Cantilevered x-ray CT system for multi-axis imaging

A system comprising:

• an imaging system including an imaging gantry, a support coupled with the imaging gantry, a base that supports the imaging gantry and the support, a first drive mechanism that rotates the gantry with respect to the support, a second drive mechanism that translates the support and the gantry in a horizontal direction relative to the base, and at least one cover attached to the support that extends from and retracts into a housing based on the translation of the support relative to the base;
• a table support system with a table base, a movable patient support operatively coupled to the table base, the patient support moveable relative to the table base;
• and
• a control system including an imaging system controller for controlling the imaging system, and a table system controller for controlling the table system, the imaging system controller and the table system controller each include a memory and a processor, the control system is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
• communicating position feedback data of the imaging system and the table support system between the table system controller and the imaging system controller, and
• sending control signals to the table system controller and the imaging system controller to cause the patient support to move into a desired location relative to the table base and the imaging gantry and cause the imaging gantry to move into a desired location relative to the patient support in response to the position feedback data of the imaging system and the table support system
• wherein one of the imaging system and the table system is a master controller and the other of the imaging system and the table system is a slave controller so that the slave controller repositions one of the imaging system and the table system based on the movement of the other of the imaging system and the table system.

A system comprising:

• a multi-axis imaging system including:
• an imaging gantry,
• a support column that supports the imaging gantry on one side of the gantry in a cantilevered manner, the support column mounted to a platform having at least one bearing element,
• a base that supports the imaging gantry and the support column, the base having at least one rail extending along a length of the base and engaging the at least one bearing element to displace the support column and the gantry in a horizontal direction with respect to the base,
• a first drive mechanism that translates the gantry in a vertical direction relative to the support column,
• a second drive mechanism that rotates the gantry with respect to the support column, and
• a third drive mechanism that translates the support column and the gantry in a horizontal direction relative to the base, the third drive mechanism including a drive belt extending along the length of the base parallel to the at least one rail and a motor mounted to the platform that drives a drive wheel that engages with the drive belt to drive the displacement of the support column and the gantry;
• table system with a table base, a linkage member coupled to the table base, and a movable patient support coupled to the linkage member for movement relative to the table base;
• and
• a control system with an imaging system controller and a table system controller, the control system including a memory and a processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
• receiving encoder data at the imaging system controller from the table system controller indicating a configuration of the movable patient support, and
• sending control signals with the imaging system controller to one or more of the first, second, and third drive mechanisms of the multi-axis imaging system to cause the gantry to translate and/or rotate to maintain the gantry spaced away from the patient support and a bore of the gantry aligned with the patient support in response to the encoder data received from the table system controller;
• wherein the control system coordinates movement between the imaging system and the table system such that as one of the imaging system and the table system is moved, the other of the imaging system and the table system moves in a corresponding counter-movement;
• wherein the base comprises at least one cover attached to the platform and/or the support column that extends from and retracts into a housing based on the translation of the support column relative to the base, the at least one cover including two flexible covers attached to opposite sides of the platform and/or the support column and wound on spools located in housings located at opposite ends of the base, the spools being spring-loaded to maintain tension on the flexible covers as the support column translates on the base.