Abstract
A protective bag dispensing system for a mobile x-ray apparatus includes a back panel element mountable against an external and operator-accessible side of a cart, the back panel element having dimensions which exceed the size of a protective bag being dispensed, a front panel element joined to the back panel element at the bottom side of both panels forming a cavity for supporting and accommodating an X-ray detector during the bagging process, a bag holder for hanging down a stack of multiple protective bags or feeding bags one by one into the cavity, the protective bags individually and removably attached from their top sides allowing an individual bag to be removed from the stack or roll while inserting the X-ray detector into the first available protective bag, the protective bags exceeding the size of the mobile x-ray detector being bagged, and the back panel element includes at least two segments arranged in a hinged configuration.
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. A protective bag dispensing system for bagging a flat panel cassette detector of a mobile X-ray apparatus, the protective bag dispensing system comprising: a back panel mountable against a side of a cart of the mobile X-ray apparatus, the back panel including at least two segments connected by a hinge; a front panel joined to the back panel to define a cavity to support and accommodate an X-ray detector while the X-ray detector is being bagged; a bag holder that holds a stack of protective bags, protective bags in the stack of protective bags being individually and removably attached at a top side thereof to allow a protective bag to be removed from the stack of protective bags while the X-ray detector is inserted into the protective bag; wherein the back panel has dimensions that exceed a size of the protective bag, and the size of the protective bag exceeds a size of the X-ray detector being bagged.
13. The protective bag dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the back panel includes an upper segment and a lower segment, the upper segment including a fixer that attaches the upper segment to the side of the cart.
14. The protective bag dispensing system according to claim 13, wherein the fixer includes a fixing portion that is removably inserted and fixed to an existing detector storage bin of the cart.
15. The protective bag dispensing system according to claim 14, wherein the fixing portion is locked to the existing detector storage bin by expanding in at least two opposite directions and against interior walls of the existing detector storage bin.
16. The protective bag dispensing system according to claim 13, wherein the lower segment aligns with the upper segment to define a single straight segment when the protective bag dispensing system is located in an open position.
17. The protective bag dispensing system according to claim 16, wherein the lower segment of the back panel extends toward the side of the cart when the protective bag dispensing system is in a closed position.
18. The protective bag dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the back panel includes a rectangular panel made of a flexible material such that the back panel is able to flex towards the side of the cart.
19. The protective bag dispensing system according to claim 17, further comprising a magnet that attracts the lower segment toward the side of the cart so that the lower segment is bent at the hinge towards the side of the cart and remains in the closed position.
20. The protective bag dispensing system according to claim 12, further comprising spacer elements located on the back panel to separate an upper area of the front panel from the back panel by a distance that allows insertion of the X-ray detector into the cavity.
21. The protective bag dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the front panel defines a strap located at an upper area of the back panel.
22. The protective bag dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the back panel includes a rim at the bottom of the back panel to support a flat panel detector cassette.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 depicts a mobile x-ray device comprising an embodiment of the invention [10] mounted at the rear of the cart in a closed position. The drawing shows the protective bag dispensing unit [10] mounted at the rear end of the cart [40] of the mobile x-ray device, where it is mounted under the pushing handle [30] and in the vicinity of the mobile x-ray detector [20] stored in the storage bin of the cart. The front panel element [101] and back panel element [102] are shown in a closed position.
[0028] FIG. 2 depicts the same mobile x-ray device comprising an embodiment of the same protecting bag dispensing unit [10] as in FIG. 1, but shown in an open position. The mobile x-ray detector [20] has been transferred from the cart storage position into the protective bag dispensing system [10] which is depicted in an open position. The segments of the back panel element [102] are now aligned as to form a straight surface.
[0029] FIGS. 3a and 3b are two side views of schematic representations of a preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in the open (parked or in use) (FIG. 3a) and closed (transport) (FIG. 3b) position. The drawing shows the essential features of the protective bag dispensing system [10]. The drawing depicts the back panel element [102], and shows the invention in an embodiment with 2 segments: the upper segment [1022] and the lower segment [1021]. The upper segment [1022] comprises a fixing means [103] and both segments are connected via a hinge [105]. The front panel element [101] is here depicted as a flexible element which is connected with the back panel [102] at the bottom side of both elements. A lateral spacer element [104] defines a distance between the upper sides of both panels [101] and [102], so as to form a cavity into which a mobile x-ray detector can be introduced. The set of protective bags [500] is fixed at the top side of the back panel element [102] by means of a bag holding means [107]. In FIG. 3b, the lower segment is hinged backwards (towards the cart wall which is not visible in the drawing) so as to put the dispensing system [10] into its closed position. As can be seen in the drawing, the set bags align with the flexed lower segment, and are covered by the front panel element [101].
[0030] FIG. 4a shows a different embodiment of the dispensing system [10] wherein a rim [106] for supporting a detector cassette is shown, as well as two lateral spacer elements implemented as a rigid strap [104] which allows to introduction of a detector cassette in an aligned way against the back panel element segments [1021] and [1021]. The lateral pieces of rigid strap can be understood as lateral spacer elements, keeping the front panel element [101] separated at a defined distance from the back panel.
[0031] FIG. 4b shows the embodiment without a complete front panel element, but only a rigid strap [104]. FIG. 4c shows the embodiment including a flexible front panel element [101] covering the storage cavity of the dispensing system with a soft and flexible material.
[0032] FIGS. 5a and 5b represent drawings from respectively a frontal and lateral view of a set of protective bags [500] kept together by a bag holding means [107]. The bag holding means consists of a rigid plate [107] with holes [1071] in it, which can be fixed against the upper side of the back panel element, leaving the openings for a similarly spaced (as the holes) set of pins traversing through the set of bags and keeping them as such together. A line of perforations [501] in each of the bags allows the easy separation of the first available bag from the set of bags.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the bag dispensing system [10] in its closed position, but in more detail and in a side view. The embodiment shows additional features which may be implemented in the system: [107] represents a clamp which serves as the bag holding means, [103] is an embodiment of a fixing means for the device to the cart of a mobile x-ray system, [1022] the upper segment of the back panel element, and [1021] the lower segment. Also the hinge [105] and the supporting rim [106] are shown. [109] is a joint locking mechanism, while [108] is a fixation means which maintains the lower segment [1021] in a fixed position while the dispensing unit is in a closed position.
[0034] FIG. 7 depicts a frontal view of the embodiment of the bag dispensing system [10] with a detailed view of the joint locking mechanism [109]. The dispensing system is here in an open position. The mobile x-ray detector [20] rests on a receptacle [1099] which provides upward pressure to the bottom of the detector by means of the springs [1092]. The guiding shaft [1091] guides the movement of the receptacle [1099]. The guiding shaft [1091], springs [1092] and receptacle [1099] are therefore attached to each other and to the upper segment [1022] of the back panel element [102]. The lift up lock [1097], locking hook [1096], springs [1095], lever [1094] and joint locking [1093] associated with the lower segment [1021] provide the locking and releasing mechanism between the open and closed position of the bag dispensing system.
[0035] FIG. 8 represents a perspective view of the joint locking mechanism, and indicates the movement of the locking latch [1100] (indicated as arrows) into the joint locking [1093] when the lever [1094] is actuated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] In the following detailed description, reference is made in sufficient detail to the above referenced drawings, allowing those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments explained below.
[0037] FIG. 1 represents an overview image of a mobile x-ray cart to which an embodiment of our invention [10] is attached. The device is firmly, but removably attached to the cart by means of a fixing means [103] which may be executed in very different ways. The fixing means has the purpose to firmly fix the device to the rear end of the cart while leaving the option open to remove the device for maintenance and cleaning purposes. Therefore, the fixing means could be implemented as a simple set of screws which are screwed through a number of holes in the upper area of the back panel element [102], or could be executed as a more sophisticated clamp mechanism which would be inserted (partially or completely) into the existing detector storage bin of the cart (the storage bin location would be typically also at the rear end of the cart). An example of such a fixing means is depicted in more detail in FIG. 6 as [103], where the fixing means is executed as a metal hook which hangs over the edge of the detector storage bin, and of which a portion may be inserted into the storage bin itself. As an example, the black portion [103] in FIG. 6 is fixed at the interior of the storage bin, and comprises two holes to fit screws in order to attach the fixing means (by means of said screws) to the interior side walls of the detector storage bin. Another variation is depicted in FIGS. 3a and 4a. Many alternatives to achieve the same effect may be conceivable.
[0038] The rear area of the cart is the side which is pushed while moving the cart forward. At this location, typically a cart pushing handle [30] is located to allow easy pushing of the heavy device. It is also at this side that the detector storage bin is located (in FIG. 1, the detector [20] is partly visible, and is partially inserted into the detector storage bin). This detector storage bin provides a safe storage location for the detector [20] while moving the mobile x-ray device around. It is good practice for the operator to use this storage bin for storing the FPD detector during transportation to avoid damage. The detector storage bin is ideally located close to the cart pushing handle [30], because as soon as the mobile cart is positioned close to the patient in preparation of an exposure, the operator will have his hands on the pushing handle which is conveniently close to the detector storage bin.
[0039] In order to capture a diagnostic image, the FPD needs to be positioned manually by the operator every time an exposure is prepared. Quick access to the location where the detector is stored is therefore convenient. The detector should be easily accessible by the operator as soon as the mobile x-ray device is moved into position to prepare for the exposure.
[0040] It is for that reason that the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 also locates the protective bag dispensing system [10] as close as possible to the detector storage bin and pushing handle [30], where it is intended to be fixed to the mobile cart with the fixing means [103] as explained before. Nevertheless, other attachment or fixation locations for the protective dispensing system may be envisaged.
[0041] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the bag dispensing system comprises a back panel element [102] and a front panel element [101]. The back panel element is made of a rigid material so that when it is fixed to the cart, it maintains its rectangular shape by its own stiffness and is capable of supporting other elements of the bag dispensing system, but also the detector during the bagging operation. In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the back panel element is split in two segments [1021] and [1022], named the lower and upper segment respectively. When segmented, both segments can be of the same or different rigid materials. Segmentation into more than two segments can be envisaged as well in order to gain more possibilities for flexing the rigid back panel at different levels. The purpose of the segmentation of the back panel element [102] into multiple segments is to adapt the shape of the back-side of the bag dispensing system to the contours of the cart of the mobile x-ray device to which it is attached, when in a closed position. The effect of this shape adoption is to save valuable legroom below the bag dispensing system, preventing the operator to injure himself while pushing the cart by kicking against the extended back panel element when in its open position. This shape adoption can minimally be achieved using 2 segments, where the lower segment is flexed backwards against the cart wall. But it can be envisaged that a separation of the pack panel into more than two segments can contribute to a better adoption of the shape. Another possibility would be to adapt the shape of the lower segment to the shape of the portion of the cart wall against which it can be flexed against when in said closed position.
[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the multiple segments of the back panel element [102] are connected to each other with hinges [105] (e.g. so-called piano hinges) as to form a flexible surface which has limited degrees of freedom (the segmented surface can only bend around the axes of the hinges). As a further elaboration, an embodiment having an unsegmented but flexible back panel element could be envisaged which even more optimally would be able to adopt the shape of the cart body. Special measures should in that case be taken as to force or guide the flexible back panel element backwards against the cart surface. This could be achieved by tensing the back panel element by applying tensors, springs or tightening dispositions.
[0043] As already mentioned, the bag dispensing system knows two operating positions, named the open and closed position. In the open position, the system has the back panel element [102] in its linearly extended state, allowing the full length of an inserted detector cassette to align to the back panel element. In this position, the detector can be easily inserted into the bag dispensing system, in the cavity made up by the front [101] and back panel element [102]. (See FIG. 3a). In the closed position, at least one segment (one or more of the lower segment(s)) of the back panel element is flexed backwards in the direction of the cart wall against which the device is mounted. Since flexing this lower segment [1021] against the cart wall requires that some force has to be applied in the direction of the cart wall (at least when this position has to be maintained during the manipulations of the cart), a mechanical solution to deliver this force has to be applied. In one embodiment, this force is delivered by a spring in the hinge capable of flipping the lower segment backward. In another embodiment, a magnet system [108] has been foreseen, keeping the lower segment retracted by means of magnetic attraction of a metal portion of the lower segment, or a disposition attached to it. This solution is depicted in FIG. 6.
