Radiogram showing location of automatic exposure control sensor

• US 6,327,336 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Direct Radiography Corp. (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Direct Radiography Corp. (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Merello, James K., Gingold, Eric, Powell, Gregory F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David P.
• Application Number:
  US09/587,022
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 378/95, 378/96, 378/97, 378/98.7, 378/108, 378/109, 378/110, 378/111, 378/112, 378/207, 378/162, 378/205
• US Class Current: 378/98.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/08 Auxiliary means for directing the radiation beam to a particular spot, e.g. using light beams
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/542 involving control of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/36 Temperature of anode; Brightness of image power electrical temperature regulating in general G05D23/19

Abstract

A method for optimizing the radiogram image of a subject is provided. The method provides for showing the location of automatic exposure control sensors on the radiograms, along with alignment and targeting projections to optimize the radiation exposure of the subject. By displaying the location of the automatic exposure control sensors on the radiograms along with the image of the subject, the observers can determine whether the radiogram image was taken with appropriate subject alignment. This method also serves as an educational aid in training radiography technicians.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing a radiation exposure of a subject having areas presenting different radiation absorption in an imaging system comprising an imaging panel comprising a plurality of detectors providing an electrical output signal representative of the radiation intensity incident on said detectors, the imaging system further including a radiation source, a display medium and an exposure control system, the exposure control system comprising at least one exposure control sensor positioned to receive radiation directed at said subject, the method comprising:

(a) exposing the subject to radiation for a time controlled by the exposure control system;

(b) capturing with said imaging panel the exposure of the subject as an electrical signal representing an image; and

(c) displaying the image on the display medium simultaneously with indicia superposed on the image, showing the relative location of the at least one exposure control sensor on the image.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a subject positioning device associated with said source of radiation, said positioning device including a visible pattern projected onto the subject for proper placement of the subject relative to the radiation source, and wherein the method further comprises superposing on the displayed image indicia representing said pattern.

3. A radiographic exposure system comprising:

a radiation imaging panel comprising an array of a plurality of detectors providing an electrical output signal representative of the radiation intensity incident on said imaging panel;

an imaging radiation source;

an exposure control system including at least one exposure control sensor positioned to receive radiation incident on said panel, wherein the exposure control system is connected to said imaging radiation source;

an image display device;

an electronic image processor connected to the imaging panel and to the image display device;

wherein said image processor processes an output from said imaging panel to display an image representing a radiation exposure of a subject located between said radiation source and said imaging panel and superposes on said displayed image indicia showing the position of at least one exposure control sensor relative to said displayed image.

4. The system according to claim 3 further comprising a targeting alignment device comprising a visible projected pattern on said subject, aligned with said radiation source, and wherein said image processor also superposes on said displayed image at least a portion of said pattern.