A new and improved anatomical imaging system which includes a new and improved movement system, wherein the movement system comprises an omnidirectional powered drive unit and wherein the movement system can substantially eliminate lateral walk (or drift) over the complete stroke of a scan, even when the floor includes substantial irregularities, whereby to improve the accuracy of the scan results and avoid unintentional engagement of the anatomical imaging system with the bed or gurney which is supporting the patient. The present invention also comprises the provision and use of Liddiard wheels.

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 vehicle includes a computed tomographic system (CT) including a CT gantry having an inner peripheral, and a subject window in a surface of the vehicle. The subject window is configured to be exposed to an exterior of the vehicle via a side face of the vehicle, such that the subject window is configured to enable a subject to enter or exit from the inner peripheral of the CT gantry in a body axis direction of the CT.

A radiation apparatus including a support column, a rotatable arm that is configured to rotate around a first pivot relative to the support column, a first arm rotatably attached to one side of the rotatable arm to rotate about a second pivot, the first arm holding a imaging device, and a second arm rotatably attached to an other side of the rotatable arm to rotate about a third pivot, the second arm holding a radiation source, wherein radiation axis of the radiation source is configured to irradiate an imaging plane of the imaging device.

An N-M tomography system comprising: a carrier for the subject of an examination procedure; a plurality of detector heads; a carrier for the detector heads; and a detector positioning arrangement operable to position the detector heads during performance of a scan without interference or collision between adjacent detector heads to establish a variable bore size and configuration for the examination. Additionally, collimated detectors providing variable spatial resolution for SPECT imaging and which can also be used for PET imaging, whereby one set of detectors can be selectably used for either modality, or for both simultaneously.

An acceleration sensor (10) is attached to a collimator (12) and detects an acceleration of the collimator (12), and a speed calculation unit that calculates the speed of the collimator 12 on a basis of the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor (10). When the speed of the collimator (12) exceeds a setting speed that is set in advance, a lifting or lowering of an arm (13) is stopped by attaching a permanent electromagnet (42) to a stopper plate (43). In addition, a warning message as a warning indication is displayed on a display unit, and a warning sound as a warning indication is generated from a speaker. Accordingly, damage to an apparatus is prevented.

The present invention provides a mobile imaging system for imaging of patients in medical interventions comprising a ring gantry with a plurality of independently rotating rings whereas a first rotating ring positions an X-ray source with collimator and a second rotating ring positions an image detector such that the region of interest (patient) can be positioned off-centered with respect to the ring center. The system supports planar X-ray imaging and Computed Tomography (CT) and Cone beam CT (CBCT) acquisitions of three dimensional (3D) volumes with variable X-ray field of views (FOVs) adapted to regions of interest (ROIs), which are not required to be of cylindrical shape. The mobile system can be equipped with stereoscopic cameras integrated in the gantry an on moving rings to support optical tracking and navigation of instruments within the same co-ordinate system of X-ray information. The gantry can be equipped with additional sensors and robotic manipulators on further rings operating in said co-ordinate system on mobile platform. The gantry provides a generic mechanical and electrical interface to a supporting structure, which can be attached to a variety of mobility platforms to support robotic positioning of the system in various orientations of scanner in treatment rooms to accommodate a wide range of patient setups, including the possibility for inclined and vertical scans of patients in upright position.

Methods and system are provided for an imaging system. In one example, the imaging device, comprises a curved arm and a carrier that engages and supports the curved arm, wherein the curved arm is configured to move relative to the carrier. The imaging system further comprises a belt extending through the carrier and traversing around a periphery of the curved arm. A drive system of the imaging device comprises a motor, a drive shaft rotatably driven by the motor, and a drive pulley coupled to the drive shaft via a clutch mechanism, wherein the drive pulley is configured to rotate and engage with the belt to move the curved arm without moving the carrier, wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to switch between an engaged state and a disengaged state, wherein the engaged state comprises the driveshaft being rotatably coupled to the drive pulley and wherein the disengaged state comprises where the driveshaft is uncoupled from the drive pulley, and wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to switch between the engaged state and the disengaged state in response to a force applied to the curved arm.

The disclosure concerns a collar device configured for attachment with an image receptor of an X-ray or similar imaging system, the collar device including a radiolucent bar and linear light source, the combination of which being used for patient positioning, identification of surgical entry point and trajectory guidance of instrumentation.

An N-M tomography system comprising: a carrier for the subject of an examination procedure; a plurality of detector heads; a carrier for the detector heads; and a detector positioning arrangement operable to position the detector heads during performance of a scan without interference or collision between adjacent detector heads to establish a variable bore size and configuration for the examination. Additionally, collimated detectors providing variable spatial resolution for SPECT imaging and which can also be used for PET imaging, whereby one set of detectors can be selectably used for either modality, or for both simultaneously.