C-arm imaging system with multiple automated independent rotational axes

1. An X-ray imaging system, comprising:

an X-ray radiation source;

an X-ray detector;

a C-arm having the X-ray radiation source disposed on a first end and the X-ray detector disposed on a second end opposite the first end;

a base coupled to the C-arm;

a motorized system configured to rotate the C-arm about three different rotational axes;

a C-arm rotation device; and

a horizontal arm coupled to the base and an L-arm having a first end coupled to the horizontal arm and a second end coupled to the C-arm via the C-arm rotation device, wherein the L-arm is configured to rotate about the horizontal arm to enable rotation of the C-arm in the lateral direction, and the C-arm rotation device is configured both to rotate about the second end of the L-arm to enable rotation of the C-arm about a location where the C-arm is coupled to the base and to rotate in the orbital direction;

wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by rotating the C-arm about the three different rotational axes at both a same time and rate.

2. The X-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in an orbital direction relative to a location where the C-arm is coupled to the base.

3. The X-ray imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by both rotating the C-arm 180 degrees in a lateral direction relative to the base and rotating the C-arm 180 degrees about the location where the C-arm is coupled to the base.

4. The X-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by rotating the C-arm about the three different rotational axes at pre-defined non-linear rates.

5. The X-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by rotating the C-arm about the three different rotational axes at different times.

6. An X-ray imaging system, comprising:

an X-ray radiation source;

an X-ray detector;

a C-arm having the X-ray radiation source disposed on a first end and the X-ray detector disposed on a second end opposite the first end;

a base coupled to the C-arm; and

a motorized system configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in an orbital direction relative to where the C-arm is coupled to the base, wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by both rotating the C-arm 180 degrees in a lateral direction relative to the base and rotating the C-arm 180 degrees about a location where the C-arm is coupled to the base, and wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by rotating the C-arm about three different rotational axes at both a same time and rate.

7. The X-ray imaging system of claim 6 , comprising a C-arm rotation device, a horizontal arm coupled to the base, and an L-arm having a first end coupled to the horizontal arm and a second end coupled to the C-arm via the C-arm rotation device, wherein the L-arm is configured to rotate about the horizontal arm to enable rotation of the C-arm in the lateral direction, and the C-arm rotation device is configured both to rotate about the second end of the L-arm to enable rotation of the C-arm about the location where the C-arm is coupled to the base and to rotate in the orbital direction.

8. The X-ray imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by rotating the C-arm about the three different rotational axes at pre-defined non-linear rates.

9. The X-ray imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction by rotating the C-arm about the three different rotational axes at different times.

10. An X-ray imaging system, comprising:

an X-ray radiation source;

an X-ray detector;

a C-arm having the X-ray radiation source disposed on a first end and the X-ray detector disposed on a second end opposite the first end;

a base;

a horizontal arm coupled to the base;

an L-arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the horizontal arm;

a C-arm rotation device configured to enable the C-arm to rotate in an orbital direction relative to the C-arm rotation device, wherein the C-arm rotation device is coupled to the second end of the L-arm; and

a motorized system configured to rotate the C-arm about three different rotational axes;

wherein a first rotational axis of the three different rotational axes comprises an orbital axis defined by rotation of the C-arm in the orbital direction relative to where the C-arm is coupled to the C-arm rotation device, a second rotational axis of the three different rotational axes comprises a lateral axis defined by rotation of the L-arm about the horizontal arm, and a third rotational axis of the three different rotational axes comprises a flip-flop axis defined by rotation of the C-arm rotation device about the second end of the L-arm.

11. The X-ray imaging system of claim 10 , wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction about the orbital axis.

12. The X-ray imaging system of claim 11 , wherein the motorized system is configured to rotate the C-arm at least 180 degrees in the orbital direction about the orbital axis by both rotating the C-arm 180 degrees about the lateral axis and rotating the C-arm 180 degrees about the flip-flop axis.

13. The X-ray imaging system of claim 10 , wherein the base comprises a wheeled base, and the X-ray imaging system comprises a mobile X-ray imaging system.