# US 9,039,282 B2 · Imaging apparatus comprising a ring-shaped gantry

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- Number: US 9,039,282 B2
- Document ID: US9039282B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/105,017
- Filed: 2011-05-11
- Published: 2011-11-17
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2010-05-14
- Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
- Applicants: Michael Maschke
- Inventors: Michael Maschke
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039282B2

## CPC

- A61B 6/4411: {the apparatus being modular (A61B6/4283 takes precedence)}
- A61B 6/4435: {the source unit and the detector unit being coupled by a rigid structure}
- A61B 6/4458: {the source unit or the detector unit being attached to robotic arms}
- A61B 6/4464: {the source unit or the detector unit being mounted to ceiling}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An imaging apparatus having a ring-shaped gantry is provided. The gantry has a rotor arrangement rotating therein and a radiation source as well as at least one radiation detector. The gantry has at least one gantry segment which can be detached from the ring shape to allow the gantry to be opened laterally. The gantry is arranged on a supporting structure so as to be movable in space. The supporting structure is a ceiling-mounted stand having at least two degrees of freedom of movement. The gantry has at least two radiation sources disposed offset by an angle on the rotor arrangement and associated with each of which is at least one radiation detector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging apparatus, comprising:
a ceiling-mounted stand having at least two degrees of freedom of movement; and
a ring-shaped gantry arranged on the stand to be moved in space comprising:
a rotor arrangement rotating in the gantry,
at least two x-ray radiation sources disposed offset by an angle on the rotor arrangement, and
at least two x-ray radiation detectors each associated with each of the x-ray radiation sources,
wherein the gantry comprises at least one gantry segment which can be detached from the gantry to allow the gantry to be opened laterally, and
wherein the gantry is rotatably mounted on the stand by a revolute joint having at least one degree of rotational freedom, and
wherein the revolute joint is arranged such that the gantry is rotatable in a first direction and pivotable in a second direction different from the first direction about a common axis extending through the revolute joint.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gantry is further movable linearly by the stand along at least one horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gantry is movable linearly by the stand along two horizontal axes standing orthogonally relative to each other.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the x-ray radiation detectors are disposed opposite the x-ray radiation sources on the rotor arrangement.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of stationary x-ray radiation detectors complementing one another to form a ring shape is arranged in the gantry.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the x-ray radiation detectors comprise different types.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the x-ray radiation detectors is a receiver consisting of a multiplicity of individual detectors and the other x-ray radiation detector is a planar solid-state x-ray radiation detector.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the x-ray radiation sources is a carbon nanotube emitter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotor arrangement extends through an angle of maximum 270°.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two x-ray radiation sources are arranged offset by 90° from each other.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a patient positioning table that is movable translationally and/or rotatably in space.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the patient positioning table is arranged on an articulated-arm robot having at least four degrees of freedom.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the articulated-arm robot has six degrees of freedom.