Motorized support for imaging means and methods of manufacture and use thereof

An apparatus supportable upon a floor for moving medical scanning equipment about a portion of a body of a patient, said apparatus comprising a combination of:

• (a) a lower chassis or housing positioned above the floor;
• (b) a first wheel operatively secured to said lower chassis, said first wheel capable of being rotated about a first generally horizontal axis and a first generally vertical axis;
• (c) a second wheel operatively secured to said lower chassis, said second wheel capable of being rotated about a second generally horizontal axis and a second generally vertical axis, said first wheel and said second wheel arranged to support said lower chassis upon the floor and enable movement of said lower chassis relative to the floor;
• (d) remotely actuated means for selectively rotating said first wheel about said first vertical axis between a first traveling position and a first operational position, said first traveling position being generally tangential or perpendicular to said first operational position;
• (e) remotely actuated means for selectively rotating said second wheel about said second vertical axis between a second traveling position and a second operational position, said second traveling position being generally tangential or perpendicular to said second operational position;
• (f) remotely actuated means for mechanically or electrically rotating said first wheel about said first horizontal axis in a selectively controlled manner;
• (g) remotely actuated means for mechanically or electrically rotating said second wheel about said second horizontal axis in a selectively controlled manner, said lower chassis moving along a first path when said first wheel is in said first traveling position and said second wheel is in said second traveling position, said lower chassis moving along a second path when said first wheel is in said first operational position and said second wheel is in said second operational position;
• (h) a rotatable, omnidirectional, third wheel operatively secured to said lower chassis to provide support and stability to said lower chassis, said third wheel permitting movement of said lower chassis directions generally parallel to or horizontal with the floor;
• (i) an upper chassis or extension arm operatively and movably secured to said lower chassis;
• and
• (j) means for mechanically or electrically moving said upper chassis in a selective and controlled manner along a predetermined third path relative to said lower chassis between a retracted position and an extended position.