Drive assembly for a 3d x-ray imaging system

An X-ray imaging system, comprising:

• an X-ray source;
• an X-ray detector;
• a support attached to the X-ray source;
• a motor configured to rotate the support around a shaft using a drive linkage and drive member attached;
• a drive bearing connected to the support and configured to rotate with the support;
• a slip ring attached to the shaft;
• and
• a sensor attached to an encoder that rotates with the support and tracks the location of the X-ray source.

An imaging method, comprising:

• providing an X-ray imaging system on a first side of an object to be imaged, the imaging system comprising:
• an X-ray source;
• a support attached to the X-ray source;
• a motor configured to rotate the support around a shaft using a drive linkage and drive member attached to the support;
• a drive bearing connected to the support and configured to rotate with the support;
• a slip ring attached to the shaft;
• and
• a sensor attached to an encoder that rotates with the support and tracks the location of the X-ray source;
• positioning a substantially stationary X-ray detector on an opposite side of the object;
• rotating the X-ray source around the shaft to multiple positions;
• collecting multiple two dimensional (2D) images of the object when the X-ray source is located in the multiple positions;
• and
• reconstructing a three-dimensional (3D) image using the multiple 2D images.