MULTIFUNCTIONAL SWITCH AND DETECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR A MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20110050403A1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Liu, James Zhengshe, Petrick, Scott William, Langler, Donald Fayette, McBroom, Gary Vernon, Schley, Roy Allan
• Granted Patent: US 8,779,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/384.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/508 for non-human patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A control circuit for a portable x-ray medical imaging system detector. The control circuit operates to reduce power consumption of the portable x-ray detector. The detector control circuit includes a multi-function switch coupled to the portable detector, and a detector control module installed in the portable detector, the detector control module receiving an input from the multi-function switch and based on the received input reconfiguring the portable detector from a first operational mode to a different second operational mode. A portable detector including the detector control circuit and a method of operating the portable detector are also provided.

Claims

1. A control circuit for a portable medical imaging system detector, said control circuit comprising:

a multi-function switch coupled to the portable medical imaging system detector; and

a detector control module installed in the portable medical imaging system detector, the detector control module receiving an input from the multi-function switch and based on the received input reconfiguring the portable medical imaging system detector from a first operational mode to a different second operational mode.

2. A control circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the multi-function switch is configured to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector from a sleep mode to an idle mode.

3. A control circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the portable medical imaging system detector consumes a first amount of power in the first mode and a different second amount of power in the second mode.

4. A control circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the multi-function switch is configured to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector from at least one of a sleep mode and an idle mode to a selected mode.

5. A control circuit in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a timer, the detector control module utilizing the timer to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector from the first operational mode to the different second operational mode.

6. A control circuit in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator, the visual indicator enabling an operator to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector from the first operational mode to the different second operational mode.

7. A control circuit in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an audible indicator, the audible indicator enabling an operator to determine when the portable medical imaging system detector is reconfigured from the first operational mode to the different second operational mode.

8. A control circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the detector control module is further configured to transmit a wireless signal from the portable medical imaging system detector to a remote workstation when the portable medical imaging system detector is configured in a select mode.

9. A portable medical imaging system detector comprising:

an x-ray detector array; and

a detector control circuit coupled to the x-ray detector array, the detector control circuit comprising

a multi-function switch coupled to the portable medical imaging system detector; and

a detector control module installed in the portable medical imaging system detector, the detector control module receiving an input from the multi-function switch and based on the received input reconfiguring the portable medical imaging system detector from a first operational mode to a different second operational mode.

10. The detector of claim 9, wherein the multi-function switch is configured to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector from a sleep mode to an idle mode.

11. The detector of claim 9, wherein the portable medical imaging system detector consumes a first amount of power in the first mode and a different second amount of power in the second mode.

12. The detector of claim 9, wherein the multi-function switch is configured to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector from at least one of a sleep mode and an idle mode to a selected mode.

13. The detector of claim 9, further comprising a timer, the detector control module utilizing the timer to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector from the first operational mode to the different second operational mode.

14. The detector of claim 9, further comprising a visual indicator, the visual indicator enabling an operator to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector from the first operational mode to the different second operational mode.

15. The detector of claim 9, further comprising an audible indicator, the audible indicator enabling an operator to determine when the portable medical imaging system detector is reconfigured from the first operational mode to the different second operational mode.

16. The detector of claim 9, wherein the detector control module is further configured to transmit a wireless signal from the portable medical imaging system detector to a remote workstation when the portable medical imaging system detector is configured in a select mode.

17. A method for operating a portable medical imaging system detector, the method comprising:

providing a multi-function switch configured to couple to the portable medical imaging system detector;

providing a detector control module configured to be installed in the portable medical imaging system detector; and

operating the multi-function switch to enable the detector control module to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector from a first operational mode to a different second operational mode.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising operating the multi-function switch to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector from sleep mode to an idle mode.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising operating the multi-function switch to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector from at least one of a sleep mode and an idle mode to a select mode.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising:

activating a visual indicator to enable an operator to reconfigure from the portable medical imaging system detector first operational mode to the different second operational mode; and

activating an audible indicator when the portable medical imaging system detector is reconfigured from the first operational mode to the different second operational mode.

21. A medical imaging system comprising:

a gantry;

an x-ray source coupled to the gantry;

an x-ray system controller for operating the x-ray source;

a plurality of portable x-ray detector arrays; and

a control circuit coupled to the plurality of portable x-ray detector arrays, the control circuit comprising

a switch device coupled to the portable medical imaging system detector; and

a detector control module installed in the portable medical imaging system detector, the detector control module receiving an input from the switch device and based on the received input reconfiguring at least one of the portable x-ray detector arrays from a first operational mode to a different second operational mode.

22. A medical imaging system in accordance with claim 21 wherein the switch device is configured to reconfigure at least one of the portable x-ray detector arrays from a sleep mode to an idle mode.

23. A medical imaging system in accordance with claim 21 wherein the switch device is configured to reconfigure the portable medical imaging system detector from at least one of a sleep mode and an idle mode to a selected mode.