Patent ID: 7356115

Claim:
A scanning unit for inspecting cargo conveyances, comprising: a stationary radiation source to emit a beam of radiation, the source being supported at a first level; a rotatable platform adapted to support and rotate a cargo conveyance, the platform having a supporting surface to support the cargo conveyance for inspection by the beam of radiation, the platform being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface; and a stationary detector positioned to receive radiation transmitted through the cargo conveyance, the stationary detector being supported at a second level; wherein the platform is movable along the substantially vertical axis during rotation of the platform, the platform being movable at least partially within a cavity defined below at least one of the first or second levels; and the source and the detector are positioned to allow the cargo conveyance to pass therebetween, during operation; the unit further comprising: at least one processor configured to reconstruct helical computed tomographic images of at least a portion of the cargo conveyance, during operation.