Wheel and lift unit for radiation imaging modalities

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11234659-B2
Application number	US-201716605182-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2017
Priority date	Apr 14, 2017
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

Among other things, a radiation system is provided. The radiation system includes a stationary unit and a rotating unit that rotates about an axis relative to the stationary unit. A radiation source and a detector array are mounted to the rotating unit. A wheel mechanism at least partially supports the rotating unit and facilitates rotation of the rotating unit relative to the stationary unit. A lift unit is supported by the stationary unit and engages the rotating unit. When the lift unit is in a lowered position, the rotating unit is supported by the wheel mechanism and the lift unit is spaced a distance apart from the rotating unit. When the lift unit is in a raised position, the rotating unit is supported by the lift unit and the rotating unit is spaced a second distance apart from the wheel mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support unit for a radiation system, the support unit comprising:
a wheel mechanism configured to at least partially support a rotating unit and facilitate rotation of the rotating unit relative to a stationary unit, the wheel mechanism comprising at least one roller that is configured to impart rotation to the rotating unit, wherein a radiation source and a detector array are mounted to the rotating unit;
a support structure configured to support the wheel mechanism, the support structure defining an opening that is sized to receive the wheel mechanism;
an attachment structure configured to attach the wheel mechanism to the support structure, wherein:
when the attachment structure is in a locked position, the attachment structure engages the wheel mechanism and the support structure such that the wheel mechanism is attached to the support structure; and
when the attachment structure is in an unlocked position, the attachment structure does not engage at least one of the wheel mechanism or the support structure such that the wheel mechanism is detached from the support structure and removable from the support structure through the opening; and

a lift unit supported by the stationary unit and configured to engage the rotating unit, the lift unit comprising an engagement member positioned below a rounded exterior surface of the rotating unit, the engagement member comprising an engagement surface having a shape at least substantially matching a shape of the rounded exterior surface, wherein:
when the lift unit is in a lowered position relative to the rotating unit, the rotating unit is supported by the wheel mechanism and the engagement member of the lift unit is spaced a distance apart from the rotating unit; and
when the lift unit is in a raised position relative to the rotating unit, the rotating unit is supported from below by the engagement member of the lift unit and the rotating unit is spaced a second distance apart from the wheel mechanism.

2. The support unit of claim 1 , wherein the support structure extends between a first end and a second end of the support structure, the first end of the support structure attached to the stationary unit and the second end of the support structure supporting the wheel mechanism.

3. The support unit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one roller of the wheel mechanism comprises a first roller and a second roller, a linking structure attaching the first roller and the second roller.

4. The support unit of claim 3 , wherein the linking structure defines a linking opening through which the attachment structure is configured to be received.

5. The support unit of claim 4 , wherein the attachment structure extends between the first roller and the second roller when the attachment structure is received through the linking opening such that the wheel mechanism is pivotable relative to the support structure.

6. The support unit of claim 4 , wherein the support structure defines a support opening through which the attachment structure is configured to be received, the support structure aligned with the linking structure such that the attachment structure is received through the linking opening and the support opening when the attachment structure is in the locked position.

7. The support unit of claim 6 , wherein when the attachment structure is in the unlocked position, the attachment structure is not received through the linking opening and the support opening.

8. A radiation system comprising:
a stationary unit;
a rotating unit configured for rotation about an axis relative to the stationary unit, the axis lying within a plane that bisects the rotating unit, the rotating unit comprising a first rotational surface extending about the axis and a second rotational surface extending about the axis, wherein a radiation source and a detector array are mounted to the rotating unit;
a wheel mechanism set configured to at least partially support the rotating unit at the first rotational surface and facilitate rotation of the rotating unit relative to the stationary unit, the wheel mechanism set comprising:
a wheel mechanism configured to rotationally support the rotating unit at a first location of the first rotational surface, the first location lying on a first side of the plane;
a second wheel mechanism configured to rotationally support the rotating unit at a second location of the first rotational surface, the second location lying on the first side of the plane;

a second wheel mechanism set configured to at least partially support the rotating unit at the second rotational surface and facilitate rotation of the rotating unit relative to the stationary unit, the second wheel mechanism set comprising:
a third wheel mechanism configured to rotationally support the rotating unit at a third location of the second rotational surface, the third location lying on the first side of the plane; and
a fourth wheel mechanism configured to rotationally support the rotating unit at a fourth location of the second rotational surface, the fourth location lying on the first side of the plane; and

a lift unit supported by the stationary unit and configured to engage the rotating unit, the lift unit comprising an engagement member positioned below a rounded exterior surface of the rotating unit, the engagement member comprising an engagement surface having a shape at least substantially matching a shape of the rounded exterior surface, wherein:
when the lift unit is in a lowered position relative to the rotating unit, the rotating unit is supported by the wheel mechanism and the engagement member of the lift unit is spaced a distance apart from the rotating unit; and
when the lift unit is in a raised position relative to the rotating unit, the rotating unit is supported from below by the engagement member of the lift unit and the rotating unit is spaced a second distance apart from the wheel mechanism.

9. The radiation system of claim 8 , wherein a wheel axis intersects the wheel mechanism and the third wheel mechanism, the wheel axis extending substantially parallel to the axis.

10. The radiation system of claim 9 , wherein a second wheel axis intersects the second wheel mechanism and the fourth wheel mechanism, the second wheel axis extending substantially parallel to the axis.

11. The radiation system of claim 8 , the wheel mechanism comprising a first roller and a second roller that are configured to impart rotation to the rotating unit.

12. The radiation system of claim 11 , comprising a motor that is coupled to the first roller, the motor configured to impart rotation to the first roller.

13. The radiation system of claim 8 , the rotating unit extending between a first end and a second end along the axis.

14. The radiation system of claim 13 , the wheel mechanism comprising an axial roller that is configured to engage the first end of the rotating unit and limit movement of the rotating unit along the axis.

15. The radiation system of claim 14 , the third wheel mechanism comprising a third axial roller that is configured to engage the second end of the rotating unit and limit movement of the rotating unit along the axis, the rotating unit disposed between the axial roller and the third axial roller.

16. A radiation system comprising:
a stationary unit;
a rotating unit configured for rotation about an axis relative to the stationary unit, wherein a radiation source and a detector array are mounted to the rotating unit;
a wheel mechanism configured to at least partially support the rotating unit and facilitate rotation of the rotating un

Assignees

• Analogic Corp

Inventors

• Weed Steven Dana
• Splinter Patrick Richard
• Swain Ronald Elwin

Classifications

• F16C19/507

  with rolling elements journaled in one of the moving parts, e.g. stationary rollers to support a rotating part · CPC title

• F16C13/04

  Bearings with only partial enclosure of the member to be borne; Bearings with local support at two or more points · CPC title

• F16C2300/14

  Large applications, e.g. bearings having an inner diameter exceeding 500 mm · CPC title

• A61B6/4452

  the source unit and the detector unit being able to move relative to each other · CPC title

• F16C2316/10

  in medical appliances, e.g. in diagnosis, dentistry, instruments, prostheses, medical imaging appliances · CPC title