In general, radiation shielding systems that shield radiation from multiple directions are described. In one embodiment, a method of shielding radiation is provided, including supporting a shielding device on an object proximate a radiation source, positioning a first shielding portion in a vertical position relative to the object, positioning a second shielding portion to extend away from the first portion, the second shielding portion attached to the first portion, and shielding radiation from the radiation source by the first shielding portion and the second shielding portion such that the first and second shielding portions provide a radiation shielding zone for a healthcare practitioner.

An apparatus for supporting an arm of a human patient during a medical procedure can include a base, an arm pad, and barriers for shielding scatter radiation. A medial portion of the base can lie between the human patient and a table on which the human patient is supported. The arm pad can be positioned on a lateral portion of the base. A first barrier can be mounted to the base and can be positioned laterally intermediate the medial and lateral portions, the first barrier extending upwardly from the base to above the arm pad. A second barrier can be mounted to the lateral portion of the base and extend downwardly. The arm pad can include a radiopaque panel that is horizontal.

A radiography apparatus includes: an irradiator that emits radiation; a carriage portion on which the irradiator is mounted and which is capable of traveling; steering casters which are provided in the carriage portion and are connected to a steering and whose steering angle is given by an operation of the steering; free casters which are provided in the carriage portion and are not connected to the steering and whose steering angle is changed subordinately according to a direction of force applied to the carriage portion; and a switching mechanism that selectively switches between a first grounded state in which the free casters are separated from a floor and the steering casters are grounded to the floor and a second grounded state in which the free casters are grounded to the floor and the steering casters are separated from the floor.

An imaging system includes an x-ray tube head, a support arm, and a compression system coupled to the support arm. The compression system is independently rotatable relative to the x-ray tube head and includes a compression paddle, a support platform, and an x-ray receptor. The imaging system also includes a light assembly coupled to the support arm and disposed above the compression paddle. The light assembly is configured to direct one or more beams of light towards the support platform.

An apparatus for shielding radiation emitted during a medical procedure. The apparatus includes a board positionable on top of a procedure table. The board extends laterally between a first board edge and a second board edge, and longitudinally between a third board edge and a fourth board edge. The board includes a plurality of apertures distributed along at least one of the board edges. At least one radiation shield is removably mountable to the board. The at least one radiation shield includes at least one peg engageable with any one of the apertures in the board. The apparatus can include a body shield assembly and/or an adjustable screen assembly.

A hybrid imaging system, includes a positron emission tomography (PET) scanning system including a gantry having two ends with a patient tunnel extending therethrough, a first secondary scanning system including a gantry having two ends with a patient tunnel extending therethrough and coaxially arranged with the PET scanning system. The second end of the first secondary scanning system's gantry opposes the first end of the PET scanning system's gantry and the two patient tunnels define an extended patient tunnel defined through the PET scanning system and the first secondary scanning system. A first patient handling system (PHS) is positioned adjacent to the first end of the first secondary scanning system's gantry to carry a first patient into the extended patient tunnel, and a second PHS is positioned adjacent to the second end of the PET scanning system's gantry to carry a second patient into the extended patient tunnel.

A radiation shield assembly is described, configured to block radiation emanating from a radiation source from reaching a user. Two shields are supported by a support arm, and are configured to rotate and translate relative to one another about the support arm's longitudinal axis. This allows the shield to be easily configured and reconfigured as necessary to visualize various parts of a patients body via radiography.

A handbrake of a medical imaging apparatus that has a movable patient table with a top face on which a patient lies, fastens and releases the patient table when actuated. The handbrake with a mounting face and a first face has a main body and has a brake actuation button, operable in an actuation direction. The mounting face is attachable to the patient table. The front face is directly opposite to at least some parts of the mounting face in the actuation direction. The brake actuation button is disposed on the front face of the main body, and is actuated by pushing the brake actuation button in the actuation direction, in order to fasten or to release the brake of the patient table. The actuation direction is essentially perpendicular to the top face of the patient table.

A framework for sensor-based patient treatment support. In accordance with one aspect, one or more sensors are used to acquire sensor data of one or more objects of interest. The sensor data is then automatically interpreted to generate processing results. One or more actions may be triggered based on the processing results to support treatment of a patient, including supporting medical scanning of the patient.

Methods and systems are provided for increasing a quality of images generated by a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging system. Photons penetrating a protective shielding around detector heads of the SPECT system may not be handled correctly by a reconstruction algorithm used to reconstruct an image from a plurality of projection views acquired by the SPECT imaging system, generating artifacts and reducing a quality of the image. In one embodiment, the artifacts may be reduced or eliminated by selectively applying the reconstruction algorithm to a first portion of pixel columns of the projection views not including the artifacts, and not applying the reconstruction algorithm to a second portion of pixel columns of the projection views including the artifacts. A number of the second portion of pixel columns may be based on a sweep angle of a detector acquiring a projection view.