Abstract:
A focusing board assembly for a medical imaging equipment gives a comfortable feeling mentally or physically by visually getting rid of an oppressive feeling arisen when a patient is in a tunnel-like enclosed space such as MRI or CT for his/her medical examination.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a focusing board assembly for a medical imaging equipment, and more particularly, to a focusing board assembly for a medical imaging equipment that reduces an oppressive feeling arisen when a patient is in a tunnel-like enclosed space such as MRI or CT for his/her medical examination. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    An medical imaging equipment used to diagnose various diseases of human body is largely divided into a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a computer tomography (CT), and a positron emission tomography (PET). 
         [0003]    To scan an affected part using the medical imaging equipment, patients should lie in a monochromatic and narrow space of a bow for a long time. The patients feel as if they are heavily burdened, causing panic disorder. In some cases, some patients deny themselves to the medical examination. Claustrophobia makes the above-mentioned symptoms severer. 
         [0004]    In order to solve the problems, various attempts have been made to make patients feel comfortable, for example, by using a mirror or an aromatic, or by providing music or movies with special glasses. However, most of the attempts were costly or insufficiently effective. 
       SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE 
       [0005]    The present invention is designed to solve the problems of the prior art, and therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a focusing board assembly for a medical imaging equipment that gives a comfortable feeling mentally or physically by visually getting rid of an oppressive feeling arisen in a tight or enclosed space. 
         [0006]    In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a focusing board assembly for a medical imaging equipment, comprising: a focusing board installed at an inner periphery of a hollow bow, and having a predetermined color or pattern; a cover installed under the focusing board, and having an opening of a predetermined size; and a rotating means configured to selectively rotate any one of the focusing board and the cover, wherein when any one of the focusing board and the cover is rotated by the rotating means, the color or pattern on the focusing board is sequentially shown through the opening. 
         [0007]    Preferably, the focusing board and the cover are installed to a support member installed at the inner periphery of the bow such that any one of the focusing board and the cover is rotatably installed to the support member and the other is fixed to the support member. The rotating means includes a plurality of protrusions arranged at a predetermined interval on any one rotatably installed among the focusing board and the cover; and a jet unit configured to selectively jet air to the protrusions, wherein any one of the focusing board and the cover is rotated by the air jetted from the jet unit to the protrusions. 
         [0008]    Preferably, among the focusing board and the cover, the focusing board is rotated, and the rotating means includes a rotary motor unit installed at an end of the bow in a lengthwise direction of the bow or outside of the bow not to influence a magnetic field of the medical imaging equipment; and a rotary shaft configured to receive the driving force from the rotary motor unit to rotate the focusing board. 
         [0009]    Preferably, a guide groove or rail is formed at the inner periphery of the bow along a lengthwise direction of the bow, and a support member is slidably installed to the guide groove or rail. The focusing board and the cover are installed to the support member such that any one of the focusing board and the cover is rotatably installed to the support member and the other is fixed to the support member. 
         [0010]    Meanwhile, a focusing board assembly for a medical imaging equipment according to the present invention comprises a support installed at a hollow bow, and having a space therein where a movable bed is located or movable; a focusing board installed to the support, and having a predetermined color or pattern; a cover installed under the focusing board, and having an opening of a predetermined size; and a rotating means configured to selectively rotate any one of the focusing board and the cover, wherein when any one of the focusing board and the cover is rotated by the rotating means, the color or pattern on the focusing board is sequentially shown through the opening. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the support is formed of a circular arc in contact with the inner periphery of the bow, and the opposite ends of the circular arc are supported by a holding means installed at a bottom of the medical imaging equipment so as to fix the support to the inner periphery of the bow. 
         [0012]    Here, the focusing board and the cover are installed to a support member installed at the inner periphery of the support such that any one of the focusing board and the cover is rotatably installed to the support member and the other is fixed to the support member. The rotating means includes a plurality of protrusions arranged at a predetermined interval on any one installed rotatably among the focusing board and the cover; and a jet unit configured to selectively jet air to the protrusions, wherein any one of the focusing board and the cover is rotated by the air jetted from the jet unit to the protrusions. 
