Apparatus and Method For Attaching a Drive System and a Stand to a Ring in a Medicine Gantry

A method for securing a portion of a ring to a stand in a medical gantry, the ring defining a central longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

• providing a ring and a stand;
• connecting respective portions of the ring and stand relative to each other with at least one rigid connection;
• providing at least one compliant joint disposed adjacent a portion of the ring and a portion of the stand;
• preventing the ring from substantially moving along the central longitudinal axis and allowing the ring to move relative to compliant joint and the stand along at least one other axis by orientation of the compliant joint.

An apparatus for securing a drive system to a ring in a medical imaging gantry, the ring defining a central longitudinal axis, comprising:

• a ring having an outer race and an inner race rotatively mounted within the outer race, the inner race defining inner race teeth about a portion of its circumference;
• a drive system having a drive gear, defining drive gear teeth that are engaged with the inner race teeth, and defining tooth clearance there between;
• and
• a mounting assembly, including:
• at least one mounting bar rigidly attached to the outer race outer facing surface, the mounting bar including a transverse face being substantially perpendicular to the ring outer race circumference;
• at least one mounting plate secured to the drive system and transverse face of the at least one mounting bar;
• at least one moveable adjuster interposed between the mounting plate and supported on the at least one mounting bar and being moveable with respect thereto;
• and
• wherein movement of the adjuster moves the mounting plate and drive assembly relative to the at least one mounting bar and varies the tooth clearance.