Integrated ct scanner gantry

Abstract

An integrated CT scanner gantry assembly is provided wherein an open bore rotor is supported by a bearing assembly on an open bore stator. An x-ray assembly is mounted on the rotor and supplied with high voltage power during continuous rotation about the stator through use of a slip ring assembly which is mounted between the rotor and stator. The inside surface of the stator which faces a patient generally lies along the surface of a truncated cone to permit substantial tilting of the stator. Moreover, the stator and rotor have a cross section formed as a series of separated yet aligned steps to form two isolated cavities therebetween, one of the cavities housing the cathode of the slip ring and the other of the cavities housing the anode of the slip ring. The cavities can be filled with a gas or liquid high voltage insulating fluid and can be readily sealed to prevent leakage of said fluid. An x-ray assembly bracket is removably attachable to the rotor to support an x-ray source and x-ray optics in order to permit the x-ray source and x-ray optics to be assembled and aligned on the bracket at a location remote from the rotor and stator. The overlapping positions of the separated yet aligned steps relative to the x-ray source and optics assembly bracket reduces the cross-sectional area and overall gantry volume thereby providing comfortable patient access for whole body CT scanning.