US5047641A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Scintillation camera with automatically counterbalanced gantry
Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc
•
Filing: 1990-03-14
•
Granted: 1991-09-10
•
Expires: 2010-03-14
Abstract
Abstract The gantry of a scintillation camera is automatically counterbalanced about two parallel axes. One axis passes through the detector. The other axis is a tilt axis about which a gantry structure which supports the detector may be tilted. The gantry is also counterbalanced about an axis of rotation. A collimator may be detachably secured to the detector and automatically identified. The gantry is automatically adjusted to counterbalance it in accordance with the collimator which has been attached to the detector. In the preferred embodiment, the gantry is counterbalanced even when no collimator is secured to the detector.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicolaas C. Besseling
- 👤 Albrecht H. Enders
- 👤 George J. Hanz
- 👤 Hendrik Koopmans
- 👤 David A. Yunder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/44; A61B6/4429; A61B6/447; A61B6/42; A61B6/4208; A61B6/4258; G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/161; G01T1/164; G01T1/1641; G01T1/1648; A61B6/02; A61B6/03; A61B6/037
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A scintillation camera, comprising: a gantry; a detector secured to the gantry; means for detachably securing a collimator to the detector; means for counterbalancing the gantry; means for identifying a collimator which has been secured to the detector; and control means operatively connected to said counterbalancing means and said identifying means and causing said counterbalancing means to be automatically adjusted so as to appropriately counterbalance the gantry in accordance with the collimator which has been secured to the detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A scintillation camera, comprising: a gantry; a detector secured to the gantry; means for detachably securing a collimator to the detector; means for counterbalancing the gantry; means for identifying a collimator which has been secured to the detector; and control means operatively connected to said counterbalancing means and said identifying means and causing said counterbalancing means to be automatically adjusted so as to appropriately counterbalance the gantry in accordance with the collimator which has been secured to the detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The camera of claim 1, wherein said counterbalancing means counterbalances the gantry with respect to two axes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The camera of claim 2, wherein said counterbalancing means counterbalances the gantry with respect to two parallel axes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The camera of claim 3, wherein one of said axes passes through the detector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The camera of claim 2, wherein the gantry is rotatable about a third axis of rotation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The camera of claim 1, further including at least one collimator which is adapted for detachable securement to the detector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The camera of claim 1, wherein said identifying means comprises an array of Hall effect sensors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The camera of claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a computerized controller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The camera of claim 1, wherein the detector is secured to the gantry in such a manner as to be pivotable about an axis and said counterbalancing means counterbalances the detector with respect to said axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The camera of claim 9, wherein said counterbalancing means moves the detector and any collimator attached thereto in such a manner as to align a center of gravity of said detector and collimator with said axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The camera of claim 1, wherein the detector is secured to an end of a tiltable gantry structure and said counterbalancing means counterbalances said tiltable gantry structure about a tilt axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The camera of claim 11, wherein said tiltable gantry structure comprises a pair of hollow beams and said counterbalancing means comprises a pair of weights which are contained in and shiftable within said pair of beams.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The camera of claim 11, wherein the gantry structure is rotatable about an axis of rotation and is counterbalanced about said axis of rotation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The camera of claim 1, wherein said control means operates in such a manner that when no collimator is secured to the detector, the counterbalancing means is automatically adjusted so as to appropriately counterbalance the gantry.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4692625A
Cited
US4774412A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-09 | 1995-03-11 | 1995-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-09 | 1999-03-11 | 1999-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-09 | 2003-03-11 | 2003-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |