Mini C-arm with increased range of motion
A mobile imaging system or mini C-arm with an increased range of motion is disclosed. The mini C-arm including a mobile base, a C-arm assembly, and an arm assembly for coupling the C-arm assembly and the mobile base. The arm assembly being coupled to the mobile base via a first joint assembly that enables the arm assembly to move relative to the mobile base about first and second axes of rotation. Thus, in use, the first joint assembly enables two degrees of motion—a first vertical pivoting or rotational movement and a second horizontal pivoting or rotational movement. The first joint assembly being coupled to the base via a horizontal axis of rotation that is located at a vertically fixed position so that the horizontal axis of rotation is positioned at a fixed height or distance from the base, and hence a fixed height or distance from the floor.
1. An imaging apparatus comprising:
a C-arm assembly including an X-ray source and a detector;
a movable base; and
an arm assembly coupling the C-arm assembly and the movable base, the arm assembly including a first arm and a second arm, the first arm disposed between the movable base and the second arm and the second arm is disposed between the first arm and the C-arm assembly;
wherein the arm assembly is coupled to the movable base via a first joint assembly that enables the arm assembly to pivot relative to the movable base about first and second axes of rotations; and
wherein the first arm is pivotably coupled to the second arm via a dual axis joint assembly, the dual axes joint assembly including a link arm pivotably coupled between the first arm and the second arm such that axes of the dual axes joint assembly are parallel.
2. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first axis of rotation is orthogonal to the second axis of rotation.
3. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first joint assembly includes first and second pivot joints so that the first axis of rotation is a vertical axis of rotation passing through the first pivot joint so that the arm assembly can rotate relative to the movable base and the second axis of rotation is a horizontal axis of rotation passing through the second pivot joint so that the arm assembly can pivot relative to the movable base.
4. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the axes of the dual axes joint assembly are horizontal axes.
5. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second arm is coupled to the C-arm assembly via a third joint assembly.
6. The imaging apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the third joint assembly is adapted and configured so that the C-arm assembly can pivot relative to the second arm.
7. The imaging apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the third joint assembly includes at least one pivot joint.
8. A mobile imaging system comprising:
a C-arm assembly including an X-ray source and a detector;
a movable base including a platform; and
an arm assembly for coupling the C-arm assembly and the movable base;
wherein the arm assembly is coupled to the movable base via a first joint assembly that enables the arm assembly to move relative to the movable base about a first vertical axis of rotation and a second horizontal axis of rotation, the second horizontal axis of rotation being located at a vertically fixed position so that the second horizontal axis of rotation is positioned at a fixed height from a top surface of the platform;
wherein the arm assembly includes a first arm and a second arm, the first arm coupled to the second arm via a second joint assembly; and
wherein the second joint assembly includes a link arm including a first end and a second end, the first end of the link arm being coupled to a second end of the first arm via a third pivot joint so that the second arm can rotate relative to the first arm about a third horizontal axis of rotation passing through the third pivot joint, the second end of the link arm being coupled to a first end of the second arm via a fourth pivot joint so that the second arm can rotate relative to the first arm about a fourth horizontal axis of rotation passing through the fourth pivot joint, the third horizontal axis of rotation parallel to the fourth horizontal axis of rotation.
9. The mobile imaging system of claim 8 , wherein the first joint assembly includes first and second pivot joints so that the arm assembly can rotate relative to the movable base, the first pivot joint including the first vertical axis of rotation, the second pivot joint including the second horizontal axis of rotation.
10. The mobile imaging system of claim 8 , wherein a second end of the second arm is coupled to the C-arm assembly via a third joint assembly, the third joint assembly including a fifth pivot joint so that the C-arm assembly can rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation passing through the fifth pivot joint.
11. An imaging apparatus comprising:
a C-arm assembly including an X-ray source and a detector;
a movable base including a platform; and
an arm assembly coupling the C-arm assembly and the movable base, the arm assembly including a first arm, a second arm, and a second joint assembly for coupling the first arm to the second arm;
wherein the arm assembly is coupled to the movable base via a first joint assembly that enables the arm assembly to move relative to the movable base about a first horizontal axis of rotation and a second vertical axis of rotation, the first horizontal axis of rotation being located at a vertically fixed position so that the first horizontal axis of rotation is positioned at a fixed height from a top surface of the platform; and
wherein the second joint assembly includes a link arm including a first end and a second end, the first end of the link arm being coupled to a second end of the first arm so that the second arm can rotate relative to the first arm about a second horizontal axis of rotation, the second end of the link arm being coupled to a first end of the second arm so that the second arm can rotate relative to the first arm about a third horizontal axis of rotation, the second horizontal axis of rotation parallel to the third horizontal axis of rotation.
12. The imaging apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second joint assembly is adapted and configured so that the second arm can pivot relative to the first arm.
13. The imaging apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second arm is coupled to the C-arm assembly via a third joint assembly adapted and configured so that the C-arm assembly can pivot relative to the second arm.