Patent ID: 7262415

Claim:
A gantry for configuring a positron emission tomography (PET) apparatus comprising: a frame assembly having a longitudinal axis; and a first detector support ring coupled with the frame assembly, the first detector support ring defining a scanning area for scanning a patient and comprising a semi-elliptical upper portion and a semi-elliptical lower portion, the upper portion moveable with respect to the lower portion in a direction approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; wherein said upper and lower portions are each configured to adjustably support at least one detector assembly, wherein the frame assembly comprises a first frame structure for supporting the upper portion of the first detector support ring and a second frame structure for supporting the lower portion of the first detector support ring, and wherein the upper portion of the first detector support ring is suspended from the first frame structure and moveable in a vertical direction with respect to the lower portion of the first detector support ring.