Palpator for X-ray use

Claim 1

A palpator system for use in conducting diagnostic X-ray examinations comprising: a. gas pressure operated slave cylinder means mounted adjacent a space for accommodating an examination subject, said slave cylinder means including a first cylinder and a first piston therein, said cylinder having a gas inlet and said piston having an initial position, b. palpator means operatively connected with said first piston to move relative to a subject in correspondence with movement of said first piston, c. master cylinder means located remotely from said slave cylinder means and including a second cylinder and a second piston therein, said second cylinder having a gas outlet and said second piston having an initial position and being movable to pressurize gas in said cylinder means, d. tubular means for connecting said outlet of said second cylinder to said inlet of said first cylinder, e. first valve means having an inlet in communication with the interiors of said cylinder means and an outlet in communication with the atmosphere, and having means operable to selectively close and open a gas flow path between said cylinder means and the atmosphere, f. manually operable means operatively connected to said second piston for applying force thereto, to move said piston and produce pressure in said cylinder means g. said manually operable means when in its initial position controlling said operable means of said first valve means to open said gas flow path to the atmosphere to thereby establish the interiors of said master cylinder, said slave cylinder and said tubular means initially at atmospheric pressure and said manually operable means when moved from its initial position controlling said operable means of said first valve means to close said gas flow path whereupon further movement of said second piston by means of said manually operable means will pressurize said first cylinder and move said palpator in said examination subject accommodating space.