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AssigneeHallmarq Veterinary Imaging Ltd.
InventorsNicholas Martin Bolas, Eduardo Pallas Lodeiro, Laura Moliner Martinez, Giedre Podolyak, Paul Michael Kurn, James Richard Barnett
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Apparatus for x-ray CT scanning of an object comprises an x-ray generator (1) mounted on a first support (3) on an outer ring (4) and an x-ray detector (2) mounted on a second support (10) on an inner ring (11), and a drive mechanism arranged to rotate the outer and inner rings (4, 11). The outer and inner rings have a first common axis of rotation and the diameter of the outer ring (4) is greater than the diameter of the inner ring (11). The first and second supports (3, 10) are positioned diametrically opposite each other with the second support (10) on the far side of the inner ring (11) with respect to the position of the outer ring (4). The inner surface of the outer ring (4) and the outer surface of the inner ring (11) are formed with teeth, and the drive mechanism includes a gearing arrangement connecting the outer and inner rings (4, 11). The gearing arrangement comprises first and second toothed rotary gears (14, 16) fixed so as to rotate together about a second common axis of rotation, the first rotary gear (14) having a greater diameter than the second rotary gear (16). The first rotary gear (14) interengages with the teeth of the outer ring (4) and the second rotary gear (16) interengages with the teeth of the inner ring (11) via a third toothed rotary gear or a toothed drive belt (18). The ratio of the number of teeth on the outer and inner rings (4, 11) are the same as the ratio of the number of teeth on the first and second rotary gears (14, 16) so that the outer and inner rings (4, 11) rotate at substantially the same angular speed in the same direction, whereby x-ray radiation emitted by the x-ray generator (1) is directed towards the x-ray detector (2) whilst the first and second supports (3, 10), on which the x-ray generator (1) and x-ray detector (2) are respectively mounted, are moving along respective first and second annular concentric paths defined by the outer and inner rings (4, 11).
Apparatus for x-ray CT scanning of an object, the apparatus comprising an x-ray generator mounted on a first support provided on an outer ring and an x-ray detector mounted on a second support provided on an inner ring, and a drive mechanism arranged to rotate the outer and inner rings, wherein the outer and inner rings have a first common axis of rotation and the diameter of the outer ring is greater than the diameter of the inner ring, the first and second supports being positioned diametrically opposite each other with the second support on the far side of the inner ring with respect to the position of the outer ring, wherein the inner surface of the outer ring and the outer surface of the inner ring are formed with teeth, and the drive mechanism includes a gearing arrangement connecting the outer and inner rings, the gearing arrangement comprises first and second toothed rotary gears fixed so as to rotate together about a second common axis of rotation, the first rotary gear having a greater diameter than the second rotary gear, the first rotary gear interengaging with the teeth of the outer ring and the second rotary gear interengaging with the teeth of the inner ring via a third toothed rotary gear or a toothed drive belt, the ratio of the number of teeth on the outer and inner rings being the same as the ratio of the number of teeth on the first and second rotary gears so that the outer and inner rings rotate at substantially the same angular speed in the same direction, whereby x-ray radiation emitted by the x-ray generator is directed towards the x-ray detector whilst the first and second supports, on which the x-ray generator and x-ray detector are respectively mounted, are moving along respective first and second annular concentric paths defined by the outer and inner rings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.