X-Ray Panel Conduit

Abstract

A panel segment is provided for a multipart patient supporting panel, with a radiotransparent support panel and at least one electrical connecting line, which extends at least over a partial region of the support panel. In order that the connecting lines cannot be seen as troublesome shading on x-ray images, the at least one connecting line is configured as a strip conductor that is disposed in a recess in the support panel. A patient supporting panel and an operating table with such a panel segment are also provided.

1 . A panel segment for a multipart patient supporting panel, the panel segment comprising
 a radiotransparent support panel, and   at least one electrical connecting line, which extends at least over a partial region of the support panel,   wherein the at least one connecting line is configured as a strip conductor that is disposed in a recess in the support panel.   
     
     
         2 . A panel segment according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the at least one conductor and the depth of the recess are chosen such that x-rays that penetrate the panel segment at the level of the conductor undergo the same effective attenuation as x-rays that penetrate the panel segment laterally alongside the at least one conductor. 
     
     
         3 . A panel segment according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductor is produced from a metal. 
     
     
         4 . A panel segment according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductor is produced from an aluminum material. 
     
     
         5 . A panel segment according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the at least one conductor is at most 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A panel segment according to  claim 5 , wherein the thickness of the at least one conductor is about 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         7 . A panel segment according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the at least one conductor is a multiple of its thickness. 
     
     
         8 . A panel segment according to  claim 1 , wherein the support panel is produced from a plastics material. 
     
     
         9 . A panel segment according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel segment has a number of strip conductors that are disposed alongside one another and do not overlap one another. 
     
     
         10 . A panel segment according to  claim 9 , wherein the attenuation of x-rays that penetrate the panel segment in the region between two conductors is substantially equal to the attenuation that the x-rays experience when they penetrate the panel segment at the level of a conductor. 
     
     
         11 . A panel segment according to  claim 9 , wherein the conductors are disposed with edges of the conductors aligned with one another. 
     
     
         12 . A panel segment according to  claim 9 , wherein the conductors are disposed in a plurality of planes. 
     
     
         13 . A panel segment according to  claim 9 , wherein the support panel is configured as a multilayer panel, comprising at least two support panel layers, each layer having one or more recess(es) in each of which a conductor is disposed. 
     
     
         14 . A panel segment according to  claim 9 , wherein the conductors have different widths. 
     
     
         15 . A panel segment according to  claim 9 , wherein the conductors are respectively enclosed by an electrically insulating material. 
     
     
         16 . A panel segment according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel segment has at least one electric motor and a pivotable joint, the joint being coupled with the electric motor and adapted to be connected to a further panel segment. 
     
     
         17 . A panel segment according to  claim 16 , wherein the panel segment has two electric motors, each of which is coupled to a pivotable joint, the motors being connected to each other by means of the at least one strip conductor. 
     
     
         18 . A patient supporting panel for supporting a patient, comprising
 a plurality of panel segments that are pivotable in relation to one another, at least one panel segment comprising a radiotransparent support panel and at least one electrical connecting line, the connecting line extending at least over a partial region of the support panel and being configured as a strip conductor that is disposed in a recess in the support panel.   
     
     
         19 . An operating table comprising
 a support column, and   supported by the support column, a patient supporting panel configured to support a patient, comprising a plurality of panel segments that are pivotable in relation to one another, at least one panel segment comprising a radiotransparent support panel and at least one electrical connecting line, the connecting line extending at least over a partial region of the support panel and being configured as a strip conductor that is disposed in a recess in the support panel.   
     
     
         20 . An operating table of  claim 19  wherein the patient supporting panel is releasably mounted on the support column. 
     
     
         21 . A method of examining a patient by means of x-rays, the method comprising:
 providing a patient supporting panel comprising a plurality of panel segments that are pivotable in relation to one another, at least one panel segment comprising a radiotransparent support panel and at least one electrical connecting line, the connecting line extending at least over a partial region of the support panel and being configured as a strip conductor that is disposed in a recess in the support panel;   positioning the patient on the patient supporting panel; and   causing x-rays to pass through a portion of the patient supported by the radiotransparent support panel.