Patent Publication Number: US-2023144883-A1

Title: Systems for x-ray imaging

Description:
FIELD 
     Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein relate to medical imaging systems, and more particularly, to radiographic imaging systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Radiographic imaging systems may be used in various applications, including medical and industrial applications. In a medical environment, a radiographic imaging device may provide a non-invasive means of imaging tissue and bone of a patient. The imaging device may have the capability of capturing multiple images at designated intervals and displaying the images in a sequence to create a single image of the object being examined. 
     The imaging device may comprise a C-arm coupled to a base unit. The C-arm may include an x-ray source positioned at one end of the arm and a detector positioned at another end of the arm. A clearance may be provided between the x-ray source and the detector to receive an object, such as a portion of the patient&#39;s body, which may be irradiated with radiation from the x-ray source. Upon irradiating the object, the x-ray radiation penetrates through the object and is captured by the detector. By penetrating the object placed between the source and detector, the x-rays enable an image of the object to be captured and relayed to the display monitor, where the image may be displayed or stored and retrieved later. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     In one example, an assembly for a C-arm comprises: a casing including a first extension housing a first component, a second extension housing a second component, and a clearance formed between the first extension and the second extension; and a collimator seated within the clearance, with an outlet end of the collimator substantially aligned with a terminating end of the first extension and a terminating end of the second extension. 
     It should be understood that the brief description above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below: 
         FIG.  1    shows an example medical imaging system including a C-arm with a modular imaging assembly, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    shows a perspective view of a modular imaging assembly for a C-arm, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    shows a side view of the modular imaging assembly, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    shows a side sectional view of the modular imaging assembly, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    shows an exploded view of the modular imaging assembly, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  6    shows a side sectional view of the modular imaging assembly with a collimator of the assembly seated in a recessed configuration, according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS.  2 - 6    are shown approximately to scale, although other relative dimensions may be used, if desired. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description relates to various embodiments for medical imaging systems. A medical imaging system, such as the medical imaging system shown by  FIG.  1   , includes a modular imaging assembly, such as the modular imaging assembly shown by  FIG.  2   . The modular imaging assembly is configured to mount to a first end of a C-arm of the imaging system, opposite to an x-ray detector mounted to an opposing end of the C-arm. The modular imaging assembly may generate x-ray radiation that is received at the detector. An x-ray tube insert disposed within a casing of the modular imaging assembly, as shown by  FIGS.  4 - 5   , may be energized to generate x-ray radiation, with the x-ray radiation passing through a collimator seated within a clearance formed between opposing ends of the modular imaging assembly. The collimator collimates the x-ray radiation emitted by the x-ray tube insert and passes the collimated x-ray radiation to the detector for imaging of a subject arranged between the ends of the C-arm. The casing includes a recessed surface, as shown by  FIG.  3   , and the collimator is seated against the recessed surface, as shown by  FIG.  6   . By seating the collimator against the recessed surface, a size of the modular imaging assembly is reduced. As a result, an ease of use of the imaging system may be increased and a likelihood of contact of the modular imaging assembly with portions of a support device supporting the subject to be imaged may be reduced. 
     With the development of medical equipment, the C-arm has many usages in clinical applications such as orthopedics and vascular intervention. With the continuous deepening of the C-arm in clinical applications, the ease of C-arm operation has become a parameter of interest. Often, a conventional configuration of a C-arm imaging system includes an x-ray tube installed at the end of the C-arm, and a portion of the x-ray tube is located on the underside of the C-arm with a collimator mounted on top of the x-ray tube. However, such configurations can lead to potential problems. For example, such configurations can result in increased lateral height of the C-arm. As a result, a low height bench is often used to increase a height of the operator, but the bench may also increase operator discomfort. For ease of use it may be desirable to reduce the lateral height of the C-arm (e.g., to increase an ease of use of the C-arm during patient surgery), where the lateral height is the length of the C-arm in the direction from one end of the C-shaped portion of the C-arm to the opposing end of the C-shaped portion. Additionally, the table is often raised appropriately to increase a clearance between a cover or casing of the x-ray tube and the table, but this also increases the height at which the operator is positioned while using the C-arm during patient operations (e.g., surgery). Thus, it may also be desirable to reduce the total height of the collimator and the x-ray tube to increase the clearance between the cover of the x-ray tube and the table. 
     The assembly for a C-arm disclosed herein provides an internal horizontal modular layout, where a distance from a focus of an x-ray tube insert to a bottom of the assembly is smaller and a total height of tube and collimator is smaller relative to conventional configurations. The C-arm is thus provided a lower lateral height and a greater clearance between the cover of the x-ray tube and the patient support table, which may increase an ease of operation of the C-arm. 
     The internal components of the assembly may include a filament transformer, a high-voltage transformer (which may be referred to herein as a KV transformer), a high-voltage (HV) board, the x-ray tube insert, a bellows, etc. The filament transformer and the KV transformer may be distributed at both ends of the x-ray tube insert, the HV board may be mounted on the side of the filament transformer, and the HV board may be vertically mounted on the x-ray tube insert. The configuration disclosed herein may result in a smaller distance from the focus to the bottom of the x-ray tube insert, and the C-arm may obtain a lower lateral height. This may increase an ease of operation and ergonomic quality of the system. The configuration may result in a middle portion that is lower than the end portions. The collimator may be mounted at the middle position of the upper section of the casing, which may reduce a total height between the x-ray tube insert and the collimator, increase a clearance between the cover of the x-ray tube insert and the patient support table, and increase an ease of use of the system during clinical operations such as surgery. In addition, the modular design of the interior parts may increase an ease of assembly and/or disassembly of the modular imaging assembly. An arc-shape of a bottom section of the casing at one end may increase an ease of performing an overscan. 
     The concave shape of the upper box provides the installation location for collimator. The concave shape may reduce the total height of the assembly and the collimator and reduce the risk of collision between the cover of the x-ray tube insert and the patient support table. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , an imaging system  100  including a C-arm  102  with a modular imaging assembly  108  is schematically shown. The modular imaging assembly  108  may be referred to herein as an x-ray assembly and/or modular assembly. The imaging system  100  includes a radiation source, and in the examples described herein, the radiation source is a modular imaging assembly  108  positioned opposite to x-ray detector  130  and configured to emit x-ray radiation. In other examples, the radiation source may be configured to emit a different type of radiation for imaging (e.g., imaging a subject, such as patient  134 ), such as gamma rays, and the detector (e.g., x-ray detector  130 ) may be configured to detect the radiation emitted by the radiation source (e.g., x-ray beam  132 ). The imaging system  100  additionally includes base unit  105  supporting imaging system  100  on ground surface  190  on which the imaging system  100  sits (e.g., via base  122  supported by wheel  124 , wheel  126 , etc.). 
     The C-arm  102  includes a C-shaped portion  103  connected to an extended portion  107 , with the extended portion  107  rotatably coupled to the base unit  105 . The detector  130  is coupled to the C-shaped portion  103  at a first end  150  of the C-shaped portion  103 , and the modular imaging assembly  108  is coupled to the C-shaped portion  103  at an opposing, second end  152  of the C-shaped portion  103 . As an example, the C-arm  102  may be configured to rotate at least 180 degrees in opposing directions relative to the base unit  105 . The C-arm  102  is rotatable about at least a rotational axis  164  and may additionally rotate about axis  167 . The C-shaped portion  103  may be rotated as described above in order to adjust the modular imaging assembly  108  and detector  130  (positioned on opposite ends of the C-shaped portion of the C-arm  102  along axis  166 , where axis  166  intersects rotational axis  164  and extends radially relative to rotational axis  164 ) through a plurality of positions. 
     During an imaging operation, a portion of a patient&#39;s body placed in an opening formed between the modular imaging assembly  108  and detector  130 , may be irradiated with radiation from the x-ray source. For example, modular imaging assembly  108  may comprise an x-ray tube insert housed within casing  115 , and x-ray radiation generated by the modular imaging assembly  108  may emit from an outlet  111  of the casing  115  and may be intercepted by a detector surface  113  of the detector  130 . The radiation may penetrate the portion of the patient&#39;s body being irradiated, and travel to the detector  130  where the radiation is captured. By penetrating the portion of the patient&#39;s body placed between the modular imaging assembly  108  and detector  130 , an image of the patient&#39;s body is captured and relayed to an electronic controller  120  of the imaging system  100  (e.g., via an electrical connection line, such as electrically conductive cable  161 ). The image may be displayed via display device  118 . 
     Patient  134  may be supported by a patient support table  136 , with the patient support table  136  including a support surface  138  and base  140 . In the configurations described herein, height  121  of the modular imaging assembly is reduced relative to conventional configurations. As a result, a likelihood of contact of the modular imaging assembly with the patient support table  136  may be reduced. 
     The base unit  105  may include the electronic controller (e.g., a control and computing unit) that processes instructions or commands sent from the user input devices during operation of the imaging system  100 . The base unit  105  may also include an internal power source (not shown) that provides electrical power to operate the imaging system  100 . Alternatively, the base unit  105  may be connected to an external electrical power source to power the imaging system  100 . A plurality of connection lines (e.g., electrical cables, such as electrically conductive cable  161 ) may be provided to transmit electrical power, instructions, and/or data between the modular imaging assembly  108 , detector  130 , and the control and computing unit. The plurality of connection lines may transmit electrical power from the electrical power source (e.g., internal and/or external source) to the modular imaging assembly  108  and detector  130 . 
     The C-arm  102  may be adjusted to a plurality of different positions by rotation of the C-shaped portion  103  of the C-arm  102 . For example, in an initial, first position shown by  FIG.  1   , the detector  130  may be positioned vertically above the modular imaging assembly  108  relative to a ground surface  190  on which the imaging system  100  sits, with axis  166  arranged normal to the ground surface  190  intersecting a midpoint of each of the outlet  111  of modular imaging assembly  108  and detector surface  113  of detector  130 . The C-arm  102  may be adjusted from the first position to a different, second position by rotating the C-shaped portion  103 . In one example, the second position may be a position in which the modular imaging assembly  108  and detector  130  are rotated 180 degrees together relative to the first position, such that the modular imaging assembly  108  is positioned vertically above the detector  130 , with axis  166  intersecting the midpoint of the outlet  111  of the modular imaging assembly  108  and the midpoint of the detector surface  113  of the detector  130 . When adjusted to the second position, the modular imaging assembly  108  may be positioned vertically above the rotational axis  164  of the C-shaped portion  103  of the C-arm  102 , and the detector  130  may be positioned vertically below the rotational axis  164 . Different rotational positions of the C-arm  102  are possible. 
     As described above, the imaging system  100  includes modular imaging assembly  108  positioned across rotational axis  164  relative to the detector  130 . In the example shown by  FIG.  1   , detector  130  is positioned at a first end  150  of the C-shaped portion  103 , and modular imaging assembly  108  is positioned at an opposing, second end  152  of the C-shaped portion  103 . A first end  110  of the modular imaging assembly  108  is coupled to the C-shaped portion  103 , with a second end  112  of the modular imaging assembly  108  arranged opposite to the first end  110 . An upper end  114  of the modular imaging assembly  108  is arranged facing the detector  130 , with a lower end  116  arranged opposite to the upper end  114 . 
     Similar to the examples described below  FIGS.  2 - 6   , the modular imaging assembly  108  includes collimator  117  recessed against casing  115  (e.g., seated against a recessed surface of casing  115 ). In this configuration, the collimator  117  is arranged between opposing components of the modular imaging assembly  108 . For example, the collimator  117  may be arranged between (e.g., flanked by) a first transformer (e.g., filament transformer) and a second transformer (e.g., high-voltage transformer), where the first transformer and second transformer are disposed within an interior of the casing  115  and the collimator  117  is arranged external to the casing  115 . 
     By recessing the collimator  117 , the height of the modular imaging assembly  108  may be reduced relative to conventional configurations. The reduced height of the modular imaging assembly  108  may increase an amount of open space between the detector surface  113  and the outlet  111  of the modular imaging assembly  108 , which may enable the C-arm  102  to accommodate larger patients for imaging and/or increase an ease of use of the C-arm  102  (e.g., increase an operating clearance of the C-arm  102 ). Additionally, by configuring the collimator  117  to seat between the first transformer and the second transformer, a heat dissipation of the transformers may be increased relative to configurations that do not include the collimator in the recessed configuration. As a result, a durability of the C-arm  102  may be increased and a likelihood of degradation of the C-arm  102  may be reduced. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , a perspective view of a modular imaging assembly  200  for a C-arm (e.g., C-arm  102  shown by  FIG.  1    and described above) is shown.  FIG.  5    shows the modular imaging assembly  200  with a collimator  600  of the modular imaging assembly  200  seated in a recessed configuration, while in  FIGS.  2 - 5    the modular imaging assembly  200  is shown with the collimator  600  removed.  FIGS.  2 - 6    include references axes  299  for purposes of comparison. 
     Casing  206  of the modular imaging assembly  108  forms a first extension  203  housing a first component (e.g., a first transformer, as described further below) and a second extension  205  housing a second component (e.g., a second transformer, as described further below). The first extension  203  is arranged opposite to the second extension  205 , with the first extension  203  and second extension  205  in the direction of upper end  212  of the modular imaging assembly  200  (e.g., with first extension  203  extending along axis  220  and with second extension  205  extending along axis  222 , where axis  220  and axis  222  are parallel with each other). In particular, the first extension  203  is arranged toward a first end  208  of the modular imaging assembly  200 , where the first end  208  is mounted to the C-arm of the imaging system (e.g., imaging system  100  described above with reference to  FIG.  1   ), and the second extension  205  is arranged at a second end  210  of the modular imaging assembly  200 , opposite to the first end  208 . 
     A clearance  201  is formed between the first extension  203  and the second extension  205 . As shown by  FIG.  6    and described further below, collimator  600  of the modular imaging assembly  200  is shaped to seat within the clearance  201 . 
     The casing  206  may include an upper section  202  forming the first extension  203  and the second extension  205 . The casing  206  may further include a lower section  204  shaped to house an x-ray tube insert (as described further below with reference to  FIG.  4   ), with the lower section  204  arranged at lower end  214  opposite to the upper end  212 . The upper section  202  and the lower section  204  may be removably couplable to each other (e.g., the lower section  204  may couple to the upper section  202  in a configuration in which the lower section  204  is removable from the upper section  202 ). For example, the lower section  204  may couple to the upper section  202  via a plurality of fasteners (e.g., bolts). 
     In some examples, the modular imaging assembly  200  includes one or more ports configured to receive a lubricant (e.g., oil). The lubricant may increase a cooling of one or more components of the modular imaging assembly  200  (e.g., transformers, as described below). As one example, the modular imaging assembly  200  includes a first oil plug  228  and a second oil plug  229 , where each oil plug seals a respective lubrication port. The modular imaging assembly  200  may further include a seal board  230  configured to seal casing  206  at the upper end  212 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , a side view of the modular imaging assembly  200  is shown with the collimator  600  removed. 
     The clearance  201  is defined by a first surface  232  of the first extension  203  and a second surface  234  of the second extension  205 , where the first surface  232  faces the second extension  205  and the second surface  234  faces the first extension  203 . The first surface  232  and the second surface  234  may be parallel with each other and may be perpendicular to a recessed surface  236  (which may be referred to herein as a support surface) on which the collimator  600  sits (e.g., at least a portion of collimator  600  may be arranged in face-sharing contact with the recessed surface  236 , with no other components arranged therebetween). The recessed surface  236  joins the first surface  232  with the second surface  234  and forms a closed end  302  of the clearance  201 , with open end  300  arranged opposite to the closed end  302 . The recessed surface  236  is shaped to support the collimator  600  between the first extension  203  and the second extension  205  (e.g., between the first component housed within the first extension  203  and the second component housed within the second extension  205 ). 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , a cross-sectional view of the modular imaging assembly  200  is shown with the collimator  600  removed. 
     As described above, the first extension  203  houses a first component (which may be referred to herein as a first modular component) and the second extension  205  houses a second component (which may be referred to herein as a second modular component). In particular, the first extension  203  forms a first component chamber  481  defined by walls  482  of the first extension  203 , and the second extension  205  forms a second component chamber  483  defined by walls  484  of the second extension  205 . The first component is arranged within the first component chamber  481  and is enclosed by the first extension  203 , and the second component is arranged within the second component chamber  483  and is enclosed by the second extension  205 . The first extension  203  and the second extension  205  each extend away from the lower section  204  and outward in a normal direction from an interface  485  joining an open end  486  of the upper section  202  with an open end  487  of the lower section  204  (e.g., first extension  203  extends outward in a direction of axis  220  and second extension  205  extends in a direction of axis  222 , where axis  220  and axis  222  are parallel with each other). 
     An interior  438  of the casing  206  is defined at least in part by the first component chamber  481  and the second component chamber  483  (e.g., the first component chamber  481  and second component chamber  483  are formed within the interior of the upper section  202  and are not external to the upper section  202 ). The first component chamber  481  and the second component chamber  483  are each open at the open end  486  of the upper section  202 , with the first component chamber  481  closed at terminating end  238  of the first extension  203  and with the second component chamber  483  closed at terminating end  240  of the second extension. 
     The interface  485  is a joint (e.g., junction) at which an interfacing surface  510  of the upper section  202  is arranged in face-sharing contact with a counterpart interfacing surface  512  of the lower section  204 . In the example shown, the interfacing surface  510  is a rim surface arranged along an outer perimeter of the upper section  202 , and the counterpart interfacing surface  512  is a rim surface arranged along an outer perimeter of the lower section  204 . During conditions in which the interfacing surface  510  and counterpart interfacing surface  512  are in direct, face-sharing contact (e.g., directly contacting each other without other components separating the interfacing surface  510  and the counterpart interfacing surface  512 ), the upper section  202  and lower section  204  may be coupled together at interface  485  (e.g., via fasteners such as bolts, clips, etc.). 
     In the example shown, the first extension  203  houses first transformer  400  and the second extension  205  houses second transformer  402 . The first transformer  400  may be referred to herein as a filament transformer and the second transformer  402  may be referred to herein as a high-voltage transformer. The filament transformer may energize a filament of x-ray tube insert  408  at a first, lower voltage (e.g., 10 volts) in order to heat the filament, and the high-voltage transformer may energize the x-ray tube insert  408  at a second, higher voltage (e.g., 40 kilovolts) to generate x-ray radiation via the x-ray tube insert  408 . In some examples, the second transformer  402  may be the filament transformer and the first transformer  400  may be the high-voltage transformer. 
     The modular imaging assembly  200  includes a first mount  426  configured to support the first component housed within the first extension  203  (e.g., the first transformer  400 ) and a second mount  428  configured to support the second component housed within the second extension  205  (e.g., the second transformer  402 ). The first transformer  400  may couple directly to the first mount  426  (e.g., via fasteners, such as bolts) and may be maintained in position by the first mount  426 . The second transformer  402  may couple directly to the second mount  428  and may be maintained in position by the second mount  428 . The first mount  426  and the second mount  428  are spaced apart by length  432  extending parallel relative to central axis  420  of the x-ray tube insert  408  during conditions in which the x-ray tube insert  408  is seated within the casing  206  (e.g., as shown by  FIG.  4   ). In this configuration, during conditions in which the first transformer  400  is coupled to the first mount  426  and the second transformer  402  is coupled to the second mount  428 , the first transformer  400  is in alignment with the second transformer  402  (e.g., the first transformer  400  and the second transformer  402  are each aligned with each other along axis  216  parallel with the central axis  420  of the x-ray tube insert  408  during conditions in which the x-ray tube insert  408  is seated within the casing  206 ). 
     The modular imaging assembly  200  further includes a third mount  430  shaped to couple the modular imaging assembly  200  to the C-arm of the imaging system (e.g., C-arm  102  of imaging system  100  described above with reference to  FIG.  1   ). As one example, the third mount  430  may be formed by the casing  206  and may couple directly to the C-arm via fasteners (e.g., bolts). Bellows  404  may be arranged adjacent to the third mount  430 . The first extension  203  and the second extension  205  are arranged such that the first extension  203  is closer to the third mount  430  (e.g., closer to the C-arm during conditions in which the modular imaging assembly  200  is coupled to the C-arm) and the second extension  205  is further from the third mount  430  (e.g., further from the C-arm, as compared to the first extension  203 , during conditions in which the modular imaging assembly  200  is coupled to the C-arm). In particular, the first mount  426  is arranged a length  434  from the third mount  430  and the second mount  428  is arranged a length  436  from the third mount  430 , where the length  436  is greater than the length  434 . 
     The modular imaging assembly  200  includes an x-ray tube insert  408  housed within casing  206 . The x-ray tube insert  408  extends in a direction perpendicular to each of the first extension  203  and the second extension  205 . In particular, a central axis  420  of the x-ray tube insert  408  is arranged perpendicular to an axis  224  extending between the x-ray tube insert  408  and a detector of an imaging system to which the modular imaging assembly  200  is mounted. The central axis  420  is normal to the first end  208  of the modular imaging assembly  200  and is spaced apart from the first transformer  400  and the second transformer  402  in a direction away from the detector (e.g., toward bottom surface  306  of the casing  206 ). The detector and the imaging system may be similar to, or the same as, the detector  130  and the imaging system  100 , respectively, described above with reference to  FIG.  1   . 
     The x-ray tube insert  408  is arranged toward bottom surface  306  of the casing  206  and is seated (e.g., mounted) within interior  438  of the casing  206 . The x-ray tube insert  408  is seated within the casing  206  in a position further from the detector compared to each of the first transformer  400 , the second transformer  402 , and the collimator  600  (e.g., the x-ray tube insert  408  is arranged closest to the bottom surface  306  relative to the first transformer  400 , the second transformer  402 , and the collimator  600 ). In particular, the x-ray tube insert  408  is arranged directly below the collimator  600  in a direction from the detector to the bottom surface  306  of the casing  206 . In the configuration described herein, the height of the modular imaging assembly  200  (e.g., the length  310  between the bottom surface  306  and terminating end  238  of the first extension, and length  312  between the bottom surface  306  and terminating end  240  of the second extension) is reduced relative to conventional imaging assemblies. The particular configuration provides collimator  600  (shown by  FIG.  5   ) to be recessed away from the detector and toward the bottom surface  306 , with the collimator  600  arranged between the first extension  203  and the second extension  205 . In this configuration, a length  414  from the bottom surface  306  to the x-ray tube insert  408  is less than each of a length  416  from the bottom surface  306  to the first transformer  400  and a length  418  from the bottom surface  306  to the second transformer  402 . 
     The recessed surface  236  includes an aperture  406  shaped to align with an inlet  602  formed in an inlet end  604  of the collimator  600  (with the inlet  602 , inlet end  604 , and collimator  600  shown by  FIG.  6   ). A length between the aperture  406  and the third mount  430  is less than the length  436  and greater than the length  434 . During conditions in which the x-ray tube insert  408  is seated within the casing  206 , the aperture  406  is aligned with outlet  440  of the x-ray tube insert  408 , where outlet  440  is an x-ray emission outlet of the x-ray tube insert  408  (e.g., x-ray radiation is emitted from the x-ray tube insert  408  in the direction of the detector of the imaging system at outlet  440 ). In this configuration, x-ray radiation output by the x-ray tube insert  408  passes through the collimator  600  between the first transformer  400  and the second transformer  402 . 
     The recessed surface  236  separates the collimator  600  from the x-ray tube insert  408  such that the x-ray tube insert  408  is arranged within the interior  438  of the casing  206  and the collimator  600  is arranged exterior to the casing  206  (e.g., outside of interior  438  and separated from interior  438  by the recessed surface  236 ). In particular, the collimator  600  is supported by the recessed surface  236  and is offset by length  410  from the x-ray tube insert  408  by the recessed surface  236  in a direction of radiation emission from the x-ray tube insert  408  (e.g., the direction of axis  224 , where axis extends toward the detector of the C-arm, such as detector  130  of C-arm  102  described above with reference to  FIG.  1   ). 
     In some examples, the modular imaging assembly  200  may include an insulating cover  422  configured to insulate the electrical components of the modular imaging assembly  200  from each other (e.g., electrically isolate high-voltage board  424  from casing  206 ). 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , an exploded view of the modular imaging assembly  200  is shown. The modular imaging assembly  200  includes a plurality of modular components configured to seat in alignment with each other during assembly of the modular imaging assembly  200 , such as the collimator  600  shown by  FIG.  6    and described above. In particular, the modular imaging assembly  200  includes first transformer  400 , second transformer  402 , collimator  600  (shown by  FIG.  6   ), and x-ray tube insert  408 . The casing  206  of the modular imaging assembly  200  is configured such that the modular components described above may be easily seated within the casing  206  in a pre-determined aligned configuration (e.g., with the first transformer  400  in substantially alignment with the second transformer  402  and with the collimator  600  arranged between the first transformer  400  and the second transformer  402 ). 
     As one example, the modular components may be coupled to the casing  206  by inserting the modular components into the casing  206  and into direct, face-sharing contact with the respective surfaces of the casing  206  (e.g., first transformer  400  may be seated in direct contact with first mount  426  shown by  FIG.  5   , second transformer  402  may be seated in direct contact with second mount  428 , and collimator  600  may be seated in direct contact with recessed surface  236 ). In some examples, the modular components may include protrusions or other features configured to engage with counterpart features of the surfaces of the casing  206  (e.g., first mount  426  may include counterpart features such as indentations shaped to receive protrusions of the first transformer  400 , second mount  428  may include protrusions shaped to engage with counterpart grooves, indentations, etc., of the second transformer  402 , etc.). 
     In some examples, the modular imaging assembly  200  may include one or more filters configured to filter a portion of x-ray radiation emitted by the x-ray tube insert  408 . For example, a first filter  500  may be included to reduce scattering of x-ray radiation. 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   , a cross-sectional view of the modular imaging assembly  200  is shown with the collimator  600  in a recessed configuration. The collimator is seated within the clearance  201 , where the clearance  201  is formed between the first extension  203  and the second extension  205  and is exterior to the casing  206  (e.g., the clearance  201  is outside of the casing  206  and is not within interior  438  of the casing  206 ). 
     An outlet end  606  of collimator  600  is substantially aligned with terminating end  238  of the first extension  203  and terminating end  240  of the second extension  205 . During operation of the modular imaging assembly  200 , uncollimated (e.g., multi-directional) x-ray radiation may be generated by the x-ray tube insert  408  and may pass through the aperture  406  to the collimator  600 . The collimator  600  may collimate the x-ray radiation by allowing x-ray radiation of a particular direction (e.g., orientation) to pass through the collimator to the outlet end  606  (e.g., to outlet  607 ). The collimated x-ray radiation may then pass to the detector arranged opposite to the modular imaging assembly  200  (e.g., arranged at an end of the C-arm opposite to the end at which the modular imaging assembly  200  is coupled) and may be intercepted by the detector (e.g., in order to form an image of the subject to be imaged by the imaging system). 
     The terminating end  238  is a closed end of the first extension  203  arranged opposite to the lower section  204  (e.g., extending away from bottom surface  306  shown by  FIG.  3   ), and the terminating end  240  is a closed end of the second extension  205  arranged opposite to the lower section  204 . The terminating end  238  and the terminating end  240  may be substantially aligned (e.g., substantially arranged along a same axis or plane). For example, length  310  between the bottom surface  306  and the terminating end  238  may be the same as (e.g., equal to) length  312  between the bottom surface  306  and the terminating end  240 . “Substantial alignment” of the terminating end  238  and the terminating end  240  refers to alignment of the ends along a same axis or plane (e.g., axis  218  extending parallel with axis  308 , where axis  308  is parallel with the bottom surface  306  and arranged along the bottom surface  306 ). For example, terminating end  238  and terminating end  240  may each be arranged along axis  218 , where axis  218  is parallel with the central axis  420  of the x-ray tube insert  408 . 
     During conditions in which the collimator  600  is seated within the clearance  201  (as shown by  FIG.  6   ), the inlet  602  of the collimator  600  is arranged such that length  412  between the inlet and the x-ray tube insert  408  is less than a length  226  between the recessed surface  236  and either of the terminating end  238  of the first extension  203  or the terminating end  240  of the second extension  205 . Further, length  412  from bottom surface  306  of the casing  206  to the inlet  602  is less than length  304  (shown by  FIGS.  3 - 4   ) of the clearance  201  between the first extension  203  and the second extension  205 . The length  412  is the length from the bottom surface  306  to the inlet  602  as well as the length from the bottom surface  306  to the aperture  406  (e.g., the inlet  602  and the aperture  406  may be arranged directly adjacent to each other with no other components therebetween). 
     In this configuration, the collimator  600  is supported by the recessed surface  236  substantially equidistant from the first component housed within the first extension  203  (e.g., first transformer  400 ) and the second component housed within the second extension  205  (e.g., second transformer  402 ) in a direction parallel to the central axis of the x-ray tube insert  408  while the x-ray tube insert  408  is seated within the casing  206 . In particular, a length  605  between the collimator  600  and the first transformer  400  as shown by  FIG.  6    may be substantially equal to a length  608  between the collimator  600  and the second transformer  402  (e.g., the length  605  may be within a range of +/−5% the length  608 ). 
     The recessed surface  236  is recessed away from an upper surface  442  of the first transformer  400  and an upper surface  444  of the second transformer  402 . While the collimator  600  is supported by the recessed surface  236  (e.g., seated directly against the recessed surface  236 ), the collimator  600  is substantially aligned with the upper surface  442  of the first transformer  400  and the upper surface  444  of the second transformer  402 . Length  446  between bottom surface  306  and the upper surface  442  of the first transformer  400  is at least 80% of length  610  between the bottom surface  306  and upper surface  612  of the collimator  600 . Similarly, length  448  between bottom surface  306  and the upper surface  444  of the second transformer  402  is at least 80% of length  610  between the bottom surface  306  and the upper surface  612  of the collimator  600 . In some examples, the length  446  and/or the length  448  may be 90% of the length  610 . In some examples, the length  446  and/or the length  448  may be 95% of the length  610 . In yet other examples, the length  446  and/or the length  448  may be equal to the length  610 . 
     By configuring the modular imaging assembly  200  as described above with the collimator  600  in the recessed configuration between the first transformer  400  and the second transformer  402 , the size of the modular imaging assembly  200  may be reduced. Further, by configuring the first transformer  400  and the second transformer  402  to be seated at opposing ends of the modular imaging assembly  200 , a heat dissipation (e.g., cooling) of the first transformer  400  and/or second transformer  402  may be increased, which may increase a performance of the imaging system. The modular configuration of the components of the modular imaging assembly may reduce an assembly time of the modular imaging assembly and/or reduce a production cost of the modular imaging assembly. 
       FIGS.  2 - 6    show example configurations with relative positioning of the various components. If shown directly contacting each other, or directly coupled, then such elements may be referred to as directly contacting or directly coupled, respectively, at least in one example. Similarly, elements shown contiguous or adjacent to one another may be contiguous or adjacent to each other, respectively, at least in one example. As an example, components laying in face-sharing contact with each other may be referred to as in face-sharing contact. As another example, elements positioned apart from each other with only a space there-between and no other components may be referred to as such, in at least one example. As yet another example, elements shown above/below one another, at opposite sides to one another, or to the left/right of one another may be referred to as such, relative to one another. Further, as shown in the figures, a topmost element or point of element may be referred to as a “top” of the component and a bottommost element or point of the element may be referred to as a “bottom” of the component, in at least one example. As used herein, top/bottom, upper/lower, above/below, may be relative to a vertical axis of the figures and used to describe positioning of elements of the figures relative to one another. As such, elements shown above other elements are positioned vertically above the other elements, in one example. As yet another example, shapes of the elements depicted within the figures may be referred to as having those shapes (e.g., such as being circular, straight, planar, curved, rounded, chamfered, angled, or the like). Further, elements shown intersecting one another may be referred to as intersecting elements or intersecting one another, in at least one example. Further still, an element shown within another element or shown outside of another element may be referred as such, in one example. 
     The disclosure also provides support for an assembly for a C-arm, comprising: a casing including a first extension housing a first component, a second extension housing a second component, and a clearance formed between the first extension and the second extension, and a collimator seated within the clearance, with an outlet end of the collimator substantially aligned with a terminating end of the first extension and a terminating end of the second extension. In a first example of the system, the first component is a filament transformer and the second component is a high-voltage transformer. In a second example of the system, optionally including the first example, the system further comprises: an x-ray tube insert housed within the casing and extending perpendicular to the first extension and the second extension. In a third example of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, a length from a bottom surface of the casing to the x-ray tube insert is less than each of a length from the bottom surface to the first component and a length from the bottom surface to the second component. In a fourth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through third examples, the x-ray tube insert is arranged between the first component and the second component within an interior of the casing and the collimator is arranged between the first component and the second component within the clearance at an exterior of the casing. In a fifth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through fourth examples: the casing includes an upper section forming the first extension and the second extension, and a lower section housing the x-ray tube insert and shaped to removably couple with the upper section; the first extension and the second extension each extend away from the lower section and outward in a normal direction from an interface joining an open end of the upper section with an open end of the lower section; an interior of the upper section is defined at least by a first component chamber formed within the first extension by walls of the first extension and a second component chamber formed within the second extension by walls of the second extension; the first component chamber and the second component chamber are each open at the open end of the upper section; the first component chamber is closed at the terminating end of the first extension; and the second component chamber is closed at the terminating end of the second extension. In a sixth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through fifth examples, the clearance is defined by a first surface of the first extension facing the second extension, a second surface of the second extension facing the first extension, and a recessed surface joining the first surface to the second surface, where the first surface and the second surface are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the recessed surface. In a seventh example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through sixth examples, the recessed surface includes an aperture shaped to align with an inlet formed in an inlet end of the collimator. In a eighth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through seventh examples, a length between the inlet and the x-ray tube insert is less than a length between the recessed surface and either of the terminating end of the first extension or the terminating end of the second extension. In a ninth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through eighth examples, a length from a bottom surface of the casing to the inlet is less than a length of the clearance between the first extension and the second extension. 
     The disclosure also provides support for a modular assembly for a C-arm, comprising: a first mount shaped to support a first modular component, a second mount spaced apart from the first mount and shaped to support a second modular component in alignment with the first modular component, and a support surface shaped to support a collimator between the first modular component and the second modular component and offset from an x-ray tube insert. In a first example of the system, the support surface is shaped to support the collimator offset from the x-ray tube insert in a direction of radiation emission of the x-ray tube insert. In a second example of the system, optionally including the first example, the support surface is shaped to support the collimator substantially equidistant to the first modular component and the second modular component in a direction parallel to a central axis of the x-ray tube insert. In a third example of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the system further comprises: a third mount shaped to couple the modular assembly to the C-arm, where the first mount is arranged a first length from the third mount, an aperture of the support surface aligned with an outlet of the x-ray tube insert is arranged a second length from the third mount, the second mount is arranged a third length from the third mount, and none of the first length, the second length, and the third length are equal. In a fourth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through third examples, the first length is smaller than the second length, the second length is smaller than the third length, and the first length, the second length, and the third length are parallel with a central axis of the x-ray tube insert. 
     The disclosure also provides support for an imaging system, comprising: a c-arm, an x-ray detector, an x-ray assembly mounted at a first end to the c-arm and opposite to the x-ray detector, including: a first transformer arranged toward the first end, a second transformer arranged at a second end opposite to the first end, and a collimator arranged between the first transformer and the second transformer and seated against a support surface recessed away from an upper surface of the first transformer and an upper surface of the second transformer. In a first example of the system, the system further comprises: an x-ray tube insert aligned with the collimator and arranged further from the detector than each of the first transformer, the second transformer, and the collimator. In a second example of the system, optionally including the first example, the collimator is substantially aligned with the upper surface of the first transformer and the upper surface of the second transformer. In a third example of the system, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, a direction of x-ray radiation output by the x-ray tube insert is between the first transformer and the second transformer and through the collimator. In a fourth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through third examples, a central axis of the x-ray tube insert is normal to the first end and is spaced apart from the first transformer and the second transformer in a direction away from the detector, and a length between a bottom surface of the x-ray assembly and the upper surface of the first transformer or the upper surface of the second transformer is at least 80% of a length between the bottom surface and an upper surface of the collimator. 
     As used herein, the term “approximately” is construed to mean plus or minus five percent of the range unless otherwise specified. 
     As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and preceded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising,” “including,” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. The terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-language equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or a particular positional order on their objects. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.