Patent ID: 7281848

Claim:
An imaging assembly comprising: an x-ray tube housing; a rotating gantry assembly including a gantry mounting surface, said gantry mounting surface adapted to engage said x-ray tube housing; and a plurality of barrel nut fasters securing said x-ray tube housing to said gantry mounting surface, said plurality of barrel nut fasteners reducing stress in said x-ray tube housing; wherein each of said plurality of barrel nut fasteners including a barrel nut element having a semi-cylindrical shape; and wherein said x-ray tube housing comprises a low-strength, lightweight tube mounting hub adapted to engage said gantry mounting surface; and a plurality of barrel nut chambers formed in said low-strength, lightweight tube mounting hub, each of said plurality of barrel nut fasteners including a bolt element and said barrel nut element, said plurality of barrel nut elements positioned within said plurality of barrel nut chambers; said imaging assembly further comprising: a steel mounting plate mounted between said low-strength, lightweight tube mounting hub and said gantry mounting surface, said plurality of barrel nut fasteners securing said low-strength, lightweight tube mounting hub to said steel mounting plate, said steel mounting plate secured to said gantry mounting surface.