         [0013]    And, a guide groove or rail is formed at the inner periphery of the support along a lengthwise direction of the support, and a support member is slidably installed to the guide groove or rail. Preferably, the focusing board and the cover are installed to the support member such that any one of the focusing board and the cover is rotatably installed to the support member and the other is fixed to the support member. 
         [0014]    Further, among the focusing board and the cover, the focusing board is rotated. Preferably, the rotating means includes a rotary motor unit installed at an end of the bow in a lengthwise direction of the bow or outside of the bow not to influence a magnetic field of the medical imaging equipment; and a rotary shaft configured to receive the driving force from the rotary motor unit to rotate the focusing board. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view of a medical imaging equipment with a focusing board assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the focusing board assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the focusing board assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional front view of the medical imaging equipment with the focusing board assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of section A of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a partially cross-sectional front view of a medical imaging equipment with a focusing board assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of the medical imaging equipment with the focusing board assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to the description, it should be understood that the terms used in the specification and the appended claims should not be construed as limited to general and dictionary meanings, but interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to technical aspects of the present on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define terms appropriately for the best explanation. Therefore, the description proposed herein is just a preferable example for the purpose of illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of the invention, so it should be understood that other equivalents and modifications could be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view of a medical imaging equipment with a focusing board assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the focusing board assembly of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the focusing board assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the focusing board assembly  100  includes a focusing board  10 , a cover  30  installed under the focusing board  10 , and a rotating means for selectively rotating the focusing board  10 . 
         [0025]    The focusing board  10  is a flat plate having a predetermined color on its front surface. In  FIG. 2 , five colors, for example, green, red, yellow, blue and black are arranged at a predetermined angle. However, if it provides a comfortable feeling to a patient under examination, there is no limitation in aspect of the number, type or arrangement order of color on the focusing board  10 . 
         [0026]    And, the focusing board  10  may have a pattern on its front surface. Hereinafter, for the convenience of description, description is made based on the focusing board  10  having color arranged at a predetermined angle. Meanwhile, the pattern used in the specification includes a picture, a design and so on. 
         [0027]    The focusing board  10  has a first through hole  11 , and protrusions  51  arranged on its back surface at a predetermined interval. The first through hole  11  and the protrusions  51  will be described later. 
         [0028]    The cover  30  is installed under the focusing board  10 . The cover  30  has a second through hole  31  formed in the center thereof and an opening  33  formed near the second through hole  31 . A support member is inserted into the second through hole  31 . 
         [0029]    The opening  33  goes though the cover  30  to show the color of the focusing board  10 . Preferably, the opening  33  has such size and shape to wholly show a color area. For example, the opening  33  may have such size and shape to wholly show a green area and screen the other color areas. 
         [0030]    The support member is inserted into the first and second through holes  11  and  31 . 
         [0031]    Preferably, the support member includes a first support member  41  penetrating the first through hole  11 , a second support member  43  penetrating the second through hole  31 , and a bolt  45  for fastening the first and second support members  41  and  43 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first support member  41  has a stepped end  41   a  that is inserted into the first through hole  11 . 
         [0032]    The first support member  41  and the second support member  43  are connected with each other at their ends. The diameter of the end of the second support member  43  is larger than the diameter of the end of the first support member  41 . Thus, the focusing board  10  is rotatably supported by the end of the second support member  43 . Meanwhile, the first through hole  11  has a non-metal bearing (hereinafter referred to as ‘a bearing’) to provide better rotation to the focusing board  10 . 
         [0033]    The first and second support members  41  and  43  have holes  42  and  44 , respectively. The bolt  45  is inserted into the holes  42  and  44  to connect the first and second support members  41  and  43 . 
