Extremity imaging apparatus for cone beam computed tomography

1. A method for cone beam computed tomography, the method comprising:

moving a digital radiation detector along at least a portion of a detector path, the at least a portion of the detector path extending so that the digital radiation detector is configured to move at least partially around a first extremity of a patient, the detector path having a distance D 1 that is sufficiently long to allow the first extremity to be positioned within the detector path;

moving a radiation source along at least a portion of a source path outside the detector path, the source path having a distance D 2 greater than the distance D 1 , the distance D 2 being sufficiently long to allow adequate radiation exposure of the first extremity for an image capture by the digital radiation detector;

moving the radiation source at a source position along the source path in correspondence to a detector position for the detector along the detector path during the image capture; and

providing a first gap in the detector path.

2. The method according to claim 1 , where the detector path, the detector, the source path and the radiation source are within a housing.

3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising providing a second gap in the source path sized to allow a second, adjacent extremity to be positioned in the second gap during the image capture, the first gap having a circumferential length sufficient to allow the first extremity to pass through the first gap.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a foot support that is adjustable for foot placement at an angular position that is horizontal, vertical, or at some angle that lies between horizontal and vertical, where the foot support is positioned operatively adjacent to the detector path.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising moving the source and detector along the first extremity or rotating the detector path and source path to a vertical or other angular orientation.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising revolving the source path and independently revolving the detector path, where the detector path can revolve to align the first gap with a second gap in the source path.

7. The method according to claim 6 , where the first and second gaps each extend approximately 180 degrees plus the fan angle determined by radiation source and detector geometry and distance.

8. The method according to claim 1 , where detector path and the source path are rigidly connected or movably connected.

9. An apparatus for cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), the apparatus comprising:

a digital radiation detector;

a first device to move the detector along at least a portion of a detector path, the at least a portion of the detector path extending so that the detector is configured to move at least partially around an imaging position of the CBCT apparatus, the detector path having a distance D 1 that is sufficiently long to allow the imaging position of the CBCT apparatus to be positioned within the detector path;

a radiation source;

a second device to move the source along at least a portion of a source path outside the detector path, the source path having a distance D 2 greater than the distance D 1 , the distance D 2 being sufficiently long to allow adequate radiation exposure of the imaging position of the CBCT apparatus for an image capture by the detector; and

a first gap in the detector path.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , where the detector path and the detector are within a first housing, and where the source path and the radiation source are within a second housing.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 , comprising a second gap in the source path sized to allow a second, adjacent extremity to be positioned in the second gap during the image capture, the first gap having a circumferential length sufficient to allow a first extremity of the patient to pass through the first gap into the imaging position of the CBCT apparatus.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second devices maintain the radiation source at a source position along the source path in correspondence to a detector position for the detector along the detector path during the image capture.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a foot support that is adjustable for foot placement at an angular position that is horizontal, vertical, or at some angle between horizontal and vertical, where the foot support is operatively adjacent the detector path.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a third device configured to move the source and detector along the first extremity and configured to rotate the detector path and source path to a vertical or other angular orientation.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9 where the first device is revolvable, where the second device is revolvable, and when the second device is revolved to one position a second gap in the source path is configured to align with the first gap.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , where the first and second gaps each extend approximately 180 degrees plus the fan angle determined by radiation source and detector geometry and distance.

17. The apparatus according to claim 9 , where the first device and the second device are the same device or the first device and the second device are movably connected.

18. The apparatus according to claim 9 , comprising a second gap in the source path sized to allow a first extremity of the patient to pass through the second gap and a housing for the source path to correspond to the second gap, where the first gap has a circumferential length sufficient to allow the first extremity to pass through the first gap.

19. The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a third device configured to adjust the source and detector along the first extremity or to adjust the detector path and source path to a vertical or other angular orientation.