X-ray tomography apparatus

Abstract

Accordingly, the present invention provides an x-ray tomography apparatus having a patient table, x-ray tomography components located around the patient table and in an imaginary plane which intersects the table, and structure for supporting the table and tomography components and including apparatus for moving the tomography components along at least a portion of the table. In an alternate embodiment, an x-ray tomography apparatus includes an annular x-ray tomography system for continuously rotating around a patient, which structure has an electrically powered x-ray source and battery power for supplying electrical power to the x-ray source.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An x-ray tomography apparatus, comprising: an elongated patient table means having opposite ends;   a rotary fan beam x-ray tomography means encircling the patient table means; and   means for supporting the table means at opposite ends thereof and for supporting the tomography means from underneath and including means for moving the tomography means along a substantial portion of the table means,   wherein the tomography means includes means for causing at least a portion of the tomography means to continuously rotate around the table means.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tomography means comprises a multiplicity of members including an x-ray source, an array of detectors, tomography electronics and at least one means for supplying electrical power for the tomography means. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising means for physically interconnecting the members of the tomography means in an annular shape for rotation around the table means. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tomography means further includes triangularly placed structural members affixed between the x-ray source and the array of detectors. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the array of detectors includes a support member which extends between the triangularly placed structural members. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising means for transmitting control and data signals to and from the tomography means. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for supplying electrical power are battery powered. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rotation of the tomography means defines a center of rotation thereof and further wherein the array of detectors includes at least first and second groups of detectors with the first group being substantially centered about an imaginary line passing through the x-ray source and the center of rotation and the second group being located adjacently to the first group. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first group of detectors has a higher average detector density than the second group. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for determining the relative position between the tomography means and the patient table means. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for supporting is elongated and the table means is removable from the means for supporting, and further wherein the means for supporting includes means for allowing orientation of the tomography means to a position where an imaginary plane of rotation defined by the rotating portion of the tomography means is substantially parallel with the elongated means for supporting. .Iadd. 
     
     
       12.  An X-ray tomography apparatus comprising in combination: a support structure for supporting an elongated patient table; tomographic scanning means also supported on said support structure, said scanning means including an X-ray source and X-ray detection means for detecting X-rays emitted by said X-ray source; means for rotating said scanning means about a rotation axis so as to circumscribe an inner region large enough to encompass said patient table with a patient thereon; and, means for pivoting said scanning means between a first position wherein said scanning means is rotatable so as to define a scanning plane substantially normal to the elongated direction of said table, and a second position wherein said plane is substantially parallel to said elongated direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for supporting said scanning means for linear movement along a path substantially parallel to the elongated direction of said patient table. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising means for supporting said patient table so that the latter extends through said inner region when said scanning means is in said first position, said means for supporting including a base and means coupled to said base for removably supporting said patient table thereon, said scanning means being mounted on said base so that when said patient table is removed, said scanning means is pivotable with respect to said base between said first and second positions without hindrance from said table or means for supporting said table. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said scanning means is pivotable about said base so that the orientation of said scanning plane can be varied with respect to the elongated direction of said table. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for determining the relative alignment of said scanning plane with said table. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprises means for physically interconnecting the members of the tomography scanning means in an annular shape for rotation around the table. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The apparatus of claim 12 further 
     
     
        comprising battery means for powering said apparatus. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said battery means comprise rechargeable batteries. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. An X-ray tomography apparatus comprising in combination: (a) x-ray tomography means disposed in an annular configuration so as to define a scanning region large enough to accommodate a patient and a movable patient table;   (b) patient table support means for supporting a movable patient table having a head end and a foot end within said scanning region, said patient table support means comprising a support structure and at least one vertical support member;   (c) tomography support means supported by said support structure for supporting said tomography means for linear movement along an axis running between the head end and the foot end of said patient table and for pivoting said tomography means between a first position wherein the plane of said annular configuration is substantially normal to said axis and a second position wherein the plane is substantially parallel to said axis; and   (d) tomography rotation means for orbital movement of said tomography means   
     
     
        around said scanning region. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21.  The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising battery means for powering said apparatus. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said battery means comprise rechargeable batteries. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said patient table support means comprise a plurality of vertical support members attached to said support structure at their lower ends and adapted to support said patient table at their upper ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said support members define an open, box-like region for at least partially accommodating said tomography means when it is in said second position. .Iaddend.