A drive mechanism for a mobile imaging system comprises a main drive geared into a drive wheel for propelling the imaging system, including a base and one or more imaging components, across a surface. The drive mechanism can also include a scan drive that moves the drive mechanism and the one or mor
A drive mechanism for a mobile imaging system comprises a main drive geared into a drive wheel for propelling the imaging system, including a base and one or more imaging components, across a surface. The drive mechanism can also include a scan drive that moves the drive mechanism and the one or more imaging components along an axis relative to the base to provide an imaging scan, and a suspension drive that extends the drive wheel relative to a bottom surface when the imaging system is in a transport mode and retracts the drive wheel relative to the bottom surface of the base when the imaging system is in an imaging mode. The drive wheel supports the weight of the imaging components, but does not directly support the base assembly, which can include pedestal and tabletop support. One or more casters located on the base can support the weight of the base assembly.
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1. A drive mechanism for a mobile imaging system, comprising: a drive wheel;a main drive mechanically coupled to the drive wheel for propelling the imaging system, including a base and one or more imaging components, across a surface in a transport mode; anda translation mechanism that translates th
1. A drive mechanism for a mobile imaging system, comprising: a drive wheel;a main drive mechanically coupled to the drive wheel for propelling the imaging system, including a base and one or more imaging components, across a surface in a transport mode; anda translation mechanism that translates the one or more imaging components along an axis relative to the base in an imaging mode, the drive wheel supporting the one or more imaging components at least in part in both the transport mode and the imaging mode, wherein the drive mechanism is mounted to the imaging components and supports the weight of the imaging components but not the base during transport of the system. 2. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the translation mechanism comprises a scan drive that translates the one or more imaging components along an axis relative to the base to provide an imaging scan. 3. The drive mechanism of claim 2, wherein the drive mechanism can be decoupled from the drive wheel to allow the imaging components to be driven by the scan drive for fine scanning movements while the drive wheel continues to support the load of the imaging components. 4. The drive mechanism of claim 1, further comprising: a suspension drive that extends the drive wheel relative to a bottom surface of the base when the imaging system is in a transport mode and retracts the drive wheel relative to the bottom surface of the base when the imaging system is in an imaging mode. 5. The drive mechanism of claim 4, further comprising: an active suspension system that is controlled by the suspension drive. 6. The drive mechanism of claim 4, wherein the main drive, the scan drive and the suspension drive are compactly mounted beneath the imaging components to allow maximum travel of the imaging components along the length of the base. 7. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the drive wheel retracts for lowering the base onto the floor during an imaging mode and extends for raising the base from the floor during a transport mode. 8. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the weight of the imaging components is supported by the drive mechanism during both transport and imaging modes. 9. The drive mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of casters attached to the base, and the casters are extended and retracted relative to a bottom surface of the base to raise and lower the base and a table system mounted to the base in coordination with an extension and retraction of the drive wheel relative to the main drive. 10. The drive mechanism of claim 9, wherein the drive mechanism is generally centrally located between the plurality of castors in the transport mode to balance the system in the transport mode. 11. The drive mechanism of claim 10, wherein steering is achieved by pivoting the system around the drive mechanism. 12. The drive mechanism of claim 9, wherein the drive wheel and casters are located beneath the base and do not interfere with a user approaching the base of a table system mounted to the base. 13. The drive mechanism of claim 12, wherein the base is less than about 25 inches in width and less than about 6 inches in height when the base rests on the floor. 14. The drive mechanism of claim 13, wherein the base is configured to allow a can to approach the base for mounting a table onto the base without interference from the drive mechanism or casters. 15. The drive mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a rail system that couples the imaging components to the base, the imaging components translating relative to the base on the rail system during an imaging scan. 16. The drive mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a suspension system that reduces or eliminates deflection of a scan plane path of the imaging components during the imaging scan. 17. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is mounted at least partially inside and beneath the base. 18. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism can be decoupled from the drive wheel to allow the imaging components to moved manually relative to the base. 19. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism can be decoupled from the drive wheel to allow the entire imaging system to be moved manually. 20. The drive mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a brake system to stop all motion of the imaging components relative to the floor. 21. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism raises off the floor allowing removal of all or a portion of the drive mechanism from the imaging system for service and repair purposes. 22. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the imaging components are housed in a gantry ring that is supported above the drive mechanism. 