Patent ID: 7724412

Claim:
An imaging system, comprising: a housing for a radiation detector, the housing having a window disposed above and in axial alignment with the radiation detector; a variable aperture assembly including: a base ring having a first opening and mounted on the radiation detector housing such that the first opening is in axial alignment with the window, a plate having a first aperture and adapted to engage the base ring such that the first aperture is disposed over the window, at least one aperture blade each operatively coupled to the base ring so that the at least one aperture blade is adapted to move laterally relative to the first aperture, and an aperture drive mechanism having a body and an actuator coupling member extending at an angle from the body, the body being operatively coupled to the base ring and to each aperture blade such that the aperture drive mechanism drives each aperture blade laterally away from the first aperture in response to the actuator coupling member being moved in a first lateral direction, and laterally over the first aperture to define a second aperture disposed over the window in response to the actuator coupling member being moved in a second lateral direction; and an actuator assembly disposed adjacent to the radiation detector housing in proximity to the actuator coupling member, the actuator assembly having an actuator and an actuator arm, the actuator arm having a first end operatively coupled to the actuator and a second end adapted to engage the actuator coupling member of the aperture drive mechanism so that the actuator controls the lateral movement of the actuator coupling member.