cable management system

Abstract

Cable guidance system (1) for connecting a floor-mounted consumer, which is movable along a horizontal spatial axis and pivotable about a vertical spatial axis during the horizontal displacement movement from a first operating position to a second operating position, to at least one first connection point (3) which is arranged vertically above the consumer in the pivot axis, comprising at least one first articulated arm and at least one second articulated arm (8, 9), wherein the first articulated arm (8) is pivotably connected to the first connection point (3) and the second articulated arm (9) is pivotably connected to the second connection point (4), characterized in thatthat the second connection point (4) is fixed in place at least with respect to a horizontal displacement direction of the consumer and that the second articulated arm (9) is vertically supported at least during a displacement of the consumer from the first operating position to the second operating position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cable guidance system for connecting a floor-mounted consumer, which can be displaced along a horizontal spatial axis and pivoted about a vertical spatial axis during the horizontal displacement movement from a first operating position to a second operating position, to at least one first connection point which is arranged vertically above the consumer in the pivot axis, comprising at least one first and at least one second articulated arm, wherein the first articulated arm is pivotably connected to the first connection point and the second articulated arm is pivotably connected to the second connection point.

[0002] A cable management system of this type is known, for example, from EP 4 311 497 A1. This publication relates to a cable management system for a computed tomography system, wherein a gantry of the computed tomography system is adjustable in a direction of movement perpendicular to the gantry, wherein the cable management system comprises a vertical column arranged on the gantry, which extends vertically upwards from a base of the computed tomography system, and wherein the cable management system comprises an articulated arm arrangement with two articulated arms and three pivot points, wherein a first articulated arm is rotatable at an upper end of the vertical column above the gantry via a first pivot point and is rotatably connected to a second articulated arm, also arranged above the gantry, via a second pivot point.Especially with modern computed tomography systems, there is often a desire or necessity to design them to be spatially relocatable, so that the system can be moved between different treatment rooms. This reduces investment and maintenance costs in the long term. The cable management system described in EP 4 311 497 A1 is designed accordingly. To ensure that the computed tomography system can be moved from one treatment room to another, the system is designed so that, when moved along a rail system, the gantry rotates approximately 180° around a vertical axis passing through the gantry's ISO center. To allow the cable management system to follow the gantry's movement, it is connected to a trolley on the ceiling, which in turn is guided in a horizontal column mounted on the ceiling.Within the horizontal column, the supply lines for the system are laid in an energy supply chain. The horizontal column extends from the first to the second treatment room.

[0003] This solution is particularly disadvantageous from a hygienic standpoint, as contaminants such as dust and abrasion particles can accumulate within the horizontal column. Furthermore, this solution is mechanically complex, since the supply lines within the horizontal column must be moved along an energy supply chain installed there. Finally, a complex bearing system for the carriage is required.

[0004] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a cable management system suitable for supplying a floor-mounted, movable device between different rooms and which is mechanically simpler. In particular, the cable management system according to the invention should be suitable from a hygienic point of view for medical applications, especially for supplying medical devices such as a CT scanner.

[0005] The problem is solved by a cable management system with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0006] One aspect of the invention relates to a cable guidance system for connecting a floor-mounted consumer, which can be displaced along a horizontal spatial axis and pivoted about a vertical spatial axis during the horizontal displacement movement from a first operating position to a second operating position, to at least one first connection point which is arranged vertically above the consumer in the pivot axis, comprising at least one first and at least one second articulated arm, wherein the first articulated arm is pivotably connected to the first connection point and the second articulated arm is pivotably connected to the second connection point.The cable routing system according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that the second connection point is fixed in position at least with respect to one horizontal displacement direction of the consumer and that the second articulated arm is vertically supported at least during a displacement of the consumer from the first operating position to the second operating position. Preferably, at least the second articulated arm is designed as a pivot arm that is fixed at one end and vertically supported over the entire pivot angle.

[0007] In particular, the fact that at least one of the articulated arms is vertically supported across its possible swivel angle makes it possible to implement an articulated arm arrangement dimensioned to allow the arms to bear relatively large loads and bridge a correspondingly large distance. This enables a correspondingly large adjustment range of the device from one operating position to another. Thus, articulated arms of sufficient length can be implemented to achieve a relatively large bridging distance between the connection points without requiring both connection points to be positioned in a plane parallel to the floor.

