US 7,552,490 B2
Method and apparatus for patient loading and unloading
Michael J. Saracen, Oakland, Calif. (US); Aaron W. Carrano, San Jose, Calif. (US); John W. Allison, Los Altos, Calif. (US); and Gopinath R. Kuduvalli, San Jose, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Accuray Incorporated, Sunnyvale, Calif. (US)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/339,717.
Prior Publication US 2007/0169265 A1, Jul. 26, 2007
Int. Cl. A61B 6/04 (2006.01); A61G 13/08 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 5—601  [5/600; 5/618; 378/209] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a couch
a leg rest coupled to the couch; and
a drive mechanism coupled to the leg rest, the drive mechanism to move the leg rest in a translational direction to adjust an upper-half of a body with respect to a head-end of the couch, wherein the drive mechanism is a motorized drive mechanism, and wherein the motorized drive mechanism comprises a rack and pinion gear, comprising:
a motor coupled to the couch;
a pinion;
a drive shaft coupled to the motor and the pinion; and
a rack having a plurality of teeth coupled to the leg rest, the motor to drive the pinion along the plurality of teeth, the motor to move the leg rest in a translational direction relative to a head-end of the couch.