Abstract:
An apparatus for use in the imaging of at least a portion of an animal extremity comprising a support having first and second generally parallel side frame portions, each of which define latch engageable formation, a plate carried by the support, the plate having a surface for contact with the portion of the animal extremity to be examined, a first clip resiliently removably attached to one of the frame portions, the clip having a latching formation engageable with the latch receiving formation on the frame portion, the clip including a strap receiving formation, a second clip secured to the other frame portion, the second clip including a strap receiving formation, and a strap having a first portion attached to the first clip and a second portion attached to the second clip, at least one of the strap receiving formations being operable to permit adjustment of the strap along its length and to hold the strap in a selected position above the surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for imaging an animal extremity, e.g. a human leg by x-rays or the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to such an apparatus that property secures an animal extremity in its desired position adjacent to an imaging plate.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Imaging plates are commonly used for the examination of a human extremity. Such imaging plates can include x-ray plates which use radiation for providing an image of the interior of the human extremity. Following the application of radiation onto a human extremity placed adjacent to the imaging plate, a humanly perceivable image of the interior of the human extremity can be properly presented. During such imaging activities, it is vitally important that the human extremity be placed in a fixed position against the imaging plate. If there is any movement between the human extremity and the imaging plate, then the image produced therefrom will be an inaccurate representation of the interior of the human extremity. As such, a need has developed so as to properly maintain the human extremity in its desired position against the imaging plate during the period of time of which the radiation is applied.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 shows an existing prior art imaging plate apparatus. In FIG. 1, it can be seen that the imaging plate structure  10  includes an imaging plate  12  with a frame  14  extending around a perimeter thereof. A transparent plastic bag  16  will completely surround the imaging plate  12  and the frame  14  so as to maintain the imaging plate  12  and the frame  14  in a sterile condition.  
           [0006]    Various techniques have been used in the past so as to properly affix a human extremity in a desired position over the imaging plate  12 . These devices include various type of clamps, tapes, and other devices which secure the human extremity in its desired position. These prior art devices have been difficult to use and often interfere with the sterility of the imaging plate.  
           [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 shows another type of prior art device which serves to affix a human extremity in its desired position relative to the imaging plate. In FIG. 2, it can be seen that a housing  18  is provided with straps  20 ,  22  and  24  extending over a top surface  26  thereof. Each of the straps  20 ,  22  and  24  can be secured in their desired position by affixation members associated therewith. Affixation members  28  and  30  are used in association with strap  20 . These devices can be of various configurations but serve to allow the user to properly tighten the strap  20  against the human extremity so as to fix the human extremity in its desired position. Affixation members  32  and  34  are associated with strap  22 . Affixation members  36  and  38  are associated with strap  24 . In FIG. 2, the straps  20 ,  22  and  24  simply serve to secure the human extremity onto the outside surface  26  of the housing  18 . The actual imaging plate structure  40  is removed from a transparent bag (such as transparent bag  16 , shown in FIG. 1) and slidably received within the interior of the housing  18  in a desired position. Following the imaging, the imaging plate structure  40  can be slidably removed from the interior of housing  18  for the production of the actual image. Following use, the housing  18  can be delivered elsewhere for re-sterilization or can be disposed of.  
           [0008]    The prior art device of FIG. 2 is rather complex to manufacture. For example, the housing  18  would conventionally be formed of an injection molded polymeric material. The injection molded polymeric material which is used to form the housing  18  should be configured so as to accurately receive the imaging plate structure  40  therein. Furthermore, the affixation members  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  must be properly affixed to the polymeric housing  18 . The straps  20 , 22  and  24  must then be installed within the respective affixation members. During use, the imaging plate structure  40  must be removed from the transparent bag. As such, there would be a risk of contamination of the imaging plate structure  40  during its removal from the transparent bag. The imaging plate structure  40  must then slide into an accurate and desired position within the interior of the housing  18 . If there is any imprecision in the manufacture of the housing  18 , then the imaging plate structure  40  can be improperly positioned in the interior of the, housing  18 .  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which can be used to secure an animal extremity in a desired position over an imaging plate.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which can be removably affixed over the sterile transparent bag on the imaging plate.  
           [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a clip for an imaging plate structure which allows a strap to be adjustably affixed in position over the imaging plate.  
           [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an imaging plate apparatus which is inexpensive, easy to manufacture and easy to use.  
           [0013]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification.  
           [0014]    In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a support that has first and second spaced, generally parallel frame portions, the first and second frame portions defining first and second latch engageable formations. A plate is carried by the support, the plate having a surface for contact with at least a portion of an animal extremity. There is a first clip resiliently, removably secured to the first frame portion, the clip having a latching formation engageable with the latch receiving formation. The first clip includes a strap receiving formation and there is a second clip secured to the second frame portion, the second clip also including a second strap receiving formation. A first strap has a first portion attached to the first clip and a second portion attached to the second clip, at least one of the strap receiving formations being operable to permit adjustment of the strap along its length and to hold the strap in a selected position above the surface of the plate.  
           [0015]    In a preferred form, the clip of the present invention comprises a first arm, a second arm and a joint member positioned between the first and second arms. The first arm has a back surface suitable for pressing so as to lift a forward end of the first arm from compressive contact with a surface, such as the second arm or the imaging plate. The back surface of the first arm includes a slot formed therein. The slot tapers so as to have a narrow end away from the end of the first arm. The slot opens to the end of the first arm. The slot is suitable for the receipt of a strap therein. The strap is inserted so as to be in interference fit relationship in the narrow end of the slot. The first arm includes a first surface with a widened portion for contact with the imaging plate and a narrow portion for contacting the frame of the imaging plate. The front surface includes a pair of members in parallel coplanar relationship having a space therebetween.  
           [0016]    The second arm of the clip has a back surface and a front surface. The second arm has a widened portion for contacting the imaging plate and a narrow portion for contacting the frame. A shoulder is formed between the narrow portion and the widened portion. The second arm includes a pair of members in a coplanar parallel relationship and aligned with the members of the first arm. These pairs of members have a roughened interior surface so as to allow for frictional engagement with the imaging plate.  
           [0017]    The joint member is positioned between the first and second arms. The joint member is arranged generally transverse to the first and second arms. The first and second arms are pivotally and elastically connected to the joint member. The joint member is connected to the first and second arms in an area between the respective back surfaces and front surfaces of the first and second arms. The first arm, the second arm and the joint member are preferably, integrally formed of a polymeric material. Preferably, the clip is formed of the polymeric material having a memory so that the arms return to compressive contact with each other upon removal from the imaging plate structure.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a prior art imaging plate structure.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a prior art mechanism for securing a human extremity against a housing used to receive the imaging plate structure.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the clip in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a plan view of the clip in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the clip as connected to the frame and imaging plate of an imaging plate structure.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the securing of the respective clips and strap over the imaging plate structure.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the securing of the clip to the imaging plate structure.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]    Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown the clip  50  in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The clip  50  includes a first arm  52 , a second arm  54 , and a joint member  56  extending therebetween. The first arm  52 , the second arm  54  and the joint member  56  are integrally formed together of a polymeric material. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the polymeric material used for the formation of the clip  50  is of a polycarbonate material so that the clip  50  exhibits a suitable memory so that the respective arms  52  and  54  will return to a compressive contact position when released.  
         [0026]    The first arm  52  has a back surface  58  and a front surface  60 . The back surface  58  extends outwardly beyond the joint member  56  so as to provide a surface for pressing the first arm  52  so as to lift the front surface  60  from compressive contact with another surface. A slot  62  is formed in the back surface  58  of the first arm  52 . The slot  62  includes a generally semicircular indentation  64  leading to a tapered area  66 . The tapered area  66  narrows so as to have a narrow end  68  away from the semicircular indentation  64 . The tapered area  66  opens at the semicircular indentation  64 . The slot  62  is suitable for the receipt of a strap therein. The strap can be inserted and pushed towards the narrow end  68  so as to be in interference fit relationship with the narrow end  68  of the slot  62 .  
         [0027]    The front surface  60  has a widened portion  70  and a narrow portion  72 . A shoulder  74  is formed therebetween. The widened portion  70  serves for contact with the imaging plate. The narrow portion  72  is suitable for contacting the frame of the imaging plate. The shoulder  74  will extend in the area between the imaging plate and the frame when the clip  50  is applied to such a imaging plate structure. The front surface  60  includes a pair of members  76  and  78  which extend outwardly as separate arms. A space  80  is formed between the members  76  and  78 .  
         [0028]    The second arm  54  has a back surface  80  and a front surface  82 . The back surface  80  lacks the slot associated with the back surface  58  of the first arm  52 . The back surface  80  is positioned relative to the back surface  58  of the first arm  52  so as to allow the fingers of a user to press the back surfaces  58  and  80  towards each other, relative to the joint member  56 , so as to lift the front surfaces  60  and  82  away from each other. The front surface  82  includes a widened portion  84  and a narrow portion  86 . The widened portion  84  serves to contact the imaging plate. The narrow portion  86  serves to contact the frame. A suitable shoulder  88  is formed therebetween so as to reside in proximity to the area between the imaging plate and the frame. The front surface  82  includes a pair of members  90  and  92  in coplanar parallel relationship. These members  90  and  92  are aligned respectively with members  76  and  78  of the first arm  52 . It can be seen that each of the members  90  and  92  has a roughened surface  94  so as to provide strong frictional contact with the imaging plate or the transparent bag extending thereover.  
         [0029]    Joint member  56  is positioned between the first arm  52  and the second arm  54  in an area between the respective back surfaces  58  and  80  and the front surfaces  60  and  82 . The joint member  56  is arranged transverse to the first arm  52  and the second arm  54 . The joint member  56  has one end pivotally connected to the first arm  52  and another end pivotally connected to the second arm  54 . The joint member  56  should, desirably, have a length at least equal to the thickness of the imaging plate to which the clip  50  is applied.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the first arm  52  of the clip  50  of the present invention. The clip  50  includes aback surface  58  having slot  62  formed therein. The slot  62  has a narrow end  68  into which the strap can be forcibly pushed. Generally, semicircular indentation  64  extends from the back end  98  of the first arm  52  towards the widened end  100  of the tapered area  66 . The semicircular indentation  64  will “funnel” the strap into the slot  62 . The semicircular indentation  64  will open widely at the back end  98  of the first arm  52 .  
         [0031]    The first arm  52  has a front surface  60  having members  76  and  78  extending outwardly therefrom. A space  80  is formed between the members  76  and  78 . The space  80  avoids any interference or obstruction with the actual imaging technique.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 shows the manner in which the clip  50  can be secured to an imaging plate structure  102 . FIG. 5 also shows how a strap  104  can be secured to the first arm  52  so as to allow for the extension over the imaging plate structure  102 .  
         [0033]    In FIG. 5, the imaging plate structure  102  includes an imaging plate  106  and frame  108  positioned between the first arm  52  and the second arm  54  of the clip  50 . Imaging plate structure  102  has the frame  108  of greater thickness than the imaging plate  106 . In this manner, the front surface  60  of the first arm  52  has its widened portion  70  extending over one surface of the imaging plate  106  and its narrow portion  72  extending over the frame  108 . Shoulder  74  will be engaged against the shoulder formed between the frame  108  and the imaging plate  106 . A similar arrangement is found for the second arm  54 . The joint member  56  extends between the first arm  52  and the second arm  54  and resides generally juxtaposed against the outer surface of the frame  108 . It can be seen in FIG. 5 that joint member  56  should have a length which is generally equal to or greater than the thickness of the frame  108 .  
         [0034]    In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the strap  104  has an end  110  which extends through the slot  62  and into the area between the back surfaces  58  and  80  of arms  52  and  54 , respectively. By pulling on the end  110 , the strap  104  can be lengthened or shortened so as to properly receive a human extremity thereunder.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 6 shows the application of the clips in accordance with the present invention in conjunction with an imaging plate structure. In FIG. 6, imaging plate structure  200  includes a frame  202  and an imaging plate  204 . The frame  202  will extend around the perimeter of the imaging plate  204 . A transparent plastic bag  206  will surround the frame  202  and the imaging plate  204 . The transparent bag  206  will maintain the imaging plate  204  in a sterile contained environment.  
         [0036]    Unlike the prior art, it is not necessary to remove the imaging plate  204  or the frame  202  from the bag  206 . In order to carry out proper imaging activities, it is only necessary to affix clips  208 ,  210 ,  212  and  214  over the frame  202  of the imaging plate structure  200 . In FIG. 6, it can be seen that a strap  216  will extend over the imaging plate  204  between the clips  208  and  210 . The ends of the strap  216  are forcibly inserted into the slots associated with the clips  208  and  210  to an extent desired by a user.  
         [0037]    Similarly, a strap  218  is secured to the clips  212  and  214  in the manner described herein previously. The clips  208 ,  210 ,  212  and  214  are fitted over the plastic bag  206  and the frame  202  so as to be compressively secured to the imaging plate structure  200 . During use, a human extremity can be placed against the imaging plate  204  by simply placing the extremity under the straps  216  and  218  and then tightening the straps so as to prevent movement of the human extremity during the imaging process. Following the imaging process, the straps  216  and  218  can be appropriately loosened by pulling the strap from the slot and releasing the human extremity from its desired contact with the imaging plate  204 . In all circumstances, the imaging plate  204  is maintained in a sterile condition by being received within the bag  206 .  
         [0038]    In FIG. 7, the arrangement of clip  208  is particularly illustrated. In FIG. 7, it can be seen that the clip  208  has a first arm  220  and second arm  222  extending over the frame  202  and the imaging plate  204 , the imaging plate structure  200 . The transparent plastic bag  206  surrounds the frame  202  and the imaging plate  204 . As such, it can be seen that the clip  208  assumes a secure position relative to the imaging plate structure  200 . The back surfaces  224  and  226  extend outwardly from the joint member  228  beyond the outer periphery of the frame  202 . Back surfaces  224  and  226  provide an area whereby the user can simply press the back surfaces  224  and  226  so as to release the imaging plate structure  200  from the arms  220  and  222 . The back surfaces  224  and  226  can be released so as to properly secure the clip  208  in its desired position. The respective clips  208 ,  210 ,  212  and  214  can be suitably moved, repositioned or adjusted as desired so as to place in security in an extremity in such desired position.  
         [0039]    Although in the description above, the clip has been described as being integrally formed from a polymeric material, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such a construction is not necessary. For example, the first and second arms could be made of a metallic material and a separate joint member, e.g., a spring mechanism, could be positioned between and attached to the first and second arms in such a manner that the arms were normally resiliently biased into the position shown in FIG. 3, but could be opened such that the clip could engage the frame portion of the support. Furthermore, while in the description above and in the drawings, both clips are resiliently, removably attached to the frame of the support, the apparatus could be designed so that one of the clips was not resiliently removably secured to the frame but rather, just included a formation for receiving and holding one end of the strap. Indeed, the second “clip” could simply take the form of an integrally formed portion of the frame that simply held one end of the strap in place, the strap being tightened by pulling it through the strap receiving formation on the resiliently removable clip, such that the strap could be tightened across the animal extremity to the desired degree. As a practical matter, it is desirable that the strap be secured between first and second clips that are resiliently, removably secured to the opposed side frame portions so that they can be easily removed if desired.  
         [0040]    One of the features of the apparatus of the present invention is that the clip has a configuration such that the strap can be pulled taught against the surface of the imaging plate, which insures that when the extremity of the animal, such as a human arm, is placed on the plate, the strap will securely hold the arm against the imaging plate. This low profile design is seen in FIG. 5 and it is apparent that when the strap  104  is attached to a clip on the opposite side of the frame, the strap would closely overlie the surface of the plate carried by the support.  
         [0041]    Although, as described above and shown on the drawings, both of the clips permit adjustment of the strap, it will be apparent that only one of the clips need provide for such adjustment. In other words, when two removable clips are employed, one of the clip could be designed such it is simply held at one end of the strap, while the other clips was designed to permit adjustment of the strap, i.e., one of the clips could act as a fixed anchor point while the other clip could act as an adjustable anchor point in the sense that when the strap was pulled to the desired tautness, it would remain in that position until released.  
         [0042]    The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the true spirit of the invention.