Patient table with an impact resistance mechanism

Abstract

This invention generally relates to a method of reducing effects impacts on a patient table, more particularly to a method of reducing the effects of impact on a patient table by transferring the energy of impact The method of reducing effects of low energy impacts on a patient table comprises transferring the energy of the impact from a region of impact to a rigid region. The method of transferring energy comprises providing at least one filling structure between a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is a flexible surface and the second surface is a rigid surface. In an embodiment the wherein the first surface is a flexible surface and the second surface is a rigid surface of the patient table and the filling structure is configured to transfer the energy of impact from the flexible surface to the rigid surface.

1 . A method of reducing effects of impact on a patient table comprising the step of: transferring energy of the impact from a region of impact to a rigid region of the patient table. 
   
   
       2 . A method of reducing effects of impact as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of transferring energy of the impact comprises providing a filling structure between the region of impact and the rigid region. 
   
   
       3 . A method of reducing effects of impact as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the filling structure is configured to transfer the energy of the impact on the region of impact to the rigid region. 
   
   
       4 . A method of reducing effects of impact as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the filling structure includes at least one rib. 
   
   
       5 . A method of reducing effects of impact as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the filling structure includes at least one stiffener. 
   
   
       6 . A method of reducing effects of impact as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the region of impact is a flexible outer cover of the patient table and wherein the rigid region is an internal structural member of the patient table, and wherein the filling structure is disposed between the outer cover and the internal
 structural member so as to transfer the energy of the impact from the outer cover to the internal structural member.   
   
   
       7 . A method of reducing effects of impact as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the patient table is a magnetic resonance (MR) patient table. 
   
   
       8 . A method of transferring energy of impact on a patient table, comprising the step of: providing at least one filling structure between a first surface and a second surface of the patient table, wherein the first surface is a flexible surface and the second surface is a rigid surface. 
   
   
       9 . The method of transferring energy as in  claim 8 , wherein the filling structure is configured to transfer the energy of impact from the flexible surface to the rigid surface. 
   
   
       10 . The method of transferring energy as in  claim 9 , wherein the filling structure includes at least one rib. 
   
   
       11 . The method of transferring energy as in  claim 9 , wherein the filling structure includes at least one stiffener. 
   
   
       12 . The method of transferring energy as in  claim 8 ,wherein the flexible surface is an outer panel of the patient table. 
   
   
       13 . The method of transferring energy as in  claim 8 , wherein the rigid surface is an internal structural member of the patient table. 
   
   
       14 . The method of transferring energy as in  claim 9 , wherein the filling structure is configured to transfer energy of impact in the range of 1N-750N. 
   
   
       15 . The method as in  claim 8 , wherein the patient table is an MR patient table. 
   
   
       16 . A patient table with an impact resistance mechanism comprising:
 a flexible surface provided as an outer cover of the patient table;   a rigid surface provided inside the patient table, at a distance from the flexible surface;   a filling material provided between the flexible surface and the rigid surface, wherein the filling material is configured to transfer an energy of impact from the flexible surface to the rigid surface.   
   
   
       17 . The patient table with an impact resistance mechanism as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the filling material is configured to transfer energy of impact in the range of 1 N-750 N. 
   
   
       18 . The patient table with an impact resistance mechanism as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the patient table is an MR table. 
   
   
       19 . The patient table with an impact resistance mechanism as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the rigid surface is an internal structural member of the patient table. 
   
   
       20 . The patient table with an impact resistance mechanism as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the filling material includes ribs or stiffeners.