Patent ID: 8774899

Claim:
An imaging system, comprising: an imaging machine having an imaging bore and an imaging field of view within said imaging bore, the imaging bore having an axis; a positioning system comprising an animal holding assembly for holding an animal during imaging, a positioning receiver assembly for positioning said animal holding assembly at least partially in said imaging bore, a first stop surface for locating said animal holding assembly and said positioning receiver assembly in said imaging bore and a releasable coupling releasably coupling said animal holding assembly to said positioning receiver assembly; a positioning assembly system fixed within said imaging bore of said imaging machine in a predetermined position with respect to the field of view of the imaging machine for holding said positioning system during imaging and comprising a second stop surface; and said positioning system insertable within said positioning assembly system such that said positioning system is aligned in a predetermined axial position within said field of view of said imaging bore upon abutment of said first and second stop surfaces.