Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Philips Medical Systems (cleveland), Inc.

Konlijke Philips N.v.

Ronald Bryan Sharpless

William Charles Brunnett

John Cressman

Roland Proksa

Dominic J Heuscher

Randall Peter Luhta

Peter Forthmann

Axel Thran

Claas Bontus

Lester Donald Miller

Dennis K Everett

Gerardus Nerius Peeren

Jeremy David Pettinato

Robert G Henderson

Johannes Balthasar Maria Soetens

William Amor

Gerardus B J Mulder

Rosemarie Sheridan

Joshua Samuel Sapp

Samuel Andreas Johansson

Johannes Bathazar Maria Soetens

Jerome S Alden

Terrence M Doyle

Felix Peeters

An imaging system () includes an annular shaped rotating gantry () having an aperture () and configured to support at least a radiation source, wherein the rotating gantry rotates about a rotation axis () around an examination region, and wherein the rotation axis is located within the aperture in a center region () of the examination region. The imaging system further includes a stationary gantry (), configured to rotatably support the rotating gantry. The stationary gantry includes a gantry base (), an annular shaped tilt frame () that rotatably supports the rotating gantry, and a tilt system () affixed to and between the gantry base and the tilt frame, wherein the tilt system defines a tilt axis () of the stationary gantry, the tilt axis is located between the gantry base and the rotation axis, and the tilt frame tilts about the tilt axis.

Imaging system gantry tilt support

The invention relates to a rotor comprising a radiation source having a focal spot for radiating beam towards a subject, detection means for generating signals responsive to energy attenuation of said beam and a circular body having a cavity for housing the radiation source, and a circle arc-shaped surface on which the detection means are mounted. The circle arc-shaped surface is placed opposite to the cavity with respect to the subject, said cavity comprising an inside surface mounted with a shield for shielding the radiation not towards the subject. In this way, the conventional housing for radiation source and shielding are removed, resulting in reduction of focal spot motion caused by motion of the conventional housing. Furthermore, this invention proposes to mount the detection means directly on the circular body without an intermediate structural housing that reduces the detector modules motion relative to the focal spot.

Rotor and X-ray CT scanners

An imaging system () includes a stationary gantry (), a rotating gantry () that rotates around an examination region about a z-axis, an annular support () that is statically affixed to the stationary gantry and that rotatably couples the rotating gantry to the stationary gantry, and a radial compliant ring () disposed between the annular support and the rotating gantry. In a variation, the imaging system also includes an axial compliant ring () disposed perpendicular to the radial compliant ring, statically affixed to the annular support and extending in part in a recess () of the rotating gantry.

Imaging system gantry

An imaging system () includes a stationary gantry (), a rotating gantry (), a radiation source (), and a detector array (). The detector array detects radiation for a plurality of integration periods during a rotating gantry revolution, the plurality of integration periods corresponds to different angular position ranges, and the detector array generates a signal indicative of the detected radiation respectively for the plurality of integration periods. The system further includes an integration period controller () that generates an integration period timing signal that includes timing for a start of each of the integration periods for a revolution of the rotating gantry based at least on a time duration of a previous revolution of the rotating gantry around the examination region, wherein the integration timing signal is used trigger the plurality of integration periods.

Computed tomography (CT) data acquisition

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 ().

An imaging system includes a stationary frame () and a pivotable frame () that is pivotably attached to the stationary frame () and configured to pivot about a transverse axis (). A rotating frame () is rotatably supported by the pivotable portion () and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis () around an examination region () and a rotating frame balancer () selectively introduces a rotating frame mass imbalance. A radiation source () is affixed to the rotating frame () and emits radiation from a focal spot, wherein the radiation traverses the examination region (). A detector array () detects the radiation that traverses the examination region () and generates a signal indicative thereof.

Controlled gantry imbalance

A medical imaging system includes a generally stationary gantry () and a rotating gantry (), rotatably supported by the generally stationary gantry (), that rotates about a longitudinal axis around an examination region. The medical imaging system further includes a radiation source () that emits a radiation beam that traverses the examination region. The radiation source () is moveably affixed to the rotating gantry () so as to translate in a direction of the longitudinal axis with respect to the rotating gantry () while scanning a subject in the examination region. The medical imaging system further includes a detector array () that detects the radiation beam that traverses the examination region and generates a signal indicative thereof. The detector array () is moveably affixed to the rotating gantry () so as to move in coordination with the radiation source () while scanning the subject in the examination region.

Source and/or detector positioning system

A medical imaging apparatus includes a stationary gantry and a generally spool-shaped rotating gantry (), which rotates about an examination region about a longitudinal axis. The rotating gantry includes a first flange (), a second flange (), and a plurality of elongate structural elements () that are disposed between and couple' the first and second flanges. The first flange () is rotatably coupled to the stationary gantry, and the second flange () extends radially in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, thereby providing radial stiffness for the rotating gantry. A radiation source is affixed to the rotating gantry between the first and second flanges, and a detector array is affixed to the rotating gantry between the first and second flanges, opposite the examination region from the radiation source.

High speed rotating gantry

A medical imaging apparatus () includes a rotating gantry (). The rotating gantry () includes a first side () and a second side (). The first and second side (and) are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis, thereby defining a plenum () therebetween. The first side () includes at least one material free region (). At least one air mover (), located in the plenum (), that expels air in the plenum () through the at least one material free region ().

Gantry cooling

A magnetic resonance imaging scanner includes a generally cylindrical main magnet assembly () that defines a cylinder axis (). A first set of shims () are rigidly positioned inside the magnet assembly () at about a first distance (d) relative to the cylinder axis (). A second set of shims () are rigidly positioned inside the main magnet assembly () at about a second distance (d) relative to the cylinder axis (). The second distance (d) is different from the first distance (d). A generally cylindrical radio frequency coil () is arranged inside the main magnet assembly () at about a third distance (d) relative to the cylinder axis (). A plurality of gradient coils () are arranged inside the main magnet assembly () at about a fourth distance (d) relative to the cylinder axis ().

Magnetic resonance imaging scanner with molded fixed shims

In a diagnostic system, having a rotating gantry () and a stationary gantry (), a bearing race () rotates with surface portions having varying linear velocities in accordance with distance from an axis (A) of rotation. Tapered roller bearings () interface the bearing race () and are conically shaped to velocity match the variable linear surface velocity race (). The race () preferably includes two faces, which provide both axial and radial supporting surfaces for the bearings () to interface. The bearings () are disposed about the race () in pairs. A drive motor () is connected to one of the bearings () to rotate the gantry ().

Tapered roller bearing

A CT scanner ( ) for obtaining a medical diagnostic image of a subject includes a stationary gantry ( ), and a rotating gantry ( ) rotatably supported on the stationary gantry ( ) for rotation about the subject. A fluid bearing is interposed between the stationary gantry ( ) and the rotating gantry ( ) by means of radial and axial fluid bearing pads, ( ) and ( ) respectively. The fluid bearing provides a fluid barrier which separates the rotating gantry ( ) from the stationary gantry ( ). In a preferred embodiment, the fluid bearing provides for quieter CT scanner operation at high rotational speeds. Moreover, eliminating the physical contact between the gantries minimizes wear and optimizes longevity.

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Cleveland, OH, United States of America

Ronald Bryan Sharpless