Transformable imaging system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9962133-B2
Application number	US-201615064961-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2016
Priority date	Mar 9, 2016
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A transformable imaging system configured to operate in at least two configurations. A first configuration may be open and a second configuration may be closed. The closed configuration may allow for imaging in along an arc greater than 180 degrees.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system transformable to image a subject in at least two configurations, comprising:
a gantry member extending from a first gantry end to a second gantry end along at least a first arc segment having a first radius;
a transformable rotor, having:
a fixed length segment extending from a first terminal end to a second terminal end along a second arc segment having a center and a second radius that is smaller than the first radius, wherein an external surface of the first fixed length segment includes a first track portion,
a first moveable segment extending from a first segment end to a second segment end and having a second track portion on an external surface of the first moveable segment, and
a second moveable segment extending from a third segment end to a fourth segment end and having a third track portion on an external surface of the first moveable segment,
a transforming drive interconnecting the fixed length segment, the first moveable segment, and the second moveable segment,
wherein the transforming drive is configured to move the first moveable segment and the second moveable segment relative to the fixed length segment to transform the transformable rotor between an open configuration and a closed configuration by moving the first moveable segment and the second moveable segment along at least a third arc segment having a third radius less than the second radius and moving both the first moveable segment and the second moveable segment radially relative to the center of the second arc segment;

a rotor drive interconnecting the gantry member and the transformable rotor to move the transformable rotor around a subject and relative to the gantry member, wherein in the closed configuration the first track portion, the second track portion, and the third track portion are aligned to be selectively coupled to the transformable rotor drive;
a source connected at a first position on the fixed length segment;
a detector connected at a second position on the fixed length segment substantially opposed to the source;
wherein the source and the detector move with the transformable rotor relative to the gantry when the transformable rotor drive drives the transformable rotor relative to the gantry member.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fixed length segment includes a first side wall and a second sidewall opposed to the first sidewall, wherein the first moveable segment and the second moveable segment are configured to be withdrawn between the first sidewall and the second sidewall by the transforming drive;
wherein the first moveable segment is configured to move towards the second terminal end within the fixed length segment;
wherein the second moveable segment is configured to move towards the first terminal end within the fixed length segment.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a base configured to be mobile and moveable from a first location to a second location;
wherein the gantry member is moveably coupled to the base.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the base is mounted on wheels and is moveable from a first location to a second location.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein all of the gantry member and the transformable rotor are independently moveable relative to the base.

6. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a lock moveable to fixedly interconnect the fixed length segment, the first moveable segment, and the second moveable segment in the closed configuration.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first arc segment is less than 180 degrees.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second arc segment is 180 degrees or greater.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transformable rotor in the open configuration resembles a “C” shape and in the closed configuration resembles an “O” shape.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gantry drive configured to move the gantry independent of movement of the transformable rotor.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotor drive and the transforming drive are formed as a single drive connected to the fixed length segment, the first moveable segment, the second moveable segment, and the gantry to move all of the fixed length segment, the first moveable segment and the second moveable segment.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fixed length segment includes a first side wall and a second sidewall opposed to the first sidewall, wherein the first moveable segment and the second moveable segment are configured to be withdrawn between the first sidewall and the second sidewall by the transforming drive;
wherein the first moveable segment is configured to move towards the second terminal end within the fixed length segment;
wherein the second moveable segment is configured to move towards the second terminal end and within the first moveable segment.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first moveable segment is adjacent the first sidewall;
wherein the second moveable segment is adjacent the second sidewall.

14. A system transformable to image a subject in at least two configurations, comprising:
a gantry member extending from a first gantry terminal end to a second gantry terminal end;
a rotor having,
a fixed length segment having a “C” shape with a first terminal end and a second terminal end and a first sidewall having a first external edge opposed to a second sidewall having a second external edge, wherein a volume is at least partially formed between the first sidewall and the second sidewall;
a source connected at a first position within the volume;
a detector connected at a second position on the fixed length segment within the volume and substantially opposed to the source;
a first moveable segment extending from a first segment end to a second segment end, and
a segment drive operably connected to the fixed length segment and the first moveable segment, wherein the drive is configured to move in both a curved path and a linear path the first moveable segment relative to the fixed length segment between an open configuration substantially in the “C” shape and a closed configuration in an “O” shape,

a rotor drive operably connected to the gantry member and the rotor to move the rotor relative to the gantry member;
wherein the source and the detector move with the rotor relative to the gantry when the rotor drive drives the rotor relative to the gantry member.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first moveable segment is between the first sidewall and the second sidewall in the open configuration.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the segment drive is configured to move the first moveable segment from between the first sidewall and the second sidewall to align a first segment sidewall of the first moveable segment with the first sidewall to form a substantially continuous track around the rotor along the segment sidewall and the first sidewall.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a second moveable segment extending from a third segment end to a fourth segment end.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the segment drive is further operably connected to all of the fixed length segment, the first moveable segment, and the second moveable segment;
wherein the segment drive is configured to move the first moveable segment and the second moveable segment relative to the fixed length segment between an open configuration substantially in the “C” shape and a closed configuration in an “O” shape.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the segment drive is configured t

Assignees

• Medtronic Navigation Inc

Inventors

• Risher-Kelly Clifford M
• Elghazzawi Ziad F
• Garlow David A

Classifications

• A61B6/4441 Primary

  the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm · CPC title

• A61B6/4411

  the apparatus being modular (A61B6/4283 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B6/4405

  the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley · CPC title

• A61B6/466

  adapted to display 3D data · CPC title

• A61B6/04

  Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like · CPC title