Medical examination facility

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9861326-B2
Application number	US-201514666706-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2015
Priority date	Mar 25, 2014
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A medical examination facility is provided, wherein the facility includes an imaging apparatus and a mobile patient table. Mechanical coupling devices to be connected to each other are provided on both the imaging apparatus and the mobile patient table for the purpose of mechanically coupling the patient table to the imaging apparatus in an end position. The mechanical coupling device of the imaging apparatus includes a pulling device that is movable to a locking position via a controllable drive motor. In order to automatically move the patient table, the pulling device engages a driver provided on the patient table, before the end position is reached, and carries it by moving to the locking position, in which the patient table is in the end position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A medical examination facility comprising:
an imaging apparatus comprising a first mechanical coupling device; and
a mobile patient table comprising a second mechanical coupling device,
wherein the first and second mechanical coupling devices are configured to be connected to each other for the purpose of mechanically coupling the patient table to the imaging apparatus in an end position,
wherein one of the first mechanical coupling device of the imaging apparatus or the second mechanical coupling device of the patient table comprises a pulling device that is movable to a locking position via a controllable drive motor, the pulling device comprising a linearly movable slotted guide component with a drive slot configured to receive a driver, a spindle drive with a threaded spindle, and a nut guided on the threaded spindle, wherein the nut is coupled with the linearly moveable slotted guide component and the threaded spindle is configured to be driven via the drive motor,
wherein the other of the first mechanical coupling device of the imaging apparatus or the second mechanical coupling device of the patient table comprises the driver,
wherein the pulling device is configured to automatically move the patient table by engaging the driver, opposite the pulling device, via the linearly moveable slotted guide component before the end position is reached, and carrying the patient table by moving to the locking position, in which the patient table is in the end position, and
wherein the linearly moveable slotted guide component is guided along a linear axis extending perpendicular to a direction of movement of the patient table.

2. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the driver is provided on the patient table, and
wherein the first mechanical coupling device of the imaging apparatus comprises the pulling device.

3. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the driver is provided on the imaging apparatus, and
wherein the second mechanical coupling device of the patient table comprises the pulling device.

4. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor is provided to detect a position of the patient table, wherein the drive motor is controllable according to a detection result of the sensor.

5. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor is provided to detect a position of the driver of the patient table, wherein the drive motor is controllable according to a detection result of the sensor.

6. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a guide component is provided on the patient table or on the imaging apparatus, wherein the guide component, on approaching the pulling device, engages between two guide rollers arranged on the first or second coupling device and is guided by the guide rollers until the end position is reached.

7. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 6 , wherein two pairs of guide rollers lying opposite each other are provided.

8. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the guide component is a guide plate having a conical profile.

9. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the guide plate has a radius contour at an edge of the guide plate.

10. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 1 , wherein electrical coupling devices are furthermore provided on the imaging apparatus and on the patient table for the purpose of electrically coupling the patient table to the imaging apparatus in the end position, wherein the electrical coupling devices are automatically connected to each other at least when the end position is reached.

11. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the electrical coupling devices are configured as a plug/socket pairing.

12. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the electrical coupling devices are assigned centering devices that cooperate with each other when brought together.

13. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the centering devices comprise:
a first centering device having two centering plates and at least one centering roller positioned on an end of each centering plate; and
a second centering device having a guide plate configured to move between the centering plates guided by the centering rollers.

14. The medical examination facility as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the patient table comprises at least two rollers drivable via a table-side drive motor, and in that a sensor is provided that detects when the patient table approaches the imaging apparatus, wherein the rollers are switched to idle according to a sensor detection.

Assignees

• Koerth Michael
• Neuber Wolfgang
• Rauh Peter
• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Koerth Michael
• Neuber Wolfgang
• Rauh Peter

Classifications

• A61B6/0457

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61B6/0407 Primary

  Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body · CPC title

• A61B5/0555

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61B5/055 Primary

  involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging · CPC title

• A61B6/0487

  Motor-assisted positioning · CPC title