Method and apparatus for triggering image acquisition in a c-arm system by a rotary encoder

• US 20070015986A1
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Wiegert, Jens, Fiedler, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 7,278,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/547 involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device

Abstract

Method of generating an image of an object by means of an imaging system which has a radiation source that rotates relative to the object about an axis of rotation within a defined rotation angle range, said radiation source projecting radiation onto a radiation detector in order to record projection data, wherein at predefinable relative rotation angle positions of the radiation source a signal which is used to trigger recording of the projection data is generated, and also apparatus for carrying out this method.

Claims

1. A method of generating an image of an object by means of an imaging system which has a radiation source that rotates relative to the object about an axis of rotation within a limited rotation angle range, said radiation source projecting radiation onto a radiation detector in order to record projection data, wherein at predefinable relative rotation angle positions of the radiation source a signal which is used to trigger recording of the projection data is generated.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotation angle positions are fixedly predefined.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotation angle positions have the same mutual angular spacings.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal is generated mechanically, electrically, optically and/or electromagnetically.

5. An apparatus for generating an image of an object, which has a radiation source that rotates relative to the object about an axis of rotation within a limited rotation angle range, said radiation source projecting radiation onto a radiation detector in order to record projection data, wherein the rotating radiation source is coupled to angle sensors which at predefinable relative rotation angle positions of the radiation source generate a signal for triggering recording of the projection data.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the radiation source is an X-ray radiation source for cone beam imaging which is arranged on a C-arm, wherein the angle sensors are integrated in a pivot bearing of the C-arm.

7. An The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the angle sensors are mechanical, electrical, optical and/or electromechanical angle sensors.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rotation angle positions are fixedly predefined.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rotation angle positions have the same mutual angular spacings.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein only a portion of the angle sensors generate a signal for triggering recording of the projection data.

11. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a c-arm that rotates within a limited rotation angle range about an object to be imaged;

a radiation source coupled to said c-arm, said radiation source projecting radiation onto a radiation detector in order to record projection data; and

a plurality of rotation angle sensors, comprising one or more fixed angle sensors and one or more moving angle sensors, wherein a signal for recording of the projection data is generated when select rotation angle sensors align.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the rotation angle sensors are mechanical, electrical, optical and/or electromechanical angle sensors.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the fixed angle sensors or the moving angular sensors are positioned with the same angular spacings.