Battery enhanced power generation for mobile X-ray machine

• US 4,797,907 A
• Filed: 08/07/1987
• Issued: 01/10/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1987
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: OEC Medical Systems Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Diasonics, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Anderton, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mis, David
• Application Number:
  US07/083,625
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 378/101, 378/102, 378/103
• US Class Current: 378/101
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/10 Power supply arrangements for feeding the X-ray tube supply circuits with converters in general H02M; supply circuits for emitters and amplifiers H04B1/16 - H04B1/1623
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/26 Measuring, controlling or protecting measuring X-ray radiation G01T
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/32 Supply voltage of the X-ray apparatus or tube
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/34 Anode current, heater current or heater voltage of X-ray tube
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/54 Protecting or lifetime predictionoverload protection combined with control H05G1/46

Abstract

A mobile X-ray machine utilizes batteries to provide electrical power to produce high-voltage necessary to generate X-rays during a X-ray exposure. A battery charger circuit is used to supplement the battery during the X-ray exposure and charges the batteries during non-exposure periods. By using batteries to power the X-ray generating device, the X-ray machine is capable of being operated from 110 volt AC power sources permitting the machine to be mobile due to its ability of being operated from ordinary house current.

Claims

1. An apparatus having a X-ray emitter and a receptor for providing an image of a X-ray exposure, comprising:

input coupling means for coupling said apparatus to an external power source.

a high-voltage generation means for generating voltage and current needed to generate X-rays for said X-ray exposure;

a battery coupled to said high-voltage generation means for providing battery electrical power to generate said voltage and current by said high-voltage generation means;

a charger coupled to said input coupling means, high-voltage generation means and battery for providing additional electrical power to said high-voltage generation means during periods of said X-ray exposure by converting said external power;

said charger recharging said battery during periods when said additional electrical power is not required by said high-voltage generation means; and

wherein a combination of said battery electrical power and said additional power provide for an improved image from said X-ray exposure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said external power source is approximately 110 VAC.

3. A mobile x-ray machine for providing an image of a x-ray exposure, said X-ray machine having a X-ray tube for generating X-rays and a receptor for receiving said X-rays and providing said image, comprising:

input coupling means for coupling said machine to an external power source of approximately 110 VAC;

a high-voltage generation means for generating voltage and current needed to power said x-ray tube;

plurality of batteries coupled to said high-voltage generation means for providing primary electrical power to generate said voltage and current by said high-voltage generation means during said exposure;

a charger circuit coupled to said input coupling means, high-voltage generation means and batteries for providing additional electrical power to said high-voltage generation means during periods of said exposure by converting external power from said external power source;

said charging circuit recharging said batteries during periods of no exposure; and

wherein a combination of stored power from said batteries supplemented by said external power provides for a higher-powered exposure than alone from either one of said batteries and external power source.

4. The mobile X-ray machine of claim 3 wherein said charging circuit includes a current sensor to detect current being sources from said external power source such that when said current from said external power source exceeds a predetermined value, said charging circuit boosts voltage provided by said charging circuit.