the reference numeral 1 used in the various figures identifies a patient support table for use in x - ray photography or in some other type of beam sensing , such as electronic image storage , for instance . the patient support table is supported on telescopic legs 1 a provided with floor plates 1 b , which enable the table to be adjusted vertically . the table includes a recess or aperture 5 for the accommodation of a receptor unit , generally referenced 2 . the receptor unit can be moved in the x - direction , i . e . in the longitudinal direction of the table . some of the fig3 - 9 show an x - axle in the centre of the table . to this end , the receptor unit may be mounted on a carriage or like device ( not shown ) mounted in the table . the receptor unit 2 is intended for coaction with a beam source ( not shown ) which can be moved in the x - direction , the y - direction , i . e . transversely to the long axis of the table , and in the z - direction , i . e . in a vertical direction . the beam source can also be swung about a horizontal axle . the receptor unit 2 is supported by arms 7 , 9 which are joined together via a link 8 and which coact with pivot centres 11 , 12 having vertical pivot axles located in the region of each side edge of the table , such as to enable the receptor unit to be swung out to alternative positions on each side of the table . the arm 9 is connected to the receptor unit 2 by means of a horizontal hinge 10 . the receptor unit 2 can thus be swung out from the initial position a shown in fig1 to the position b shown in fig2 this latter position also being shown in fig4 . the receptor unit shown in fig3 - 9 correspond to the receptor unit shown in fig1 and 2 , with the exception that the units shown in fig3 - 9 have a handgrip 2 a which enables the receptor unit to be swung manually . the receptor units are also provided with an operating panel 2 b having push buttons by means of which different receptor locking and receptor release operations can be initiated , the beam source activated , etc . the receptor can be swung up about the horizontal hinge 9 from the position b shown in fig4 to the position c shown in full lines in fig2 and 5 . the vertical axle 11 enables the receptor unit to be swung from position c to a position d , shown in fig6 in which the receptor unit is at right angles to the table 1 . with the receptor unit in position d , side - on pictures and front - on pictures can be taken of a patient seated in a wheelchair , for instance . in fig7 the receptor unit 2 has been swung from the initial position shown in fig1 and 3 in the other direction , about the vertical axle 12 , to the position e in which the receptor unit is located slightly outside the opposing side edge of the table . it will be seen that in this position the receptor unit is also centered in the x - direction , i . e . there is no need to move the beam source laterally . the receptor unit can be swung up from the position e shown in fig7 to the position f shown in fig8 . fig9 illustrates the receptor unit swung from position f to position g , this position corresponding to the position d on the other side of the table . the various figures illustrate that when applying the inventive method , the beam can be kept centered in the x - direction in the transition between the vertical beam direction and the two horizontal beam directions , in accordance with the position shown in fig1 and 2 and in fig7 and 8 respectively . at the same time , the positions of the two pivot centres 11 and 12 can be determined as desired , in a manner described in more detail below . the pivot axle about which the receptor unit is swung up is placed so that when the unit is in an upwardly swung position , the bottom edge of the unit will be located roughly in the plane of the table top or above the table top , for instance at a distance of 20 mm therefrom . one advantage is that the operating unit 2 a , 2 b is located on the same side of the table as the radiologist or his / her assistant , therewith facilitating operation . fig1 and 11 illustrate different conceivable component measurements and the distances therebetween . the measurements also correspond to a left - hung receptor unit . in the initial position of the receptor unit c ) is the distance between the two pivot centres 11 and 12 ; e ) is the distance in the y - direction between the receptor unit and the pivot centre 11 ; f ) is the distance between one side edge of the table and the pivot centre 12 ; g ) is the distance in the y - direction between the opposite side edge of the table and one end edge of the receptor unit in position b ; h ) is the distance between this last - mentioned side edge and the pivot centre 11 ; x ) is the distance in the x - direction between the centre point of the receptor unit in position a and the pivot centres 11 , 12 ; y ) is the distance in the y - direction between the centre point of the receptor unit in position a and the pivot centres 11 , 12 ; and h ) is a radius corresponding to the length of the link 8 . table 1 below lists measurements which can be applied and calculated with regard to a constructional design preferred in practice . fig1 - 19 show a modified design of the receptor unit 2 , to - wit a design in which the receptor unit is carried for movement in the y - direction by an element 15 which may either be part of a carriage which can be moved in the x - direction in relation to the table 1 or form part of a stand or frame that is fixed in relation to the table . in the case of the illustrated embodiment , the element 15 includes three rollers 16 which are carried for rotation on three horizontal axles 17 and which are disposed in an elongated slot 19 provided in a further element 18 and functioning to guide movement of the further element 18 in relation to the first - mentioned element 15 . the further element 19 18 is provided at one end with a bearing block 19 a which coacts with a corresponding bearing block 7 a on a corresponding end of the arm 7 . the arm 7 of this embodiment is thus journalled more stably about the axle 12 than in the aforedescribed embodiment . the other end of the arm 7 includes a bearing block 7 b which coacts with a bearing element 8 8 a corresponding to the bearing element 7 a on the arm 7 , this arrangement corresponding functionally to the link element 8 of the aforedescribed embodiments . the journal axle of this embodiment is referenced 11 , as is the former cases . for the purpose of supporting the receptor unit 2 , the arm 9 is firmly secured with the aid of an intermediate element 6 26 which is embraced by a u - shaped block 20 which is connected to the intermediate element 26 in a manner to allow the block 20 to pivot about the horizontal axle 10 . as will be seen from fig1 - 16 , the receptor unit carried by the carrier and guide arrangement 15 - 19 can be displaced in the y - direction relative to the element 15 to the position shown in fig1 in which the receptor unit 2 lies outside the confines of the table 1 . the receptor unit can then be swung up to the vertical position shown in fig1 about the axle 10 . in fig1 , the receptor unit 2 is shown to be swung down to a vertical position which defines an angle of 180 ° with the position shown in fig1 . x - rays can be taken of the knees of a standing or sitting patient with the receptor unit in this position . the receptor unit 2 is swung down around the axle 21 , which is parallel with the axle 10 but located on a lower level than said axle . the intermediate element 26 supports the receptor unit 2 through the medium of a plate 24 . as will be seen from fig1 , the plate 24 is pivotal about a vertical axle 25 . the receptor unit 2 accompanies the movement of plate 24 as it swings around the vertical axle 25 , therewith enabling the receptor unit to be moved to the position shown in fig1 , for instance . in this position , the receptor unit is able to take pictures with an angled beam path . fig1 shows the elements 15 - 19 in an operative position , after having moved the receptor unit 2 in the y - direction to the other side of the table 1 relative to the position shown in fig1 , and after having swung the receptor unit 2 first to a horizontal position about the axle 21 , and thereafter to an upwardly swung , vertical position about the axle 10 . when the receptor - unit support element 15 forms part of a carriage which can be moved in the x - direction , the receptor unit can be moved in the x - direction from the position shown in fig1 . the beam source will normally accompany this movement of the receptor unit automatically . movement of the unit in the x - direction and in the y - direction can be achieved with the aid of appropriate motors ( not shown ). as indicated in fig1 - 19 , the receptor unit 2 may include a unit 28 which caries a joy - stick 27 and which functions to facilitate movement of the receptor unit in different directions . obviously , the unit 28 may be placed in some other position , for instance on one or both sides of the table or on a table - carried carriage ( not shown ). fig2 is a perspective view illustrating principly the different positions to which a receptor unit 2 can be moved in relation to a patient support table 1 when using the carrier and bearing mechanisms illustrated in fig1 - 19 . some of the positions shown by way of example in fig2 correspond to the positions referenced a , c , f in fig1 and 2 . however , fig2 shows a number of further positions which have been made possible because the receptor unit can be moved in the x - direction and also possibly in the y - direction , and because the receptor unit can also be swung down from a horizontal position and adjusted about a vertical axle for operating with an angle beam path . other modifications of the invention are possible within the scope of its basic concept as expressed in the following claims . for instance , the receptor unit may be accommodated in a frame which carries a table top , for instance a “ floating ” table top , i . e ., a table top that is movable in the x - direction and / or the y - direction . the trend towards the development of filmless systems in which images are produced and stored electronically is particularly well served by the inventive method and the inventive patient support table . because of the complexity of such electronic systems and because of the cost of such systems in which the receptor is connected directly to an evaluating unit , it is of extreme importance that the receptor can be used universally , therewith avoiding loose film cassettes , for instance .
a method of x - ray photography or a method of some other type of radiation sensoring , such as electronic image storage , employs the use of a receptor unit which can be swung outwards and upwards from an initial position in or beneath a patient support table about alternative pivot centers disposed in the region of respective side edges of the table to alternative positions for operating with a horizontal beam path . the receptor unit can be swung out about a vertical axis from these positions in which it is parallel with the longitudinal direction of the table to a position in which it is parallel with the longitudinal direction of the table to a position in which the unit is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the table , to enable pictures to be taken of a patient seated in a wheelchair , for instance . the invention also relates to a patient support table provided with a receptor unit of this kind .