A New Radiotherapy Treatment Chair

Abstract

During the routine treatment of patients in this department, it became apparent that certain particular requirements were not fulfilled by the standard treatment chair available. A chair designed and built around these requirements has, therefore, been produced. The functions required from a treatment chair are that it should have easy mobility, and that it should give patients who are ill and, therefore, unable to support themselves, external support, yet leaving free all aspects of the anatomy which may require treatment. Also, the necessity for absolute immobilisation in the treatment of lesions around the head and neck requires a head clamp which can be easily adjusted and yet give complete immobility. A chair to these specifications was designed and has been built by Mr. Peter Brassington of Sintacel Limited. The basic frame of the chair consists of 1 in. diameter chromium-plated tubular steel with four telescopic legs. The latex rubber seat is supported on a hydraulic pump and piston. A footrest is attached, thereby abolishing the need for a braking system on the chair. There are fixed arm rests. The back rest consists of two curved and upholstered slats supported on tubular uprights at either side. The uprights are inclined backwards and the slats may be moved upwards and downwards to allow any part of the back to be irradiated, while at the same time still giving the patient support from the back.