Method and apparatus for tilting in a patient positioning system
View Patent ↗Certain embodiments include a system and method for tilting in a patient positioning system. The system includes a tilt plate for tilting a patient positioning surface, a screw for moving the tilt plate, a nut for translating rotary motion into linear motion to drive the screw, and a motor for imparting rotary motion to the nut. In an embodiment, the screw is a ball screw. In an embodiment, the nut is a rotary nut. The system may also include a drive gear situated on the motor, a driven gear situated on the nut the meshes with the drive gear, and a brake gear that meshes with the driven gear. The system may also include a fail-safe brake preventing collapse of the tilt mechanism in the event of a component failure.
1. A patient positioning system for medical applications, said system comprising:
a patient positioning surface for supporting a patient;
a lift subsystem for adjusting elevation of said patient positioning surface;
a longitudinal subsystem including a motor for moving said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction;
a tilt subsystem for tilting said patient positioning surface, said tilt subsystem capable of tilting said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction while supporting a patient load;
a position sensor for determining a position of said patient positioning surface;
at least one brake configured to stop motion of said patient positioning surface when power is removed from said brake; and
a control subsystem for controlling operation of said patient positioning system.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a lateral subsystem for moving said patient positioning surface in a lateral direction.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a rotation subsystem for rotating said patient positioning surface.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one brake to halt motion of said patient positioning surface.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein said position sensor comprises at least one encoder capable of triggering said at least one brake.
6. A patient positioning system for medical applications, said system comprising:
a patient positioning surface for supporting a patient;
a lift subsystem for adjusting elevation of said patient positioning surface;
a longitudinal subsystem for moving said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction;
a tilt subsystem for tilting said patient positioning surface, said tilt subsystem capable of tilting said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction while supporting a patient load;
a position sensor for determining a position of said patient positioning surface; and
a control subsystem for controlling operation of said patient positioning system,
wherein said tilt subsystem further comprises:
a motor for turning a nut;
a nut configured to translate rotary motion from said motor to linear motion; and
a screw for moving a tilt plate using linear motion from said nut, wherein said nut is situated on said screw.
7. A patient positioning system for medical applications, said system comprising:
a patient positioning surface for supporting a patient;
a lift subsystem for adjusting elevation of said patient positioning surface;
a longitudinal subsystem for moving said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction;
a tilt subsystem for tilting said patient positioning surface, said tilt subsystem capable of tilting said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction while supporting a patient load;
a position sensor for determining a position of said patient positioning surface;
a control subsystem for controlling operation of said patient positioning system;
a drive gear situated on said motor;
a driven gear situated on said nut, said driven gear meshing with said drive gear; and
a brake gear, said brake gear meshing with said driven gear,
wherein said tilt subsystem further comprises:
a motor for turning a nut;
a nut configured to translate rotary motion from said motor to linear motion; and
a screw for moving a tilt plate using linear motion from said nut, wherein said nut is situated on said screw.
8. A tilt mechanism for tilting a patient positioning surface, said mechanism comprising:
a tilt plate for tilting a patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction;
a screw for moving said tilt plate;
a nut for translating rotary motion into linear motion to linearly drive said screw;
a motor for imparting rotary motion to said nut; and
an electromagnetic brake connected to said motor by at least one gear.
9. The mechanism of claim 8 , wherein said screw comprises a ball screw.
10. The mechanism of claim 8 , wherein said nut comprises a rotary nut.
11. A tilt mechanism for tilting a patient positioning surface, said mechanism comprising:
a tilt plate for tilting a patient positioning surface;
a screw for moving said tilt plate;
a nut for translating rotary motion into linear motion to drive said screw;
a motor for imparting rotary motion to said nut;
a drive gear situated on said motor;
a driven gear situated on said nut, said driven gear meshing with said drive gear; and
a brake gear, said brake gear meshing with said driven gear.
12. A method for tilting a patient positioning surface, said method comprising:
vertically positioning a patient surface at a desired height to allow a patient to be loaded onto said patient positioning surface;
tilting said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction to position said patient positioning surface for a medical procedure;
returning said patient positioning surface to a horizontal position for an emergency situation; and
locking said patient surface using at least one electromagnetic brake.
13. A method for tilting a patient positioning surface, said method comprising:
vertically positioning a patient surface at a desired height to allow a patient to be loaded onto said patient positioning surface;
tilting said patient positioning surface in a longitudinal direction to position said patient positioning surface for a medical procedure; and
locking said patient positioning surface using at least one electromagnetic brake.