ALIGNMENT APPARATUS FOR IMAGING SYSTEM

• US 20090041201A1
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Wang, Xiaohui, Rogers, Michael K.
• Application Number:
  US12/047,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20090041201A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/08 Auxiliary means for directing the radiation beam to a particular spot, e.g. using light beams
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4283 characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/587 Alignment of source unit to detector unit

Abstract

An apparatus for aligning a radiation source with an image receiver. The apparatus includes first and second light sources. The first light source is coupled to the image receiver and actuable to direct a first pattern of light toward the radiation source. The second light source is coupled to the image receiver and actuable to direct a second pattern of light toward the radiation source. The spatial relationship of the two patterns on or near the radiation source indicates a predetermined alignment position for the radiation source.

Claims

1. An apparatus for aligning a radiation source with an image receiver comprising:

a first light source coupled to the image receiver and actuable to direct a first pattern of light toward the radiation source; and

a second light source coupled to the image receiver and actuable to direct a second pattern of light toward the radiation source, wherein the spatial relationship of the two patterns on or near the radiation source indicates a predetermined alignment position for the radiation source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first pattern extends in two orthogonal dimensions.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second pattern extends in a length direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first pattern is a dot of light.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the second pattern of light is a closed perimeter pattern.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the second pattern of light is an open perimeter pattern.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second patterns differ from each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second light sources have a common housing that is coupled to the receiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second light sources is a laser.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second light sources are aligned with an antiscatter grid coupled to the receiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the grid defines the distance to a focal plane.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the radiation source is an x-ray source.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first pattern of light is a cross-hair pattern.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a timer for providing the first and second patterns of light for a predetermined duration.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image receiver is a digital radiography panel.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second light sources is pulsed.

17. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the housing is coupled to an antiscatter grid.

18. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the housing is magnetically coupled to the receiver.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receiver is a cassette comprising a photostimulable medium.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a timer for controlling the actuation time of at least the first light source.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a photosensor for initiating actuation of the first and second light sources.

22. A method for aligning a radiation source with an image receiver comprising:

directing a first pattern of light toward the radiation source from a first light source coupled to the image receiver;

directing a second pattern of light toward the radiation source from a second light source coupled to the image receiver, wherein the spatial relationship of the two patterns on or near the radiation source indicates a predetermined alignment position for the radiation source relative to the image receiver; and

adjusting the position of the radiation source according to the intersection of the two patterns.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein directing the first pattern of light comprises directing light from a laser.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein directing the first pattern of light comprises directing light from a solid-state light source.