PATIENT TABLE SYSTEM AND APPARATUS

• US 20070191706A1
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kleiman, Felix, Calderon, Paul, Smuin, Sadie
• Granted Patent: US 7,869,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/415
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/704 Tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/14 Fixators for body parts, e.g. skull clamps; Constructional details of fixators, e.g. pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/10 Parts, details or accessories surgical drape sheets A61B46/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/121 Head or neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1019 Vertical extending columns or mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1034 Rollers, rails or other means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1057 Supported platforms, frames or sheets for patient in lying position

Abstract

A patient table is disclosed. The patient table includes a cradle for linearly receiving and transferring a board comprising a top surface defined by a single plane for carrying a patient, a cradle supporting member for slidably receiving the cradle, a locker within the cradle for positioning the board and patient on the table, and for preventing the board from sliding off the cradle, and a stopper within the cradle for preventing the cradle form sliding off the cradle supporting member.

Claims

1. A patient table comprising:

a cradle for linearly receiving and transferring a board comprising a top surface defined by a single plane for carrying a patient;

a cradle supporting member for slidably receiving the cradle;

a locker within the cradle for positioning the board and patient n the table, and for preventing the board from sliding off the cradle; and

,

a stopper within the cradle for preventing the cradle from sliding off the cradle supporting member.

2. The patient table of claim 1 wherein the board comprises a frame and an insert defining the single plane.

3. The patient table of claim 1 wherein the board further comprises a set of accessory interfaces disposed along edges of the board.

4. The patient table of claim 3, further comprising:

a patient restraint feature disposed upon the top surface of the board via at least one accessory interface of the set of accessory interfaces.

5. The patient table of claim 1, wherein the board is a one-piece board.

6. The patient table of claim 1 wherein the locker includes a locker manual release mechanism.

7. The patient table of claim 1 wherein the locker is automatically disengaged with the board when the patient table is docked with a second table capable of linearly receiving the board.

8. The patient table of claim 1 wherein the stopper is disengaged from the cradle supporting member when the patient table abuts a complementary support system capable of receiving the cradle.

9. The patient table of claim 1 wherein the stopper is disengaged from the cradle supporting member when the board is fully supported upon the cradle.

10. The patient table of claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency (RF) coil for use within an imaging process, a coil cable extending from the RF coil, a cable attachment box attached to the patient table for receiving the coil cable, and a system cable extending from the cable attachment box for attachment with an imaging system.

11. The patient table of claim 9, wherein the RF coil is disposed within the board.

12. The patient table of claim 10 wherein the RF coil is positioned by a hinged coil support attachable to the board, the coil disposed between the hinged coil support and the patient.

13. The patient table of claim 10 wherein the RF coil includes two lateral flex coils, and a coil cable extending from each of the lateral flex coils to the cable attachment box.

14. The patient table of claim 1 further comprising a docking assembly attached to a first end of the patient table, the docking assembly configured for attaching the first end of the patient table to a second table.

15. The patient table of claim 1 wherein the cradle and the transfer board are formed of an X-ray and magnetic resonance compatible fiber composite.

16. A patient imaging and transfer system, the system comprising:

an imaging system;

a patient table including a cradle supporting member, a second end of the table engageable with the imaging system;

a cradle slidably received on the cradle supporting member and within the imaging system, the cradle movable between the patient table and the imaging system when the second end of the table is engaged with the imaging system;

a second table, an end of the second table engageable with a first end of the patient table; and

,

a patient carrying board comprising a top surface defined by a single plane, the patient carrying board slidable between the second table and the cradle when the second table is engaged with the first end of the patient table;

wherein a patient is transferable from the second table to the imaging system without removing the patient from the patient carrying board.

17. The patient imaging and transfer system of claim 16, wherein:

the imaging system is an MRI system; and

the second table is a support table of at least one of a radiotherapy system, a fluoroscopy system, and a radiology system.

18. The patient imaging and transfer system of claim 16, wherein the patient carrying board further comprises a set of accessory interfaces disposed along edges of the board.

19. The patient imaging and transfer system of claim 16 wherein the cradle includes a locker for preventing the patient carrying board from sliding off the cradle when in a locked position and a stopper for preventing the cradle from sliding off the cradle supporting member when in an engaged position.

20. The patient imaging and transfer system of claim 19 wherein the locker includes a first locker and a second locker, the first locker including a locker manual release mechanism and the second locker automatically disengaging the patient carrying board from the cradle when the first end of the patient table is docked with the second table and wherein the stopper includes a first stopper disengaging from the cradle supporting member when the second end of the patient table abuts the imaging system, and a second stopper disengaging from the cradle supporting member when the patient carrying board is fully supported upon the cradle.

21. A patient table for an MRI imaging system, the patient table comprising:

a scanning transport movable between the patient table and the imaging system, the scanning transport comprising a single top surface defined by a single plane and a set of accessory interfaces disposed along edges of the scanning transport.

22. The patient table of claim 21, further comprising:

a patient restraint feature disposed upon the top surface of the scanning transport via at least one accessory interface of the set of accessory interfaces.