# US 9,750,468 B2 · Imaging system subject support > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,468 B2 - Document ID: US9750468B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/390,037 - Filed: 2013-04-08 - Published: 2015-03-19 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-10 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Jeremy David Pettinato; Shufang Dong; Sriram Rajagopal; Joanne Marie Stack Oyen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750468B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/035: {Mechanical aspects of CT} - A61B 5/704: {Tables} - A61B 6/0407: {Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body} - A61B 6/0487: {Motor-assisted positioning} - A61B 6/4441: {the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm} - A61B 6/4447: {Tiltable gantries} - A61B 6/503: {for diagnosis of the heart} - A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An imaging system (100) includes a gantry (101) that defines an examination region (106) and a subject support (112). The subject support includes a tabletop (116) that supports an object or subject in the examination region for a scan of the object or subject and a base (114) that supports the tabletop. A support frame (132) supports the base. The base is moveably affixed to the support frame and moves between a plurality of predetermined locations, which are based on corresponding distances from the gantry. A support frame drive system (134) moves the base alternatively to one of the plurality of predetermined locations in response to an input signal indicative of the one of the plurality of predetermined locations, which corresponds to a location of interest for the scan of the object or subject. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging system, comprising: a gantry with an examination region; a subject support, including: a tabletop configured to support an object or subject in the examination region; and a base configured to supports the tabletop; and a support frame, including: a first elongate bracket with a first leg; a second elongate bracket with a second leg, wherein the first and second elongate brackets are arranged parallel to each other and separated from each other by a non-zero distance with the first and second legs facing each other; a cradle with a first side and a second opposing side, both extending parallel to the first and second legs, wherein the cradle is configured to support the base; a first slide bearing including a first stationary rail affixed to the first leg and a first moveable member configured to slide in the first rail and affixed to the first side facing the first leg; and a second slide bearing including a second stationary rail affixed to the second leg and a second moveable member configured to slide in the second rail and affixed to the second side facing the second leg, wherein the cradle is moveable, via the first and second bearings, in two directions within the first and second elongate brackets along the first and second elongate brackets and extends out past the first and second elongate brackets in at least a first of the two-directions when at a first predetermined position, and extends out past the first and second elongate brackets in at least a second of the two-directions when at a second predetermined position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined position corresponds to a trauma location in which the base is separated from the gantry by first a distance that allows a C-Arm scanner to fit between the gantry and the base. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the second predetermined position corresponds to a cardiac location in which the base is separated from the gantry by a second distance that mitigates at least one of tabletop bounce or deflection, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The imaging system of claim 3, wherein the cradle extends out past the first and second elongate brackets in both of the two-directions when at a third predetermined position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The imaging system of claim 4, wherein the third predetermined position corresponds to a third location in which the base is separated from the gantry by a third distance to accommodate a full body scan, wherein the third distance is between the first and the second distances. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The imaging system of claim 5, further comprising: a horizontal drive system configured to move the cradle to one of the first, second and third positions in response to an input signal indicative of the first, second or third positions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The imaging system of claim 6, further comprising: an activation device that generates the signal in response to activation by a user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The imaging system of claim 7, wherein the activation device is a physical control located on at least one of the gantry or the subject support. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The imaging system of claim 8, wherein the activation device includes a different physical control for each of the first, second and third positions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The imaging system of claim 7, further comprising: a console that presents a graphical user interface, wherein the activation device is a software control displayed in the graphical user interface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The imaging system of claim 10, wherein the activation device includes a different software control for each of the first, second and third positions. ### Claim 12 A method, comprising: moving a cradle of a support frame of a subject support of an imaging system via a bearing between first and second elongate brackets of the support frame to a predetermined position for scanning, wherein the bearing includes stationary rails affixed to legs of the first and second elongate brackets and facing each other and moveable members configured to slide in the rails and affixed to opposing sides of the cradle which face the brackets, and the cradle is moveable in two directions within the first and second elongate brackets along the first and second elongate brackets and extends out past the first and second elongate brackets in at least a first of the two-directions when at a first predetermined position, and extends out past the first and second elongate brackets in at least a second of the two-directions when at a second predetermined position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first predetermined position corresponds to a trauma location in which the base is separated from the gantry by first a distance that allows a C-Arm scanner to fit between the gantry and the base. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second predetermined position corresponds to a cardiac location in which the base is separated from the gantry by a second distance that mitigates at least one of tabletop bounce or deflection, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the cradle extends out past the first and second elongate brackets in both of the two-directions when at a third predetermined position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the third predetermined position corresponds to a third location in which the base is separated from the gantry by a third distance to accommodate a full body scan, wherein the third distance is between the first and the second distances. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: actuating a horizontal drive system to move the cradle to one of the first, second and third positions in response to an input signal indicative of the first, second or third positions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: generating, with an activation device, the signal in response to activation by a user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the activation device is a physical control located on at least one of the gantry or the subject support. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the activation device includes a different physical control for each of the first, second and third positions. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: presenting a graphical user interface, wherein the activation device is a software control displayed in the graphical user interface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the activation device includes a different software control for each of the first, second and third positions. ### Claim 23 A computer readable storage medium encoded with computer readable instructions, which, when executed by a processer, cause the processor to: move a cradle a support frame of a subject support of an imaging system, via a bearing, between first and second elongate brackets of the support frame to a first predetermined position for scanning, wherein the bearing includes stationary rails affixed to legs of the first and second elongate brackets facing each other and moveable members configured to slide in the rails and affixed to opposing sides of the cradle facing the brackets, and the cradle is moveable in two directions within the first and second elongate brackets along the first and second elongate brackets and extends out past the first and second elongate brackets in at least a first of the two-directions when at a first predetermined position, and extends out past the first and second elongate brackets in at least a second of the two-directions when at a second predetermined position. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the first predetermined position corresponds to a trauma location in which a base of the subject support is separated from a gantry of the imaging system by first a distance that allows a C-Arm to fit between the gantry and the base. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the computer readable instructions further cause the processor to: move the cradle, via a bearing, to a second different predetermined position, which corresponds to a cardiac location in which the base is separated from the gantry by a second distance that mitigates at least one of tabletop bounce or deflection, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the computer readable instructions further cause the processor to: move the cradle, via a bearing, to a third different predetermined position, which corresponds to a third location in which the base is separated from the gantry by a third distance, wherein the third distance is between the first and the second distances.