Integrated portable digital x-ray imaging system

• US 10,335,101 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Foos, David H., Sehnert, William J., Huo, Zhimin, Luo, Hui, Wang, Xiaohui
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Hoon K
• Application Number:
  US15/167,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20160270746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/482 involving multiple energy imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5252 removing objects from field of view, e.g. removing patient table from a CT image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A method for processing a radiographic image of a patient, executed at least in part on a host processor, initiates exposure in response to an instruction entered from an operator console and obtains radiographic image data from a digital detector that is subjected to the exposure. The obtained radiographic image data is analyzed according to a set of predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability of the image. One or more results of the diagnostic suitability analysis at the operator console is indicated and a listing of one or more corrective actions at the operator console according to the indicated results is provided.

Claims

1. A mobile digital radiography system comprising:

a digital detector;

a cart housing a first wireless module and an X-ray generator; and

one or more wireless portable display devices detachably attached to the cart, each portable display device comprising;

(1) a digital display serving as an operator console to control the cart, (2) a second wireless module to communicate with the cart, and (3) an interface module adapted to;

initiate capture of the digital image in response to an instruction entered from the operator console;

obtain radiographic image data from the digital detector that is subjected to the exposure;

automatically analyze the obtained radiographic image data according to a plurality of predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability of the radiographic image;

indicate one or more results of the diagnostic suitability analysis at the operator console, the one or more results including one or more problems with the diagnostic suitability; and

automatically provide, on the operator console, a listing of one or more corrective actions based on the indicated one or more results.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface module is further adapted to report a clinical condition according to a predefined sequence of steps for clinical evaluation executed on the obtained image data.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface module is further adapted to apply a rib suppression processing to the obtained radiographic image.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability of the image relates to information about the patient.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability of the image relates to information from the technician.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the corrective actions include re-taking the image.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability are specified by technician entry.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein indicating one or more results of the diagnostic suitability analysis further comprises providing an audible indicator.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface module is further adapted to provide a displayed indicator.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the listing is stored in a memory that is accessible to the operator console.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface module is further adapted to report a severity indicator indicative of the diagnostic image suitability.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the interface module is further adapted to report the severity indicator by at least one of the following:

emitting an alarm, emitting an audible tone, displaying a highlighting of at least a portion of the radiographic image data on the operator console, transmitting a text message, and flashing a display element on the operator console.

3. A mobile digital radiography system comprising:

a digital detector;

a cart housing a first wireless module and an X-ray generator; and

one or more wireless portable display devices detachably attached to the cart, each portable display device comprising;

(1) a digital display serving as an operator console to control the cart, (2) a second wireless module to communicate with the cart, (3) a computer processor and (4) an interface module adapted to;

initiate capture of the digital image using the digital detector and the X-ray generator in response to an instruction entered from an operator console;

obtain radiographic image data from the digital detector that is subjected to the exposure;

using the computer processor, automatically analyze the obtained radiographic image data according to a plurality of predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability of the radiographic image, wherein diagnostic suitability of the image is with respect to image contrast, missing marker, clipped anatomy, and grid cutoff;

indicate one or more results of the diagnostic suitability analysis at the operator console, the one or more results including one or more problems with the diagnostic suitability; and

automatically provide, on the operator console, a listing of one or more corrective actions based on the indicated one or more results.