Abstract: A rotating imaging system has a rotating portion, an idler, at least one sensor, a tilt sensor and a processor. The rotating portion has a diameter and rotates about a central axis. The idler rotates about an axis parallel to the central axis, and has a second diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the rotating portion. The rotating portion and the idler engage with each other such that both rotate simultaneously. The at least one sensor detects flags on the idler as the idler rotates. The tilt sensor is mounted to the rotating portion and determines a rotation angle of the rotating portion within a range of one revolution, and the processor determines an absolute rotation of the rotating portion based on at least a signal from the at least one sensor and the rotation angle determined by the tilt sensor.

Abstract: A rotating imaging system has a rotating portion that is configured to rotate about a central axis. A tilt gauge has a housing mounted to the rotating portion and a gravity influenced flag with a free end configured to move separately with respect to the housing. The tilt gauge is configured to provide a visual indication of a rotational position of the rotating portion.

Abstract: A multi-modality imaging system includes a first imaging system and a second imaging system that is different from the first imaging system. The first and second imaging systems are slidingly mounted on at least one rail. A table has a movable pallet configured to extend through a scan range of the first imaging system while the first and second imaging systems are positioned proximate each other at one position along the at least one rail. The pallet is further configured to extend through a scan range of the second imaging system while the first and second imaging systems are positioned proximate each other at a different position along the at least one rail. At least a portion of the scan ranges overlap each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for examining a patient is provided. The apparatus includes a top plate, at least one top rail slideably coupled to said top plate, said top plate selectively positionable between a first imaging position and a second imaging position along an examination axis, a support member coupled to said at least one top rail, said support member configured to selectively change a position of said top plate along an axis perpendicular to said examination axis, said support member comprises at least one guide pin slideably coupled to said at least one rail during movement of said support member, said guide pin configured to retain said support member to said at least one top rail when said top rail is moved between a first modality position and a second modality position.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) imaging system having attenuation correction (AC) has a stationary portion having an NM rotating portion mounted thereon. At least one gamma camera head is mounted on the NM rotating portion proximate a front side of the stationary portion and is configured to be rotated about a central axis. An AC portion comprises an X-ray source mounted on an AC rotating portion. The AC rotating portion is mounted proximate a back side of the stationary portion. The X-ray source is configured to be rotated about the central axis.

Abstract: A rotating imaging system has a rotating portion, an idler, at least one sensor, a tilt sensor and a processor. The rotating portion has a diameter and rotates about a central axis. The idler rotates about an axis parallel to the central axis, and has a second diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the rotating portion. The rotating portion and the idler engage with each other such that both rotate simultaneously. The at least one sensor detects flags on the idler as the idler rotates. The tilt sensor is mounted to the rotating portion and determines a rotation angle of the rotating portion within a range of one revolution, and the processor determines an absolute rotation of the rotating portion based on at least a signal from the at least one sensor and the rotation angle determined by the tilt sensor.

Abstract: A rotating imaging system has a rotating portion that is configured to rotate about a central axis. A tilt gauge has a housing mounted to the rotating portion and a gravity influenced flag with a free end configured to move separately with respect to the housing. The tilt gauge is configured to provide a visual indication of a rotational position of the rotating portion.

Abstract: A multi-modality imaging system includes a first imaging system and a second imaging system that is different from the first imaging system. The first and second imaging systems are slidingly mounted on at least one rail. A table has a movable pallet configured to extend through a scan range of the first imaging system while the first and second imaging systems are positioned proximate each other at one position along the at least one rail. The pallet is further configured to extend through a scan range of the second imaging system while the first and second imaging systems are positioned proximate each other at a different position along the at least one rail. At least a portion of the scan ranges overlap each other.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) imaging system having attenuation correction (AC) has a stationary portion having an NM rotating portion mounted thereon. At least one gamma camera head is mounted on the NM rotating portion proximate a front side of the stationary portion and is configured to be rotated about a central axis. An AC portion comprises an X-ray source mounted on an AC rotating portion. The AC rotating portion is mounted proximate a back side of the stationary portion. The X-ray source is configured to be rotated about the central axis.

