US4256112A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Head positioner
Assignee: David Kopf Instruments
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Filing: 1979-02-12
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Granted: 1981-03-17
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Expires: 1999-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A head positioner for radiologic and other medical procedures and a method for forming the head positioner are disclosed. A plastic rear component engages the backside of the patient's head, left and right plastic components engage each auditory meatus of the patient and a front component engages the nasion of the patient. Pressure is applied at the points of engagement and the components are secured to form a unitary headband structure. The headband is capable of repeated and periodic use in positioning the cranium of a human skull in precisely the same position relative to radiologic or other medical equipment. Apparatus for forming the headband structure is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 J. David Kopf
- 👤 William Seiler, Jr.
- 👤 Gerald S. Palecki
- 👤 Howard H. Kaufman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/50; A61B6/501; A61B90/00; A61B90/10; A61B90/14; A61B2090/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A headband for use in repeatably positioning a patient's cranium in precisely the same position relative to medical equipment, said headband comprising: a front component having a contact for engaging the nasion of a patient with localized pressure, a rear component engageable with the back side of the head, means including left and right components interconnecting said front and rear components, and means removably supported in said right and left components for engaging the left and right external auditory meatus of the patient with localized pressure, wherein said left and right components are disc-shaped hubs with interrupted threads on their center bores and wherein said means removably supported in each of said right and left components comprise: a bolt with interrupted helical threads and a cylindrical recess extending along its longitudinal center, and an ear bar slidably carried by said recess having a tapered tip for engaging the external auditory meatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A headband for use in repeatably positioning a patient's cranium in precisely the same position relative to medical equipment, said headband comprising: a front component having a contact for engaging the nasion of a patient with localized pressure, a rear component engageable with the back side of the head, means including left and right components interconnecting said front and rear components, and means removably supported in said right and left components for engaging the left and right external auditory meatus of the patient with localized pressure, wherein said left and right components are disc-shaped hubs with interrupted threads on their center bores and wherein said means removably supported in each of said right and left components comprise: a bolt with interrupted helical threads and a cylindrical recess extending along its longitudinal center, and an ear bar slidably carried by said recess having a tapered tip for engaging the external auditory meatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
132 words
A headband for use in repeatably positioning a patient's cranium in precisely the same position relative to medical equipment, said headband comprising: a front component having a contact for engaging the nasion of a patient with localized pressure, a rear component engageable with the back side of the head, means including left and right components interconnecting said front and rear components, and means removably supported in said right and left components for engaging the left and right external auditory meatus of the patient with localized pressure, wherein said front component comprises an upper support band extending across the front of the patient's head and having a rectangular recess formed therein above the patient's nasion and wherein said contact for engaging the nasion comprises two wedge-shaped components removably carried by said rectangular recess.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
132 words
A headband for use in repeatably positioning a patient's cranium in precisely the same position relative to medical equipment, said headband comprising: a front component having a contact for engaging the nasion of a patient with localized pressure, a rear component engageable with the back side of the head, means including left and right components interconnecting said front and rear components, and means removably supported in said right and left components for engaging the left and right external auditory meatus of the patient with localized pressure, wherein said front component comprises an upper support band extending across the front of the patient's head and having a rectangular recess formed therein above the patient's nasion and wherein said contact for engaging the nasion comprises two wedge-shaped components removably carried by said rectangular recess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
A headband for use in repeatably positioning a patient's cranium in precisely the same position relative to medical equipment, said headband comprising: a front component having a contact for engaging the nasion of a patient with localized pressure, a rear component engageable with the back side of the head, means including left and right components interconnecting said front and rear components, and means removably supported in said right and left components for engaging the left and right external auditory meatus of the patient with localized pressure, wherein said front component slidably engages said rear component to facilitate adhesive cementing of the components.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
A headband for use in repeatably positioning a patient's cranium in precisely the same position relative to medical equipment, said headband comprising: a front component having a contact for engaging the nasion of a patient with localized pressure, a rear component engageable with the back side of the head, means including left and right components interconnecting said front and rear components, and means removably supported in said right and left components for engaging the left and right external auditory meatus of the patient with localized pressure, wherein said front component slidably engages said rear component to facilitate adhesive cementing of the components.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
170 words
The headband described in claim 8 further comprising in combination an apparatus for initially forming said headband, which apparatus is capable of repeated use for positioning said headband and thereby the cranium of a human skull in precisely the same position relative to medical equipment, said comprising: a frame, a vertically adjustable carriage carried by said frame, right and left ear engagement means removably carried on said carriage, adjustable lower support means for raising or lowering the head of the patient so that the patient's ear canals are aligned with said ear engagement means, a lower head support band removably carried by said lower support means, an upper support band extending across the front of the patient's face, nasion engagement means carried by said upper support band, nasion alignment means for aligning the patient's nasion with said nasion engagement means, pressure application means for applying a predetermined force to said ear engagement and nasion engagement means, and means for securing said engagement means under pressure to form a unitary headband.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: mounting means carried by said medical equipment, and; alignment means for precisely and repeatably aligning said ear engagement means in said mounting means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-16 | 1984-09-15 | 1985-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-16 | 1988-09-15 | 1989-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-16 | 1992-09-15 | 1993-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |