US1869278A - Angle block - Google Patents

Description

July 26, 1932. A D. RAMELLI. 1,869,278

ANGLE BLOCK Filed March 8, 1928 ATTORNEY Patented July 26, 1932 UNETED STATEE ANDREW D. RAMELLI, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA ANGLE Brook Application filed March 8,

This invention relates to improvements in angle blocks as used in roentgenography and it consists of the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide an angle block which is adjustable within such predetermined latitudes that the head or other members of the body of the subject to be photographed by means of the X-ray may be supported at any one of a number of differently determined positions.

Other objects and advantages appear in the following specification, reference being 5 had to the accompanying drawing, in

which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved angle block;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken 0 substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail cross section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4; is a detail cross section taken on the line 11 of Figure 1.

Those skilled in and devoted to the art of roentgenography (the taking of photographs by use of the X-ray) are fully cognizant of the fact that success in producing a clear negative depends in a very large measure upon the position in which the subject is held. In no respect is this accomplishment so pertinent as in the photographing of the interior recesses of the human head.

For example, in order to obtain an Arcelin petrous bone view, it is essential to hold the head in such a position that there will be a. parallel relationship of the petrous bone with the film. The Roentgen or X-ray must be made to pass through the petrous bone at such an angle that will produce a clear picture of the petrous bone, free of any shadow thereof or of adjacent and unwanted parts of the skull.

Practice, over a period of many years, has demonstrated the fact that the human head, for example, may be held only in certain definite positions in order to obtain clear pictures of certain parts. To illustrate, to obtain what is known to the medical profession as a lateral oblique view in the Law 1928. Serial No. 260,098.

position it is necessary to support the head at an angle of 13 to the plane of the table upon which the body reclines. Other views are obtained to best advantage by holding M the head at other known angles. The gener-' ally adopted custom is to use a suitable one of a more or less large number of separate angle blocks. The purpose of the invention 7 is to produce a compact unit condensing the foregoing wide variety of blocks into one'co block and providing unlimited angulation for the roentgenologist.

Reference is now made to the drawing. A base 1 is made of wood or other suitable material carrying a platform 2 on which is placed a cassette containing X-ray film plates when the block is to be used for the purpose of making an X-ray picture. The cassette is held in position by a plurality of edge strips 3. The platform is movably connected 7 with the base by means of hinges 4.

Rods 5 support the platform 2 in various- 1y inclined positions. The upper ends of the rods are hingedly connected to brackets j 6 that are secured to the platform 2. The" lower ends of the rods 5 are hingedly connected to slides 7 and are movable upon guide bars 8 beside the base 1. Offsets 9 at the ends of the base provide places where the bars are N secured and space the bars from the edges of the base.

Thumb screws 10 secure the slides in various positions along the guide bars. These thumb screws are carried by the slides and are arranged to bind against the bars when '85 screwed in. An indicator 11 on one of the slides 7 moves over an appropriate scale 12 on the base 1 so that the angular position of the platform 2 may be known with certain- I ty. The calibration of the scale will indi- '91:

cats angles of inclination of the platform 2 in respect to the base 1. The latter may be held horizontal, ormade to stand at an inclination, as presently appears.

A pair of legs or bridges 13 are hinged 6 at 14 adjacent to opposite edges of the base 1. The hinges are located a sufiicientdistance from such edges that :;the outer surface of the bridges will come flush with the H edges when the former are opened to the 7 picture.

standing position. The upper edge of each bridge will then abut the lower surface of the base and thus effect a sturdy support. Either one or both of the bridges may be swung under the base to a closed position, the hinges being set into the material of the bridges and base so that the former may lie substantially flush with the under side of the base when closed.

' The height of the bridges 13 in respect to the width of the base 1 is such that when one of the bridges 13 is folded under the base the latter will incline at an angle of 13 from the horizontal. Obviously this angle may be varied by constructing the angle block with bridges of various heights, but

the angle of 13, here selected for illustra- ,tion, has been found exactly suitable. for certain kinds of skull work. Coverings 15 of felt cloth, or the like, prevent skidding of the block when set on a polished surface and also prevents the marring of such surface.

The operation will be readily understood. The platform 2 serves as the rest for a cassette containing an X-ray photograph plate. The edge strips 3 hold the cassette in position. The subject is laid upon the cassette and the tube of the X-ray machine is directed against the subject. When the machine is operated the photograph plate becomes aifected accordingly as the central ray may permeate the interposed subject.

It will be apparent that a shifting of the subject in either direction, particularly if the subject be so complicated in nature as the human skull, may result in a widely varying Certain undesired structures may obstruct the central ray and either pervert the picture or cause the casting of objectionable shadows.

Out of much experimentation certain notable positions have been determined. Any

desired position of the platform 2 can be arrived at by adjusting the indicator 11 along the scale 12. The lateral inclination of the entire block in either direction may be arrived at by folding one or the other of the two bridges under the base 1. Should it be desired to lower the block somewhat, both bridges may be folded under.

While the construction and arrangement of the improved angle block is that of a generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claim.

I claim:

An angle block comprising a base, a platform, hinges by which the platform is movably connected at one edge of the base, a bar aiiixed along anadjacent edge of the base, a scale carried by the base adjacent.

to the bar, a slide riding upon the bar and having an indicator movable over the scale, a rod having ends movably attached to the

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