US3715587A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Limb holder positioner for bone mineral analyzer
Assignee: Norland Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-26
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Granted: 1973-02-06
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Expires: 1990-10-26
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure relates to instruments for performing in vivo analysis of bone mineral content by measuring the absorption of a scanning beam of monoenergetic photons. Novel means are used for supporting and positioning a limb so that a predetermined increment of a bone therein can be scanned under repeatable conditions. Scanning is done with a tissue equivalent material surrounding the corresponding portion of the limb so that radiation transmission is substantially uniform through the tissue regions of the scan but has a sharp discontinuity where bone is in the beam.
Inventors
- 👤 R Burkhalter
- 👤 G Congdon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:07
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/14; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/04; A61B6/0407; A61B6/0421; A61B6/50; A61B6/505
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A bone mineral analyzer instrument to scan a portion of a human limb over a predetermined scanning path, with a flexible casing means covering the limb and filled with a fluid having substantially equivalent radiation absorption characteristics as body tissue to define an artificial surface simulating a predetermined body tissue surface through which a bone increment within said limb is scanned by a monitored radiation beam for determining the mineral content of said bone increment as a function of its radiation absorption, said instrument comprising, a support for said limb, a closeable flexible casing means, a fluid filling said casing means and having radiation absorption characteristics that are substantially equivalent to the absorption characteristics of the tissue, said casing means being sufficiently pliable with fluid inside to be formed about said limb and deformed into a shape which results in a predetermined tissue absorption characteristic being presented to the beam in said scanning path, a beam source means for establishing said radiation beam, means to relatively move the source means and the support to scan the limb, and clamping means including a beam transmissive member to squeeze said flexible casing means against said limb in the area being scanned.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A bone mineral analyzer instrument to scan a portion of a human limb over a predetermined scanning path, with a flexible casing means covering the limb and filled with a fluid having substantially equivalent radiation absorption characteristics as body tissue to define an artificial surface simulating a predetermined body tissue surface through which a bone increment within said limb is scanned by a monitored radiation beam for determining the mineral content of said bone increment as a function of its radiation absorption, said instrument comprising, a support for said limb, a closeable flexible casing means, a fluid filling said casing means and having radiation absorption characteristics that are substantially equivalent to the absorption characteristics of the tissue, said casing means being sufficiently pliable with fluid inside to be formed about said limb and deformed into a shape which results in a predetermined tissue absorption characteristic being presented to the beam in said scanning path, a beam source means for establishing said radiation beam, means to relatively move the source means and the support to scan the limb, and clamping means including a beam transmissive member to squeeze said flexible casing means against said limb in the area being scanned.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
199 words
A bone mineral analyzer instrument to scan a portion of a human limb over a predetermined scanning path, with a flexible casing means covering the limb and filled with a fluid having substantially equivalent radiation absorption characteristics as body tissue to define an artificial surface simulating a predetermined body tissue surface through which a bone increment within said limb is scanned by a monitored radiation beam for determining the mineral content of said bone increment as a function of its radiation absorption, said instrument comprising, a support for said limb, a closeable flexible casing means, a fluid filling said casing means and having radiation absorption characteristics that are substantially equivalent to the absorption characteristics of the tissue, said casing means being sufficiently pliable with fluid inside to be formed about said limb and deformed into a shape which results in a predetermined tissue absorption characteristic being presented to the beam in said scanning path, a beam source means for establishing said radiation beam, means to relatively move the source means and the support to scan the limb, and clamping means including a beam transmissive member to squeeze said flexible casing means against said limb in the area being scanned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
199 words
A bone mineral analyzer instrument to scan a portion of a human limb over a predetermined scanning path, with a flexible casing means covering the limb and filled with a fluid having substantially equivalent radiation absorption characteristics as body tissue to define an artificial surface simulating a predetermined body tissue surface through which a bone increment within said limb is scanned by a monitored radiation beam for determining the mineral content of said bone increment as a function of its radiation absorption, said instrument comprising, a support for said limb, a closeable flexible casing means, a fluid filling said casing means and having radiation absorption characteristics that are substantially equivalent to the absorption characteristics of the tissue, said casing means being sufficiently pliable with fluid inside to be formed about said limb and deformed into a shape which results in a predetermined tissue absorption characteristic being presented to the beam in said scanning path, a beam source means for establishing said radiation beam, means to relatively move the source means and the support to scan the limb, and clamping means including a beam transmissive member to squeeze said flexible casing means against said limb in the area being scanned.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said casing means comprises two fluid filled end portions connected by an intermediate portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 2, in which said fluid material is substantially pure water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device according to claim 1, in which said clamping means includes a base means having a beam transmissive window, and clamp support means for supporting said clamping member parallel to said base means and in alignment with said beam transmissive window for adjustable movement toward and away from said base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 4, including means for removably attaching said base means to said instrument with said clamping member and said beam transmissive window in alignment with the scanning path of said beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 4, in which said clamp support means is adapted for being positioned out of alignment with said beam transmissive window.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
A device according to claim 5, in which said base means comprises a horizontal portion provided with said beam transmissive window and a vertical portion extending upwardly from said horizontal portion, said clamp support means including a vertical post supported by said horizontal portion of said base means, means providing said vertical portion of said base means with a vertical slot, means slidably supporting said clamping member to said post with the opposite end of said clamping member receivably in said slot to thereby align with said clamping member with the scanning path of said radiation beam, and locking means for securing said clamping member to said post at any selected vertical position of said clamping member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
A bone mineral analyzer instrument according to claim 1 further comprising, an abutment member adapted to abut with a predetermined extremity surface of said portion of said limb when the latter is located in transverse alignment with said scanning path, adjustment means attaching said abutment member to said instrument for adjustable movement relative to said scanning path, and indicia means for identifying different adjusted positions of said abutment member to enable that member to be adjusted repeatedly to any position so identified.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 8, in which said abutment member is adapted to be received between two outstretched fingers of the hand of a forearm located in transverse alignment with said scanning path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3025397A
Cited
US3524057A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |