Automatic grid parameter logging for digital radiography

• US 6,244,507 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Deer, David D., Garland, Harry T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A.
• Application Number:
  US09/344,214
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385, 235/375, 378/162, 378/210, 378/154
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/06 Diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and digital radiography system (100) detect type information concerning an anti-scatter grid (107), and store the information in a header (129) of a file (127) containing a digital x-ray image. A gleaning module (101) gleans relevant information from an identifier (103) on a physical medium (105) containing the anti-scatter grid (107). A retrieval module (121) retrieves an entry (123) corresponding to information gleaned from the identifier (103) and containing information concerning the anti-scatter grid (107) from a look-up table (119) in a computer memory (115). A storage module (131) stores the information in a header (129) of a file (127) containing the digital x-ray image. Additionally, a comparison module (401) compares type information concerning the identified anti-scatter grid (107) with type information for a correct anti-scatter grid for a procedure being performed. When the anti-scatter grid (107) being used is incorrect for the procedure, an alerting module (403) alerts an operator of the digital radiography system (100) of the error.

Claims

1. In a digital radiography system, a method for detecting type information concerning an anti-scatter grid, the method comprising:

gleaning relevant information from an identifier on a physical medium containing the anti-scatter grid;

accessing a look-up table in a computer memory, the look-up table containing known possible anti-scatter grid types;

retrieving an entry corresponding to relevant information gleaned from the identifier and containing information concerning the anti-scatter grid from the look-up table;

creating a digital file containing a digital x-ray image, the digital x-ray image having been created by utilizing the anti-scatter grid; and

storing information concerning the anti-scatter grid in a header of the digital file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier consists of a series of notches varying from surrounding medium, each notch being interpreted as a bit with a state of 0 or 1.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the look-up table is stored in a computer memory at a location physically remote from the digital radiography system, the computer memory being accessible to the digital radiography system through conventional communications means.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital radiography system displays the information concerning the anti-scatter grid to an operator.

5. In a digital radiography system including a non-replaceable anti-scatter grid, a method for storing type information, said method comprising:

creating a digital file containing a digital x-ray image, the digital x-ray image having been created by utilizing the anti-scatter grid; and

storing information concerning the anti-scatter grid in a header of the digital file.

6. A computer readable medium containing a computer program product for detecting type information concerning an anti-scatter grid in a digital radiography system, the computer program product comprising:

program code for gleaning relevant information from an identifier on a physical medium containing the anti-scatter grid;

program code for accessing a look-up table in a computer memory, the look-up table containing known possible anti-scatter grid types;

program code for retrieving an entry corresponding to relevant information gleaned from the identifier and containing information concerning the anti-scatter grid from the look-up table;

program code for creating a digital file containing a digital x-ray image, the digital x-ray image having been created by utilizing the anti-scatter grid; and

program code for storing information concerning the anti-scatter grid in a header of the digital file.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the computer program product comprises program code for displaying information concerning the anti-scatter grid to an operator of the digital radiography system.

8. A computer readable medium containing a computer program product for storing type information concerning a non-replaceable anti-scatter grid in a digital radiography system, the computer program product comprising:

program code for creating a digital file containing a digital x-ray image, the digital x-ray image having been created by utilizing the anti-scatter grid; and

program code for storing information concerning the anti-scatter grid in a header of the digital file.

9. A digital radiography system for detecting type information concerning an anti-scatter grid, the system comprising:

a gleaning module for gleaning relevant information from an identifier on a physical medium containing the anti-scatter grid;

an accessing module, coupled to the gleaning module, for accessing a look-up table in a computer memory, the look up table containing known possible anti-scatter grid types;

a retrieval module, coupled to the accessing module, for retrieving an entry corresponding to relevant information gleaned from the identifier and containing information concerning the anti-scatter grid from the look-up table;

a file creation module for creating a digital file containing a digital x-ray image, the digital x-ray image having been created by utilizing the anti-scatter grid; and

a storage module, coupled to the file creation module, for storing information concerning the anti-scatter grid in a header of the digital file.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a display module for displaying information concerning the anti-scatter grid to an operator of the digital radiography system.

11. A digital radiography system for storing type information concerning a non-replaceable anti-scatter grid, the system comprising:

a file creation module for creating a digital file containing a digital x-ray image, the digital x-ray image having been created by utilizing the anti-scatter grid; and

a storage module, coupled to the file creation module, for storing information concerning the anti-scatter grid in a header of the digital file.

12. In a digital radiography system, a method for detecting type information concerning an anti-scatter grid, the method comprising:

gleaning relevant information from an identifier on a physical medium containing the anti-scatter grid;

accessing a look-up table in a computer memory, the look-up table containing known possible anti-scatter grid types;

retrieving an entry corresponding to relevant information gleaned from the identifier and containing information concerning the anti-scatter grid from the look-up table;

creating a digital file containing a digital x-ray image, the digital x-ray image having been created by utilizing the anti-scatter grid;

storing information concerning the anti-scatter grid in a header of the digital file;

comparing type information concerning the anti-scatter grid with type information for an appropriate anti-scatter grid for a procedure being performed; and

alerting an operator when an inappropriate anti-scatter grid is being used.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the identifier comprises a series of notches varying from surrounding medium, each notch being interpreted as a bit with a state of 0 or 1.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the look-up table is stored in a computer memory at a location physically remote from the digital radiography system, the computer memory being accessible to the digital radiography system through conventional communications means.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the digital radiography system displays information concerning the anti-scatter grid to an operator.

16. A computer readable medium containing a computer program product for detecting type information concerning an anti-scatter grid in a digital radiography system, the computer program product comprising:

program code for gleaning relevant information from an identifier on a physical medium containing the anti-scatter grid;

program code for accessing a look-up table in a computer memory, the look-up table containing known possible anti-scatter grid types;

program code for retrieving an entry corresponding to relevant information gleaned from the identifier and containing information concerning the anti-scatter grid from the look-up table;

program code for creating a digital file containing a digital x-ray image, the digital x-ray image having been created by utilizing the anti-scatter grid;

program code for storing information concerning the anti-scatter grid in a header of the digital file;

program code for comparing type information concerning the anti-scatter grid with type information for an appropriate anti-scatter grid for a procedure being performed; and

program code for alerting an operator of the digital radiography system when an inappropriate anti-scatter grid is being used.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein:

the computer program product comprises program code for displaying information concerning the anti-scatter grid to an operator of the digital radiography system.

18. A digital radiography system for detecting type information concerning an anti-scatter grid, the system comprising:

a gleaning module for gleaning relevant information from an identifier on a physical medium containing the anti-scatter grid;

an accessing module, coupled to the gleaning module, for accessing a look-up table in a computer memory, the look up table containing known possible anti-scatter grid types;

a retrieval module, coupled to the accessing module, for retrieving an entry corresponding to relevant information gleaned from the identifier and containing information concerning the anti-scatter grid from the look-up table;

a creation module, coupled to the retrieval module, for creating a digital file containing a digital x-ray image, the digital x-ray image having been created by utilizing the anti-scatter grid;

a storage module, coupled to the creation module, for storing information concerning the anti-scatter grid in a header of the digital file;

a comparison module, coupled to the storage module, for comparing type information concerning the anti-scatter grid with type information for an appropriate anti-scatter grid for a procedure being performed; and

an alerting module, coupled to the comparison module, for alerting an operator of the digital radiography system when an inappropriate anti-scatter grid is being used.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a display module for displaying information concerning the anti-scatter grid to an operator of the digital radiography system.