Abstract: An electromagnetic locking mechanism can include a base unit having a base interface with a base locking member, and an imaging unit having an imaging interface with an imaging locking member that is configured to mate with the base locking member. One of the base unit or imaging unit has a locking circuit with a switch. When the switch is on, the circuit is complete and one of the base locking member and imaging locking member is an electromagnetic member and the other is a magnetically responsive member. Alternatively when the switch is off, the circuit is incomplete and neither the base locking member nor imaging locking member is the electromagnetic member. One of the base interface or imaging interface has a magnetic member or magnetically responsive member that switches the switch on when the base interface is sufficiently close to the imaging interface.