Patient support device for radiation therapy

• US 20040028188A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Seufert, Matthias, Plannerer, Jurgen, Amann, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 7,008,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/209
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0487 Motor-assisted positioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 7/00 Details of attaching or adjusting engine beds, frames, or supporting-legs on foundation or base; Attaching non-moving engine parts, e.g. cylinder blocks elastic or equivalent mounting for absorbing vibrations F16F, especially F16F15/04

Abstract

A patient support device for a radiation therapy system has a load-bearing element, which is set up so as to be supported rotatably on a stationary structure about a vertical iso-axis extending through a treatment iso-center. The load-bearing element, with a patient tabletop mounted on it, can be leveled by a continuously adjustable leveling device. The leveling device is embodied in particular as a leveling shoe, which includes a bottom plate, a top plate, and an adjustable wedge disposed between them.

Claims

1. A patient support device for a radiation therapy system comprising:

a load-bearing element supported rotatably on a stationary structure about a vertical iso-axis extending through a treatment iso-center;

a patient tabletop mounted on the load-bearing element; and

wherein at least one continuously variable leveling device serves to orient the load-bearing element.

2. The patient support device as in claim 1, wherein the load-bearing element is mounted on the stationary structure directly or indirectly via at least one leveling device.

3. The patient support device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one continuously variable leveling device remains adjustable after the installation of the load-bearing element on the stationary structure.

4. The patient support device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one continuously variable leveling device comprises a leveling shoe.

5. The patient support device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one continuously variable leveling device includes a bottom plate, a top plate, and an adjustable wedge disposed between the bottom and top plates.

6. The patient support device as in claim 5, wherein the at least one continuously variable leveling device is disposed such that a horizontal motion of the adjustable wedge causes a vertical motion of the load-bearing element.

7. The patient support device as in claim 5, wherein the at least one continuously variable leveling device has a horizontally supported threaded spindle for adjusting the wedge.

8. The patient support device as in claim 7, wherein the spindle points substantially in the direction of the vertical iso-axis.

9. The patient support device as in claim 1, wherein at least three leveling devices are present.

10. The patient support device as in claim 9, wherein precisely three levelings are present.

11. The patient support device as in claim 2 wherein the at least one continuously variable leveling device remains adjustable after the installation of the load-bearing element on the stationary structure and comprises a leveling shoe including a bottom plate, a top plate, and an adjustable wedge disposed between the bottom and top plates, wherein the at least one continuously variable leveling device is disposed such that a horizontal motion of the adjustable wedge causes a vertical motion of the load-bearing element, wherein the at least one continuously variable leveling device also has a horizontally supported threaded spindle for adjusting the wedge, the spindle pointing substantially in the direction of the vertical iso-axis.

12. The patient support device as in claim 1, wherein the load-bearing element is mounted at least in part in a floor well functioning as the stationary structure.

13. The patient support device as in claim 12, wherein the floor well on its bottom face, has a mounting face of concrete, in which levelings are anchored directly.

14. The patient support device as in claim 1, wherein the load-bearing element is connected to the patient tabletop via a lifting column mounted.

15. The patient support device as in claim 14 wherein the lifting column is mounted outside the vertical iso-axis.

16. The patient support device as in claim 14, wherein the load-bearing element has a cantilevered arm for receiving the lifting column.

17. The patient support device as in claim 1, wherein the patient tabletop is positioned such that it is penetrated by the vertical iso-axis at one point.

18. The patient support device as in claim 1, wherein the load-bearing element is mounted at least in part in a floor well functioning as the stationary structure, wherein the at least one continuously variable leveling device includes a bottom plate, a top plate, and an adjustable wedge disposed between the bottom and top plates.

19. The patient support device as in claim 1, wherein the load-bearing element is mounted at least in part in a floor well functioning as the stationary structure, and wherein the load-bearing element is connected to the patient tabletop via a lifting column mounted preferably outside the vertical iso-axis.

20. The patient support device as in claim 1, wherein the load-bearing element is connected to the patient tabletop via a lifting column and wherein the patient tabletop is positioned such that it is penetrated by the vertical iso-axis at one point.