Reconfigurable computer tomography scanner

• US 20050152501A1
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xoran Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Xoran Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Sukovic, Predrag, Rakic, Miodrag
• Granted Patent: US 7,611,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/197
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/035 Mechanical aspects of CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4488 Means for cooling A61B6/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/501 for diagnosis of the head, e.g. neuroimaging or craniography

Abstract

A CT scanner is reconfigurable to multiple orientations and positions. The scanner includes a gantry on which the x-ray source and x-ray detector are mounted. The gantry is mounted on a support and is rotatable about a scan axis relative to the support. The support is movable and/or pivotable relative to a frame, such that the scan axis can be vertical or horizontal.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable CT scanner comprising:

a frame;

a support mounted to the frame, the support pivotable about a pivot axis relative to the frame;

a gantry mounted to the support, the gantry rotatable about a scan axis relative to the support, the scan axis orthogonal to the pivot axis;

an x-ray source mounted to the gantry; and

an x-ray detector mounted to the gantry opposite the x-ray source, the scan axis between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector.

2. The reconfigurable CT scanner of claim 1 wherein the support is pivotable approximately ninety degrees about the pivot axis.

3. The reconfigurable CT scanner of claim 2 wherein the pivot axis intersects the scan axis.

4. The reconfigurable CT scanner of claim 2 wherein the pivot axis is spaced away from the scan axis.

5. A reconfigurable CT scanner comprising:

a frame;

a gantry mounted to the frame and pivotable about a pivot axis relative to the frame, the gantry rotatable about a scan axis;

an x-ray source mounted to the gantry; and

an x-ray detector mounted to the gantry opposite the x-ray source, the scan axis between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector.

6. The reconfigurable CT scanner of claim 5 wherein scan axis is orthogonal to the scan axis.

7. The reconfigurable CT scanner of claim 5 wherein scan axis is not parallel to the scan axis.

8. A method for imaging a portion of a body including the steps of:

a) pivoting a scanner including a source and a detector about a pivot axis between a horizontal scan orientation and a vertical scan orientation;

b) positioning the body part between a source and a detector after said step a);

c) revolving the source and the detector about the body part after said step b); and

d) taking a series of images from the detector from a plurality of positions about the body part during step c).

9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of translating the scanner in a direction orthogonal to the pivot axis before said step b).

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the pivot axis is orthogonal to the scan axis at least before said step a).

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the pivot axis is orthogonal to the scan axis after said step a).