Mobile computerized tomography (CT) imaging system with off-center x-ray beam

1. A CT imaging system comprising:

a housing having a center opening; and

a CT imaging unit mounted to the housing, wherein the CT imaging unit is adapted to scan anatomical objects located within the center opening and generate images of the same, wherein the CT imaging unit comprises:

a rotatable drum assembly disposed within the housing, concentric with the center opening;

an X-ray tube mounted on the rotatable drum assembly and configured to emit an X-ray beam; and

an X-ray detector mounted on the rotatable drum assembly in alignment with the X-ray beam;

wherein the X-ray beam is disposed in an “off-center” configuration, adjacent to an entrance of the center opening; and

wherein the CT imaging system is mobile.

2. A CT imaging system according to claim 1 wherein the center opening is sized so as to be just larger than the head of a patient and smaller than the shoulders of a patient.

3. A CT imaging system according to claim 1 further comprising a transport mechanism mounted to the housing, wherein the transport mechanism comprises a fine movement mechanism for moving the CT imaging unit precisely, relative to the patient, during scanning.

4. A CT imaging system according to claim 3 wherein the fine movement mechanism is configured to move the mobile CT imaging system relative to the patient using indexed movement in discrete steps, whereby to enable slice scanning.

5. A CT imaging system according to claim 3 wherein the fine movement mechanism is configured to move the mobile CT imaging system relative to the patient using substantially continuous movement, whereby to enable helical scanning.

6. A CT imaging system according to claim 3 wherein the fine movement mechanism comprises at least one centipede belt drive unit.

7. A CT imaging system according to claim 6 wherein the fine movement mechanism comprises two centipede belt drive units.

8. A CT imaging system according to claim 7 wherein one centipede belt drive unit is disposed on either side of the patient.

9. A CT imaging system according to claim 3 wherein the transport mechanism further comprises a gross movement mechanism for transporting the mobile CT imaging system relatively quickly across room distances.

10. A CT imaging system according to claim 9 wherein the gross movement mechanism comprises at least one caster unit.

11. A CT imaging system accordingto claim 10 wherein the gross movement mechanism comprises two caster units, each having two caster wheels.

12. A CT imaging system according to claim 11 wherein one caster unit is disposed on either side of the patient.

13. A CT imaging system according to claim 9 wherein the transport mechanism is configured so that the mobile CT imaging system is: (i) transported by the gross movement mechanism while the mobile CT imaging system is being moved across room distances to the patient; and (ii) moved precisely relative to the patient by the fine movement mechanism while the patient is being scanned by the mobile CT imaging system.

14. A CT imaging system according to claim 9 wherein the gross movement mechanism comprises an actuator for: (i) extending portions of the gross movement mechanism below portions of the fine movement mechanism whereby the mobile CT imaging system will be supported by portions of the gross movement mechanism; and (ii) retracting portions of the gross movement mechanism above portions of the fine movement mechanism whereby the mobile CT imaging system will be supported by portions of the fine movement mechanism.