Patient support apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to a patient support apparatus for a radiotherapy device. The patient support apparatus comprises a support surface and abase. The patient support apparatus also comprises a first connection assembly connecting the surface and the base, the first connection assembly being connected to the surface at a first connection point, wherein the first connection assembly is coupled to a first driving mechanism configured to effect translation of the first connection point in a substantially vertical direction. The patient support apparatus also comprises a second connection assembly connecting the surface and the base, the second connection assembly being connected to the surface at a second connection point, wherein the second connection assembly is coupled to a second driving mechanism configured to effect translation of the second connection point in the substantially vertical direction. The patient support apparatus also comprises a third connection assembly connecting the surface and the base, the third connection assembly being connected to the surface at a third connection point, wherein the third connection assembly is coupled to a third driving mechanism configured to effect translation of the third connection point in the substantially vertical direction, wherein the third connection assembly further comprises a pivot joint at the third connection point configured to enable relative rotation between the surface and the base. The first, second and third driving mechanisms are configured to be independently driven to provide rotation and vertical translation of the surface with respect to the base.

1 . A patient support apparatus for a radiotherapy device comprising:
 a support surface;   a base;   a first connection assembly connecting the support surface and the base, the first connection assembly being connected to the support surface at a first connection point, wherein the first connection assembly is coupled to a first driving mechanism configured to effect, translation of the first connection point in a substantially vertical direction;   a second connection assembly connecting the support surface and the base, the second connection assembly being connected to the support surface at a second connection point, wherein the second connection assembly is coupled to a second driving mechanism configured to effect translation of the second connection point in the substantially vertical direction; and   a third connection assembly connecting the support surface and the base, the third connection assembly being connected to the support surface at a third connection point, wherein the third connection assembly is coupled to a third driving mechanism configured to effect translation of the third connection point in the substantially vertical direction;   wherein the third connection assembly further comprises a pivot joint at the third. connection point configured to enable relative rotation between the support surface and the base, and wherein the first, second and third driving mechanisms are configured to be independently driven to provide rotation and vertical translation of the support surface with respect to the base.   
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processor configured to control the first, second, and third driving mechanisms to provide at least one of rotation or vertical translation of the support surface as part of a treatment plan.   
     
     
         6 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of each of the first, second, and third connection points is a fixed position on an underside of the support surface or wherein the pivot joint comprises one of a universal joint or a spherical bearing. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the third connection point is located along a longitudinal centerline of the support surface. 
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first connection point and second connection point are equally spaced on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of the support surface and are equally distanced from a transverse centerline of the support surface at a position substantially near a first end of the support surface, wherein the third connection point is located at a position substantially near a second end of the support surface, wherein the first connection point is located along a longitudinal centerline of the support surface, and wherein the second connection point is located at a position spaced apart from the longitudinal centerline of the support surface. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first connection assembl and the second connection assembly is a wedge assembly configured to convert a substantially horizontal translation provided by one of the first and second drive mechanisms to a substantially vertical translation. 
     
     
         14 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each wedge assembly includes:
 a wedge supported by the base; and   a slider movably connected to and supported by the wedge and connected to the support surface at one of the first and second connection points, wherein movement of the slider with respect to the wedge effects translation of at least one of the first connection point or the second connection point in the substantially vertical direction.   
     
     
         15 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein each wedge is a translatable wedge, and each of the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism is configured to move a particular wedge with respect to the base to thereby effect movement of the slider with respect to the particular wedge. 
     
     
         16 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the third driving mechanism comprises a third wedge assembly, and wherein each wedge assembly further comprises:
 a spherical contact bearing which connects the slider to the support surface.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first connection assembly and the second connection assembly comprises:
 a crank configured to be rotated about a fixed axis of rotation by at least one of the first driving mechanism or the second driving mechanism; and   a link coupled to the support surface and to the crank at a position on the crank located radially outwards from the fixed axis of rotation.   
     
     
         19 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first connection assembly and the second connection assembly includes a shaft, wherein the crank of the first connection assembly is connected to the crank of the second connection assembly by the shaft, and wherein each link is coupled to each crank by the shaft. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein each of the cranks is connected to the shaft by a first spherical bearing and each of the links is coupled to the shaft by a second spherical bearing. 
     
     
         22 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the link is movably coupled to the support surface at, at least one of the first connection point or second connection point respectively by a linearly movable slider. 
     
     
         23 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the linearly movable slider is fixedly connected to either the link or the support surface. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a processor wherein the processor is configured to:
 rotate the crank of the first connection assembly and the crank of the second connection assembly synchronously to cause the support surface to pitch; and.   rotate the crank of the first connection assembly and the crank of the second connection assembly asynchronously to cause the support surface to roll.   
     
     
         26 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein each of the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism includes:
 a belt; and   a motor configured to drive the belt, wherein e crank is configured to be rotated by a movement of the belt.   
     
     
         27 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first connection assembly and the second connection assembly includes:
 a pivot member connected to the base in a lever arrangement, wherein a first end of the pivot member is coupled to at least one of the first driving mechanism or the second driving mechanism, wherein a second end of the pivot member is connected to the support surface, wherein actuation of at least one of the first driving mechanism or the second driving mechanism causes the pivot member to pivot about an axis of rotation defined by the connection of the pivot member to the base, wherein the pivoting of the pivot member causes the rotation and vertical translation of the support surface with respect to the base.   
     
     
         28 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein each of the first connection assembly and the second connection assembly is connected to the support surface by a slider connected to an underside of the support surface, wherein each of the first connection assembly and the second connection assembly further comprise a linear guide block connected to the second end of the pivot member, wherein the linear guide block is at least one of movably coupled to the slider or configured to move linearly along a longitudinal axis of the slider. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The patient support surface of  claim 28 , wherein the linear guide block is free in rotation about the slider, and wherein the axis of rotation of the linear guide block is a longitudinal axis of the slider. 
     
     
         31 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A radiotherapy apparatus comprising:
 a patient support surface, the patient support surface including:   a support surface:   a base:   a first connection assembly connecting the support surface and the base, the first connection assembly being connected to the support surface at a first connection point, wherein the first connection assembly is coupled to a first driving mechanism configured to effect translation of the first connection point in a substantially vertical direction;   a second connection assembly connecting the support surface and the base, the second connection assembly being connected to the support surface at a second connection point, wherein the second connection assembly is coupled to a second driving mechanism configured to effect translation of the second connection point in the substantially vertical direction;   a third connection assembly connecting the support surface and the base. the third connection assembly being connected to the support surface at a third connection point, wherein the third connection assembly is coupled to a third driving mechanism configured to effect translation of the third connection point in the substantially vertical direction, and   a processor configured to control the first driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism, and the third driving mechanism to at least one of rotate or vertically translate the support surface during treatment of the patient;   wherein the third connection assembly includes a pivot joint at the third connection point configured to enable relative rotation between the support surface and the base, and wherein the first driving mechanism, the second driving mechanism, and the third driving mechanisms are configured to be independently driven to provide the rotation or the vertical translation of the support surface with respect to the base.