heel or of the wrist of a patient are measured, and measurement of the same bone should be repeated for monitoring the process of osteoporosis.  
           [0004]    As shown in FIG  1   a , a conventional bone densitometer is equipped with a foot stand  1  for accurate measurement of heel bones, comprising a sole guide and a calf guide capable of pivoting to form a right angle during the measurement. A patient  2  puts his sole and heel on the sole guide and the calf guide, respectively, while the sole guide and the calf guide remain rectangular to each other during the measurement.  
           [0005]    Referring to FIG. 1 b , in order to measure the density of wrist bones, the foot stand  1  should be removed from the bone densitometer. If, on the other hand, a measurement of heel bones is necessary after measurement of wrist bones, the foot stand  1  should be reinstasted and the position and direction of the bone densitometer need to be rearranged, which process is unhandy and inconvenient.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention, conceived in view of the above demand, alms to provide a bone densitometer with a stand which is capable of measuring bone density of both the wirst bones and the heel bones by simply adjusting the settle position according to the body parts to be measured  
           [0007]    The present invention further aims to provide a stand for bone densitometer which allows easy change of the settle position for different body parts in order to yield enhanced convenience in measurements. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 a  illustrates a conventional bone densitometer in use for measuring the heel part.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 b  illustrates a conventional bone densitometer in use for measuring the wrist part.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing the construction of a bone densitometer in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 3 a  through  3   f  illustrate the outer appearances of a bone densitometer having a stand  100  for support of the body part to be measured as set horizontally, wherein FIG. 3 a  is a plane view, FIG. 3 b  is a front view, FIG. 3 c  is a bottom view, FIG. 3 d  is a right side view. FIG. 3 e  is a rear view, and FIG. 3 f  is a perspective view.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 a  is a perspective view of a bone densitometer as the right part cut off, and of the stand  100  as it is separated from the main body of the bone densitometer.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 b  is a cross sectional view of the bone densitometer as the right part cut off, after the stand  100  has been separated.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 a  is a perspective view of the stand  100  with a handle  110  in perpendicular position.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 b  is a perspective view of the stand  100  with a handle  110  in horizontal position.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 c  is an exploded perspective view of the stand.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 a  is a perspective view of a bone densitometer in accordance with the present invention with its stand set horizontally, and the right side of the stand being cut off.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 b  is a right side view of a bone densitometer in accordance with the present invention with its stand set horizontally, and the right side of the stand being cut off  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 c  is a perspective view of a bone densitometer in accordance with the present invention with its stand erected to a slope position, and the right side of the stand being cut off.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 d  is a cross sectional view of a bone densitometer in accordance with the present invention with its stand erected to a slope position, and the right side of the stand being cut off. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    Now, a description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is given below, making reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing the construction of a bone densitometer in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0023]    Referring to FIG. 2, the bone densitometer comprises an x-ray generator  3 , an x-ray detector  4 , a power supply  5 , and a main board  6 .  
         [0024]    The x-ray generator  3  includes a controller, a D/A converter, a driver, a collimator A for preventing dispersion of x-ray, and a shutter for physical interception of x-ray. The x-ray dector  4  which receives the x-rays from the x-ray generator  3 , includes a scintillator for changing the x-ray to a visible ray. The power supply  5  supplies electricity securely to the x-ray generator 3 , the x-ray dector  4 , and the main board  6 , the main board  6  controls the x-ray generator  3  and the x-ray dector  4 , and transmits images received from the x-ray dector  4  through USB (Universal Serial Bus).  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 3 a  through  3   f  illustrate the outer appearances of the bone densitometer having a stand  100  for support of the body part to be measured as set horizontally, wherein FIG. 3 a  is a plane view, FIG. 3 b  is a front view, FIG. 3 c  is a bottom view, FIG. 3 d  is a right side view, FIG. 3 e  is a rear view, and FIG. 3 f  is a perspective view.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  show the bone densitometer with the right part cut off.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 a  is a perspective view of the bone densitometer as the right part cut off, and of the stand  100  as it is separated from the main body of the bone densitometer.  
