Support apparatus for radiotherapy measurement system

• US 9,097,384 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sun Nuclear Corporation (American Capital Limited)
• Original Assignee: Sun Nuclear Corporation (American Capital Limited)
• Inventors: Rose, Mark, Simon, Thomas A., Zack, Jeffrey P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dolak, James M
• Application Number:
  US13/691,663
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 280/1, 280/29, 280/651, 280/47.34, 280/47.33, 280/43, 280/30, 280/43.15, 280/43.16, 280/43.17, 280/47.41, 280/47.21, 280/62, 280/64, 280/79.11, 280/79.2, 280/79.6, 280/79.7, 280/47.17, 280/47.16, 280/47.18, 378/204, 254/2.B, 254/133.R, 254/134, 254/93.R, 254/129, 254/145.6, 254/161, 254/188.5, 606 1- 8, 606/130, 606/33, 108/144.11, 108/147
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1076 using a dummy object placed in the radiation field, e.g. phantom
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/20 Undercarriages with or without wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/42 with arrangement for propelling the support stands on wheels

Abstract

A lift table provides stability and portability for a radiation measurement scanning system. The lift table may be fixed for radiation measurement or configured for storage. Further, the lift table may be easily disassembled and assembled to allow efficient transporting. The lift table supports a multiple axes scanning system for measuring radiation from a radiation source, such as a linear accelerator (LINAC) and includes a leveling platform, all of which are provided by a desirable weight and portability.

Claims

1. A support apparatus for a radiotherapy measurement system, the support apparatus comprising:

a table base assembly having an upper base end and a lower base end, the upper base end being adapted to support a leveling assembly for the radiotherapy measurement system; and

;

a frame assembly to which the lower base end is mounted, the frame assembly having a plurality of frame assembly legs movable to increase and decrease an effective footprint of the frame assembly;

wherein the frame assembly includes a center frame portion to which the lower end of the table base assembly is mounted and to which the plurality of frame assembly legs are movably connected;

wherein each of the plurality of frame assembly legs includes a proximal end pivotably connected to the center frame portion and a distal end; and

wherein each of the plurality of frame assembly legs pivots between a closed position, in which the distal ends are adjacent to the center frame portion and a measurement position, in which the distal ends are pivoted away from the center frame portion to increase the effective footprint.

2. The support apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the leveling assembly for the radiotherapy measurement system mounted to the table base assembly.

3. The support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower base end is releasably connected to the frame assembly.

4. The support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the lower base end and the frame assembly are keyed complementarily to prevent releasable connection in an incorrect orientation.

5. The support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper base end includes a top plate for releasable connection to the leveling assembly.

6. The support apparatus of claim 5, wherein the top plate is keyed to prevent releasable connection to the leveling assembly in an incorrect orientation.

7. The support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame assembly further includes a plurality of locking mechanisms associated with the plurality of frame assembly legs for releasably locking the plurality of frame assembly legs in the closed and measurement positions.

8. The support apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the locking mechanisms includes a locking pin and a flange attached to the center frame portion having a plurality of holes therein through which the locking pin is insertable, a first of the plurality of holes being aligned with a locking hole in a corresponding one of the plurality of frame assembly legs in the closed position and a second of the plurality of holes being aligned with the locking hole of the corresponding one of the plurality of frame assembly legs in the measurement position.

9. The support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame assembly has an effective length and an effective width that are varied by pivoting the plurality of frame assembly legs, both the effective length and width being a minimum in the closed position and greater than the minimum in the measurement position.

10. The support apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of frame assembly legs further pivots to a travel position, the effective length being greater and the effective width being lesser in the travel position than in the measurement position.

11. The support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame center portion includes a pair of generally opposed first sides connected by a pair of generally opposed second sides, the plurality of frame assembly legs includes two pairs of legs, each pair of legs connected at opposite ends of a respective one of the first sides.

12. The support apparatus of claim 11, wherein, the distal ends of each pair of legs are adjacent to each other along the respective one of the first sides when in the closed position.

13. The support apparatus of claim 12, wherein a primary caster extends downwardly from the distal end of each of the plurality of frame assembly legs.

14. The support apparatus of claim 13, wherein a secondary caster extends downwardly from each of the second sides of the center frame portion.

15. The support apparatus of claim 14, wherein the primary casters extend downwardly further than the secondary casters such that, in the measurement position, the secondary casters will not engage a floor there below.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame assembly further includes a frame handle extending upwardly from the center frame portion.

17. The support apparatus of claim 16, wherein the frame handle is releasably connected to the center frame portion and re-connectable adjacent to the center frame portion in a horizontal orientation.

18. A support apparatus for a radiotherapy measurement system, the support apparatus comprising:

a table base assembly having an upper base end and a lower base end, the upper base end being adapted to support a leveling assembly for the radiotherapy measurement system; and

a frame assembly having;

a center frame portion to which the lower base end is mounted, the center frame portion including a pair of generally opposed first sides connected by a pair of generally opposed second sides;

first and second pairs of frame assembly legs, each of the frame assembly legs including a proximal end and distal end, each proximal end being pivotably connected to a respective end of one of the first sides such that the first and second pairs of frame assembly legs are pivotable from a closed position, in which their respective distal ends are adjacent to their respective first side and to each other, to a measurement position, in which their respective distal ends are spaced outwardly from their respective first side and apart from each other; and

a plurality of primary casters extending downwardly from each of the distal ends.

19. The support apparatus of claim 18, wherein the frame assembly further includes a plurality of locking mechanisms associated with each of the frame assembly legs for releasably locking the frame assembly legs in the closed and measurement positions.

20. The support apparatus of claim 18, wherein the frame assembly further includes a secondary caster extending downwardly from each of the second sides of the center frame portion.

21. The support apparatus of claim 20, wherein each secondary caster extends downwardly less than the primary casters, such that each secondary caster only engages the floor therebelow if the frame assembly tips in the direction thereof in the closed position, and does not engage the floor therebelow in the measurement position.

22. The support apparatus of claim 18, wherein the frame assembly further includes a detachable handle extending upwardly from the center frame portion.

23. The support apparatus of claim 22, wherein the frame assembly further includes attachment brackets for the detachable handle under the center frame portion.

24. The support apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first and second pairs of frame assembly legs are further pivotable to a travel position, in which an overall length of the frame assembly is increased and an overall width of the frame assembly is decreased relative to the measurement position.