23. The drive mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a servo-control system, coupled to the main drive, that causes the main drive to propel the imaging system in a transport mode in response to a user input command. 24. The drive mechanism of claim 23, further comprising a user input mechanism that provides commands to the servo-control system. 25. The drive mechanism of claim 24, wherein the user input mechanism comprises one or more of a handle, a steering mechanism, a throttle, a button and a strain-gauge. 26. A drive mechanism for a mobile imaging system, comprising: a drive wheel;a main drive mechanically coupled to the drive wheel for propelling the imaging system, including a base and one or more imaging components, across a surface in a transport mode;a translation mechanism that translates the one or more imaging components along an axis relative to the base in an imaging mode, the drive wheel supporting the one or more imaging components at least in part in both the transport mode and the imaging mode; anda plurality of casters attached to the base, and the casters are extended and retracted relative to a bottom surface of the base to raise and lower the base and a table system mounted to the base in coordination with an extension and retraction of the drive wheel relative to the main drive, wherein the weight of the base and the table system are supported by the casters in transport mode. 27. A drive mechanism for a mobile imaging system, comprising: a drive wheel;a main drive mechanically coupled to the drive wheel for propelling the imaging system, including a base and one or more imaging components, across a surface in a transport mode;a translation mechanism that translates the one or more imaging components along an axis relative to the base in an imaging mode, the drive wheel supporting the one or more imaging components at least in part in both the transport mode and the imaging mode;a plurality of casters attached to the base, and the casters are extended and retracted relative to a bottom surface of the base to raise and lower the base and a table system mounted to the base in coordination with an extension and retraction of the drive wheel relative to the main drive; andat least three pads that are attached to bottom of the base and sit on the floor when the base is lowered to define a scan plane, wherein the weight of the base and table are supported by the pads and/or casters during the imaging mode. 28. A drive mechanism for a mobile imaging system, comprising: a drive wheel;a main drive mechanically coupled to the drive wheel for propelling the imaging system, including a base and one or more imaging components, across a surface in a transport mode;a translation mechanism that translates the one or more components along an axis relative to the base in an imaging mode, the drive wheel supporting the one or more imaging components at least in part in both the transport mode and the imaging mode; anda suspension system that reduces or eliminates deflection of a scan plane path of the imaging components during the imaging scan, wherein the suspension system allows the drive wheel to conform to elevation differences in the floor while a rail system on the base maintains the plane of the imaging components. 29. The drive mechanism of claim 28, wherein the suspension system maintains a controlled force between the drive wheel and the floor. 30. The drive mechanism of claim 28, wherein the suspension system comprises an active suspension system. 31. The drive mechanism of claim 28, wherein the suspension system enables the system to be transported over uneven surfaces. 32. A mobile imaging; system, comprising: a base;a gantry having one or more imaging components;a drive wheel that supports the gantry; anda drive mechanism that includes a main drive coupled to the drive wheel for transporting the base and gantry and a translation mechanism that translates the gantry and drive wheel relative to the base during an imaging scan. 33. The mobile imaging system of claim 32, further comprising a gimbal that supports the gantry, the gimbal being supported by the drive wheel. 34. The mobile imaging system of claim 32, wherein the base includes a central opening and the drive wheel is located within the central opening. 35. The mobile imaging system of claim 32, further comprising a patient table supported by the base. 36. The mobile imaging system of claim 32, wherein the drive mechanism includes a suspension drive that extends and retracts the drive wheel relative to the drive mechanism. 37. The mobile imaging system of claim 36, wherein extending the drive wheel causes the base to rise off the around and retracting the drive wheel causes the base to lower to the ground. 38. The mobile imaging system of claim 37, wherein the base includes at least three support pads on a bottom surface of the base that define an imaging reference plane when the base is lowered to the ground. 39. The mobile imaging system of claim 38, wherein the base further comprises a rail system that defines an imaging plane, parallel to the reference plane, the translation mechanism translating the gantry on the rail system. 40. The mobile imaging system of claim 32, wherein the imaging system is an x-ray computed tomography (CT) system. 41. The mobile imaging system of claim 32, wherein the imaging system is a magnetic resonance imaging system. 42. A method of imaging a patient, comprising: transporting an imaging system, including a base, a drive mechanism and one or more imaging components, by driving a drive wheel mechanically coupled to the drive mechanism;retracting the drive wheel relative to the drive mechanism to lower the base to the ground;positioning a patient on a patient support mounted to the base; andtranslating the imaging components relative to the base and the patient to obtain imaging data from the patient, while the imaging components are supported by the drive wheel. 43. The method of claim 42, further comprising: extending the drive wheel relative to the drive mechanism to raise the base from the ground; andtransporting the imaging system.
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