Carry-on baggage tomography scanning system

• US 7,072,434 B1
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Analogic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Analogic Corporation
• Inventors: Williams, Robert, Svencer, Nicholas, Tybinkowski, Andrew P., Swain, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick, Edward J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, COURTNEY D
• Application Number:
  US10/757,754
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/57, 378/203, 378/20, 378/193, 378/195, 378/196, 378/197
• US Class Current: 378/4
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/419 computed tomograph
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/046 using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/226 using tomography

Abstract

A tomography scanner system including a gantry having an outer, non-rotating support ring, and an inner rotatable component ring supported for rotation within the support ring about a rotation axis of the gantry. An x-ray source and an x-ray detector array are secured to the rotatable component ring for rotation with the component ring, and an x-ray containment shield encloses the x-ray source and the x-ray detector array and is secured to the rotatable component ring for rotation with the component ring.

Claims

1. A tomography scanner system, comprising:

a base;

a gantry supported on the base and including,

an outer, non-rotating support ring, and

an inner rotatable component ring supported for rotation on the support ring about a rotation axis of the gantry;

an annular main body adapted for attachment to the inner rotatable component ring, the annular main body defining a source aperture and a detector aperture, wherein the source aperture is diametrically opposed on the annular main body from the detector aperture;

an x-ray source and an x-ray detector array secured to the annular main body for rotation with the annular main body;

an x-ray containment shield enclosing the x-ray source and the x-ray detector array and secured to the rotatable component ring for rotation with the component ring;

a first, non-rotating x-ray containment tunnel extending from an open end to the rotating x-ray containment shield coaxial with the rotation axis of the gantry, and a second, non-rotating x-ray containment tunnel extending from the rotating x-ray containment shield to an open end coaxial with the rotation axis of the gantry; and

a continuous conveyor belt including a forward path extending through the tunnels and the gantry and a return path extending outside the tunnels and the gantry.

2. A tomography scanner system according to claim 1, wherein the component ring includes a mounting face extending perpendicular to the rotation axis and the x-ray source, the x-ray detector array and the x-ray containment shield are secured to the mounting face of the component ring.

3. A tomography scanner system according to claim 1, wherein a motor is mounted on the support ring and operatively connected to the component ring through a belt received in an outer circumferential groove of the component ring.

4. A tomography scanner system according to claim 1, wherein the x-ray source is a dual energy x-ray source.

5. A tomography scanner system according to claim 1, wherein the x-ray detector is a two dimensional x-ray detector array.

6. A tomography scanner system according to claim 1, further comprising a data acquisition system for receiving and processing signals generated by the detector array, and an x-ray tube control system for supplying power to, and controlling the operation of, the x-ray source.

7. A tomography scanner system according to claim 6, further comprising a computer for processing the output of the data acquisition system and for generating the necessary signals for operating and controlling the system.

8. A tomography scanner system according to claim 1, wherein the rotating x-ray containment shield is lined with a material absorbent of x-ray energy incident.

9. A tomography scanner system according to claim 8, wherein the material absorbent of x-ray energy incident comprises lead.

10. A tomography scanner system according to claim 1, wherein the tunnels are lined with a material absorbent of x-ray energy incident.

11. A tomography scanner system according to claim 10, wherein the material absorbent of x-ray energy incident comprises lead.

12. A tomography scanner system according to claim 1, wherein the open ends of the x-ray containment tunnels include curtains of x-ray absorbent material.

13. A tomography scanner system according to claim 1, wherein the non-rotating x-ray containment tunnels are connected to the rotatable x-ray containment shield through non-rotating fixed rings, wherein the x-ray containment shield is rotatable with respect to the fixed rings.

14. A tomography scanner system according to claim 13, wherein the non-rotating fixed rings include x-ray absorbent material.

15. A tomography scanner system according to claim 1, further comprising an x-ray source housing positioned over the x-ray source aperture and supporting and containing the x-ray source, and an x-ray detector housing positioned over the x-ray detector aperture and supporting and containing the x-ray detector.

16. A tomography scanner system according to claim 1, wherein the rotating x-ray containment shield comprises sheet metal lined with lead sheeting.

17. A tomography scanner system according to claim 1, wherein the continuous conveyor belt is supported by pulleys and at least one motor for rotating the pulleys to move the conveyor belt.

18. A tomography scanner system according to claim 17, further comprising skid plates extending between the pulleys and supporting the conveyor belt.

19. A tomography scanner system according to claim 18, wherein the skid plates include grooves which slidingly receive ridges of the conveyor belt.

20. A tomography scanner system according to claim 18, wherein the skid plates include ridges slidingly received in grooves of the conveyor belt.

21. A tomography scanner system according to claim 17, wherein the pulleys include grooves which receive ridges of the conveyor belt.