[0008] A preferred embodiment of the cable management system according to the invention is characterized in that the first and second articulated arms form an articulated arm arrangement with a first, second, and a third pivot point. The cable management system according to the invention is advantageously designed such that, during a horizontal displacement of the device while simultaneously rotating it about a vertical axis, preferably about the ISO center of the device by 180°, the device performs a pivoting movement about the first pivot point relative to the first articulated arm, whereas the first articulated arm performs a pivoting movement about the second pivot point relative to the second articulated arm, and the second articulated arm pivots about the horizontally fixed third pivot point. The articulated arm arrangement extends in a plane above the mounting surface for the device.Cables, wires or the like attached to or guided in and / or on the articulated arm assembly are expediently routed along a vertical spatial axis to the consumer located below the articulated arm assembly.

[0009] Cables and wires within the meaning of the present invention may include power supply cables, data cables and / or media cables.

[0010] A vertical spatial axis within the meaning of the present invention is a spatial axis extending from the floor towards the ceiling of a room, in particular a treatment room. A horizontal displacement direction within the meaning of the present invention essentially refers to a plane extending parallel to the installation surface of the floor-mounted device, which may, for example, be guided on rails in the floor of the treatment room.

[0011] In an advantageous and appropriate embodiment of the cable guidance system according to the invention, it can be provided that at least the second articulated arm is preferably supported vertically over its entire permissible or possible swivel angle.

[0012] It is particularly preferred and intended that the second articulated arm is guided in or on the vertical support over the entire swivel angle. The guidance of the second articulated arm can, for example, be designed as a cam guide.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment according to the invention, the second articulated arm is supported on at least one guide rail. The guide rail can be suspended from, or be mounted to, a ceiling.

[0014] In order to allow linear displacement and simultaneous rotation of the consumer below the plane of the articulated arm arrangement, it is advantageous if the guide rail extends in a plane above the articulated arm arrangement, especially if the articulated arm is suspended from the guide rail.

[0015] For example, at least one articulated arm can be guided in a sliding guide of the guide rail with at least one T-nut.

[0016] Preferably, the guide rail can be designed as a curved rail extending over at least one partial circle of the pivot angle. The curved rail can describe a perfect circular path on which, in particular, the second articulated arm, which is pivotable about a fixed pivot point, can be completely guided. Alternatively, the guide rail can be designed as a polygonal track with a plurality of straight guide sections.

[0017] Furthermore, it can be provided that at least a section of an energy chain is provided over at least part of a bridging length from the first connection point to the second connection point, in which cables and / or conductors are section by section accommodated. In principle, the articulated arms themselves can each include a cavity for accommodating cables and conductors. The cables and / or conductors can be left unguided, i.e., freely deflected, in the area of ​​the articulated points. Alternatively, however, as mentioned above, it can be provided that the cables and / or conductors are guided in energy chains or sections of energy chains in the area of ​​the articulated points and preferably also in the area of ​​a deflection from a horizontal plane vertically towards the ground.Such energy chains are generally known and comprise individual, jointly connected chain links that define a receiving space for cables and / or wires and can be made of thermoplastic material, for example.

[0018] Advantageously, the first connection point is provided on a guide column extending along the vertical spatial axis, which is connected to the consumer. The guide column can, for example, be attached off-center to the consumer, so that the consumer can be rotated about its ISO center or about a vertical axis of symmetry in a plane below the plane in which the articulated arm assembly extends.

[0019] To facilitate rotation of the device around its vertical axis, particularly if it is a heavy, rail-guided unit, a temporary and minor axial displacement—in the sense of raising and / or lowering the device from its mounting surface or the floor—may be necessary. In this case, it is advantageous and practical if the guide column is adjustable relative to the device along a vertical axis.

