US4567894A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydraulically operated, mobile patient transport table useful with a magnetic resonance scanner
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1984-11-09
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Granted: 1986-02-04
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Expires: 2004-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A hydraulically operated, mobile patient transport table useful with a magnetic resonance scanner, which includes a magnet for producing a polarizing magnetic field, employs a hydraulic motor disposed at the base of the magnet and a hydraulic pump disposed at the base of the table. The hydraulic motor and pump are operatively coupled to enable transfer of energy from the motor to the pump without use of hydraulic connections therebetween. In the preferred embodiment, the coupling is implemented with a cone-shaped coupling member attached to the output of the motor and a complementarily-shaped coupling member attached to the input shaft of the pump which frictionally engages the cone-shaped member.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles T. Bergman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/04; A61B6/0487; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/055; A61B5/70; A61B5/704; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/879; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/59; Y10T403/599; Y10T403/60; Y10T403/602
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
An MR scanner system including a magnet for producing a polarizing magnetic field and having a bore for receiving a patient, a mobile, hydraulically-operated patient transport table, said MR scanner system further comprising: a hydraulic motor disposed at the magnet; a hydraulic pump disposed at the table; and means for operatively coupling said hydraulic motor to said hydraulic pump so as to transfer energy from the motor to the pump without requiring a hydraulic connection therebetween, when said motor is energized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
An MR scanner system including a magnet for producing a polarizing magnetic field and having a bore for receiving a patient, a mobile, hydraulically-operated patient transport table, said MR scanner system further comprising: a hydraulic motor disposed at the magnet; a hydraulic pump disposed at the table; and means for operatively coupling said hydraulic motor to said hydraulic pump so as to transfer energy from the motor to the pump without requiring a hydraulic connection therebetween, when said motor is energized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The MR scanner of claim 1 wherein said means for coupling comprises: a first coupling member attached to the output shaft of said motor; and a second coupling member attached to the input shaft of said pump, said second coupling member being complementarily shaped to receive and frictionally engage said first coupling member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The MR scanner of claim 2 wherein said first coupling member attached to the output shaft of said motor comprises a cone-shaped coupling member, wherein the engaging angle of the cone-shaped coupling member is approximately 7 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The MR scanner of claim 2 wherein said cone-shaped coupling member is comprised of a flexible material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The MR scanner of claim 2 further comprising accumulator means coupled to said pump for storing energy transferred to the pump by said motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The MR scanner of claim 1 further comprising an accumulator means coupled to said pump for storing energy transferred to the pump by said motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The MR scanner of claim 6 further comprising means coupled to said accumulator means for sensing the pressure therein, for activating said hydraulic motor when the pressure decreases below a predetermined level, and for disabling said motor when the pressure is restored to the correct level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
The MR scanner of claim 7 wherein said means for sensing comprises: flag means having a first state indicative of a pressure in said accumulator below a predetermined level and a second state indicative of normal accumulator pressure; an accumulator monitor valve coupled at its input to said accumulator and at its output to said flag means so as to alter the state thereof between said first and second states; and means responsive to the first stage of said flag means for activating said motor, and responsive to the second state of said flag means for disabling said motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
The MR scanner of claim 1 including means for releasably docking the patient transport table to the magnet, said means for docking comprising: a latch cylinder assembly mounted to the table, said assembly including hook means; and a docking assembly mounted at the base of the magnet including pin means for engaging said hook means, said latch cylinder assembly including spring means coupled to said hook for maintaining said pin and hook means engaged thereby to dock the table to the magnet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The MR scanner of claim 9 wherein said latch cylinder assembly further comprises hydraulically actuated cylinder means for compressing said spring means thereby to disengage said hook means for said pin means to undock the table.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The MR scanner of claim 9 further comprising means for detecting positive docking of the table, said means for detecting comprising flag means on said hook means and means for detecting said flag means when said pin and hook means are engaged.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The MR scanner of claim 11 wherein said flag and detecting means comprise, respectively, a reflective region and a light-emitting diode/photodiode assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
135 words
An MR scanner system including a housing supporting a magnet for producing a polarizing magnetic field and having a bore for receiving a patient, a mobile, hydraulically-operated patient transport table, said MR scanner system further comprising: a power transfer and docking assembly secured to said housing; docking means fastened to said mobile table for engaging said power transfer and docking assembly so as to releasably dock said table to said housing; hydraulic motor means disposed in said power transfer and docking assembly; hydraulic pump means disposed on said table; and means for operatively coupling said hydraulic motor means to said pump means, when said table is docked so as to transfer energy from said hydraulic motor means to said hydraulic pump means without requiring a hydraulic connection therebetween, when said hydraulic motor means is energized.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
135 words
An MR scanner system including a housing supporting a magnet for producing a polarizing magnetic field and having a bore for receiving a patient, a mobile, hydraulically-operated patient transport table, said MR scanner system further comprising: a power transfer and docking assembly secured to said housing; docking means fastened to said mobile table for engaging said power transfer and docking assembly so as to releasably dock said table to said housing; hydraulic motor means disposed in said power transfer and docking assembly; hydraulic pump means disposed on said table; and means for operatively coupling said hydraulic motor means to said pump means, when said table is docked so as to transfer energy from said hydraulic motor means to said hydraulic pump means without requiring a hydraulic connection therebetween, when said hydraulic motor means is energized.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The MR scanner of claim 13 wherein said means for coupling comprises: a first coupling member attached to the output shaft of said motor; and a second coupling member attached to the input shaft of said pump, said second coupling member being complementarily shaped to receive and frictionally engage said first coupling member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The MR scanner of claim 14 wherein said first coupling member attached to the output shaft of said motor comprises a cone-shaped coupling member, wherein the engaging angle of the cone-shaped coupling member is approximately 7 degrees.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The MR scanner of claim 14 wherein said cone-shaped coupling member is comprised of a flexible material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The MR scanner of claim 14 further comprising accumulator means coupled to said pump for storing energy transferred to the pump by said motor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The MR scanner of claim 13 further comprising an accumulator means coupled to said pump for storing energy transferred to the pump by said motor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-03 | 1989-08-05 | 1990-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-03 | 1993-08-05 | 1994-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-03 | 1997-08-05 | 1998-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |