Portable head ct scanner

Abstract

A portable CT scanner may include a rotatable frame with separable portions. An x-ray source may be coupled to one portion of the rotatable frame, and an x-ray detector may be coupled to another portion of the rotatable frame. During storage and transportation, one portion of the rotatable frame may be housed in a first enclosure, and another portion of the rotatable frame may be housed in a second enclosure. When operation of the scanner is desired, the two enclosures may be connected, and/or the rotatable frame portions may be connected with the enclosures abutting one another, to allow for rotation of the rotatable frame about an aperture formed by the enclosures.

1 . A portable scanning device for use in computed tomography (CT) scanning, comprising:
 a first enclosure including a first abutment and a second abutment, the first abutment and the second abutment coupled by a first arch, the first abutment including a first opening and the second abutment including a second opening;   a first portion of a rotatable frame within the first enclosure;   a high energy radiation source within the first enclosure, the high energy radiation source fixedly coupled to the first portion of the rotatable frame; and   a second enclosure including a third abutment and a fourth abutment, the third abutment and the fourth abutment coupled by a second arch, the third abutment including a third opening and the fourth abutment including a fourth opening;   a second portion of the rotatable frame within the second enclosure, and separated from the first portion of the rotatable frame when the first enclosure and the second enclosure are apart; and   a high energy radiation detector fixedly coupled to the second portion of the rotatable frame.   
     
     
         2 .- 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The portable scanning device of  claim 1 , wherein the first enclosure and the second enclosure are couplable to form a structure with an aperture, the aperture defined by the first arch and the second arch. 
     
     
         5 . The portable scanning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor for rotating the rotatable frame, the motor within at least one of the first enclosure and the second enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The portable scanning device of  claim 5 , further comprising a battery, the battery within the one of the first enclosure and the second enclosure containing the motor. 
     
     
         7 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The portable scanning device of  claim 1 , wherein the high energy radiation source is an x-ray source. 
     
     
         10 . The portable scanning device of  claim 9 , wherein the x-ray source is a tribocharging x-ray source. 
     
     
         11 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The portable scanning device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first enclosure and the second enclosure includes a base for supporting the first enclosure, and the second enclosure when connected to the first enclosure, on a surface. 
     
     
         21 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A portable device for use in computed tomography (CT) scanning, comprising:
 a first enclosure having a first pair of openings;   a first portion of a rotatable frame within the first enclosure;   a high energy radiation source fixedly coupled to the first portion of the rotatable frame;   a second enclosure having a second pair of openings;   a second portion of the rotatable frame within the second enclosure;   a pair of first opening covers, each fixedly coupled to opposing ends of the first portion of the rotatable frame, the pair of first opening covers rotatable through the second pair of openings of the second enclosure;   a pair of second opening covers, each fixedly coupled to opposing ends of the second portion of the rotatable frame, the pair of second opening covers rotatable through the first pair of openings of the first enclosure; and   a high energy radiation detector coupled to the second portion of the rotatable frame.