X-Ray table for obtaining longitudinal and lateral oblique cardiovascular views

Claim 1

Apparatus for making x-ray cardiovascular examinations comprising: an overhead carriage movable horizontally in opposite longitudinal directions, an x-ray image receiver and means for mounting said receiver to move vertically and to tilt in a single vertical plane through opposite angles from vertical about a first laterally extending axis that is transverse to the longitudinal direction, a longitudinally extending x-ray transmissive table top located below said receiver to support a body for examination and housing means below said table top, said housing means being adapted for mounting fixedly on a floor and comprising opposed pairs of side walls defining a top opening, enclosure means mounted for moving vertically within said housing, and comprising a bottom member and opposed pairs of side walls joined to said bottom member, said walls defining a top opening across which said x-ray transmissive table top extends for being supported from said side walls, an x-ray tube casing in said enclosure means and a base supporting said tube casing for tilting in said single vertical plane through opposite angles from vertical about a second laterally extending axis in opposite angular correspondence with said image receiver, a rotary anode x-ray tube in said casing having an x-ray target disk rotatable about a generally longitudinally directed axis, said disk having a beveled annular focal spot track surface on one of its faces and said disk being offset generally longitudinally from said second laterally extending axis to thereby offset the focal spot to one side of said second axis, the central ray of the x-ray beam emanating from said focal spot being moved in said single plane for all corresponding tilting angles of said x-ray tube and said image receiver, and the improvement for enabling said x-ray beam to be directed obliquely to said plane comprising, bearing means interposed between said base and said bottom member of the vertically movable enclosure, said bearing means supporting said base and x-ray tube casing thereon for rotation about a vertical axis, motor means mounted to said enclosure and means for coupling said motor means in driving relation to said base to effect rotation of the base about said vertical axis and thereby enable said tube casing to tilt in a vertical plane which is at an angle relative to the aforementioned vertical plane and to simultaneously offset said focal spot in a lateral direction so the central ray of said x-ray beam will be directed obliquely to said aforementioned plane.