Patient positioning device for a computer tomograph

Abstract

A patient positioning device for a computer tomographic device having a gantry supported on a base is disclosed. The patient positioning device comprises a bed guide for a patient bed having an arm mounted on or to the base by means of a rotating joint which rotates about a horizontal axis. The bed guide is mounted to the arm by means of a rotating joint which rotates about a horizontal axis, and the height of the bed guide may be adjusted.

1 .- 5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . A patient positioning device for a computer tomograph device on a support base, the patient positioning device comprising: 
 a bed guide operable to receive a patient bed;    an arm supported at a head or a foot end thereof by a first rotating joint, the first rotating joint being rotatable about a first horizontal axis perpendicular to a length direction of the patient positioning device;    wherein the bed guide is connected to the arm by a second rotating joint, the second rotating joint being rotatable about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the length direction; and    wherein a height of the bed guide is adjustable by motion of the arm about the first rotating joint, and the first rotating joint is disposed such that the first rotating joint does not lie below the bed guide when the bed guide is partially or completely lowered towards the support base.    
     
     
         7 . The patient positioning device of  claim 6 , further comprising a height adjuster connected to the arm such that the height adjuster is operable to rotate the arm about the first rotating joint.  
     
     
         8 . The patient positioning device of  claim 7 , wherein the first rotating joint is attached to the support base.  
     
     
         9 . The patient positioning device of  claim 6 , wherein the first rotating joint is attached to the support base.  
     
     
         10 . The patient positioning device of  claim 6 , further comprising a support arm supported on the arm by a third rotating joint, the third rotating joint rotatable about a third horizontal axis, and the bed guide supported on the support arm by a fourth rotating joint, the fourth rotating joint rotatable about a fourth horizontal axis.  
     
     
         11 . The patient positioning device of  claim 10 , wherein a length of the support arm is adjustable such that the orientation of the bed guide remains stable when the arm is rotated.  
     
     
         12 . The patient positioning device of  claim 7 , further comprising a support arm supported on the arm by a third rotating joint, the third rotating joint rotatable about a third horizontal axis, and the bed guide supported on the support arm by a fourth rotating joint, the fourth rotating joint rotatable about a fourth horizontal axis.  
     
     
         13 . The patient positioning device of  claim 12 , wherein a length of the support arm is adjustable such that the orientation of the bed guide remains stable when the arm is rotated.  
     
     
         15 . A computer tomograph device supported on a base, the computer tomograph device comprising: 
 a patient positioning device, further comprising: 
 a bed guide operable to receive a patient bed;  
   an arm supported at a head or a foot end thereof by a first rotating joint, the first rotating joint being rotatable about a first horizontal axis perpendicular to a length direction of the patient positioning device;    wherein the bed guide is connected to the arm by a second rotating joint, the second rotating joint being rotatable about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the length direction; and    wherein a height of the bed guide is adjustable by motion of the arm about the first rotating joint, and the first rotating joint is disposed such that the first rotating joint does not lie below the bed guide when the bed guide is partially or completely lowered towards the support base.    
     
     
         16 . The computer tomograph device of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 a X-ray source and X-ray detector disposed in a gantry having an aperture therein, the patient positioning device positioned such that a patient is positionable in the aperture.    
     
     
         17 . The computer tomograph device of  claim 16  having a second patient positioning device disposed on an opposite side of the aperture from the patient positioning device.  
     
     
         18 . The computer tomograph device according to  claim 15 , wherein the patient positioning device further comprises a height adjuster connected to the arm such that the height adjuster is operable to rotate the arm about the first rotating joint.  
     
     
         19 . The computer tomograph device of  claim 18  wherein the first rotating joint is attached to the support base.  
     
     
         20 . The computer tomograph device of  claim 15  wherein the patient positioning device further comprises a support arm supported on the arm by a third rotating joint, the third rotating joint rotatable about a third horizontal axis, and the bed guide supported on the support arm by a fourth rotating joint, the fourth rotating joint rotatable about a fourth horizontal axis.  
     
     
         21 . The computer tomograph device of  claim 20  wherein a length of the support arm is adjustable such that the orientation of the bed guide remains stable when the arm is rotated.