Safety device for an imaging medical apparatus

A system comprising an imaging medical apparatus and a patient carrier, wherein the imaging medical apparatus and the patient carrier are capable of being moved relative to each other such that a patient can be moved into a patient entrance of the imaging medical apparatus, comprising;

• a braking device, said braking device including a brake for inhibiting the relative movement between the imaging medical apparatus and the patient carrier;
• and
• a proximity or contact detector operatively coupled to the brake, said detector being disposed at the patient entrance such that when an object comes within a specified proximity or contacts the detector, the detector provides a braking signal to the brake that inhibits the relative movement between the imaging medical apparatus and the patient carrier.

A method for protecting against collision between a medical imaging device and a carrier for a patient, wherein the medical imaging device and carrier are relatively moveable, the method comprising outfitting the medical imaging device with a proximity or contact detector at an entrance of the medical imaging device, wherein the detector is operative to detect an imminent collision between the medical imaging device and the carrier and provides an output signal that causes relative movement between the imaging device and the carrier to be inhibited.