US6007243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combined mobile x-ray imaging system and monitor cart
Assignee: GE Lunar Corp
•
Filing: 1998-01-13
•
Granted: 1999-12-28
•
Expires: 2018-01-13
Abstract
Abstract A compact mobile x-ray C-arm system employs a cart supporting a video monitor on a top shelf and other imaging equipment on lower shelves opening from the front of the cart. The C-arm is supported by a pivot attached to the side of the cart below the platform allowing the C-arm to extend forward without obstructing the shelves or video monitor and yet providing for a balanced operation permitting a smaller footprint area of the cart. Use of the C-arm as a heat sink for the x-ray source and swiveling casters to allow an additional axis of rotation allow a more compact structure to be produced.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Ergun
- 👤 David R. Strait
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:06
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/60; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/44; A61B6/4405; A61B6/4429; A61B6/4435; A61B6/4441; A61B6/48; A61B6/482; A61B6/50; A61B6/505; A61B6/54; A61B6/548; G; G06; G06T; G06T5/00; G06T5/80; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/80; H04N23/81; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/61; H04N5/00; H04N5/30; H04N5/32; H04N5/321; H04N5/325; H05G1/26; H05G1/30; H05G1/38; H05G1/42; H05G1/44; A61B6/40; A61B6/4035; A61B6/4488; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S378/00; Y10S378/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A mobile C-arm apparatus for use with X-ray diagnostic equipment, said apparatus comprising: a C-arm having an X-ray source and an image receptor mounted upon opposing ends to face each other along a beam axis; a collar disposed in slidable engagement with the C-arm so that the C-arm may move in orbital rotation about an orbital axis; a mobile base movable along a floor having a housing providing a platform on its top supporting a video monitor receiving image data from the image receptor, the housing having a front, at which the video monitor is viewable and which defines at least one shelf opening, a parallel back and perpendicular sides joining the front to the back; and an articulating arm assembly having at least one arm attached at a first end to the collar and pivotally attached at a second end to one of the sides of the housing below the platform, whereby the C-arm may extend beyond the front of the housing without the attachment of the second end obstructing the shelf opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A mobile C-arm apparatus for use with X-ray diagnostic equipment, said apparatus comprising: a C-arm having an X-ray source and an image receptor mounted upon opposing ends to face each other along a beam axis; a collar disposed in slidable engagement with the C-arm so that the C-arm may move in orbital rotation about an orbital axis; a mobile base movable along a floor having a housing providing a platform on its top supporting a video monitor receiving image data from the image receptor, the housing having a front, at which the video monitor is viewable and which defines at least one shelf opening, a parallel back and perpendicular sides joining the front to the back; and an articulating arm assembly having at least one arm attached at a first end to the collar and pivotally attached at a second end to one of the sides of the housing below the platform, whereby the C-arm may extend beyond the front of the housing without the attachment of the second end obstructing the shelf opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first end of the arm is pivotally attached to the collar such that the collar is rotatable relative to said first arm about a collar axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 1 wherein the arm includes a connecting means providing that the collar axis remains fixed in angle with respect to the mobile base with pivoting of the second end of the arm with respect to the mobile base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end of the arm is pivotally attached to the housing to rotate about a horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the extension of the C-arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 3 wherein the mobile C-arm includes a computer executing a stored program to process image data from the image receptor prior to display on the video monitor and wherein the computer provides a computer keyboard for entering commands to the computer for the control of the display of the image data and wherein the keyboard is placed on the platform to be accessible from the front of the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 1 wherein the collar axis is substantially horizontal and wherein the C-arm assembly and the collar have a collective center of mass and are not collectively mass balanced about the collar axis so that the C-arm is self-righting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing further provides a shelf opening at the front of the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing substantially conforms in shape to a rectangular prism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 1 wherein the x-ray source includes a heat sink for receiving heat from the x-ray source during operation and wherein the heat sink conducts heat into the C-arm assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 9 wherein the C-arm assembly positions the heat sink at the top of the C-arm assembly during normal use so as to discharge heat away from the image receptor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mobile base includes casters providing wheels rotating about wheel axis and also pivoting about a substantially vertical caster axis to permit rotation of the apparatus about an arbitrary vertical axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one caster is lockable so that the arbitrary vertical axis is centered on the lockable caster when the lockable caster is locked.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 1 wherein the C-arm may extend forward from the front of the housing along a plane substantially bisecting the front.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end of the articulating arm assembly is attached to one of the sides of the housing other than at a front edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mobile C-arm apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an essentially horizontal slide fixed to one of the sides of the housing, wherein the second end of the articulating arm assembly may translate within the slide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2818510A
Cited
US3281598A
Cited
US3617749A
Cited
US4209706A
Cited
US4447721A
Cited
US4481656A
Cited
US4716581A
Cited
US4797907A
Cited
US4768216A
Cited
US5038371A
Cited
US5050204A
Cited
US5409002A
Cited
US5067145A
Cited
US5052036A
Cited
US5475730A
Cited
US5627873A
Cited
US5627873B1
Cited
US5642395A
Cited
US5835558A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-27 | 2003-06-28 | 2003-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-27 | 2007-06-28 | 2007-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-27 | 2011-06-28 | 2011-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |