A medical device for photographing an object includes an improved moveable structure. The medical device includes a gantry, a guide rail configured to guide a movement of the gantry, a belt configured to be pulled out of the gantry to guide the movement of the gantry together with the guide rail and a moving member configured to enable the gantry to move. The moving member also is configured to be movable along the guide rail.

An apparatus having at least one anatomical support member which comprises at least one layer of laminar sheeting and at least one articulating joint unit is in engagement with the at least one of anatomical support member. The joint is positionable in at least a vertical and horizontal orientations enabling smooth positioning of portions of an anatomy in three dimensions such that translational and/or rotational centrepoints in its x, y and z axes substantially coincide. The joint is preferably made of by material(s) that do not cause substantial radiographic or nuclear imaging artifacts when medically imaged thereby.

A couch panel for a patient couch for a medical imaging method is disclosed. The couch panel is of single-shell design, beads are formed in the longitudinal direction of the couch panel, wherein the number and the shape of the beads are chosen such that the couch panel has a predefinable geometric moment of inertia. The two longitudinally extending edges of the couch panel are bent upward. This is advantageous because of the cost-effective production of a couch panel and, in the case of X-ray imaging, in the low radiation absorption. A patient couch having a couch panel of this kind is likewise disclosed.

A particle beam therapy apparatus 10 includes: a particle beam irradiator 16 outputting a particle beam B; a movable supporting structure 21 supporting the particle beam irradiator 16; movable plates 37 disposed on a displacement trajectory of the particle beam irradiator 16, forming a substantially horizontal enveloping surface below a table 18 for placing an irradiation object 13, and including first and second floor members in at least one of the movable plates 37, the second floor member being larger in X-ray transmittance than the first floor member; an X-ray generator 27a provided in a non-collision area 31 where the X-ray generator 27a does not collide with any of the particle beam irradiator 16, the supporting structure 21, and the movable plates 37; and an X-ray detector 27b installed at a position where the X-ray detector 27b faces the X-ray generator 27a.

A PET-MRI apparatus includes a patient support assembly having a cradle to accommodate a subject, a carriage assembly to attach to the cradle and cause the cradle to selectively travel, and a rear bridge to receive the cradle and carriage. The patient support assembly also includes a front bridge to receive the cradle and carriage assembly and provide for translation therealong, with the front bridge including a first section and a second section that is spaced apart from the first section to form a gap in the front bridge between the first section and the second section in an area adjacent a PET detector array of the PET-MRI apparatus. The front and rear bridges include an anti-tip rail assembly to interact with the cradle and the carriage assembly so as to prevent tipping thereof when traversing over the gap between the first and second sections of the front bridge.

A patient table includes a support surface for a patient. The patient table includes a first table subunit, to provide a first surface region of the support surface; a second table subunit, to provide a second surface region; and an angle unit connected thereto, to fix a position of the first table subunit relative to the second table subunit such that the first surface region is provided in a first plane and the second surface region is provided in a second plane, intersecting the first plane at an intersection angle; and such that the support surface is secured against a change of the intersection angle upon loading of the support surface by the patient. The angle unit includes at least a first coupling element, to interact functionally with a first counter-coupling element provided on the first table subunit, to releasably connect the angle unit to the first table subunit.

A system and method for delivering microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) includes a computed tomography scanner configured to generate tomographic images of a subject, or patient, which includes imaging apparatus, a gantry with an opening for positioning the patient therein, an axis of rotation around which the gantry rotates, and an x-ray source mounted to and rotatable with the gantry. The system includes a bed for patient positioning within the opening and a multi-slit collimator removably mounted downstream of the x-ray source for delivering an array of microbeams of MRT to a targeted portion of the patient. Switching between MRT and CT is provided, and MRT modes of operation include a stationary mode, and continuous and step-wise rotational modes.

In some embodiments, a safety system for a close range scanning machine inhibits collision of moving detector heads with a patient or other object. For example a proximity sensor and/or a collision sensor may guide to bring the head close enough to a patient and/or warn to prevent a collisions and or reduce impact. Parts that are in that are in the FOV of the detector may be transparent to the detected signal and/or uniformly affect the signal, facilitating identification of the source of the signal from the detector. In some embodiments, a dynamic motion restrictor is set during scanning according to the desired scanning position and/or the position of the patient. In some embodiments, a motion restrictor acts to prevent unbalanced motions.

A system and method for providing a radiological imaging system including a table for greater access to patient region of interest. The imaging system includes a gantry defining an analysis zone. A source suitable to emit radiation and at least one detector suitable to receive the radiation are housed within the gantry. The system includes a translating component to translate the gantry in a main direction. The system includes a bed extending along the main direction and having a table top to support a patient, a base, and at least one support member connected between the table top and the base. The table top may translate along the main direction, and at least one support member is adjustable to raise and lower the table top. The table top may also be translating in a direction perpendicular to the main direction in a Y axis or tilted along the Z axis.

A structural element for use in a radiotherapy system or a magnetic resonance imaging system or a combination of a radiotherapy system and a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a plurality of fibers and a matrix, whereby the plurality of fibers are embedded in the matrix.