CPC A61B 6/4476 (2013.01) [A61B 6/035 (2013.01); A61B 6/44 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A translation drive system for an imaging system having an imaging gantry and a gantry base, comprising:
at least one upper rail affixed to the imaging gantry, wherein the upper rail includes a first stop;
at least one lower rail affixed to the gantry base, wherein the lower rail includes a second stop;
front and lower carriages moveably attached to the lower rail, wherein the upper rail is moveably attached to an upper carriage to enable movement of the imaging gantry relative to the gantry base, and wherein the upper and lower carriages include upper and lower carriage rear surfaces, respectively;
an extension spring attached between the lower carriage and the imaging gantry, wherein spring tension generated by the spring maintains contact between the upper carriage rear surface and the first stop, wherein when the lower carriage rear surface contacts the second stop, the upper rail moves horizontally past a base rear surface into an extended position, and wherein the imaging gantry extends horizontally beyond the base rear surface; and
a linear actuator attached to the imaging gantry, wherein upon actuation of the linear actuator the imaging gantry is translated in either a first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction relative to the gantry base.
|