Abstract: A mechanical support structure which coordinates patient positioning and medical diagnostic equipment positioning in a unified system. More particularly, the system includes a vertically adjustable patient table supported at both ends by substantial upright end support members. Also suspended between these two end supports is a radiation detector such as a scintillation camera head whose position relative to the patient table is conveniently and accurately adjustable from an operator control panel provided on one end support. Each degree of freedom afforded the detector is accomplished independently of the other and, if desired, simultaneously, or in any desired combination. To perform static imaging the separation between the detector and the patient table is adjustable, as is the lateral position of the detector between the two end stands and hence along the span of the patient table. In a detector having a non-symmetrical field of view, its length and width orientation may be reversed.

Abstract: A radiation imaging system including a rotatable scintillation detector for non-circular emission computed tomography. The radiation imaging system includes a rotatable scintillation detector and a linearly movable detector stand. With the stand stationary, the scintillation detector is capable of circularly orbiting about the longitudinal axis of the patient for emission computed tomography and with the detector stationary the detector stand may be linearly displaced for whole body scanning with the patient aligned parallel to the detector stand path in an orientation orthogonal to the tomographic orientation. The circular rotational motion is combined with the linear translation such that the detector orbits about a section of the patient in a non-circular path. The path assures a minimum distance between the face of the scintillation detector and the boundary of the patient during the entire tomographic orbit to thereby improve resolution of the tomogram.