Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Jeremy David Pettinato

Shufang Dong

Sriram Rajagopal

Samuel Andreas Johansson

Joanne Marie Stack Oyen

Ronald Bryan Sharpless

John Cressman

Patrick Cumpson

Rosemarie Sheridan

Joshua Samuel Sapp

Terrance Joseph Nemenz

Allan Joseph Sokalski

Ronald B Sharpless

Joshua S Sapp

An imaging system () includes a gantry () that defines an examination region () and a subject support (). The subject support includes a tabletop () that supports an object or subject in the examination region for a scan of the object or subject and a base () that supports the tabletop. A support frame () supports the base. The base is moveably affixed to the support frame and moves between a plurality of predetermined locations, which are based on corresponding distances from the gantry. A support frame drive system () moves the base alternatively to one of the plurality of predetermined locations in response to an input signal indicative of the one of the plurality of predetermined locations, which corresponds to a location of interest for the scan of the object or subject.

Imaging system subject support

A method includes receiving a subject support motion disable signal indicative of at least one of power removal of an imaging system, a collision of a horizontally moving tabletop of the imaging system, a decoupling of a horizontal motion drive system configured to horizontally drive the tabletop, or a collision of a vertically moving subject support of the imaging system, wherein a vertical motion drive system drives the subject support vertical motion, and disabling, in response to receiving the subject support motion disable signal, at least one of tabletop horizontal motion or subject support vertical motion.

A subject support () of an imaging system () includes a tabletop () that supports a subject or object in an examination region of the imaging system, a base (), including a mechanical linear actuator (), and a coupling () that mechanically couples the tabletop and the linear mechanical actuator such that the linear mechanical actuator translates the tabletop with respect to the examination region. The coupling rotates in two directions and translates in two directions, thereby providing four degrees of freedom, compensating for at least one of machining inaccuracies or misalignment of the linear mechanical actuator.

A subject support accessory () includes a securing mechanism () configured to secure to a tabletop of the subject support anywhere along a long axis of the tabletop by lowering the securing mechanism onto the tabletop. A method of securing a subject support accessory () to a subject support () of an imaging system () includes receiving, via slots () in pivoting arms () of the accessory, the tabletop, wherein the accessory is vertically lowered onto the subject support and the slots physically engage the tabletop, and releasably locking the arms, in response to receiving a force, so that the arms no longer pivot, thereby securing the subject support accessory to the subject support.

System subject support accessory

An imaging system () includes a rotating frame (), a second frame (), and a support () that rotatably couples the rotating frame () to the second frame (). One of the rotating frame () or the second frame () is compliantly coupled to the support () and the other of the rotating frame () or the second frame () is rigidly coupled to the support (). An imaging system includes a rotating frame (), a tilt frame (), and a stationary frame (). A frame stiffener () provides structural support for the rotating and tilt frames () along transverse axes. An imaging system () includes a rotating frame () and a second frame () that rotatably supports the rotating frame (). The rotating frame () is coupled to the second frame () through a contactless bearing and controlled by a contactless mechanism. A braking component () selectively applies a brake to the rotating frame ().

Imaging system gantry

A medical imaging system includes a stationary gantry and a rotating gantry that rotates around an examination region about a z-axis. An air bearing rotatably couples the rotating gantry to the stationary gantry. A radiation source is affixed to the rotating gantry and rotates with the rotating gantry and emits radiation that traverses the examination region. A detector array is affixed to the rotating gantry on an opposite side of the examination region with respect to the radiation source and detects radiation traversing the examination region. A dynamic z-axis imbalance determination system determines an imbalance of the rotating gantry in the z-axis direction directly from the air bearing, and the determined imbalance is used to position a balance mass affixed to the rotating gantry in the z-axis direction, thereby balancing the rotating gantry along the z-axis.

Air bearing dynamic Z-axis balancing

A medical imaging system () includes a stationary gantry () and a rotating gantry () that rotates around an examination region () about a z-axis. An air bearing () rotatably couples the rotating gantry () to the stationary gantry (). A radiation source () is affixed to the rotating gantry () and rotates with the rotating gantry () and emits radiation that traverses the examination region. A detector array () is affixed to the rotating gantry () on an opposite side of the examination region with respect to the radiation source () and detects radiation traversing the examination region (). A dynamic z-axis imbalance determination system () determines an imbalance of the rotating gantry () in the z-axis direction directly from the air bearing (), and the determined imbalance is used to position a balance mass () affixed to the rotating gantry () in the z-axis direction, thereby balancing the rotating gantry () along the z-axis.

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Mentor, OH, United States of America

Jeremy David Pettinato