Diagnostic scanning apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9538963-B2
Application number	US-201313838217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A diagnostic scanning apparatus includes a hollow rotor sized to receive a patient. First and second flanges are connected to and extend radially outward from the rotor in a spaced-apart relationship, each of the first and second flanges including, at least in part, a magnetically-permeable material. A radiation source is affixed to the first flange and/or the rotor. A first axial actuator generates a variable magnetic field, is fixedly disposed adjacent to the first flange and can magnetically pull the first flange in a first axial direction of the rotor. A second axial actuator generates a variable magnetic field, is fixedly disposed adjacent to the second flange and can magnetically pull the second flange in a second axial direction of the rotor that is opposite of the first axial direction. The first and second axial actuators are both at least substantially disposed between the first and second flanges.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a rotor that is rotatable about a rotational axis, has a hollow interior and comprises, at least in part, a magnetically-permeable material,
first and second flanges connected to and extending radially outward from the rotor in a spaced-apart relationship, each of the first and second flanges comprising, at least in part, a magnetically-permeable material,
a first axial actuator configured to generate a variable magnetic field, the first axial actuator being fixedly disposed adjacent to, but spaced from, the first flange and configured to magnetically pull the first flange in a first axial direction of the rotor, and
a second axial actuator configured to generate a variable magnetic field, the second axial actuator being fixedly disposed adjacent to, but spaced from, the second flange and configured to magnetically pull the second flange in a second axial direction of the rotor that is opposite of the first axial direction,
wherein the first and second axial actuators are both at least substantially disposed between the first and second flanges.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the first flange is formed integrally with the rotor without a seam therebetween and the second flange is detachably attached to the rotor.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second flanges are annular shaped,
the first and second annular flanges extend at least substantially in parallel to each other, and
the rotor, the first annular flange and the second annular flange together form a rotor assembly having at least substantially a U-shape in cross-section.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3 , further comprising:
a stationary housing having a mounting flange extending radially inward from the stationary housing into a hollow space between the first and second flanges,
wherein the first axial actuator is affixed to a first axial side of the mounting flange that is closest to the first flange, and
the second axial actuator is affixed to a second axial side of the mounting flange that is closest to the second flange, the second axial side being opposite of the first axial side.

5. The apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the apparatus comprises:
at least three first axial actuators affixed to the first axial side of the mounting flange and being spaced approximately equidistantly to each other around a circumference of the mounting flange; and
at least three second axial actuators affixed to the second axial side of the mounting flange and being spaced approximately equidistantly to each other around the circumference of the mounting flange.

6. The apparatus as in claim 4 , further comprising:
at least one bracket affixed to the rotor and/or to first flange and extending axially outward of the rotor and the first flange,
at least one first permanent magnet affixed to the first axial side of the mounting flange and proximal to, but spaced from, the first flange, and
at least one second permanent magnet affixed to the second axial side of the mounting flange and proximal to, but spaced from, the second flange.

7. The apparatus as in claim 6 , wherein the at least one bracket is attached to a radiation source or to a radiation detector.

8. The apparatus as in claim 6 , wherein the at least one first permanent magnet and the at least one second permanent magnet together apply no net force to the rotor in the axial direction, but apply a net torque or moment to the rotor that balances or offsets a tilting force caused by the weight of the bracket and any equipment attached to the bracket that is disposed axially outward of the rotor and first flange.

9. The apparatus as in claim 8 , wherein the at least one first permanent magnet is disposed higher in a vertical direction of the stationary housing than the at least one second permanent magnet.

10. The apparatus as in claim 9 , further comprising at least one steel channeling member affixed to each of at least one permanent magnet.

11. The apparatus as in claim 4 , further comprising:
at least one first landing pad affixed to the first axial side of the mounting flange so as to be proximal to the first flange, and
at least one second landing pad affixed to the second axial side of the mounting flange so as to be proximal to the second flange.

12. The apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the at least one first landing pad and/or the at least one second landing pad is a plain bearing or plain bearing pad.

13. The apparatus as in claim 12 , wherein the at least one first landing pad and/or the at least one second landing pad comprises an abradable graphite material.

14. The apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the at least one first landing pad and/or the at least one second landing pad have an outer axial surface that is spaced farther from the mounting flange than any other equipment affixed to the mounting flange.

15. The apparatus as in claim 14 , further comprising:
at least one bracket affixed to the rotor and/or to first flange and extending axially outward of the rotor and the first flange,
a radiation source or a radiation detector affixed to the at least one bracket axially outward of the first flange,
at least one first permanent magnet affixed to the first axial side of the mounting flange and proximal to, but spaced from, the first flange,
at least one second permanent magnet affixed to the second axial side of the mounting flange and proximal to, but spaced from, the second flange, the at least one second permanent magnet being disposed lower in a vertical direction of the stationary housing than the at least one first permanent magnet,
a first steel channeling plate affixed to the at least one first permanent magnet so as to be disposed between the at least one first permanent magnet and the first flange, and
a second steel channeling plate affixed to the at least one second permanent magnet so as to be disposed between the at least one second permanent magnet and the second flange,
wherein:
the at least one first permanent magnet and the at least one second permanent magnet together apply no net force to the rotor in the axial direction, but apply a net torque or moment to the rotor that balances or offsets a tilting force caused by the weight of the bracket and any equipment attached to the bracket that is disposed axially outward of the rotor and first flange, and
the at least one first landing pad and/or the at least one second landing pad is a plain bearing or plain bearing pad comprised of an abradable graphite material.

16. A method of scanning, imaging or treating a patient or an object comprising:
rotating the rotor of the apparatus of claim 7 and
actuating the rotating radiation source attached to the bracket to irradiate the patient or the object.

17. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the first flange has an inner surface and an exposed outer surface and the second flange has an inner surface and an exposed outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the second flange faces the inner surface of the first flange, wherein the first axial actuator faces the inner surface of the first flange and the second axial actuator faces the inner surface of the second flange and wherein no additional axial actuators face the exposed outer surface of the first flange or the exposed outer surface of the second flange.

18. The apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second flanges comprise: an outer diameter, an axial thickness and a radial length greater than the axial thickness and wherein the outer diame

Assignees

• Skf Magnetic Bearings
• Siemens Ag
• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Smithanik Jeffrey Russell
• Willming Christian
• Mcfarland Craig
• Mueller Hans-Juergen
• Sparling Wray

Classifications

• A61B6/4435

  the source unit and the detector unit being coupled by a rigid structure · CPC title

• F16C32/0485

  with active support of three degrees of freedom · CPC title

• F16C19/507

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

• A61B6/44

  Constructional features of apparatus for radiation diagnosis · CPC title

• A61B6/035 Primary

  Mechanical aspects of CT · CPC title