Abstract: A method of examining a patient is provided. The method includes aligning a patient table with a first examination axis, and rotating the patient table around a substantially fixed pivot axis from the first examination axis to a second examination axis using a predetermined angular velocity profile.

Abstract: A method of examining a patient is provided. The method includes aligning a patient table with a first examination axis, imaging a patient utilizing a first imaging modality while the patient is oriented along the first examination axis, aligning a patient table with a second examination axis, the second examination axis being different than the first examination axis, and imaging a patient utilizing a second separate imaging modality while the patient is oriented along the second examination axis.

Abstract: A method of mounting a CT imager on a gantry: determining a center of rotation of a rotor of the gantry; siting a plurality of mounting elements at predetermined positions with respect to the center of rotation; and attaching the mounting elements to the rotor while keeping the mounting elements at the predetermined positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for examining a patient is provided. The apparatus includes a top plate, at least one top rail slideably coupled to said top plate, said top plate selectively positionable between a first imaging position and a second imaging position along an examination axis, a support member coupled to said at least one top rail, said support member configured to selectively change a position of said top plate along an axis perpendicular to said examination axis, said support member comprises at least one guide pin slideably coupled to said at least one rail during movement of said support member,.said guide pin configured to retain said support member to said at least one top rail when said top rail is moved between a first modality position and a second modality position.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine camera having an X-ray imaging capability. The camera comprises at least one gamma camera mounted on a gantry and an X-ray CT imager mounted on the same gantry. The at least one gamma camera and the X-ray imager are capable of simultaneously rotating about a common axis at different rotation rates.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine camera having an X-ray imaging capability, comprising: a gantry having a stationary portion and at least one rotating portion; at least one gamma camera mounted on a said at least one rotating portion and capable of being rotated together at a common first rotation rate about an axis, said at least one gamma camera being capable of acquiring nuclear imaging data for reconstructing a tomographic nuclear image; and an X-ray CT imager having an X-ray source mounted on said at least one rotating portion and being capable of acquiring X-ray imaging data for reconstructing an X-ray image; said X-ray CT imager being mounted closer to said stationary portion than said at least one gamma camera.

Abstract: A method for the determination of the effects of variable sag of a supporting element of a support system on an image of a slice of a subject, comprising acquiring an image of a slice subject at an imaging position, determining said sag of said support element at said imaging position, and optionally correcting the image to compensate for the sag.

Abstract: A method of mounting a CT imager on a gantry: determining a center of rotation of a rotor of the gantry; siting a plurality of mounting elements at predetermined positions with respect to the center of rotation; and attaching the mounting elements to the rotor while keeping the mounting elements at the predetermined positions.

Abstract: A method of examining a patient is provided. The method includes aligning a patient table with a first examination axis, and rotating the patient table around a substantially fixed pivot axis from the first examination axis to a second examination axis using a predetermined angular velocity profile.

Abstract: A method of producing a nuclear medicine image of a subject, comprising: acquiring nuclear imaging data suitable to produce a nuclear tomographic image, said nuclear image data being acquired by a gamma camera head rotating about the subject; acquiring X-ray imaging data suitable to produce an X-ray tomographic image for attenuation correction of the gamma camera image, said X-ray imaging data being acquired by detectors irradiated by an X-ray source rotating around the subject; reducing the sensitivity of gamma camera head while the X-rays are produced; and reconstructing an attenuation corrected nuclear medicine image utilizing the nuclear imaging data and X-ray imaging data.

Abstract: A method of examining a patient is provided. The method includes aligning a patient table with a first examination axis, imaging a patient utilizing a first imaging modality while the patient is oriented along the first examination axis, aligning a patient table with a second examination axis, the second examination axis being different than the first examination axis, and imaging a patient utilizing a second separate imaging modality while the patient is oriented along the second examination axis.