Modular patient support system
First Claim
1. A patient pod configured to support a patient during a medical treatment, the pod comprising:
- a semi-cylindrical shell structure configured to be concave upward to provide a patient space, the shell structure extending transversely between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge and extending longitudinally between a proximal edge and a distal edge, the shell structure comprising a top, concave surface and a bottom, convex surface that faces outward, away from the patient space;
the top, concave surface configured to be parallel to the bottom, convex surface, except at the first and second lateral edges;
the first and second lateral edges being tapered to reduce the effect of changes in the water equivalency between the shell structure and a space above the shell structure;
the top, concave surface comprising a separate, flat, inwardly-facing portion that tapers away from the top, concave surface of the shell structure to a narrower upper tip,the bottom, convex surface comprising a separate, flat, outward facing portion that tapers away from the bottom, convex surface and converges to meet the flat, inwardly-facing portion at the narrower upper tip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radiation treatment system (100) for accurately delivering radiation to a targeted site within a cancer patient (108) that includes a modular patient support system and a patient positioner (114). The modular patient support system includes a modularly expandable patient pod (200) and at least one immobilization device, such as, for example, a rigid moldable foam cradle (350). The patient pod (200) includes a generally hemi-cylindrical support shell (212) that extends longitudinally between proximal edge (214) and distal edge (216), and transversely between two lateral edges (222, 224). In one embodiment, the lateral edges (222, 224) are tapered to minimize edge effects that result when radiation beams traverse the lateral edges (222, 224).
359 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A patient pod configured to support a patient during a medical treatment, the pod comprising:
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a semi-cylindrical shell structure configured to be concave upward to provide a patient space, the shell structure extending transversely between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge and extending longitudinally between a proximal edge and a distal edge, the shell structure comprising a top, concave surface and a bottom, convex surface that faces outward, away from the patient space; the top, concave surface configured to be parallel to the bottom, convex surface, except at the first and second lateral edges; the first and second lateral edges being tapered to reduce the effect of changes in the water equivalency between the shell structure and a space above the shell structure; the top, concave surface comprising a separate, flat, inwardly-facing portion that tapers away from the top, concave surface of the shell structure to a narrower upper tip, the bottom, convex surface comprising a separate, flat, outward facing portion that tapers away from the bottom, convex surface and converges to meet the flat, inwardly-facing portion at the narrower upper tip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A patient support configured to position a patient during a medical treatment, the support comprising:
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a shell extending in a transverse direction between a first tapered lateral edge and a second tapered lateral edge and extending in a longitudinal direction between a proximal edge and a distal edge, the shell comprising a top, concave surface and a bottom, convex surface; the first tapered lateral edge comprising a first separate, flat, inwardly-facing portion that tapers away from the top, concave surface of the shell to a first narrower upper tip and a first separate, flat, outward facing portion that tapers away from the bottom, convex surface of the shell and converges with the first flat, inwardly-facing portion at the first narrower upper tip; and the second tapered lateral edge comprising a second separate, flat, inwardly-facing portion that tapers away from the top, concave surface of the shell to a second narrower upper tip and a second separate, flat, outward facing portion that tapers away from the bottom, convex surface of the shell and converges with the second flat, inwardly-facing portion at the second narrower upper tip. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification