X-RAY GAUGING APPARATUS WITH X-RAY OPAQUE MARKERS IN THE X-RAY PATH TO INDICATE ALIGNMENT OF X-RAY TUBE, SUBJECT AND FILM

• US 3,577,160 A
• Filed: 01/10/1968
• Issued: 05/04/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James E. White
• Original Assignee: James E. White
• Inventors: White, James E.
• Application Number:
  US04/696,730
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• US Class Current: 378/162
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/501 for diagnosis of the head, e.g. neuroimaging or craniography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/587 Alignment of source unit to detector unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 42/047 provided with marking means

Abstract

X-ray photographic apparatus through which reference data is photographically recorded on the film exposed to the X-rays together with the image of a subject being diagnosed. A locator for producing landmark images is also mounted on the subject, so that photographic records of the subject may be evaluated in light of both image distortion due to geometric misalignment and variation in the anatomy of the subject.

Claims

2. The combination of claim 1 including locating means adapted to be mounted on the subject and engageable with said plate members for establishing landmark images on the image surface indicating subject orientation.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said position gauging means are centrally aligned with the image surface to project said ring like image patterns thereon that are concentric when the beam is aligned along said optical axis and peripheral alignment markers vertically aligned parallel to the optical axis producing a symmetrical image pattern with respect to said ring-like patterns.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein each of said position gauging means includes a shank portion received within an aperture formed in the plate member, a head portion connected to the shank portion and an annular disc made of material impervious to said beam mounted on the shank portion between the head portion and the plate member.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said peripheral alignment markers on each plate member comprise corner spheres made of material impervious to said beam embedded in the plate member to define a rectangle having a geometric center located on the axis of the shank portion of the position gauging means.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said locating means comprises a plurality of side members through which said beam may pass, means interconnecting said side members in enclosing relation to the subject, each of said side members having aligning means receiving said head portions of the position gauging means for orientating the subject between the plate members, and marking means mounted on at least one of the side members for establishing said landmark images.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said position gauging means are centrally aligned with the image surface and Project said closed configuration image patterns thereon that are concentric when the beam is aligned along said optical axis and peripheral alignment markers vertically aligned parallel to the optical axis producing a symmetrical image pattern with respect to the concentric ring-like image patterns when the beam is aligned along said optical axis, the peripheral alignment markers on the fixed plate member forming images representing points of least magnification on the image surface and said peripheral alignment markers on the adjustable plate member forming images representing distortion index points.

8. The combination of claim 7 including guide means mounted on the frame and connected to the adjustable plate member for adjustable positioning thereof parallel to the fixed plate member, and scale means mounted on the frame for measuring the spacing between the plate members.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said guide means comprises a slide collar secured to the plate member, at least two roller assemblies enclosed by the slide collar in engagement with the frame, each roller assembly including a channel element having aligned slots therein, at least two roller elements having axles received in said slots, and screw means threadedly mounted by the slide collar and engageable with said axles for holding the roller elements in engagement with the frame.

10. The combination of claim 7 wherein each of said position gauging means includes a shank portion received within an aperture formed in the plate member, a head portion connected to the shank portion and an annular disc made of material impervious to said beam mounted on the shank portion between the head portion and the plate member.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said peripheral alignment markers on each plate member comprise corner spheres made of material impervious to said beam embedded in the plate member to define a rectangle having a geometric center located on the axis of the shank portion of the position gauging means.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said position gauging means comprises X-ray opaque alignment markers in the form of circular rings positioned centrally on said plate members and additional X-ray opaque alignment markers located on the peripheries of said plate members.

13. The combination of claim 2 wherein said locating means comprises a plurality of side members through which said beam may pass, means interconnecting said side members in enclosing relation to the subject, each of said side members having aligning means receiving the position gauging means for orientating the subject between the plate members, and marking means mounted on at least one of the side members for establishing landmark images on the image surface indicating subject orientation relative to the position gauging means.