X-Ray Imaging Unit For Medical Imaging

Abstract

The application relates to an X-ray imaging unit for a medical imaging. The unit comprising a rotating part comprising a first X-ray source and an X-ray imaging detector unit configured to provide an image by means of at least a rotational movement (R) around a rotation axis of the rotating part, and an upper shelf for supporting the rotating part. The upper shelf is configured to enable the rotating part to move with respect to the upper shelf by means of a linear movement (L) and to be attached to a column with a pivoting joint for enabling a pivot movement (P) of the upper shelf around the column The rotating part is configured to be positioned by the linear movement and the pivot movement during the imaging

1 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . An X-ray imaging unit for medical imaging, the X-ray imaging unit comprising:
 a column; and   a rotating part coupled to an upper shelf coupled to the column, the rotating part having a rotation axis with respect to the upper shelf, the rotation axis movable relative to the upper shelf in a linear movement (L) and the rotating part movable about the rotation axis in a rotational movement (R), the rotating part comprising an X-ray source and an X-ray imaging detector unit in a spaced apart manner, the X-ray source and the X-ray imaging detector unit configured to provide a medical image while the rotating part is positioned by the linear movement (L), and the rotational movement (R) during the imaging;   wherein the rotating part comprises a center of gravity between the X-ray source and the X-ray imaging detector and the linear movement (L) during the imaging moves the rotation axis relative to the center of gravity of the rotating part during the rotational movement (R).   
     
     
         63 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 62 , wherein the upper shelf is coupled to the column through a pivoting joint, the upper shelf moveable about the pivoting joint with respect to the column in a pivot movement (P); and
 wherein the rotating part is positioned by the linear movement (L), the pivot movement (P), and the rotation movement (R) during the imaging.   
     
     
         64 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 62 , wherein the linear movement (L) and the pivot movement (P) moves the rotation axis of the rotating part during the imaging. 
     
     
         65 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 64 , wherein movement of the rotation axis relative to the center of gravity of the rotating part maintains the center of gravity of the rotating part within a neutral axis of a joint between the rotating part and the upper shelf. 
     
     
         66 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 63 , wherein the X-ray source and the detector unit are configured to provide the medical image as a computed tomography image while the rotating part is positioned by the linear movement (L), the pivot movement (P), and the rotational movement (R) during the imaging. 
     
     
         67 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 63 , wherein the X-ray source and the detector unit are configured to provide the medical image as a panoramic image while the rotating part is positioned by the linear movement (L), the pivot movement (P), and the rotational movement (R) during the imaging. 
     
     
         68 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 63 , further comprising a lower shelf for positioning a patient to be imaged to provide the medical image, and the rotating part is configured to be positioned over the lower shelf. 
     
     
         69 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 68 , wherein the lower shelf is secured to the column. 
     
     
         70 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 69 , wherein the column further is operable to perform a height movement (Z) of the upper shelf and the rotating part relative to the lower shelf. 
     
     
         71 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 68 , wherein a virtual rotation axis is provided relative to the lower shelf by the linear movement (L), the pivot movement (P), and the rotational movement (R) during the imaging. 
     
     
         72 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 63 , further comprising a control unit comprising a processor and at least one memory that stores computer readable software code that upon execution by the processor, the processor operates the X-ray imaging unit to position the rotating part by the linear movement (L), the pivot movement (P), and the rotational movement (R) during the imaging. 
     
     
         73 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 62 , further comprising a rotating motor operable by the control unit to move the rotating part through the rotational movement (R). 
     
     
         74 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 73 , further comprising:
 a linear conveyor configured to support the rotating motor;   at least one rail and/or track configured to guide the linear conveyor in the upper shelf; and   a linear motor operable by the controller to drive the linear conveyor along the at least one rail and/or track in the linear movement (L).   
     
     
         75 . The X-ray imaging unit of  claim 63 , further comprising a pivot motor operable by the controller to pivot the upper shelf relative to the column in the pivot movement (P). 
     
     
         76 . A method of controlling an X-ray imaging unit for medical imaging with an X-ray imaging unit that includes a column, an upper shelf coupled to the column, a rotating part coupled to the upper shelf and having a rotation axis with respect to the upper shelf at a joint, the rotating part comprising an X-ray source and an X-ray imaging detector unit in a spaced apart manner, the method comprising:
 operating the rotating part in a rotation movement (R) about the rotation axis;   operating the joint coupling the rotating part to the upper shelf in a linear movement (L) relative to the upper shelf;   providing a medical image with the X-ray source and the X-ray imaging detector unit during the linear movement (L), and the rotational movement (R); and   improving a quality of the medical image by reducing torque applied to the joint between the rotating part and the upper shelf to maintain a center of gravity in a neutral axis of the joint.   
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the upper shelf is coupled to the column though a pivoting joint and the method further comprises:
 operating the upper shelf in a pivot movement (P) about the pivoting joint relative to the column;   wherein thee medical image is provided during the linear movement (L), the pivot movement (P), and the rotational movement (R).   
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the X-ray imaging unit further comprises a control unit comprising a processor and at least one memory that stores computer readable software code and the method further comprises:
 operating a rotating motor with the control unit to move the rotating part through the rotational movement (R);   operating a linear motor with the control unit to drive a linear conveyor in the linear movement (L) the linear conveyor supporting the rotating part; and   operating a pivot motor with the control unit to pivot the upper shelf relative to the column in the pivot movement (P).   
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 77 , further comprising creating a virtual axis of rotation of the rotating part relative to a patient for the medical imaging with the virtual axis of rotation with the linear movement (L), the pivot movement (P), and the rotational movement (R). 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the medical image is an offset medical image and the method further comprises creating an offset imaging geometry by driving linear movement (L), the pivot movement (P), and the rotational movement (R) to deflect an effective center of rotation of the rotating part. 
     
     
         81 . An X-ray imaging unit for medical imaging, the X-ray imaging unit comprising:
 a column;   an upper shelf coupled to the column through a pivoting joint for enabling a pivot movement (P) of the upper shelf with respect to the column; and   a rotating part rotatably coupled to the upper shelf and having a rotation axis with respect to the upper shelf, the rotating part comprising a first X-ray source and an X-ray imaging detector unit, the first X-ray source and the X-ray imaging detector unit configured to provide an image by means of at least a rotational movement (R) of the rotating part,   wherein the upper shelf is configured to enable the rotation axis to move with respect to the upper shelf by means of a linear movement (L),   wherein the rotating part is configured to be positioned by the linear movement (L), the pivot movement (P), and the rotational movement (R) during the imaging.