Equine foot imaging platform and method
OwnerMartin D. Kennyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An imaging platform assembly is used to support a hoofed animal, especially horses, during a foot imaging process. The platform assembly includes a platform and flush mounted turntables that allow the animal's feet to rotate under the animal's power, thereby allowing the animal to assume a more natural stance. By allowing this rotation, the animal less likely to cause trouble during the imaging process. One or more of the turntables include a slot that is configured to support an image capturing device, such as an x-ray cartridge. One to all of the animal's feet may be on turntables, depending on the platform configuration.
Claims18
A method of imaging an equine foot, comprising:
- supporting both the front feet or both the rear feet of an equine animal on respective rotatable first and second turntables;
- the first and second turntables mounted to a common platform and rotatable independently of each other about respective rotational axes;
- wherein the supporting comprises allowing the equine animal to rotate at least one of the first and second turntables;
- wherein the first turntable has an upwardly open first slot therein;
- placing an image capture device in the first slot of the first turntable;
- thereafter, imaging the foot disposed on the first turntable by passing radiation through the foot to the image capture device.
An equine imaging platform assembly configured to support at least two feet of an equine animal, comprising:
- a platform having a generally planar upper surface with first and second turntable recesses therein;
- a first turntable disposed in the first recess and rotatably coupled to the platform for rotation about a first rotational axis;
- the first turntable having a first hoof-engaging turntable upper surface disposed generally flush to the upper surface of the platform;
- a second turntable disposed in the second recess and rotatably coupled to the platform for rotation about a second rotational axis;
- the second turntable having a second hoof-engaging turntable upper surface disposed generally flush to the upper surface of the platform;
- wherein the first and second rotational axis are spaced from one another and oriented generally normal to the platform upper surface;
- the first turntable upper surface having an upwardly open first slot therein sized and configured to receive an image capturing device;
- wherein the first and second turntables are rotatable independently of each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.