Patent ID: 6199233
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
In combination, the invention comprising:a portable scanning machine having a toroidal shaped scanning zone and adapted to take scans in the scanning zone;an imaging system operatively connected to the scanning machine and adapted to store images representative of scans of the scanning zone taken by the scanning machine;a patient table having an upper support surface, the patient table and upper support surface including a radiolucent table extension adapted to support a head and upper torso of a patient residing in a prone position on the upper support surface, the radiolucent table extension being sized to be received within the scanning zone, the patient table and the radiolucent table extension being movable relative to the scanning machine to locate the radiolucent table extension within the scanning zone, and the radiolucent table extension including at least one of the following:an opening located inboard of an outer edge of the table extension; anda radiolucent tool support located along the edge of the table extension and holding a radiolucent head clamp adapted to securely hold the head of the patient in a fixed position relative to the table extension, thereby to assure the accuracy of scans taken of the patient by the scanning machine and subsequently stored in the imaging system.