# US 11,076,816 B2 · Imaging system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,076,816 B2 - Document ID: US11076816B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/748,187 - Filed: 2016-08-02 - Published: 2018-08-09 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-02 - Assignees: P-Cure, Ltd. - Applicants: P-Cure, Ltd. - Inventors: Michael Marash; Yigal Livne - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076816B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/035: {Mechanical aspects of CT} - A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]} - A61B 6/0478: {Chairs} - A61B 6/10: Safety means specially adapted therefor - A61B 6/4429: {related to the mounting of source units and detector units} - A61B 6/4447: {Tiltable gantries} - A61B 6/447: {the source unit or the detector unit being mounted to counterpoise or springs} - A61B 6/4476: {related to motor-assisted motion of the source unit} - A61N 5/1049: {for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam} - A61N 2005/1061: {using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source} - A61N 2005/1063: {maintaining the position when the patient is moved from an imaging to a therapy system} - A61N 2005/1087: {Ions; Protons} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract An imaging system constituted of: an imager; an imager translation mechanism arranged to translate the imager along a predetermined translation axis in each of a first direction and a second direction responsive to a provided electrical power, the second direction opposing the first direction, the predetermined translation axis exhibiting an imaging angle with a floor, the first direction being toward the floor along the translation axis, the imaging angle being less than 90 degrees and greater than 0 degrees; a piston translation mechanism; and a piston power mechanism arranged to provide motive power to the piston translation mechanism, wherein the piston translation mechanism is arranged to translate the imager in the second direction responsive to the provided motive power in the absence of the provided electrical power. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging system comprising: an imager; an imager translation mechanism arranged to translate said imager along a predetermined translation axis in each of a first direction and a second direction responsive to a provided electrical power, said second direction opposing said first direction, said predetermined translation axis exhibiting an imaging angle with a floor, said first direction being toward the floor along said translation axis, said imaging angle being less than 90 degrees and greater than 0 degrees; a piston translation mechanism; and a piston power mechanism arranged to provide motive power to said piston translation mechanism, wherein said piston translation mechanism is arranged to translate said imager in said second direction responsive to said provided motive power in the absence of the provided electrical power. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a counterweight arranged to translate along a counterweight axis, said counterweight arranged to provide counterbalance to said imager, wherein said arrangement of said piston translation mechanism to translate said imager in said second direction comprises translating said counterweight along said counterweight axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein said imager translation mechanism comprises: a screw; and a motor, said motor arranged to rotate said screw, said translation of said imager along said translation axis responsive to said screw rotation, wherein said provided motive power comprises hydraulic power. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein said imaging angle is between 55-85 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said piston translation mechanism is further arranged to provide counterbalance to said imager. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein said imager translation mechanism comprises: a screw; and a motor, said motor arranged to rotate said screw, said translation of said imager along said translation axis responsive to said screw rotation, wherein said provided motive power comprises hydraulic power. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said imaging angle is between 55-85 degrees. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein said imaging angle is between 65-75 degrees. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said imager comprises a computer tomography (CT) imager. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said imager translation mechanism comprises: a screw; and a motor, said motor arranged to rotate said screw, said translation of said imager along said translation axis responsive to said screw rotation, wherein said provided motive power comprises hydraulic power. ### Claim 11 An imaging method, the method comprising: providing an imager; providing an imager translation mechanism arranged to translate said imager along a predetermined translation axis in each of a first direction and a second direction responsive to a provided electrical power, said second direction opposing said first direction, said predetermined translation axis exhibiting an imaging angle with a floor, said first direction being toward the floor along said translation axis, said imaging angle being less than 90 degrees and greater than 0 degrees; providing a piston translation mechanism; and providing motive power to said provided piston translation mechanism, wherein said provided piston translation mechanism is arranged to translate said imager in said second direction responsive to said provided motive power in the absence of the provided electrical power. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a counterweight arranged to translate along a counterweight axis, said provided counterweight arranged to provide counterbalance to said provided imager, wherein said arrangement of said provided piston translation mechanism to translate said provided imager in said second direction comprises translating said provided counterweight along said counterweight axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said provided imager translation mechanism comprises a screw, wherein the method further comprises rotating said screw, said translation of said provided imager along said translation axis responsive to said screw rotation, and wherein said provided motive power comprises hydraulic power. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said imaging angle is between 55-85 degrees. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said provided piston translation mechanism is further arranged to provide counterbalance to said provided imager. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said provided imager translation mechanism comprises a screw, wherein the method further comprises rotating said screw, said translation of said provided imager along said translation axis responsive to said screw rotation, and wherein said provided motive power comprises hydraulic power. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said provided imager translation mechanism comprises a screw, wherein the method further comprises rotating said screw, said translation of said provided imager along said translation axis responsive to said screw rotation, and wherein said provided motive power comprises hydraulic power. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said imaging angle is between 55-85 degrees. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said imaging angle is between 65-75 degrees. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said provided imager comprises a computer tomography (CT) imager.