[0044] Alternatively, more complex configurations (FIG. 7) can be envisaged which do not only push the lower segment backwards against the outer wall of the cart against which the bag dispensing system is attached, but which also lock the lower segment [1021] into its desired (straight) position when the bag dispensing system is in its open position. In FIG. 7, an example of such a more functional and complex mechanism is disclosed; the mechanism guides an inserted detector cassette onto a receptacle [1099] on which it applies a downward force. Said downward force (FIG. 8) actuates a lever [1094] which reverts the downward force and pushes a locking latch [1100] into a locking mechanism [1093], which in that position prevents the lower segment of the back panel element to hinge away from the straight aligned configuration of the dispensing systems' open position. The downward position of the receptacle [1099] is contravened by the springs [1092] which push said receptacle back up, guided by the guiding shafts [1091]. However, when sufficient force is applied on the detector to push the locking hook [1096] (attached to the receptacle) downwards beyond the position of the lift up lock [1097], the receptacle [1099] and the locking mechanism will remain in said locked position until the lift up lock [1097] is released. This release takes place when the detector is again pushed in a downward direction to apply force on the lift up release [1098] which unlocks the lift up lock [1097].
[0045] Alternative solutions to the problem to resolve the potential conflict between the lower side of the panels when in an open position and the lower legs or knees of the operator could be to either provide a flexible front panel, or a combination of a flexible front and back panel. Flexible front panels (for instance made of some sort of cloth or flexible plastic) have the disadvantage of being less strong and durable. As explained above, a combination of a flexible front and back panel element would however require a different flexing mechanism which pushes or pulls the joint edge towards the wall of the cart. In this scenario, there is also a risk that the entire bagging system could become clogged up in certain moving parts of the mobile x-ray device, such as the wheels or the x-ray tube arm. It is therefore an object of our invention to foresee a rigid, or at least segmented rigid back panel element, resolving the problems above.
[0046] Important aspects for a protective bag dispensing system are to provide a mechanism and space to foresee a sufficient supply of bags while offering the functionality to conveniently dispense individual bags during the bagging operation. The storage space should provide the optimal storage conditions for storing the protective bags with the intent to minimize the risk of material deterioration and undesired development or growth of germs.
[0047] FIG. 5a shows an embodiment of a bag holding means [107] to hold a bundle of bags [500] together at their top side. The set of bags comprises a line of perforations [501] which is present in each individual bag of the pile. The line of perforations is foreseen parallel to the top edge of each bag. The lower side of the bag holding means [107] presses against the pile of bags at the top end, but leaves the line of perforations uncovered by a few millimetres, allowing an easy removal of every bag individually.
[0048] When a detector cassette is inserted into a protective bag, it needs to be opened first. In other words, one side of the bag needs to be separated from the other side to bring it in an open position. For that, only the first perforated line of the bag may be broken or teared; the second perforated line needs to remain in intact in order for the bag to remain in the right position for inserting the detector in it. When the set of bags have perforated lines on both sides of the bag, there is a risk that an operator tears off the entire bag, by tearing of breaking both perforated lines simultaneously. In order to prevent this, it would be better to have one side of the bag already open and the other attached with the perforated line. The force of the detector being introduced in to the dispensing system and pushing against the lower edge of the opened bag will provide the necessary force to tear off the rear side of the protective bag from its set of bags. The movement of the detector will be stopped when the detector edge touches the lower end of the dispensing system cavity or the receptacle [1099], preventing it from dropping onto the floor.
[0049] Since the configurations and embodiments disclosed are mounted at the outside of a cart, the storage space for the protective bags will enjoy much better temperature conditions in comparison with any possible space located inside the cart itself. The relatively open structures of the protective bag dispensing systems allow better access to cooler ambient temperatures in comparison with the internals of a mobile x-ray device cart.
