Gantry scanner systems

• US 9,332,624 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2013
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Morton, Edward James
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun, Jurie
• Application Number:
  US14/047,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20140161231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57, 378/193, 378/194, 378/197, 378/198
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/22 Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/10 Power supply arrangements for feeding the X-ray tube supply circuits with converters in general H02M; supply circuits for emitters and amplifiers H04B1/16 - H04B1/1623

Abstract

A gantry scanner system comprises a radiation source, a plurality of detectors and a support frame supporting the detectors. The support frame includes an elongate support member arranged to support the detectors, cable support means arranged to support power cables or signal cables connected to the detectors, and cover means arranged to cover the support member, the cable support means and the detectors.

Claims

1. A gantry scanner system comprising

a first housing;

a radiation source positioned in the first housing; and

a support frame attached to the first housing, wherein the support frame comprises

a first vertical section extending up from the first housing;

a first horizontal section attached to the first vertical section and extending outward therefrom; and

a second vertical section attached to the first horizontal section and extending downward therefrom, wherein at least one of the first horizontal section and second vertical section comprises a girder having an H-shaped cross section defined by a central horizontal member and two vertical side members, an outer skin comprising two sides, wherein each of said two sides is generally rounded and configured to cover one of said two vertical side members, a support structure positioned in a first cavity defined on each side by the central horizontal member and the two vertical side members, and a detector attached to the support structure, wherein the detector is separated from the central horizontal member by a space.

2. The gantry scanner system of claim 1 wherein the first horizontal section is attached to the first vertical section at a substantially 90 degree angle and wherein the first horizontal section is attached to the second vertical section at a substantially 90 degree angle.

3. The gantry scanner system of claim 1 further comprising a second cavity defined on each side by the central horizontal member and the two vertical side members, wherein the second cavity is different from the first cavity and a radiation absorbing means is positioned in said second cavity.

4. The gantry scanner system of claim 3 wherein the radiation absorbing means comprises a lead beam-stop.

5. The gantry scanner system of claim 1 further comprising a cable support tube mounted on the support frame by a plurality of tube support brackets.

6. The gantry scanner system of claim 1 further comprising a control system adapted to control a movement of the support frame.

7. The gantry scanner system of claim 6 wherein the detector is configured to generate scan data and wherein the control system is arranged to transmit the scan data wirelessly to a remote station for analysis.

8. The gantry scanner system of claim 1 further comprising a water absorbing material positioned in said space.

9. The gantry scanner system of claim 8 wherein the water absorbing material is silica gel.

10. The gantry scanner system of claim 1 wherein the outer skin comprises at least one of carbon fibre composite, glass fibre composite, and pressed steel sheet.

11. The gantry scanner system of claim 1 wherein the girder has an end and wherein a joining plate is attached to the end of the girder.

12. The gantry scanner system of claim 11 further comprising an alignment fixing positioned on said joining plate.