An "Angio Capable Portable X-Ray Fluoroscopy Unit with Sliding C-Arm and
Variable Pivot Point" is disclosed. It is a new Portable C-Arm x-ray
system for fluoroscopy (e.g., angio fluoroscopy) that permits
head-to-foot, or cranio-caudal, angulation without appreciable
degradation or rotation of the recorded image in the segment of possible
views most desired to be used for cardiac angiography, generally between
a vertical beam and 60 degrees to the patient's left side from vertical.
Applicant's preferred embodiment comprises an portable x-ray device of
the type having a C-arm which "slides" through a fixed C-slider housing
or sleeve mounted onto a portable base, wherein: the C-slider housing is
mounted onto the portable base through a rotatable tilt bearing, and the
rotation axis of the bearing and fixed sleeve can be repositioned, within
an arcuate slot in the base, from approximately horizontal, when the
x-ray beam is vertical, to between approximately 60 degrees and 40
degrees below horizontal in a vertical plane.