One piece C-arm for X-ray diagnostic equipment

• US 5,802,719 A
• Filed: 02/26/1997
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OEC Medical Systems Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Orr, Roy J., Buckingham, Robert G., O'Farrell, Frank B. Jr., Tomasino, Alfred P., Hanover, Barry K.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, MARC WINSTON
• Application Number:
  US08/806,417
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 29/897.31, 29/897.35, 29/897.3, 29/417, 29/527.7, 492/1, 378/193, 378/196, 378/197, 378/198, 72/256, 72/260, 72/215, 72/226, 72/205, 72/30.2, 72/369, 72/366.2, 264/177.17, 264/177.19, 264/281, 264/285
• US Class Current: 29/897.35
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4423 related to hygiene or sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49634 Beam or girder

Abstract

A one-piece C-arm for use with X-ray diagnostic equipment included in cross-section two generally vertical sidewalls extending generally parallel to one another, an inner support wall connecting the sidewalls, and an outer support wall spaced-apart from the inner support wall and connecting the sidewalls. A pair of flanges extend outwardly from respective sidewalls, and toward one another to form at least one channel along an outer portion of the C-arm frame for receiving wheels or bearings to allow moveable mounting of the C-arm on diagnostic equipment.

Claims

1. A method for forming a single piece C-arm for use with X-ray diagnostic equipment, the method including the steps of:

(a) extruding a material to form an elongate single piece beam sized with a cross-section including two generally vertical sidewalls connected by spaced-apart support walls configured so as to form a chamber between the two generally vertical sidewalls and spaced-apart support walls, and

(b) successfully passing the single piece beam through a plurality of rollers to curve the single piece beam and forming a generally C-shaped frame defining a C-shaped chamber between the two generally vertical sidewalls and the spaced apart support walls with opposing ends configured for attachment of X-ray diagnostic equipment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises forming two flanges extending from respective sidewalls and generally toward each other to form at least one channel along a section of the single piece beam.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the material extruded in step (a) is selected from the group consisting of aluminum and plastic.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises passing the single piece beam through the rollers while the single piece beam is hot.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising clamping the single piece beam in a C-shape and allowing the single piece beam to cool.

6. A method for forming a single piece C-arm for use with X-ray diagnostic equipment, the method including the steps of:

(a) extruding a material to form an elongate single piece beam having an enclosed chamber and a pair of outwardly extending flanges configured to define a channel for receiving bearings, and

(b) successfully passing the single piece beam through a plurality of rollers to curve the single piece beam and forming a generally C-shaped frame defining a C-shaped chamber and C-shaped channel between the two generally vertical sidewalls and the spaced apart support walls with opposing ends configured for attachment of X-ray diagnostic equipment.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein step (a) further comprises forming the pair of outwardly extending flanges extending generally toward each other to form the channel for receiving bearings.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the material extruded in step (a) is selected from the group consisting of aluminum and plastic.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein step (b) further comprises passing the single piece beam through the rollers while the single piece beam is hot.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising clamping the single piece beam in a C-shape and allowing the single piece beam to cool.