[0020] Alternatively, according to the invention, the articulated arm assembly can be adjustable in a vertical spatial axis. For example, the first and third pivot points, or the horizontally fixed pivot point and the pivot point provided on the guide column, can be designed to be height-adjustable, so that the entire articulated arm assembly is vertically adjustable in a horizontal plane. The vertical support of the at least one articulated arm is then advantageously also designed to allow a slight displacement of the system in a vertical spatial axis. If the vertical support is provided by a guide rail, either the guide rail can be suspended so as to be vertically displaceable, or a guide receptacle of the guide rail can be dimensioned to allow a vertical displacement of the articulated arm relative to the guide rail.In particular, if the consumer is designed as a rail-guided CT system, a vertical displacement of the cable management system by a few millimeters is sufficient.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the consumer is designed as a device for carrying out a radiological imaging procedure and comprises a detector unit movable along the horizontal spatial axis.

[0022] The cable management system according to the invention can be particularly advantageously used to supply portable medical examination devices. In one embodiment, the device is designed as a computed tomography system. This system preferably comprises a gantry with a guide column provided thereon, which extends in the vertical spatial axis and at whose distal end the first connection point is provided.

[0023] Accordingly, the invention also relates to the use of the cable management system for supplying a computed tomography scanner. The invention also relates to a medical examination device, in particular a computed tomography system, which includes a cable management system according to the invention.

[0024] The invention is explained below with reference to and based on an exemplary embodiment schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0025] They show: Fig. 1 A top view of the cable routing system according to the invention on a computed tomography system as a consumer, the gantry of which is movable between two treatment rooms, wherein the representation in Fig. 1 shows the gantry of the computed tomography system in a first treatment room, Fig. 2 the order according to Fig. 1, in which the gantry of the computed tomography system is located in an intermediate position between a first and a second treatment room, Fig. 3 the order according to Fig. 1, which shows the gantry of the computed tomography system after a first rotation around a vertical axis by 90°, Fig. 4 the order according to Fig. 1, which shows the gantry of the computed tomography system after a rotation around the vertical axis by 180°, and Fig. 5 the order according to Fig. 1, in which the gantry of the computed tomography system is located in a second treatment room in a second operating position.

[0026] The cable management system 1 according to the invention is designed to guide cables 2 and / or lines from a first connection point 3 on a floor-mounted, horizontally displaceable, and rotatable consumer about a vertical axis Z (Z-axis) to a second stationary connection point 4. In the described embodiment, the consumer is a detector unit, hereinafter referred to as gantry 7, of a computed tomography system, hereinafter referred to as CT system, which can be moved between a first operating position and a second operating position from a first treatment room 5 to a second treatment room 6. The top view in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. Figure 5 shows a highly simplified and schematic representation, limited to illustrating the functionality of the cable management system 1 and not intended to be representational. The CT system is designed such that the gantry can move along a rail system (not shown) along a horizontal spatial axis X. The installation plane for the CT system in the respective treatment rooms 5 and 6 is defined by the spatial axes Y and X. The vertical spatial axis is referred to as the Z-axis in the following.

[0027] The CT system is further designed so that, in the operating positions and during an adjustment movement along the rail system, it can perform a rotation of the gantry 7 around a vertical axis running through the ISO center of the gantry 7 by a maximum of 180°.

[0028] In a plane above the installation plane, i.e., near and parallel to the ceiling, the articulated arm arrangement according to the invention extends, comprising a first articulated arm 8 and a second articulated arm 9, wherein the first articulated arm 8 is pivotally connected to the first connection point 3 and the second articulated arm 9 is pivotally connected to the second connection point 4, and both the first and the second articulated arms 8, 9 are designed to guide cables 2 from the second connection point 4 to the first connection point 3. The first connection point 1 is located vertically above a guide column extending in a vertical axis, which in the illustrations extends into the plane of the drawing and downwards and is therefore naturally hidden in the illustrations. The guide column is off-center, i.e.,Attached to the gantry 7 outside its ISO center, in the illustrated embodiment to a drive arm 10, the cable 2 serves to guide the cables vertically from the first connection point to the consumer. For the purposes of this application and generally, the ISO center is understood to be the intersection point of the CT scanner's radiation. The ISO center corresponds to the rotation axis of the gantry 7.

