Patient-tilting device for an x-ray table

Claim 2

A patient-tilting device for an X-ray examination table, comprising, a normally horizontal, generally rectangular, substantially flat, rigid top panel member on said table for full-length support of a patient in a supine position, a thin normally flat laterally flexible X-ray transparent patient-tilt member normally overlying substantially the entirety of said top panel member substantially in continuous contiguous support thereby, a rigid elongated side lift member extending along at least substantially the full length of one edge of said top panel member, normally disposed immediately adjacent thereto, and attached to the respective side edge of said patient-tilt member, and actuating means connected to said elongated side lift member operable to raise same upwardly from said top panel member to lift the respective side edge of said patient-tilt member and thereby tilt the patient normally resting supine thereon.

Claim 3

The patient-tilting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said patient-tilt member is in form of a continuous member of flexible material.

Claim 4

The patient-tilting device of claim 1, wherein the patient-tilt member is in form of thin rigid elements joined together by longitudinally extending hinge Means which afford the lateral flexibility.

Claim 5

The patient-tilting device of claim 1, wherein said actuating means is in dual form, disposed at opposite ends of said patient support member, respectively, and each comprises, a narrow elongated housing means extending widthwise of said top panel member, a screw-threaded shaft extending along each of said housing means, a screw follower member in screw-threaded engagement with said shaft arranged for longitudinal advancement therealong by shaft rotation, an actuating lever arm attached at one end to a respective end of said rigid side lift member and pivotally connected at its opposite end to said follower member, and a fulcrum lever arm pivotally connected at an upper end to said actuating lever arm and at a lower end to said housing means, and, wherein said device further comprises means directly connected to one screw-threaded shaft for turning same, and chain-and-sprocket means interconnecting the screw-threaded shaft in the one actuating means with that in the other for operation of the two shafts in unison.

Claim 6

The patient-tilting device of claim 1, further comprising, a second rigid elongated side lift member similar to the first side lift member and attached to the other side edge of the patient-tilt member, and wherein the patient-tilt member in the region of such other side edge is relatively stiff, and the actuating means further operates to advance the second side lift member laterally of the top panel member in unison with raising of the first side lift member, to thereby slide the nonraised side edge of the patient-tilt member inwardly on the top panel member.

Claim 7

The patient-tilting device of claim 1, further comprising, a second rigid elongated side lift member similar to the first side lift member and extending along the other edge of the top panel member and attached to the other side edge of the patient-tilt member, and wherein the actuating means is operative to raise either of the two side lift members selectively while simultaneously moving the other of such members inwardly sidewise along the top panel member.

Claim 8

The patient-tilting device of claim 6, wherein said actuating means is in dual form, disposed at opposite ends of said patient support member, respectively, and each comprises, a narrow elongated housing means extending widthwise of said top panel member, a drive member movable rectilinearly along the length of said housing, a pair of actuating lever arms attached at their one end to respective ends of the rigid side lift members and at their opposite ends being pivotally connected to said drive member, a pair of fulcrum lever arms pivotally connected at upper ends to the actuating lever arms, respectively, intermediate their opposite ends and normally extending downwardly and sidewardly in opposite directions one with respect to the other, a pair of stops affixed to said housing means constructed and arranged to be engaged by the lowermost ends of said fulcrum lever arms, respectively, during movement of said drive member in respective directions, to act as pivot points about which such fulcrum lever arms may rock, and away from which such fulcrum lever arms are free to move during reverse directions of drive member movement, and means extending along and below the upper surface of said top panel member, for coupling the movement of the drive member in the one actuating means with that in the other.