Patient support apparatus for a radiotherapy system
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Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12642992-B2
Publication Date
2026-06-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems are disclosed for patient positioning in radiotherapy. A patient support system comprises a base (314,328), a linear guide comprising a bearing (908,910) and an elongate bearing guide (316,410,420,902,904) arranged to guide translational motion of the bearing (908,910) along a translation axis, and a patient support surface (114,312) coupled to the base (314,328) via the linear guide, the linear guide being arranged to guide linear motion of the patient support surface (114,312) relative to the base (314,328) in a direction parallel to the translation axis. The patient support system comprises a safety guide (600) having a safety guide end adjacent to one end of the elongate bearing guide (316,410,420,902,904), wherein an open channel (610) defined by a surface of the safety guide (600) starts at the safety guide end with an open part of the channel (610) facing the translation axis, and a depth of the channel (610) tapers away from the elongate bearing guide (316,410,420,902,904).
Core Innovation
The supplied content does not include the background section, so the problem stated in that section is not explicitly described in patent. The described patient support system for a radiotherapy system couples a patient support surface to a base through a linear guide and includes a safety guide adjacent to an end of the elongate bearing guide, with an open channel facing the translation axis and tapering in depth away from the bearing guide.
The safety-guide channel is described as guiding a human finger away from the elongate bearing guide, while the safety guide can also contact the bearing to prevent further motion in that direction. A second arrangement uses teeth on a first stop that travel in elongate slots and contact a second stop at an endpoint, preventing further motion of the patient support surface carrying member relative to the base member.
Claims Coverage
The claims contain two independent claims, each covering a radiotherapy patient support system and a distinct travel-safety arrangement.
Tapered open-channel safety guide
A patient support system with a base, a linear guide that guides translational motion of a bearing, and a patient support surface coupled to the base through the linear guide. A safety guide adjacent to one end of the elongate bearing guide defines an open channel facing the translation axis, with a depth that tapers away from the elongate bearing guide.
Toothed stops travelling in elongate slots
A linear guide mechanism guides a patient support surface carrying member relative to a base member. Teeth of a first stop on the base member project into respective elongate slots and translate along them; at an endpoint, the first stop contacts a second stop on the carrying member to prevent further motion in that direction.
The two independent claims cover a tapered-channel safety guide for a linear bearing arrangement and a toothed-stop arrangement that limits travel at an endpoint.
Stated Advantages
The safety-guide channel reduces the risk of finger trapping by guiding fingers away from moving parts.
The safety arrangements help prevent overextension, bearing escape, and decoupling.
Documented Applications
Use in a patient support system for a radiotherapy system.
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