Apparatus and method for supporting pallet extending from patient table

An x-ray tomography scanner system including:

• an apparatus for supporting a pallet extending horizontally from a patient table, comprising:
• a pallet support for supporting a horizontally extendable pallet of a patient table;
• and
• a lifting assembly for vertically supporting the pallet support, including,
• a lower base;
• at least one pair of non-intersecting front and rear lift arms holding the pallet support vertically above the lower base, wherein each lift arm includes,
• a lower end pivotally connected to the lower base,
• an upper end pivotally connected to the pallet support,
• an elbow located between the lower end and the upper end, and
• an elongated lower portion extending between the lower end and the elbow, and
• an elongated upper portion extending between the elbow to the tipper end, with the lower portion and the upper portion connecting at an angle at the elbow;
• an annular gantry rotatable about a horizontal center of rotation and containing therein an x-ray source for projecting a beam of x-rays across the center of rotation to a detector array on an opposite side of the gantry, and wherein the lifting assembly can be used to support a pallet horizontally extending from a patient table assembly such that a patient lying on the table assembly can be aligned with the center of rotation of the gantry;
• and
• a patient table that includes a lifting assembly, an elongated table assembly supported on the lifting assembly, and an elongated pallet positioned on the table assembly, wherein the table can be positioned with respect to the gantry such that the elongated pallet extends parallel with the rotation axis of the gantry and can be supported on the pallet support, and wherein the lifting assembly of the table includes a lower base, an upper base securable to the table assembly, and at least one pair of non-intersecting front and rear lift arms holding the upper base vertically above the lower base.

An apparatus for supporting a pallet extending horizontally from a patient table, the apparatus comprising:

• a pallet support for supporting a horizontally extendable pallet of a patient table;
• and
• a lifting assembly for vertically supporting the pallet support, including,
• a lower base;
• at least one pair of non-intersecting front and rear lift arms holding the pallet support vertically above the lower base, wherein each lift arm includes,
• a lower end pivotally connected to the lower base,
• an upper end pivotally connected to the pallet support,
• an elbow located between the lower end and the upper end, and
• an elongated lower portion extending between the lower end and the elbow, and
• an elongated upper portion extending between the elbow to the upper end, with the lower portion and the upper portion connecting at an angle at the elbow;
• a patient table includes a lifting assembly, an elongated table assembly supported on the lifting assembly, and an elongated pallet positioned on the table assembly, wherein the elongated pallet can be extended horizontally from the table assembly and supported on the pallet support, and wherein the lifting assembly of the table includes a lower base, an upper base securable to the table assembly, and at least one pair of non-intersecting front and rear lift arms holding the upper base vertically above the lower base.