Breakable gantry apparatus for multidimensional x-ray based imaging
AssigneeBreakaway Imaging, LLC
InventorsEugene A. Gregerson, Richard K. Grant, Norbert Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An x-ray scanning imaging apparatus with a generally O-shaped gantry ring, which has a segment that fully or partially detaches (or “breaks”) from the ring to provide an opening through which the object to be imaged may enter interior of the ring in a radial direction. The segment can then be re-attached to enclose the object within the gantry. Once closed, the circular gantry housing remains orbitally fixed and carries an x-ray image-scanning device that can be rotated inside the gantry 360 degrees around the patient either continuously or in a step-wise fashion. The x-ray device is particularly useful for two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) imaging applications.
Claims31
An imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a substantially O-shaped gantry ring having a central opening for positioning around an object to be imaged, the gantry ring having an interior cavity extending 360 degrees around the interior of the gantry ring;
- a detachable segment of the gantry that provides an opening in the gantry ring through which an object to be imaged may enter and exit the ring in a radical direction;
- a rigid C-shaped rotor housed within, and rotatable 360 degrees around, the interior cavity of the gantry ring;
- a drive mechanism secured to the rotor, and adapted to rotate the rotor around the interior of the gantry ring;
- a source of radiation secured to the rotor at a first position, the source adapted to project radiation onto said object as the source rotates 360 degrees around the interior of the gantry ring;
- and
- a detector secured to rotor at a second position, opposite the source on the gantry ring, positioned to detect the projected radiation.
A method of imaging an object using radiation, comprising:
- positioning the object within a substantially O-shaped gantry ring via a radial opening in the gantry ring;
- and
- rotating a rigid C-shaped rotor 360 degrees around an interior cavity of the gantry ring, the rotor having a radiation source and detector mounted to the rotor, to image the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.