Tomographic and x-ray photographic diagnostic apparatus for pediatric examination

Claim 1

A radiodiagnostic apparatus, particularly for carrying out pediatric X-ray examination, comprising: a fixed base having substantially vertical members integral therewith; table shaped means pivotably mounted on said vertical members for being tilted about a first horizontal axis from a horizontal position to at least a vertical one, said tableshaped means having a longitudinal and a transverse axis; means for movably carrying X-ray film mounted within said tableshaped means for displacements of said film in parallel to said longitudinal axis and within a film plane defined by the film in position for exposure; an X-ray source including a tube for emitting an X-ray beam originating from a focal spot and mounted within a casing; means for movably mounting said X-ray source on said tableshaped means for said focal spot to be displaced along a circular arc, said X-ray source mounting means including: a first parallelogram made up from: a first and a second column having one of their ends pivotably mounted to one side of said table-shaped means for respectively pivoting about a second and a third horizontal axis, spaced symmetrically to and parallel with said transverse axis and both intersecting a line parallel to said longitudinal axis thereof; and a first arm member respectively hingedly connecting together the other ends of said first and second columns; and a second parallelogram made up from: a second arm member secured integrally to said X-ray tube casing in parallel to the center ray of said X-ray beam and having one end pivotally attached to the middle of said first arm member; a tomography rod hinged with one of its ends to the junction of said first column and said first arm member and slideably engaged in a first slideway pivotally mounted on a spindle displaceable along a line perpendicular to said film plane and intersecting with said second axis, the other end of said rod being coupled to said X-ray film carrying means for controlling the displacements thereof; and a third arm member respectively hingedly connecting the other end of said second arm member to said tomography rod for permanently aiming the center ray of said beam to the center of the film in its exposure position; and means for supporting a patient including: a supporting plate having a longitudinal axis and two ends; a pair of first shafts respectively attached to said ends of said plate in alignment with siad plate axis; a pair of intermediate mounting members respectively displaceably and rotatably carrying said first shaft pair for their displacement in directions parallel to the film plane and for rotation about said plate axis; a pair of further arm members perpendicular to said plate axis Respectively articulatedly carrying said pair of mounting members; an elongated member having an axis parallel to said plate axis and two ends for respectively rotatably carrying said further arm member pair, the rotation of said further arm members about an axis parallel to said plate axis resulting in displacements of said supporting plate substantially perpendicularly to the film plane; a frame member forming a second slideway slideably carrying said elongated member for displacements of said plate in the direction of its longitudinal axis; and means for pivotably mounting said frame member on said tableshaped means allowing the independent pivoting thereof about an axis perpendicular to said film plane, said perpendicular axis being so located that, when said frame member is being pivoted, said supporting plate is being moved from a first position where its longitudinal axis is parallel to that of said table-shaped means to a second position where said plate axis is parallel to said transverse axis thereof, said first and said second column being so spaced relatively to each other as to let said supporting plate and said elongated member pass therebetween, whereby enabling said apparatus to also carry out transverse tomographies of said patient.