Patent ID: 6059455
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A portable x-ray bone densitometry system comprising:a base portion capable of rolling ambulation by at least one human operator during transportation and selective stabilization on a floor for patient scanning;a patient table for supporting a patient at a patient position, the patient table having:a central portion coupled with the base portion; andat least one table leaf coupled with the table central portion, the at least one table leaf being movable between a space-saving position and an extended position relative to the base portion to extend the table length beyond the base and parallel to a Y-axis of an XYZ coordinate system;a source-detector support coupled with the base portion;an x-ray source, coupled with the source-detector support, for emitting a beam of x-rays to irradiate at any one time a scan line which is transverse to the Y-axis;an x-ray detector, coupled with the source-detector support arm in alignment with said source at opposite sides of the patient table along a source-detector axis which is transverse to the Y-axis, for receiving x-rays from the source after passage thereof through the patient position; anda scanning mechanism capable of moving the patient table and the source-detector support relative to the other when scanning the patient position with said x-ray beam.