Arm Rest

Abstract

An arm rest for positioning the arm of a patient in relation to an examination table, especially for use during a tomographic radioscopy examination or an operation. The arm rest has an essentially flat base plate ( 1 ) that can be slid under the body of the patient or beneath the mattress of the examination table, a supporting plate ( 2 ) which is inclined in relation to the base plate ( 1 ) or arranged at an angle thereto, and a long carrier part ( 3 ) that is arranged on the end of the supporting plate ( 2 ), at a distance from the base plate ( 1 ), and has a relatively, longer length ( 9 ) and narrower width ( 8 ). The carrier part ( 3 ) is inclined in the direction of its length in relation to the base plate ( 1 ).

1 . An arm rest for positioning an arm of a patient relative to a support table adapted to be used during a tomographic radiation exposure or an operation, comprising a substantially flat base plate ( 1 ) configured to be slidably movable beneath a body of the patient or a mattress of the support table, a support plate ( 2 ) that is inclined at an angle relative to the base plate ( 1 ), and an elongated carrier part ( 3 ) positioned at an end of the support plate ( 2 ) that is remote from the base plate ( 1 ), having a relatively longer length dimension and a relatively shorter width dimension, and being angularly inclined relative to the base plate ( 1 ) in the direction of the length dimension of the carrier part. 
   
   
       2 . An arm rest according to  claim 1  wherein the carrier part is arranged at an angle (α) in the direction of its length dimension ( 9 ) relative to the base plate ( 1 ), wherein the angle (α) is 10° to 30°, is preferably 15° to 25°, and is most preferably between 20° and 24°. 
   
   
       3 . An arm rest according to  claim 1  wherein the support plate ( 2 ) is arranged at an angle (β) relative to the base plate ( 1 ), wherein the angle (β) is 90° to 1200 and preferably 104° to 113°. 
   
   
       4 . An arm rest according to  claim 1  wherein the carrier part has the shape of a concave conical or cylindrical segment, a cylindrical trough, a longitudinal drum or barrel, or is generally trough shaped and has a circular or elliptical partial cross-section, and is further dimensioned so that an average-size arm can be carried by the carrier part. 
   
   
       5 . An arm rest according to  claim 1  wherein the support plate ( 2 ) defines a plane or lies in a plane and wherein the carrier part ( 3 ) is mirror symmetrically configured relative to the plane defined by the support plate ( 2 ). 
   
   
       6 . An arm rest according to  claim 2  wherein the carrier part  3  has an end edge ( 6 ) that is proximate to the angle (α) and another end edge  7  that is remote from the angle (α), and wherein the end edges are pulled inwardly towards a center of the carrier part ( 3 ) or are inwardly offset or rounded. 
   
   
       7 . An arm rest according to  claim 1  wherein the arm rest is of a one-piece, unitary construction. 
   
   
       8 . An arm rest according to  claim 1  wherein the support plate ( 2 ) includes an aperture ( 5 ) in a portion of the support plate remote from the base plate ( 1 ) for receiving a fastening member band for securing the arm to the carrier part ( 3 ). 
   
   
       9 . An arm rest according to  claim 1  wherein the arm rest is constructed of at least one of a radiation including x-ray transmitting material, preferably a plastic and especially an epoxy resin or a polyamide and is reinforced with at least one of carbon fibers, glass fibers and aramide fibers. 
   
   
       10 . An arm rest according to  claim 1  wherein a bottom surface of the base plate ( 1 ) is dimensioned so that the weight of the patient is sufficient to secure the arm rest in place and carry the arm of the patient, and wherein the base plate bottom surface preferably has a surface area of about 200 to 400 cm 2 . 
   
   
       11 . An arm rest according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of an outer contour and end portions of the arm rest, the base plate ( 1 ) and the carrier part ( 3 ) is rounded. 
   
   
       12 . An arm rest according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the base plate ( 1 ), the support plate ( 2 ) and the carrier part ( 3 ) includes at least one aperture. 
   
   
       13 . A medical support table for movement into a tomographic instrument comprising at least one arm rest constructed in accordance with  claim 1 .