[0029] The articulated arm arrangement comprises a first pivot point 11, at which the first articulated arm 8 is connected to the first connection point 3 of the guide column; a second pivot point 12, at which the first articulated arm 8 is connected to the second articulated arm 9; and a third pivot point 13, at which the articulated arm 9 is connected to the second connection point 4. The second articulated arm 9 is designed as a pivot arm, which can only pivot about the second connection point 4, since the second connection point 4 is fixed in position relative to the XY plane of space. The second articulated arm is supported vertically in the direction of the Z-axis by means of a guide rail 14, which is designed as a curved rail and, in the described embodiment, extends in an ideal circular path. The guide rail 14 is suspended from the ceiling of the room and extends above the second pivot arm 9, which in turn is suspended within the guide rail.This circular path of the guide rail 14 enables vertical support of the second articulated arm 9 over its entire possible swivel path in an XY plane, which is subsequently derived from the sequence of movements of the gantry 7 according to the . Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5 results.

[0030] Fig. Figure 2 shows the position of gantry 7 after a displacement movement along the X-axis from the first treatment room 5 towards the second treatment room 6. In this position, gantry 7 can, for example, first be rotated 90° around its ISO center, then by another 90°, as shown in Fig. Figure 4 is shown. Finally, in this position, the gantry can still be moved horizontally into the second treatment room 6. During this horizontal movement and rotation around the Z-axis, the gantry 7 is guided in an XY plane below the articulated arm assembly. Reference symbol list 1 cable management system 2 cables 3 first connection point 4 second connection point 5 first treatment room 6 second treatment room 7 Gantry 8 first articulated arm 9 second articulated arm 10 Drive arm 11 first joint point 12 second joint point 13 third joint point 14 Guide rail Z vertical spatial axis X horizontal spatial axis Y horizontal spatial axis QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 4 311 497 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Cable guidance system (1) for connecting a floor-guided consumer, which can be displaced along a horizontal spatial axis and pivoted about a vertical spatial axis during the horizontal displacement movement from a first operating position to a second operating position, to at least one first connection point (3) which is arranged vertically above the consumer in the pivot axis, comprising at least one first articulated arm and at least one second articulated arm (8, 9), wherein the first articulated arm (8) is pivotably connected to the first connection point (3) and the second articulated arm (9) is pivotably connected to the second connection point (4), characterized by, that the second connection point (4) is fixed in position at least with respect to a horizontal displacement direction of the consumer and that the second articulated arm (9) is vertically supported at least during a displacement of the consumer from the first operating position to the second operating position. [2] Cable routing system (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the first and second articulating arms (8,9) form an articulating arm arrangement with a first, second and a third articulation point (11,12,13). [3] Cable management system (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by , that at least the second articulated arm (8,9) is vertically supported over its entire permissible swivel angle. [4] Cable routing system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the second articulated arm (9) is guided in or on the vertical support over the entire swivel angle. [5] Cable routing system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the second articulated arm (9) is supported on at least one guide rail (14). [6] Cable routing system (1) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the guide rail (14) is suspended from a ceiling. [7] Cable management system (1) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized by , that the second articulated arm (9) is guided suspended from the guide rail (14). [8] Cable routing system (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized by , that the second articulated arm (9) can be displaced with at least one T-nut in a sliding guide of the guide rail (14). [9] Cable routing system (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized by , that the guide rail (14) is designed as a curved rail which extends over at least one partial circle of the swivel angle. [10] Cable routing system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by, that at least one section of an energy supply chain is provided over at least part of a bridging length from the first connection point (3) to the second connection point (4). [11] Cable routing system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by , that the first connection point (3) is provided on a guide column extending in the vertical spatial axis, which is connected to the consumer. [12] Cable routing system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the consumer is designed as a medical examination device, in particular as a device for carrying out a radiological imaging procedure and includes a detector unit movable along the horizontal spatial axis. [13] Cable routing system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, in particular according to claim 12, characterized bythat the consumer is designed as a medical examination device, in particular as a computed tomography system, wherein the system preferably comprises a gantry (7) with a guide column provided on it, which extends in the vertical spatial axis and at whose distal, upper end the first connection point (3) is provided.

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