         [0028]    As shown in FIG. 4 a , a housing  10  includes an opening  11  formed perpendicular in the center of the upper part and having the first guide groove  12  and the second guide groove  14  at each side of the opening  11  for guiding the movements of the stand  100 ; a stand settle groove  16  formed concavely in the bottom of the opening  11  for accommodating the stand  100  when the stand  100  is settled horizontally; and a stand erecting groove  18  formed concavely to support the stand  100  when the stand  100  the stand  100  is erected in slope.  
         [0029]    And at far right side of FIG. 4 a , the stand  100  for supporting the measure part of the body is shown as separated from the housing  10 . The stand  100  includes the first guide pin  142  to be connected to the first guide groove  12  and the second guide pin  144  to be connected to the second guide groove  14  at each side in order to ensure safe guidance of the movements of the stand  100  in the opening  11 .  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 b  is a cross sectional view of the bone densitometer as the right part cut off, after the stand  100  has been separated.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIG. 4 b , the first guide grooves  12  are formed to enable curve motion between the inner lower part and the outer upper part of the opening  11  in combination with the first guide pins  142  of the stand  100 , while the second guide grooves  14  comprise a linear part for guiding linear motion of the second guide pins  144  along each side of the opening  11 , and a curved part at the innermost end of the linear part to allow the second guide pins  144  to move downward. And, the stand settle groove  16  includes a stand erecting groove  18  formed concavely for supporting edge of the stand  100 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 a  is a perspective view of the stand  100  with a handle  110  in perpendicular position.  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 5 a , the stand  100  in ‘L’-shape consisted of a horizontal plate and a vertical plate includes a handle  110  rotatable between horizontal and vertical angles on the horizontal plate; a handle groove  112  formed on the horizontal plate for accommodating the handle  110  in the horizontal plate when the handle  110  is rotated to the horizontal position; the first guide pins  142  and the second guide pins  144  formed at each side of the stand  100  for guiding movements of the stand  100 ; a support plate  120  formed in plate form vertically to the horizontal plate; and a stand groove  130  formed at an end of the stand  100 , allowing easy grasping and carrying of the horizontal plate. Thus, a simple holding of the handle  110  in its vertical position allows correct placing of the wrist part to be measured and supporting thereof at the same time, so that the accuracy of measurement is ensured.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 5 b  is a perspective view of the stand  100  with the handle  110  in horozontal position.  
         [0035]    If the handle  110  is in its vertical position, laid in the handle groove  112  as shown in FIG. 5 b , the heel bones can be measured, in which case the calf shall adhere to the horizontal plate while the sole shall adhere to the vertical plate.  
         [0036]    The parts of the stand  100  are explained below with reference to FIG. 5 c , which is an exploded view thereof.  
         [0037]    As shown in FIG. 5 c , the handle  110  includes a shaft hole  116  in a slot form formed along the handle&#39;s length, piercing the lower part of the handle  110 , and turns on the shaft  114  which pierces the side of the stand  100  and inserts into the shaft hole  116 . When the handle  110  is set vertically, the handle  110  goes down until the shaft  114  touches the upper end of the shaft hole  116 , and is set not to rotate further, because the lower part of the handle  110  is blocked by the handle groove  112 . And, when the handle  110  is to be set horizontally, the handle  110  should be raised until the shaft  114  touches the lower end of the shaft hole  116  and then be pivoted on the shaft  114  until the handle  114  is entirely buried in the handle groove  112 .  
         [0038]    The support plate  120  is combined with the support plate slot  122  in a manner movable along the support plate slot  122  formed on the horizontal plate of the stand  100  in a direction rectangular to the length of the stand  100 . The support plate  120  initially remains tightly drawn to the inside of the support plate slot  122  by the restore spring  124 . When measuring commences, the support plate is moved outward along the support plate  122 , the measuring part is placed on the stand  100 , so that the measuring part is supported and tightly adhered to the support plate  120  by force of the restore spring  124  after the force inflicted on the support plate  122  has been removed. In addition, the far right drawing in FIG. 5 c  illustrates the support plate  120  and the restore spring  124  as combined together.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 6 a  is a perspective view of a bone densitometer in accordance with the present invention with its stand set horizontally, and the right side of the stand being cut off.  
