Systems and methods for imaging large field-of-view objects
An imaging apparatus and related method comprising a detector located a distance from a source and positioned to receive a beam of radiation in a trajectory; a detector positioner that translates the detector to an alternate position in a direction that is substantially normal to the trajectory; and a beam positioner that alters the trajectory of the radiation beam to direct the beam onto the detector located at the alternate position.
1. An image apparatus, comprising:
a source;
a detector configured to detect an emission from the source;
a detector positioning system, having:
a detector carriage to hold the detector;
a detector frame having at least two separated walls and a series of lateral members extending between the at least two separated walls;
at least one rail having a curve that is defined by a radius extending from a center of the source;
a rotor to which both the source and detector are coupled; and
a gantry housing the rotor.
2. The image apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mobile cart to which the gantry is moveably coupled.
3. The image apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a friction drive to move the detector carriage relative to the detector frame.
4. The image apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:
a friction wheel driven by the friction drive;
wherein the friction wheel moves along a top surface of at least one of the at least two separated walls.
5. The image apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bearing extending from the rotor; and
a rail formed by the gantry;
wherein the rotor is configured to move relative to the gantry via a connection of the bearing and the rail.
6. An image apparatus, comprising:
a source;
a detector configured to detect an emission from the source;
a source positioning system, having:
a source frame having at least two separated walls and a series of lateral members extending between the at least two separated walls;
a swiveling source mount to pivotally hold the source relative to the source frame;
a drive to pivotally move the source on the swiveling source mount;
a rotor to which both the source and detector are coupled; and
a gantry housing the rotor.
7. The image apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
a mobile cart to which the gantry is moveably coupled.
8. The image apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
a bearing extending from the rotor; and
a rail formed by the gantry;
wherein the rotor is configured to move relative to the gantry via a connection of the bearing and the rail.
9. The image apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the drive includes a servo motor and a pulley.
10. The image apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the drive includes a servo motor and a moveable linkage.
11. The image apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the drive includes a servo motor and a servomotor linear actuator.
12. A method of operating an image apparatus, comprising:
positioning a detector to image at least a portion of a volume configured to hold an object larger than a field-of-view of the detector;
utilizing a detector positioner to translate the detector to multiple positions relative to the volume;
positioning a beam such that a trajectory of the beam follows the path of the translating detector, wherein positioning a beam includes using a beam source that is mounted to a source frame having at least two separated walls and a swiveling source mount to pivotally hold the beam source relative to the source frame and driving the beam source with a drive motor to pivotally move the beam source on the swiveling source mount; and
positioning a rotor to which the detector and beam source are coupled to a gantry that houses the rotor.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein utilizing the detector positioner further comprises:
mounting a detector to a detector carriage to hold the detector; and
moving the detector carriage relative to a detector frame having at least two separated walls and a series of lateral members extending between the at least two separated walls.
14. An image apparatus, comprising:
a source;
a detector configured to detect an emission from the source;
a source positioning system, having:
a source frame;
a swiveling source mount to pivotably hold the source relative to the source frame; and
a drive to pivotably move the source on the swiveling source mount;
a detector positioning system, having:
a detector carriage to hold the detector;
a detector frame; and
at least one rail having a curve;
a rotor to which both the source and the detector are coupled; and
a gantry housing the rotor.
15. The image apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
a bearing extending from the rotor;
wherein the rotor is configured to move relative to the gantry via a connection of the bearing and the at least one rail.
16. The image apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the drive is selected from the group comprising a servo motor and a pulley, a servo motor and a movable linkage, and a servo motor and a servo motor linear actuator.
17. The image apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
a friction drive to move the detector carriage relative to the detector frame; and
a friction wheel driven by the friction drive;
wherein the friction wheel moves along a top surface of at least one of at least two separated walls forming the detector frame.