Diagnostic X-ray systems

Claim 2

An improved diagnostic medical machine utilizing beams of radiation of small cross-sectional diameter for the purpose of mapping cross-sections of interior areas of the human body in combination with a computer, comprising, a table for supporting a patient in a generally horizontal position, a generally vertical first frame having an opening therethrough of a size sufficiently large to permit the patient and said table to move therethrough, a carrier frame rotatably mounted on said first frame and having a second opening generally coextensive with said first opening, a source of beamed radiation, a collector to receive said beams of radiation, first means mounting said source and collector to said carrier frame for translational movement with respect to said carrier, second means for rotating said carrier about said patent, and third means for tilting said first frame with respect to said patient.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said first means is a multisided framework and said source and collector are mounTed on opposing sides thereof with said radiation beam lying in the plane of said framework, one side of said framework having an elongated opening therethrough whereby an operator can accurately align the patient with respect to said beam

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein fourth means reciprocates said framework with respect to said carrier to move said source and said collector back and forth across said opening.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein said radiation source emits X-rays.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4 wherein said collector is a sodium iodide crystal for converting the variations in X-ray intensities into electronic signals in a form acceptable to said computer.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5 wherein an elongated patient supporting stretcher having a longitudinal axis is disposed over said table, a rack is formed in the bottom side of said stretcher along said longitudinal axis, a stepping motor having an output pinion in engagement with said rack is mounted to said table whereby by operation of said motor said stretcher can be moved with respect to said beam.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1 wherein a supporting means interconnects said table to said first frame to lower said table upon a tilting of said first frame.

Claim 9

An improved diagnostic medical machine utilizing beams of radiation of small cross-sectional diameter for the purpose of mapping tomographic cross-sections of interior areas of the human body in combination with a computer, comprising, a vertical first frame extending upwardly from a base and having an opening therethrough of a size sufficiently large to permit the patient to move therethrough, a carrier frame rotatably mounted with respect to said first frame and having a second opening generally coextensive and co-axial with said first opening, a third frame, first means mounting said third frame to said carrier frame for movement transverse with respect to the plane of said carrier frame and for rotation therewith, a source of beamed radiation mounted on said third frame on one side of said second frame, a collector to receive said beamed radiation mounted on said third frame on an opposing side of said second frame, second means for rotating said frame about said patient, a table for supporting a patient in a generally horizontal position within said openings, and, third means to incrementally move said table horizontally to locate said table accurately with respect to source.

Claim 10

An improved diagnostic medical machine utilizing beams of radiation of small cross-sectional diameter for the purpose of mapping tomographic cross-sections of interior areas of the human body in combination with a computer, comprising, a vertical first frame extending upwardly from a base and having an opening therethrough of a size sufficiently large to permit the patient to move therethrough, a carrier frame rotatably mounted with respect to said first frame and having a second opening generally coextensive and co-axial with said first opening, a third frame, first means mounting said third frame to said carrier frame for movement transverse with respect to the plane of said carrier frame and for rotation therewith, a source of beamed radiation mounted on said third frame on one side of said second frame, a collector to receive said beamed radiation mounted on said third frame on an opposing side of said second frame, second means for rotating said frame about said patient, a table for supporting a patient in a generally horizontal position within said openings, and, third means to incrementally move said table horizontally to locate said table accurately with respect to source.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 8 wherein said second means rotates said third frame incrementally and fourth means to reciprocate said carrier frame across said openings upon each incremental rotation of said carrier frame.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 8 wherein said radiation source emits X-rays.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 10 wherein said collector is a sodium iodide crystal for converting the variations in X-ray intensities into electronic signals in arithmatic form.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 8 wherein a supporting means interconnects said table to said first frame to lower said table upon a tilting of said first frame.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 8 wherein a patient supporting elongated stretcher is disposed over said table, a rack is formed in the bottom side of said stretcher along the longitudinal axis thereof, a stepping motor having an output pinion in engagement with said rack is mounted to said table whereby said motor can move said stretcher with respect to said beam.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 8 wherein counterbalance weights are mounted on said carrier frame, said frame having a center axis means operably connected to said third frame to cause said weights to shift a distance to one side of said center axis proportionate to the shift of said source and said detector to the opposite side of said center axis caused by the incremental rotational movement of said carrier frame.

Claim 17

An improved diagnostic medical machine utilizing beams of radiation of small cross-sectional diaMeter for the purpose of mapping cross-sections of a patient''s head in combination with a computer, comprising, a table for supporting a patient in a generally horizontal position, a generally vertical first frame having an opening therethrough of a size sufficiently large to permit the patient and said table to move therethrough, a carrier frame rotatably mounted on said first frame and having a second opening generally coextensive with said first opening, a narrow beam of radiation from a radiation source, a collector to receive said beam of radiation, first means mounting said source and collector to said carrier frame for translational movement with respect to said carrier and to carry said beam across said patient''s head, second means for rotating said carrier about said patient''s head, a shutter means disposed between said source and the patient''s head and interrupting said beam, and means to move said shutter from the path of said beam just prior to its approach to said patient''s head as it is carried by said first means.

Claim 18

An improved diagnostic medical machine utilizing beams of radiation of small cross-sectional diaMeter for the purpose of mapping cross-sections of a patient''s head in combination with a computer, comprising, a table for supporting a patient in a generally horizontal position, a generally vertical first frame having an opening therethrough of a size sufficiently large to permit the patient and said table to move therethrough, a carrier frame rotatably mounted on said first frame and having a second opening generally coextensive with said first opening, a narrow beam of radiation from a radiation source, a collector to receive said beam of radiation, first means mounting said source and collector to said carrier frame for translational movement with respect to said carrier and to carry said beam across said patient''s head, second means for rotating said carrier about said patient''s head, a shutter means disposed between said source and the patient''s head and interrupting said beam, and means to move said shutter from the path of said beam just prior to its approach to said patient''s head as it is carried by said first means.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 15 wherein said means to move is a solenoid mounted on said first frame.