X-ray transparent bed and gurney extender for use with mobile computerized tomography (CT) imaging systems

1. Apparatus for use in scanning a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a free-standing support for supporting anatomy of a patient during scanning, the free-standing support comprising:

a holder for supporting anatomy of a patient during scanning, wherein the holder is sized so as to fit within a scan opening of a scanning machine, wherein the scan opening of the scanning machine comprises a toroidal shaped center opening, and further wherein at least a portion of the holder is transparent to the scanning machine; and

a stand, the stand comprising a shaft having a top end, a bottom end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the shaft terminating in a head at the top end and a base at the bottom end;

wherein the head of the stand is configured to receive a mount formed on the holder for attaching the holder to the head so that the holder extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

wherein the base comprises a pair of horizontal bars extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

wherein the holder and the horizontal bars extend parallel to, but spaced from, one another so that the holder, the shaft and the pair of horizontal bars form a u-shaped configuration; and

wherein the base comprises a plurality of casters which permit the stand to move about on a floor, and at least one brake for selectively stopping movement of the stand on a floor, and further wherein the horizontal bars of the base are sized to fit under the scanning machine.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least the portion of the holder transparent to the scanner is formed out of an X-ray transparent material.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the X-ray transparent material is selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber and plastic.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the holder is transparent to X-rays.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the holder is removably attached to the head of the stand.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a mobile scanner.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the mobile scanner is a mobile CT machine.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the mobile CT machine comprises a transport mechanism mounted to the base of the CT machine, wherein the transport mechanism comprises a fine movement mechanism for moving the CT machine precisely, relative to the patient, during scanning.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the apparatus further comprises an additional free-standing support for supporting additional anatomy of a patient during scanning, the additional free-standing support comprising one from the group consisting of: a chair, a kneeling chair, a bed, a gurney, an operating table, and a patient-supporting platform.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the free-standing support is configured to approach a scanner from a first direction and the additional free-standing support is configured to approach a scanner from a second, opposite direction.

11. A method for scanning a patient, comprising:

providing apparatus for use in scanning a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a free-standing support for supporting anatomy of a patient during scanning, the free-standing support comprising:

a holder for supporting anatomy of a patient during scanning, wherein the holder is sized so as to fit within a scan opening of a scanning machine, wherein the scan opening of the scanning machine comprises a toroidal shaped center opening, and further wherein at least a portion of the holder is transparent to the scanning machine; and

a stand, the stand comprising a shaft having a top end, a bottom end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the shaft terminating in a head at the top end and a base at the bottom end;

wherein the head of the stand is configured to receive a mount formed on the holder for attaching the holder to the head so that the holder extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

wherein the base comprises a pair of horizontal bars extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

wherein the holder and the horizontal bars extend parallel to, but spaced from, one another so that the holder, the shaft and the pair of horizontal bars form a u-shaped configuration; and

wherein the base comprises a plurality of casters which permit the stand to move about on a floor, and at least one brake for selectively stopping movement of the stand on a floor, and further wherein the horizontal bars of the base are sized to fit under the scanning machine;

positioning the free-standing support adjacent a scanning machine, wherein the scanning machine comprises a toroidal shaped center opening;

positioning anatomy of a patient on the holder; and

moving the scanner relative to a patient during scanning while the anatomy of the patient remains disposed on the holder which is transparent to the scanning machine.

12. A free-standing support for supporting anatomy of a patient during scanning, the free-standing support comprising:

a holder for supporting anatomy of a patient during scanning, wherein the holder is sized so as to fit within a scan opening of a scanning machine, wherein the scan opening of the scanning machine comprises a toroidal shaped center opening, and further wherein at least a portion of the holder is transparent to the scanning machine; and

a stand, the stand comprising a shaft having a top end, a bottom end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the shaft terminating in a head at the top end and a base at the bottom end;

wherein the head of the stand is configured to receive a mount formed on the holder for attaching the holder to the head so that the holder extends extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the shaft,

wherein the base comprises a pair of horizontal bars extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the shaft;

wherein the holder and the horizontal bars extend parallel to, but spaced from, one another so that the holder, the shaft and the pair of horizontal bars form a u-shaped configuration; and

wherein the base comprises a plurality of casters which permit the stand to move about on a floor, and at least one brake for selectively stopping movement of the stand on a floor, and further wherein the horizontal bars of the base are sized to fit under the scanning machine.