Patent ID: 7108421

Claim:
An imaging apparatus, comprising: a source that projects a beam of radiation in a first trajectory; a detector located a distance from the source and positioned to receive the beam of radiation in the first trajectory; an imaging area between the source and the detector, the radiation beam from the source passing through a portion of the imaging area before it is received at the detector; a detector positioner that translates the detector to a second position in a direction that is substantially normal to the first trajectory; a beam positioner that alters the trajectory of the radiation beam to direct the beam onto the detector located at the second position; a rigid rotor for rotating the source and detector relative to an object within the imaging area, the source and detector being mounted on the rotor; and a substantially O-shaped gantry having a central opening for positioning around an object to be imaged, the gantry having an interior cavity extending 360 degrees around the interior of the gantry the rigid rotor housed within, and rotatable around, the interior cavity of the gantry.