Portable X-ray unit
First Claim
1. A portable X-ray unit comprising(A) a main housing incorporating(a) high voltage handling circuitry,(b) low voltage handling circuitry,(c) high voltage and low voltage interfacing means,(d) an X-ray generating tube,(e) a high voltage transformer conductively connected to the X-ray tube and the high voltage handling circuitry, and(f) a filament transformer conductively connected to the filament of the X-ray tube and the high voltage handling circuitry;
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Accused Products
Abstract
By providing a hand-held remote controller capable of controlling, at a low voltage level, all operational functions of an X-ray generating module with all high voltage lines contained within the main housing, a portable X-ray unit is achieved having both mobility and flexibility. This is chiefly attained by employing kVp line selection in the remote controller with high speed solid state switching in the main housing for energizing the desired windings in the high voltage transformer, and digital control of the current in the remote controller for delivery to the filament transformer of the X-ray tube. The filament current to the X-ray tube, which is automatically varied as a function of the kVp level and exposure time selected, is controlled by changing the frequency of the pulse delivered to the filament transformer. The particular current level being employed is automatically determined by the system, to assure maximum power utilization of the X-ray tube within its heat dissipation capabilities. In this way, a low power and lightweight X-ray tube is used with maximum power capabilities and long life. In the preferred embodiment, the X-ray unit incorporates a sealed X-ray generating module, containing the X-ray tube and the high voltage transformers, which is entirely replaceable quickly and easily when necessary, thereby allowing replacement by unskilled personnel.
36 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A portable X-ray unit comprising
(A) a main housing incorporating (a) high voltage handling circuitry, (b) low voltage handling circuitry, (c) high voltage and low voltage interfacing means, (d) an X-ray generating tube, (e) a high voltage transformer conductively connected to the X-ray tube and the high voltage handling circuitry, and (f) a filament transformer conductively connected to the filament of the X-ray tube and the high voltage handling circuitry; - and
(B) a hand-holdable controller operable at locations remote from the main housing and capable of completely controlling the main housing, incorporating (a) low voltage interconnection means conductively connected between the remote controller and the low voltage handling circuitry of the main housing, (b) operator controlled switch means for pre-selecting a desired peak kilovolt level, (c) operator controlled switch means for pre-selecting an exposure time duration, (d) current level control circuitry for automatically selecting and delivering a fixed filament current level for the particular pre-selected conditions, (e) display means for visually presenting the product of the automatically determined current level multiplied by the pre-selected exposure time, (f) informational display means for visually presenting the particular operational state of the main housing, and (g) operator controlled exposure initiation switch means for controlling the start of the X-ray exposure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An X-ray unit for providing controlled X-ray generation for a pre-selected exposure time at a preselected voltage level, said unit comprising
A) a main housing incorporating (a) a high voltage transformer (b) a plurality of solid state switches connected to a plurality of taps in the primary of the high volage transformer, whereby individual activation of each of said solid state switches produces activation of different transformer windings, achieving a different voltage output level from the transformer for each such activated switch; - and
(B) a remote controller conductively connected to the main housing and connected to the high voltage transformer with synchronized alternating current power sources and incorporating an operator controlled multi-positionable switch for transmitting an activation signal to the appropriate solid state switch of the main housing; and (C) activation signal generation means incorporating (a) a timer signal generator controllably connected to the pre-selected exposure time, (b) a zero crossing switch connected to receive the output signal from the timer signal generator and said AC power source, and adapted to provide an output signal when receiving said output signal from the timer signal generator and synchronized by the zero crossover of the AC power sources, and (c) a low powered triac connected to receive the synchronized output signal from the zero crossing switch and deliver said signal to the multi-positionable switch. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification