System for medical imaging

An imaging device for use in a patient imaging system comprising:

• at least one detector;
• one or more slats cooperating with the at least one detector;
• a collimator including a housing having a central portion configured to receive and support the at least one detector and one or more slats, an inner concave shaped working area defining an imaging region and an outer component storage area having a plurality of arms extending radially outward from the central portion of the housing, each of the arms having an elongate body terminating at a rounded distal end and at least one track disposed on about a periphery of the collimator housing;
• a plurality of links including one or more cam followers that movably engage the at least one track;
• and
• a drive mechanism adjustably positioning the plurality of links about a travel path defined by the track on the housing, the drive mechanism including a motor, a reducing gear driven by the motor and a cam rotatably connected to the reducing gear, wherein the cam engages the one or more cam followers of the plurality of links
• wherein the plurality of links receive and support one or more imaging plates that are moved by the plurality of links to position the imaging plates in the concave working area of the housing adjacent the imaging region of the imaging device.

A patient imaging system comprising:

• an imaging device having at least one detector and one or more slats cooperating with the at least one detector;
• a collimator disposed proximate the imaging device including a housing having a central portion, an inner concave shaped working area and an outer component storage area having a plurality of arms extending radially outward from the central portion of the housing, the arms having an elongate body terminating at a rounded distal end;
• at least one track disposed on a periphery of the housing;
• a plurality of links configured to receive imaging plates, the links including one or more cam followers that movably engage the at least one track;
• a patient support cooperating with the inner concave shaped working area of the collimator to receive and support the patient;
• an imaging source disposed proximate the patient support;
• and
• an imaging region between the imaging source and collimator of the imaging device defined proximate the concave working area of the collimator and patient support,
• wherein the imaging plates on the plurality of links are configured in arrangements to provide a variety of image settings such that the imaging device and imaging source may define a pre-determined imaging volume in the imaging region for the patient positioned in the imaging system.