# US 8,540,425 B2 · CT scanning system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,425 B2 - Document ID: US8540425B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/996,334 - Filed: 2009-05-29 - Published: 2011-06-23 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-06 - Assignees: Gni Aps - Applicants: Gorm Nielsen Groot - Inventors: Gorm Nielsen Groot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540425B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/107: {Protection against radiation, e.g. shielding} - A61B 6/508: {for non-human patients} - A61B 6/583: {using calibration phantoms} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A CT scanning system having a patient table and a gantry comprising an x-ray source configured to irradiate an x-ray beam while at least partly rotating about an object being arranged on the patient table in order to be scanned. The gantry comprises an x-ray detector configured to receive x-rays penetrating through the object to be scanned and is further configured to provide output signals representative of the received x-rays. The system further comprises an x-ray cabinet comprising x-ray shielding material. The x-ray cabinet fully surrounds the gantry and the patient table. The patient table is configured to be fully inserted in the x-ray cabinet. The x-ray cabinet has an end part with a patient opening allowing the introduction of a patient into the x-ray cabinet through said opening. The system comprises a closure part for providing an x-ray shielding closure of the patient opening at the first end part. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A CT scanning system comprising: a bed or couch on which an object to be scanned is resting during a scanning operation; a gantry comprising an x-ray source configured to irradiate an x-ray beam while at least partly rotating about an object being arranged on the bed or couch in order to be scanned, said gantry further comprising an x-ray detector configured to receive x-rays penetrating through the object to be scanned and further configured to provide output signals representative of the received x-rays; an x-ray cabinet comprising x-ray shielding material and fully surrounding said bed or couch and said gantry, said x-ray cabinet having a first end part with a patient opening allowing introduction of a patient into the x-ray cabinet through said patient opening; and a closure part or door for providing an x-ray shielding closure of the patient opening at the first end part; wherein the bed or couch is supported by a mobile undercarriage, whereby the bed or couch can be moved into and out of the patient opening or door. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the closure part or door is connected to a first end part of the bed or couch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A CT scanning system according to claim 2, wherein the closure part or door and the mobile undercarriage are connected to the first end part of the bed or couch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the x-ray cabinet is arranged at a support structure to thereby be lifted at a distance above a ground floor, and wherein the mobile undercarriage or a lower part of the mobile undercarriage is configured to be positioned beneath the x-ray cabinet when the bed or couch is moved into the patient opening and arranged inside the x-ray cabinet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the bed or couch comprises at least two carbon fiber tubes for support of the object to be scanned. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A CT scanning system according to claim 5, wherein the bed or couch comprises a tarpaulin extending between the two carbon fiber tubes for support of the object to be scanned, and wherein the bed or couch has an elongated form. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the x-ray cabinet is substantially tubular or cylindrical. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the x-ray cabinet has first and second oppositely arranged end wall parts, and wherein the patient opening is arranged in the first of said oppositely arranged end wall parts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the x-ray cabinet has a window formed by an x-ray shielding material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the x-ray cabinet is formed by at least two parts. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A CT scanning system according to claim 10, wherein the x-ray cabinet is formed by two substantially mirrored parts, each of said mirrored parts holding about half of the patient opening or door. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the patient opening has a width or a diameter of at least 200 mm or of at least 400 mm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the x-ray cabinet has a width or a diameter of at least 700 mm and not larger than 2500 mm, and wherein the x-ray cabinet has a length of at least 600 mm and not larger than 3000 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the x-ray cabinet is supported by a number of machine mounts for levelling the x-ray cabinet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the closure part or door is provided with an interlock function being active only when the closure part or door is in a closing position relative to the patient opening or door of the x-ray cabinet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A CT scanning system according to claim 15, wherein an x-ray scanning function can be performed only when the interlock function is active. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, further comprising: a battery charger for receiving electrical power from an external power source, and for providing a regulated DC power signal; a rechargeable battery assembly for storing electrical energy received via the regulated DC power signal; and a high voltage generator for supplying electrical power to the x-ray source during a scanning operation; said rechargeable battery assembly being adapted for supplying electrical energy to the high voltage generator during the scanning operation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A CT scanning system according to claim 1, further comprising a linear moving system for moving the gantry along a substantial portion of the bed or couch, and in a direction substantially perpendicular to a rotational movement direction of the x-ray source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A CT scanning system according to claim 18, wherein the CT scanning system is adapted for performing a scanning operation while rotating the x-ray source about the bed or couch during a time period when there is no movement of the gantry by the linear moving system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A CT scanning system according to claim 19, wherein the linear moving system is adapted for moving the gantry along the bed or couch in successive movement steps, and wherein the CT scanning system is adapted for performing a scanning operation after each said movement steps, whereby a layered scanning of the object to be scanned can be accomplished.