IP Library Granted Patent US 12,648,746
Granted Patent B2
US 12,648,746 · App. 18/088,915 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Cleaning device for a tomography device having an examination tunnel and tomography device

Inventors: Armin Michael Nagel (Bubenreuth, DE); Sebastian Bickelhaupt (Erlangen, DE)
Assignee: Radiology Innovations NB20C GmbH
A61B6/4423A61L2/10A61L2/18A61L2103/05A61L2103/15A61L2202/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,648,746
App. No.
18/088,915
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cleaning device for a tomography device, in particular an MRT, has an examination tunnel. The cleaning device has a nozzle assembly for applying a liquid cleaning agent to a tunnel inner surface facing toward the tunnel axis, a mounting device, which is configured to mount the nozzle assembly on a structural unit of the tomography device parallel to the tunnel axis and displaceably along the examination tunnel, and a control unit, which is configured, in the intended cleaning operation, to specify the application of the cleaning agent in dependence on the movement of the nozzle assembly.

Claims (14)

1 . A cleaning device for a tomography device having an examination tunnel, the cleaning device comprising:

a wiper assembly configured to clean a tunnel inner surface facing toward a tunnel axis mechanically under an effect of a liquid cleaning agent; and

a mounting device configured to mount said wiper assembly on a structural unit of the tomography device parallel to the tunnel axis and displaceably along the examination tunnel.

2 . The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the structural unit of the tomography device is a patient table; and

said mounting device is configured to mount said wiper assembly in an intended usage state on the patient table of the tomography device, so that said wiper assembly is also moved upon movement of the patient table.

3 . The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein

said mounting device has a rail guide, by means of which said wiper assembly is displaceably guided separately from a patient table in the examination tunnel.

4 . The cleaning device according to claim 3 , wherein said mounting device has a rail slide, which is coupled in an intended usage state to a guide rail of the patient table.

5 . The cleaning device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

moving cleaning elements acting mechanically on the tunnel inner surface; and

a drive for moving said moving cleaning elements acting mechanically on the tunnel inner surface.

6 . The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein elements of the cleaning device entering the examination tunnel in an intended cleaning operation are formed with omission or at least reduction of ferromagnetic material.

7 . The cleaning device according to claim 1 , further comprising an ultra-violet (UV) radiator assembly for UV irradiation of the tunnel inner surface.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: FRIEDRICH-ALEXANDER-UNIVERSITÄT ERLANGEN-NÜRNBERG-SELBSTVERWALTUNGSKÖRPERSCHAFT DES ÖFFENTLICHEN RECHTS
To: RADIOLOGY INNOVATIONS NB20C GMBH
Reel/Frame 068767/0684 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2023
From: NAGEL, ARMIN MICHAEL; BICKELHAUPT, SEBASTIAN
To: FRIEDRICH-ALEXANDER-UNIVERSITAET ERLANGEN-NUERNBERG - SELBSTVERWALTUNGSKOERPERSCHAFT DES OEFFENTLICHEN RECHTS
Reel/Frame 062344/0419 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 207 984.6 · Jun 27, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2021064387 · May 28, 2021
Related Publication 20230136855A1 · May 4, 2023
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