Patent ID: 6961606

Claim:
A medical imaging apparatus, comprising: a first imaging device for obtaining one or more images of a subject patient, wherein at least a portion of the first imaging device has a first bore through which a patient axially translates during formation of one or more images by the device; a second imaging device for obtaining one or more images of the subject patient, wherein at least a portion of the second imaging device has a second bore through which a patient axially translates during formation of the images by the device; the first and second imaging devices, each secured by a housing in a fixed position relative to the other during the formation of one or more images of the subject patient, wherein the bore of each device is substantially aligned axially with the bore of the other; and an actuating mechanism for moving the first and second imaging devices between an adjoining position, wherein a substantially continuous bore is formed by the first and second bores, and an open position, wherein the first and second bores are separated by a distance sufficient to allow direct access by a caregiver to a subject patient, positioned between the first and second bores.