Surgical scanning system and process for use thereof

• US 6,456,684 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allen B. Kantrowitz, Inki Mun
• Original Assignee: Allen B. Kantrowitz, Inki Mun
• Inventors: Kantrowitz, Allen B., Mun, Inki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Allen C.
• Application Number:
  US09/620,161
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/15, 378/20, 378/206, 378/209, 560/0, 560/1, 561/1
• US Class Current: 378/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/04 Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like operating tables A61G13/00; operating chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/102 Protection against mechanical damage, e.g. anti-collision devices
• 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 6/583 using calibration phantoms

Abstract

A surgical scanning system includes a scanner supported on a carrier movable relative to an operating room table. The carrier engages a guide that is collinear with the long axis of an operating room table. The relative movement between an operating room table and a scanner along a guide decreases the likelihood of collision therebetween. The ability to collect a scan of a patient while on an operating room table increases the likelihood of a successful surgical outcome.

Claims

1. An improved wheeled medical scanner including a scanner mounted on a wheeled platform, said scanner adapted to encompass an operating room table portion along a long axis, wherein the improvement lies in:

a retractable guide roller attached to said wheeled platform for said scanner, said guide roller adapted to engage a mechanical guide affixed to an operating room floor collinear with the long axis of said operating room table .

2. The improved scanner of claim 1 wherein said scanner has acovering drape.

3. A process of performing a medical scan during a surgical procedure comprising the steps of:

identifying a scan region proximal to a long axis of an operating room table having a table surface;

moving a scanner having a retractable guide roller along a guide collinear with the long axis of said operating room table so as to encompass the scan region independent of movement of the table surface along the long axis;

collecting a scan of the scan region; and

retracting said scanner along said guide to a location remote from said operating room table.

4. The process of claim 3 further comprising the step of aligning said operating room table and said scanner prior to moving said scanner.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein alignment involves extending a laser beam from said operating table to a stationary alignment target.

6. The process of claim 3 further comprising the step of attaching a radiolucent extension to the long axis of said operating room table prior to collecting a scan.

7. The process of claim 3 further comprising the step of draping said operating room table and a human body portion encompassing volume.

8. The process of claim 7 further comprising the step of positioning a protective shield adjoining the scan region and surrounding the human body portion encompassing volume.

9. The process of claim 3 further comprising the step of draping said scanner.

10. The process of claim 3 further comprising the step of scanning a calibrative phantom, said phantom positioned on said operating room table in the scan region.