         [0040]    A bone densitometer with the stand set horizontally in the opening  11 , and with vertically erected handle  110  in the stand  100  as shown in FIG. 6 a , is for measuring the wrist bones. When a patient puts his hand in the opening  11  and grasps the handle  110 , the forearm is properly supported by the support plate  100  and the wrist is correctly placed in the pathway of the x-ray.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 6 b  is a right side view of a bone densitometer in accordance with the present invention with its stand set horizontally, and the right side of the stand being cut off.  
         [0042]    Referring to FIG. 6 b , when the stand  100  is set horizontally, the first guide pin  142  is situated at the upper end of the first guide groove  12 , the second guide pin  144  is situated at the right end of the second guide groove (not illustrated in the drawing), and the stand  100  is settled on the stand settle groove  16 . Then, the stand  100  is supported firmly without any additional fixture means because the bottom and edge of the stand  100  contact tightly to the surface of the bottom and sides of the stand settle groove  16 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 6 c  is a perspective view of a bone densitometer in accordance with the present invention with its stand erected to a slope position, and the right side of the stand being cut off.  
         [0044]    If the user grasps the stand groove  130  and lifts the stand  100 , while pulling it in a state as in FIG. 6 a , so that the first guide pin  142  is situated at the lower end of the first guide groove  12  and the second guide pin  144  is situated at the left end of the second guide groove  14 , the edges of the stand  100  are settled on the stand erection groove  18  in slope as shown in FIG. 6 c . This structure of the bone densitometer is designed for measurement of the heel bones. For measuring density of the heel bones, the handle  110  is laid down and put into the horizontal plate of the stand  100 , and then the heel is put in the pathway of the x-ray by adherences of the calf to the horizontal plate and of the sole to the vertical plate.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 6 d  is a cross sectional view of a bone densitometer in accordance with the present invention with its stand erected to a slope position, and the right side of the stand being cut off.  
         [0046]    If the user grasps the stand groove  130  and lifts the stand  100  while pulling it in a state as in FIG. 6 b , the first guide pin  142  moves in curve to the inner lower part of the densitometer along the first guide groove  12  and the second guide pin  144  enters the curved part of the second guide groove  14  and moves downward so that the edges of the stand  100  also move downward, and thus, the stand  100  is settled on the stand erection groove  18  forming a ‘V’-shape, as shown in FIG. 6 d . With the stand  100  settled as in FIG. 6 d , the second guide pin  144  is positioned in the lower end of the curved part of the second guide groove  14  and the stand  100  is not movable to the right, to the left, or to downward, so that the stand is supported firmly without any additional fixing means.  
         [0047]    In order to change the position of the stand  100  from a status as in FIG. 6 d  to a status as in FIG. 6 b , the stand should be lifted, to let the second guide pin  144  depart the lower end of the curved part of the second guide groove  14 , and then the first guide pin  142  is moved to the outer upper end of the first guide groove  12 , while the second guide pin  144  is moved to the outer end of the second guide groove  14 , so that the stand  100  is settled on the stand settle groove  16  horizontally.  
         [0048]    Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments, the scope of the rights of the subject invention is not restricted thereto, but rather shall be determined by the claims attached herein below and their equivalents, allowing various alterations, modifications, and adjustments, as those skilled in the art will understand.  
         [0049]    As described above, the present invention allows easy measurements of both heel bones and wrist bones without additional apparatus, because the bone densitometer in accordance with the present invention is equipped with a stand capable of supporting a foot as well as a wrist.  
         [0050]    Further, since the bone densitometer in accordance with the present invention is equipped with an integrated stand capable of changing its position and capable of supporting the wrist part in horizontal, or supporting the heel parting slope position, the bone densitometer enhances convenience in measurements of the bone density.