Cantilevered gantry apparatus for x-ray imaging

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is directed to an imaging apparatus comprising a generally O-shaped gantry ring having an x-ray source and a detector.
The gantry ring is rigidly or movably secured on one side of the ring to a support structure, such as a mobile cart, a wall, a ceiling, a floor, or a patient table, in a cantilevered fashion.
According to one aspect, a positioner assembly can secure the gantry ring to the support structure in a cantilevered fashion, the positioner assembly permitting the gantry to translate in at least one direction, and/or rotate around at least one axis, relative to the support structure.
According to one aspect, the x-ray source is contained inside the gantry ring, opposed to a detector array.
The x-ray source (and optionally the detector) can rotate around the inside of the gantry ring, preferably through a full or partial 360 degree scan around the interior of the gantry.
The imaging apparatus is particularly advantageous for medical imaging applications, including 3D computerized tomographic (CT) imaging and 2D x-ray radiographic scanning, as well as other medical, scientific, and industrial applications.
According to another aspect, a method for imaging an object with an imaging system having a substantially O-shaped gantry secured to a support structure in a cantilevered fashion by a ring positioning unit, comprises positioning the object within a central opening of the generally O-shaped gantry; operating the ring positioning unit to position the gantry at a predetermined position and orientation relative to the support structure; and obtaining an image of the object.