         [0034]    The rotating means selectively rotates the focusing board  10 . The rotating means includes the protrusions  51  provided on the back surface of the focusing board  10 , and a jet unit configured to selectively jet air to the protrusions  51 . 
         [0035]    Preferably, the protrusions  51  are located at areas corresponding to boundaries  13  between each color area of the focusing board  10 . Using the protrusions  51 , the focusing board  10  is stopped after rotation, so that each color area (for example, a green area) is location at the opening  33  and wholly shown through the opening  33 . 
         [0036]    The jet unit includes hoses  53   a  and  53   b , and air bags  55   a  and  55   b  for supplying air to the hoses  53   a  and  53   b . The air bags  55   a  and  55   b  are formed of an elastically restorable material. The air bags  55   a  and  55   b , when pressed down, jet air contained therein to the protrusions  51  through the hoses  53   a  and  53   b . The air jetted to the protrusions  51  rotates the focusing board  10  or stops the rotating focusing board  10 . 
         [0037]    More preferably, the air bags  55   a  and  55   b  include a first air bag  55   a  connected with the first hose  53   a , and a second air bag  55   b  connected with the second hose  53   b . The first and second air bags  55   a  and  55   b  are preferably located at the opposite sides of the protrusion  51 . The first air bag  55   a  jets air through the first hose  53   a  to rotate the focusing board  10  and then the second air bag  55   b  jets air through the second hose  53   b  to stop the rotating focusing board  10 . 
         [0038]    The hoses  53   a  and  53   b  are guided by a guide member (not shown) installed to a support  21 . The guide member guides the hoses  53   a  and  53   b  such that one ends of the hoses  53   a  and  53   b  face the protrusions  51 . 
         [0039]    Preferably, each of the air bags  55   a  and  55   b  has a check valve  56 . The check valve  56  permits the external air to flow into the air bags  55   a  and  55   b  while the deformed air bags  55   a  and  55   b  restore to their original shape, and the internal air to be discharged only through the hoses  53   a  and  53   b  while the air bags  55   a  and  55   b  are pressed down. The check valve  56  is generally used to allow fluid to flow in one direction, and thus its detailed description is omitted herein. 
         [0040]    According to the present invention, the focusing board  10  may be installed at the support  21 . The support  21  defines a hollow bow  20 . The support  21  is a structure having a cross section of a circular arc, and has an internal space where a movable bed  24  is located or movable. Preferably, the support  21  has the same curvature as an inner periphery  20   a  of the bow  20  and is in contact with the inner periphery  20   a  of the bow  20 . 
         [0041]    Preferably, the support  21  is made of a material that protects against outer shocks and defects, provides elastic restitution and transparency, and is less affected by temperature and thus is resistant against deformation with temperature. The material satisfying the above-mentioned properties includes acryl and so on. 
         [0042]    Preferably, the support  21  has a shape of a circular arc in contact with the inner periphery  20   a  of the bow  20 . The opposite ends of the circular arc are supported by a holding member  21   a . The holding member  21   a  is installed at a bottom  25  of the medical imaging equipment and fixes the support  21  such that the support  21  is in contact with the inner periphery  20   a  of the bow  20 . 
         [0043]    Preferably, the support  21  has a guide groove  22  extending in a lengthwise direction thereof. As shown in FIG.  5 , the guide groove  22  is configured to guide the first support member  41  to slide along the lengthwise direction of the support  21 . If the first support member  41  can move along the lengthwise direction of the support  21 , it is possible to move the focusing board assembly  100  depending on the position of a patient lying on the bed of the medical imaging equipment. 
         [0044]    Meanwhile, the guide grove  22  may be formed at the inner periphery  20   a  of the bow  20 . That is, even though the support  21  is not installed, the first support member  41  can move along the lengthwise direction of the bow  20 . 
