X-RAY COMPATIBLE PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS

摘要

A patient support apparatus, such as a stretcher, cot, bed, or the like, includes a patient support surface and a cartridge support surface positioned therebelow. The cartridge support surface supports a diagnostic imaging cartridge, such as an X-ray cartridge. The cartridge support surface includes a generally flat and smooth interior region surrounded by a peripheral region that is beveled to facilitate insertion of a cartridge between the patient and cartridge support surfaces. Handles for controlling the pivoting a portion of the patient support surface are positioned in a corner of the patient support surface where they, and their connected structures, are out of the way of the X-ray path. A joint between sections of the patient support surface is constructed to include, when the sections are flat, overlapping regions that reduce, if not eliminate, visual artifacts caused by differing amounts of X-ray absorption of the patient support apparatus.