Disposable low-melt thermoplastic mask incorporating an intergral locking mechanism for attachment to patient restraint boards

Abstract

A disposable mask system for positioning a patient relative to a patient restraint board during radiation therapy includes a piece of low-melt thermoplastic material affixed to a rigid, non-thermoplastic frame. A lock-down mechanism is integrally incorporated into the rigid, non-thermoplastic frame, such that a manipulable portion of the lock-down mechanism extends upward from the surface of the rigid frame so that it is accessible by the user. An engagement member extends downward from the underside of the rigid frame such that it can engage corresponding holes in a patient restraint board, such that when the rigid frame is pushed down so that its engagement members fully engage the corresponding holes of the patient restraint board, then the thermoplastic mask system may by tightly secured to the patient restraint board by activating the lock-down mechanism.

1 . A method of securing a mask system, comprised of a piece of low-melt thermoplastic material affixed to a rigid, non-thermoplastic frame, to a patient restraint board utilizing a lock-down mechanism integrally incorporated into the rigid, non-thermoplastic frame.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lock-down mechanism is comprised of a rotating cam-like mechanism.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lock-down mechanism is comprised of a panel rivet design.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lock-down mechanism is comprised of a locking means extending downward from the underside of the rigid frame of the thermoplastic mask that mates with an undercut in the patient restraint board.  
   
   
       5 . A disposable mask system comprised of a piece of low-melt thermoplastic material affixed to a rigid, non-thermoplastic frame, wherein a lock-down mechanism is integrally incorporated into the rigid, non-thermoplastic frame for selectively securing the mask system to a patient restraint board.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lock-down mechanism is comprised of a rotating cam-like mechanism that functions to draw closer or extend a locking pin closer-to or further-from the rigid, non-thermoplastic frame, and the locking pin has an expander that engages a split expandable member on the underside of the frame, wherein when the locking mechanism is rotated from the open to locked position, the locking pin is pulled tighter to the frame forcing the expander to engage and expand the expandable member on the underside of the frame.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lock-down mechanism is comprised of a panel rivet design, such that depressing the head of a plurality of panel rivets extending upward from the surface of the rigid frame forces expansion of corresponding expandable members on the underside of the rigid frame, and when the expandable members on the underside of the rigid frame are fully engaged into the corresponding holes in the restraint board, then the expansion of the expandable members on the underside of the rigid frame securely engages the finished thermoplastic mask in place on the patient restraint board.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lock-down mechanism comprises a plurality of split expandable members integrally formed with and extending downward from the underside of the frame and being adapted to engage corresponding holes in the patient restraint board and a plurality of panel rivets, each panel rivet cooperating with a corresponding one of the split expandable members and having a manipulable portion extending upward from the surface of the rigid frame so that it is accessible by a user, and wherein each panel rivet is depressed to force expansion of the corresponding split expandable member on the underside of the rigid frame to securely the thermoplastic material in place on the patient restraint board.