# US 2018/0279980 A1 · C-arm imaging system with multiple automated independent rotational axes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0279980 A1 - Document ID: US20180279980A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/472,589 - Filed: 2017-03-29 - Published: 2018-10-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-29 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: David Ellis Barker; John Matthew Simmons - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180279980A1 ## CPC - A61B 6/4441: {the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm} - A61B 6/027: {characterised by the use of a particular data acquisition trajectory, e.g. helical or spiral} - A61B 6/44: {Constructional features of apparatus for radiation diagnosis} - A61B 6/4405: {the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley} - A61B 6/4429: {related to the mounting of source units and detector units} - A61B 6/4435: {the source unit and the detector unit being coupled by a rigid structure} - A61B 6/4447: {Tiltable gantries} - A61B 6/4458: {the source unit or the detector unit being attached to robotic arms} - A61B 6/4476: {related to motor-assisted motion of the source unit} - A61B 6/4482: {involving power assist circuits} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An X-ray imaging system is provided. The X-ray imaging system includes an X-ray radiation source, an X-ray detector, and a C-arm. The C-arm has the X-ray radiation source disposed on a first end and the X-ray detector disposed on a second end opposite the first end. The X-ray imaging system also includes a motorized system configured to rotate the C-arm about three different rotational axes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An X-ray imaging system, comprising: an X-ray radiation source; an X-ray detector; and a C-arm having the X-ray radiation source disposed on a first end and the X-ray detector disposed on a second end opposite the first end; and a motorized system configured to rotate the C-arm about three different rotational axes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The X-ray imaging system of claim 1, comprising a base, wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in an orbital direction relative to a location where the C-arm is coupled to the base. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The X-ray imaging system of claim 2, wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by both rotating the C-arm 180 degrees in a lateral direction relative to the base and rotating the C-arm 180 degrees about the location where the C-arm is coupled to the base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The X-ray imaging system of claim 3, comprising a horizontal arm coupled to the base and an L-arm having a first end coupled to the horizontal arm and a second end coupled to the C-arm via a C-arm rotation device, wherein the L-arm is configured to rotate about the horizontal arm to enable rotation of the C-arm in the lateral direction, and the C-arm rotation device is configured both to rotate about the second end of the L-arm to enable rotation of the C-arm about the location where the C-arm is coupled to the base and to rotate in the orbital direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The X-ray imaging system of claim 3, wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by rotating the C-arm about the three different rotational axes at both a same time and rate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The X-ray imaging system of claim 3, wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by rotating the C-arm about the three different rotational axes at pre-defined non-linear rates. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The X-ray imaging system of claim 3, wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by rotating the C-arm about the three different rotational axes at different times. ### Claim 8 An X-ray imaging system, comprising: an X-ray radiation source; an X-ray detector; and a C-arm having the X-ray radiation source disposed on a first end and the X-ray detector disposed on a second end opposite the first end; a base coupled to the C-arm; and a motorized system configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in an orbital direction relative to where the C-arm is coupled to the base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The X-ray imaging system of claim 2, wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by both rotating the C-arm 180 degrees in a lateral direction relative to the base and rotating the C-arm 180 degrees about the location where the C-arm is coupled to the base. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The X-ray imaging system of claim 9, comprising a horizontal arm coupled to the base and an L-arm having a first end coupled to the horizontal arm and a second end coupled to the C-arm via a C-arm rotation device, wherein the L-arm is configured to rotate about the horizontal arm to enable rotation of the C-arm in the lateral direction, and the C-arm rotation device is configured both to rotate about the second end of the L-arm to enable rotation of the C-arm about the location where the C-arm is coupled to the base and to rotate in the orbital direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The X-ray imaging system of claim 9, wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by rotating the C-arm about three different rotational axes at both a same time and rate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The X-ray imaging system of claim 9, wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by rotating the C-arm about three different rotational axes at pre-defined non-linear rates. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The X-ray imaging system of claim 9, wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by rotating the C-arm about three different rotational axes at different times. ### Claim 14 An X-ray imaging system, comprising: an X-ray radiation source; an X-ray detector; a C-arm having the X-ray radiation source disposed on a first end and the X-ray detector disposed on a second end opposite the first end; a base; a horizontal arm coupled to the base; an L-arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the horizontal arm; a C-arm rotation device configured to enable the C-arm to rotate in an orbital direction relative to the C-arm rotation device, wherein the C-arm rotation device is coupled to the second end of the L-arm; and a motorized system configured to rotate the C-arm about three different rotational axes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The X-ray imaging system of claim 14, wherein a first rotational axis of the three different rotational axes comprises an orbital axis defined by rotation of the C-arm in the orbital direction relative to where the C-arm is coupled to the C-arm rotation device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The X-ray imaging system of claim 15, wherein a second rotational axis of the three different rotational axes comprises a lateral axis defined by rotation of the L-arm about the horizontal arm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The X-ray imaging system of claim 16, wherein a third rotational axis of the three different rotation axes comprises a flip-flop axis defined by rotation of the C-arm rotation device about the second end of the L-arm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The X-ray imaging system of claim 17, wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction about the orbital axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The X-ray imaging system of claim 18, wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction about the orbital axis by both rotating the C-arm 180 degrees about the lateral axis and rotating the C-arm 180 degrees about the flip-flop axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The X-ray imaging system of claim 14, wherein the base comprises a wheeled base, and the X-ray imaging system comprises a mobile X-ray imaging system.