HANDHELD X-RAY SYSTEM IMAGE VIEWING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20110286579A1
• Filed: 05/24/2010
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Butzine, Jonathan Mark, Hannon, Jeremy Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/98.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4411 the apparatus being modular A61B6/4283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/468 allowing annotation or message recording
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network

Abstract

In one embodiment, an X-ray system includes a handheld X-ray interface device. The handheld X-ray interface device includes a wireless interface for communicating with an imaging system and a user-viewable screen configured to display patient data and to receive user input.

Claims

1. An X-ray system comprising:

an imaging system including a source of X-ray radiation, an X-ray image receptor, control circuitry for controlling the source of X-ray radiation, and a wireless interface; and

a handheld interface device configured to communicate wirelessly with the imaging system, wherein the handheld interface device comprises a user-viewable screen and is configured to display patient data on the screen.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient data comprises patient-identifying data received from the imaging system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient data comprises patient-identifying data received from a hospital or radiology department information system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient data comprises an identifying image of the patient.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system comprises a camera, and is configured to transmit an image taken by the camera to the handheld interface device for display on the user-viewable screen.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld interface device is configured to receive an image representative of an anatomical region of the patient that will receive X-ray radiation during an X-ray imaging exposure for display on the user-viewable screen.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the handheld interface device is configured to receive a user input specifying an anatomy for which exposure is desired, and to transmit a signal to the imaging system.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the imaging system is configured to move the X-ray source to a position required for exposing the desired anatomy to X-ray radiation.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the user-viewable screen is a touch-screen capable of encoding inputs by touch.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the user touch input is interpreted as a multi-point gesture on the touch-screen.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system is configured to process X-ray image data to obtain a reconstructed X-ray image, and wherein the patient data comprises a reconstructed X-ray image.

12. An X-ray system comprising:

a handheld X-ray interface device comprising a wireless interface for communicating with an imaging system and a user-viewable screen configured to display patient data and to receive user input.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the patient data comprises patient-identifying data received from the imaging system or a hospital or radiology department information system.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the patient data comprises an identifying image of the patient.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the patient data comprises an image of the patient or an anatomical region of the patient captured by a camera of the imaging system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the user input comprises specifying an anatomy for which exposure is desired, and the handheld X-ray interface device is configured to transmit a signal to the imaging system.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the user-viewable screen is a touch-screen capable of encoding inputs by touch, and wherein the user input is defined by a gesture on the touch-screen.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the patient data comprises a reconstructed X-ray image generated by the imaging system.

19. A method for viewing patient data on a handheld X-ray interface device, comprising:

establishing wireless communication between an imaging system and a handheld interface device, the imaging system comprising a source of X-ray radiation, an X-ray image receptor, control circuitry for controlling the source of X-ray radiation, and a first wireless interface, the handheld interface device comprising a second wireless interface for communicating wirelessly with the imaging system and a user-viewable screen configured to display patient data and to receive user input;

receiving patient data from the imaging system or hospital or radiology department information system; and

displaying the patient data on the user-viewable screen.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising:

transmitting an image of a patient or an anatomical region of the patient to the handheld interface device for display on the user-viewable screen, wherein the imaging system comprises a camera, and image is taken by the camera.

21. The method of claim 20, comprising:

inputting a user input specifying an anatomy for which exposure is desired on the handheld interface device;

transmitting a signal of the user input to the imaging system; and

acquiring and processing X-ray image data of the specified anatomy to obtain a reconstructed X-ray image, wherein the patient data comprises a reconstructed X-ray image.