Method and apparatus for driving a mobile imaging system
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMatthew Aaron Halsmer, Jonathan M. Butzine
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mobile imaging system comprises a motorized drive assembly having first and second drive wheels that are coupled to the motorized drive assembly. A column is coupled to and extends upwardly from the motorized drive assembly and is rotatable around a pivot point. An arm is coupled to the column and includes a radiation source mounted on an outer end thereof. A longitudinal axis extends parallel to the length of the mobile imaging system and is centered between the first and second drive wheels. A controller is configured to determine first and second velocities to drive the first and second drive wheels based on an angle of rotation of the column with respect to the longitudinal axis.
Claims20
A mobile imaging system, comprising:
- a motorized drive assembly;
- first and second drive wheels coupled to the motorized drive assembly;
- a column coupled to and extending upwardly from the motorized drive assembly, the column rotatable around a pivot point;
- an arm coupled to the column, the arm including a radiation source mounted on an outer end thereof;
- a longitudinal axis extending parallel to a length of the motorized drive assembly and centered between the first and second drive wheels;
- and
- a controller configured to determine first and second velocities to drive the first and second drive wheels based on an angle of rotation of the column with respect to the longitudinal axis.
A method for driving a mobile imaging system, the method comprising:
- defining a longitudinal axis that is centered between first and second drive wheels of a motorized drive assembly and is parallel to a length of the motorized drive assembly;
- defining a pivot point at a center of a rotatable column that is coupled to the motorized drive assembly, the column comprising an arm mounted thereto;
- identifying an angle of rotation of the column with respect to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- calculating first and second velocities to drive the first and second drive wheels based on the angle of rotation.
A mobile x-ray system, comprising:
- a motorized drive assembly comprising first and second drive wheels;
- a column mounted to the motorized drive assembly at a pivot point, the column comprising an arm mounted thereto, the column rotatable with respect to the pivot point;
- a longitudinal axis extending parallel to a length of the motorized drive assembly and centered between the first and second drive wheels;
- an x-ray source mounted at an outer end of the arm;
- a collimator mounted with respect to the x-ray source, the collimator being rotatable with respect to the x-ray source;
- and
- a controller configured to determine first and second velocities to drive the first and second drive wheels, the first and second velocities based on at least one of an angle of rotation of the column with respect to the longitudinal axis and an angle of rotation of the collimator with respect to the longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.