         [0045]    Moreover, a rail (not shown) may be installed at the support  21  or the inner periphery  20   a  of the bow  20 , instead of the guide groove  22 . That is, in the case that a rail is installed at the support  21  or the inner periphery  20   a  of the bow  20 , the first support member  41  can slide along the rail. 
         [0046]    Although this embodiment shows the focusing board  10  is rotated by the rotating means and the cover  30  is fixed, the present invention is not limited in this regard. For example, the focusing board  10  may be fixed to the support member, and the cover  30  may be rotatably installed to the support member (for example, by setting a bearing into the second through hole  31 ), so that the cover  30  can be rotated by the rotating means. In this case, the protrusions  51  are formed on the cover  30 , in particular, the inner periphery ( 35  of  FIGS. 3 to 5 ) of the cover  30 . And, the hoses  53   a  and  53   b  are installed facing the protrusions  51 . For example, each hose is installed at the opposite sides of the protrusion  51 . Air jetted from the hoses  53   a  and  53   b  is dashed against the protrusions  51 , and the stopped cover  30  is then rotated or the rotating cover  30  is stopped. 
         [0047]      FIG. 6  is a partially cross-sectional front view of a medical imaging equipment with a focusing board assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of the medical imaging equipment with the focusing board assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0048]    The focusing board assembly  200  includes a support  21 , a rotating means installed to the support  21 , a focusing board  110  rotated by the rotating means, and a cover  130  installed under the focusing board  110 . The focusing board assembly  200  is characterized by the rotation of the focusing board  110  by a rotary motor  143   a . The support  21  of this embodiment is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment, and its description is omitted herein. 
         [0049]    The rotating means includes a rotary shaft  141 , and a rotary motor unit configured to rotate the rotary shaft  141 . 
         [0050]    The rotary motor unit includes the rotary motor  143   a , a belt  143   b  configured to transmit a driving force between the rotary motor  143   a  and the rotary shaft  141 , and an engaging part  144  connected with the rotary shaft  141  and fitted in a guide groove  22 . The rotary motor  143   a  generates a magnetic field. Preferably, the rotary motor  143   a  is installed at an end of the bow  20  in the lengthwise direction of the bow  20  or outside of the bow  20  so as not to influence a magnetic field of the medical imaging equipment. 
         [0051]    The driving force of the rotary motor  143   a  is transmitted to the rotary shaft  141  through the belt  143   b . The rotation rate (R.P.M) of the rotary motor  143   a  may be controlled by a patient under examination, or an engineer or a doctor positioned outside of the bow  20 . A configuration for controlling the rotation rate (R.P.M) of the rotary motor  143   a  is well known to an ordinary person skilled in the art, and its description is omitted herein. 
         [0052]    The cover  130  is located under the focusing board  10  to cover the focusing board  10 . The cover  130  has an opening  133  of a predetermined size and a second through hole  131 . The opening  133  of this embodiment is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment. The rotary shaft  141  goes through the second through hole  131 . For better rotation, the second through hole  131  has preferably a bearing. 
         [0053]    Although this embodiment shows the focusing board  110  is rotated by the rotary shaft  141  and the cover  130  is fixed, the present invention is not limited in this regard. For example, the focusing board  110  may be fixed to the support  21 , and the cover  130  may be rotated by the rotary shaft  141 . In this case, the focusing board  10  has a first through hole in the center thereof, through which the rotary shaft  141  goes. And, the first through hole has a larger diameter than the rotary shaft  141 , so that the focusing board  10  is not influenced by rotation of the rotary shaft  141 . 
         [0054]    According to the present invention, the focusing board assembly for the medical imaging equipment has the following effects. 
         [0055]    When a patient is examined in an enclosed space of the medical imaging equipment for a long time, the patient naturally focuses his/her eyes on the focusing board. Then, the patient does not recognize an internal space of a bow as an enclosed space, but as a mentally comfortable space. 
         [0056]    Further, the patient can directly manipulate the focusing board, and thus does not feel bored even though the examination proceeds for a long time.