Device for examining a patient, in particular by means of x-rays

Claim 1

In an apparatus for X-ray examination of a patient, a frame including a guide that defines upper and lower circular paths in generally vertical planes about a central horizontal axis, a first carriage engaged to said guide for movement between positions along the upper circular path, including a top-center position, a second carriage engaged to said guide for movement between positions along the lower circular path, including a bottom center position, each of said carriages being movable independently of the other, a radiation support that is C-shaped with two arms and is secured to said first carriage and pivotal about a first pivot axis that is vertical only when the first carriage and support are in said top-center position on said circular path, an X-ray source secured to one of said arms and a radiation receiver secured to the other arm, the source and receiver aligned co-axially along a second horizontal or radiation axis that intersects said first pivot axis and can coincide with said central horizontal axis, a patient support secured to said second carriage and pivotal about a second pivot axis which extends through said patient support and which will be vertical only when said support and second carriage are in said bottom center position, said second and first carriages being movable independently of each other about said second and first pivot axes respectively so that a patient on said second carriage can be situated so his head is at the intersection of said first pivot and Central horizontal axes and said radiation axis, and said carriages are movable to permit irradiation of the patient''s head from a multitude of angles, said apparatus further comprising connection means between said patient support and said second carriage permitting said support to pivot about a third horizontal axis (a) that intersects said second pivot axis, and (b) that lies in the plane of said first pivot and central horizontal axes when said second carriage is in its bottom center position.