MOBILE X-RAY IMAGING SYSTEM

• US 20140275953A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobius Imaging, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mobius Imaging, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: GREGERSON, Eugene, STANTON, Russell, SEBRING, Paul, CONNOR, Michael, POWELL, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 10,835,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/035 Mechanical aspects of CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/46 Arrangements for interfacing with the operator or the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings

Abstract

An imaging system includes a first portion and a second portion that translates and/or rotates with respect to the first portion. A first locking mechanism may prevent the second portion from translating with respect to the first portion, such as during transport of the system. A second locking mechanism may prevent the second portion from rotating with respect to the first portion, such as during transport and/or during an imaging scan. Further embodiments include a cable management system between the first and second portions, a spherically-shaped surface of a support gimbal and a user interface device for an imaging system.

Claims

1. An imaging system, comprising:

a first portion comprising a base having a length dimension;

a second portion that rotates with respect to the first portion and translates relative to the first portion along the length dimension of the base; and

a locking mechanism that prevents the first portion from translating relative to the second portion when the second portion is rotated to a first angular position relative to the first portion and the first portion is at a first translation position along the length dimension.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism permits the second portion to translate relative to the base when the second portion is not rotated to the first angular position.

3. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises at least one imaging component located in a gantry defining an imaging bore that is positioned above the base.

5. The imaging system of claim 3, wherein the imaging system comprises a drive mechanism that translates relative to the base, and the gantry is mounted to the drive mechanism.

6. The imaging system of claim 5, wherein the gantry is mounted to the drive mechanism by a gimbal, and the second portion comprises the gantry and at least a portion of the gimbal that rotates relative to the base and the drive mechanism and the second portion is rotated to the first an angular position when the gantry is rotated in-line with the base such that an imaging axis of the imaging bore is oriented generally perpendicular to the length dimension of the base.

8. The imaging system of claim 6, wherein at least one of (a) the drive system is configured to translate the first and second portions of the system in a transport mode when the gantry is rotated in-line with the base, and the locking mechanism prevents the second portion from translating with respect to the first portion when the system is in the transport mode, and (b) the locking mechanism permits the first portion to translate relative to the base in an imaging mode when gantry is oriented perpendicular to the base such that the imaging axis of the imaging bore is oriented generally parallel to the length dimension of the base.

10. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a first latch portion and a second latch portion, wherein the first latch portion is located on the first portion of the system and the second latch portion translates with the second portion of the system.

11. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein the first latch portion is located proximate to the first translation position, and the first latch portion comprises a strike plate mounted to the base and having a slot for receiving a latching member of the second latch portion, and the second portion of the imaging system is prevented from translating relative to the first portion of the imaging system when the latching member is received in the slot.

13. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein the latching member of the second latch portion is biased to enter the slot of the strike plate when the second portion of the imaging system is rotated to the first angular position relative to the first portion of the imaging system.

14. The imaging system of claim 13, wherein at least one of:

(a) the latching member of the second latch portion does not enter the slot of the strike plate when the second portion of the imaging system is not rotated to the first angular position relative to the first portion of the imaging system such that the first portion of the system may translate through the first translation position,

(b) rotating the second portion of the imaging system from the first angular position to a second angular position relative to the first portion of the imaging system pushes the latching member of the second latch portion out of the slot of the strike plate such that the first portion of the imaging system is not prevented from translating relative to the second portion of the imaging system, and

(c) the second latch portion comprises a bearing coupled to the latching member, wherein the bearing is biased against a bearing surface located on the second portion of the imaging system.

17. The imaging system of claim 14, wherein the second latch portion comprises a bearing coupled to the latching member, wherein the bearing is biased against a bearing surface located on the second portion of the imaging system, and the bearing surface comprises a detent such that when the second portion of the imaging system is in the first angular position, the bearing is located in the detent and the latching member is positioned such that the latching member enters the slot of the strike plate when the second portion of the imaging system is at the first translation position.

18. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system comprises an x-ray computerized tomography (CT) system.

19. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism prevents the second portion of the system from translating relative to the first portion by physically coupling the second portion to the first portion.

20. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a rotational locking mechanism having a first rotation lock portion on the first portion of the system and a second rotation lock portion on the second portion of the system, and wherein the first rotation lock portion engages with the second rotation lock portion to prevent the second portion of the system from rotating with respect to the first portion of the system when the second portion of the system is rotated to one or more pre-determined angular positions relative to the first portion of the system.

4. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

21. An imaging system, comprising:

a first portion of the system;

a second portion of the system, wherein the second portion rotates with respect to the first portion; and

a locking mechanism having a first lock portion on the first portion of the system and a second lock portion on the second portion of the system, and wherein the first lock portion engages with the second lock portion to prevent the second portion of the system from rotating with respect to the first portion of the system when the second portion of the system is rotated to one or more pre-determined angles relative to the first portion of the system.

22. The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a zero backlash latch.

23. The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the first lock portion comprises a generally circular surface having at least one slot, and the second lock portion comprises a pivoting spring-loaded latch arm having a nose portion that is biased against the generally circular surface and is pushed into the at least one slot when the second portion of the system is rotated to the one or more pre-determined angles relative to the first portion of the system, and the system further comprises a release mechanism that removes the nose portion from the slot to allow the second portion of the system to rotate with respect to the first portion.

24. The imaging system of claim 23, wherein the nose portion and the slot have mating tapered faces.

25. The imaging system of claim 24, wherein the latch arm pivots on a pivot point and for each latch face, a line of force to the pivot point is generally perpendicular to the latch nose face when the nose portion is in the slot.

26. The imaging system of claim 25, wherein a normal force of the nose is inside a circle defined by the generally circular surface of the first lock portion to prevent the nose from camming out of the slot under a load.

28. The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the first portion comprises a base and the second portion comprises at least one imaging component, and the at least one imaging component is located in a gantry defining an imaging bore that is positioned above the base.

30. The imaging system of claim 28, wherein the gantry is mounted above the base by a gimbal, and the second portion comprises the gantry and at least a portion of the gimbal that rotates relative to the base.

31. The imaging system of claim 30, wherein the release mechanism for the locking mechanism is located on at least one of the gantry and the gimbal and is coupled to at least one of the first lock portion and the second lock portion by one or more linkage members.

32. The imaging system of claim 28, wherein at least one of:

(a) the second portion of the system is rotated to the one or more pre-determined angles relative to the first portion of the system when the gantry is rotated in-line with the base such that an imaging axis of the imaging bore is oriented generally perpendicular to a length dimension of the base, and

(b) the second portion of the system is rotated to the one or more pre-determined angles relative to the first portion of the system when the gantry is oriented perpendicular to the base such that the imaging axis of the imaging bore is oriented generally parallel to a length dimension of the base.

33. The imaging system of claim 32, wherein a drive system is configured to translate the first and second portions of the system in a transport mode when the gantry is rotated in-line with the base, and the locking mechanism prevents the second portion from rotating with respect to the first portion when the system is in the transport mode.

35. The imaging system of claim 32, wherein a drive system is configured to translate the second portion of the system relative to the first portion of the system in a scan mode when the gantry is rotated perpendicular to the base, and the locking mechanism prevents the second portion from rotating with respect to the first portion when the system is in the scan mode.

36. The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the one or more pre-determined angles comprise at least two angles that are separated by 90°

.

37. The imaging system of claim 21, wherein the imaging system comprises an x-ray computerized tomography (CT) system.

27. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

38. A system, comprising:

a first portion of the system;

a second portion of the system having a housing, wherein the second portion of the system rotates with respect to the first portion of the system; and

at least one cable that provides an electrical connection between the first and second portions of the system, wherein the at least one cable is fixed at a first position on the first portion of the system and is fixed at a second position on the second portion of the system, and the rotation of the second portion of the system relative to the first portion of the system in a first direction causes the at one cable to be fed into a service loop located in the housing of the second portion of the system, and the rotation of the second portion of the system relative to the first portion of the system in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the at least one cable to be fed out of the service loop in the housing of the second portion of the system.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the at least one cable is fed out of the service loop into a channel formed between the first portion and the second portion of the system.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the system comprises an imaging system, the first portion of the system comprises a base and the second portion of the system comprises a gantry having at least one imaging component and is supported above the base by a gimbal, and the housing is located in the gimbal.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein at least one of:

(a) the gimbal comprises at least two arms extending from opposite sides of an axis of rotation of the second portion with respect to the first portion, the arms supporting the gantry above the base, and the housing is located in an arm of the gimbal,

(b) the first portion of the system further comprises a drive mechanism, and the gimbal is mounted to the drive mechanism, and the second portion of the system comprises at least a portion of the gimbal that rotates with resect to the drive mechanism and the base, and

(c) the second portion is rotatable at least about 180°

with respect to the first portion between a first in-line position and a second in-line position wherein the gantry is rotated in-line with the base such that an imaging axis of the imaging bore is oriented generally perpendicular to a length dimension of the base.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the at least one cable comprises at least one first cable and the system further comprises at least one second cable extending between the at least two arms of the gimbal, wherein the rotation of the second portion relative to the first portion in the second direction causes the at least one first cable to be fed out from the service loop on a first side of the axis of rotation while the at least one second cable extends on a second side of the axis of rotation, opposite the first side.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein in the first in-line position, substantially all of the at least one cable between the first fixed position and the second fixed position is fed into the service loop, and in the second in-line position, substantially all of the at least one cable between the first fixed position and the second fixed position is fed out of the service loop.

47. The system of claim 38, wherein the system comprises an x-ray computerized tomography (CT) imaging system.

43-45. -45. (canceled)

48. An imaging system, comprising:

a gantry having at least one imaging component; and

a gimbal that supports the gantry such that the gantry may tilt with respect to the gimbal in tilt direction, wherein the gimbal has an outer surface facing the gantry that is convexly curved or angled in the gantry tilt direction.

49. The imaging system of claim 48, wherein the gimbal comprises a base portion and at least two arms extending from the base portion and supporting the gantry on opposite sides of the gantry, wherein the outer surface of the gimbal facing the gantry is convexly curved in the gantry tilt direction and in a direction transverse to the gantry tilt direction.

50. The imaging system of claim 49, wherein the outer surface of the gimbal facing the gantry defines a portion of a sphere and the gantry comprises a generally O-shaped gantry having at least one imaging component and is nested within the outer surface of the gimbal defining a portion of a sphere.

51. (canceled)

52. A control system for an imaging device, comprising:

a holster mounted to the imaging device;

a user interface device removably mounted in the holster and operably connected to a control unit of the imaging device, the user interface device comprising a display configured to display system information and at least one user input component for controlling operation of the imaging device.

53. The control system of claim 52, wherein at least one of:

(a) the user interface device comprises a handheld device that is operable to control the operation of the imaging device when the user interface device is located in the holster and when the user interface device is removed from the holster,

(b) the user interface device is operably connected to the control unit of the imaging device by at least one of a wired and a wireless communication link,

(c) the imaging device is a mobile imaging device, and the holster comprises at least one feature configured for steering of the imaging device during transport of the imaging device, and

(d) the imaging device comprises a mobile x-ray CT device having a gantry containing at least one imaging component and a gimbal supporting the gantry, and the holster is mounted to at least one of the gimbal and the gantry.

55. The control system of claim 53, wherein the user interface device is operably connected to the control unit of the imaging device by at least one of a wired and a wireless communication link, and the communication link has a range of up to about 30 feet from the imaging device.

58. A method of operating an imaging device using the control system of claim 52.

54. (canceled)

56. (canceled)

57. (canceled)

59. A method of operating an imaging system, comprising:

translating a second portion of the imaging system relative to a first portion of the imaging system;

rotating the second portion to a first angular position with respect to the second portion; and

engaging a locking mechanism to prevent the first portion from translating relative to the second portion when the second portion is in the first angular position.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein engaging the locking mechanism comprises translating the second portion relative to the first portion to a first translation position along a length dimension of the system, and the locking mechanism does not engage when the second portion is translated to the first translation position when the second portion is not rotated to the first angular position.

61. (canceled)

62. A method of operating an imaging system, comprising:

rotating a second portion of the imaging system with respect to a first portion of the imaging system; and

engaging a locking mechanism that prevents the second portion from rotating with respect to the first portion by rotating the second portion to a pre-determined angular position relative to the first portion.

63. A method of operating a system having a second portion that rotates with respect to a first portion and at least one cable that provides an electrical connection between the first and second portions of the system, the method comprising:

rotating the second portion of the system in a first direction relative to the first portion to feed the at least one cable into a service loop located in a housing of the second portion; and

rotating the second portion of the system in a second direction, opposite the first direction, relative to the first portion to feed the at least one cable out of the service loop in the housing of the second portion of the system.