Apparatus and methods for stereo radiography including remote control via a network

• US 6,359,961 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kautzer, Jeffrey A., Aufrichtig, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Allen C.
• Application Number:
  US09/473,283
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/41, 378/62, 378/63, 378/98, 378/98.2, 378/901
• US Class Current: 378/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/022 Stereoscopic imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4464 the source unit or the detector unit being mounted to ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4476 related to motor-assisted motion of the source unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/581 Remote testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/044 using laminography or tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/207 using a single 2D image sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/221 using the relative movement between cameras and objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/254 in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/31 using parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/334 using spectral multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals

Abstract

A radiographic imaging system includes an X-ray emitter, an X-ray detector, and a network. The X-ray emitter is actuatable to emit an X-ray beam centered about an X-ray beam axis. The X-ray detector has a generally planar configuration and is situated within the path of the X-ray beam to thereby generate an image when the X-ray detector receives the X-ray beam. The network couples at least one of the X-ray emitter and X-ray detector to a remote facility. The network provides the X-ray emitter and the X-ray detector with remote services from the remote facility. A corresponding method is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of radiographic imaging comprising:

situating a target between an X-ray emitter and an X-ray detector in an imaging system, wherein the X-ray detector is at least substantially planar and the X-ray emitter may be activated to emit an X-ray beam toward the X-ray detector, the X-ray beam being centered about an X-ray beam axis;

establishing a communication connection over a network between a remote facility and the imaging system;

remotely activating the X-ray emitter to emit the X-ray beam from a first imaging position relative to the X-ray detector, the first imaging position being situated in an imaging plane which is at least substantially parallel to the X-ray detector, thereby obtaining a first image of the target;

remotely controlling the movement of any one of X-ray detector to situate the X-ray emitter in a second imaging position relative to the X-ray detector, the second imaging position being situated in the imaging plane;

remotely activating the X-ray emitter to emit the X-ray beam from the second imaging position to thereby obtain a second image of the target; and

stereoscopically combining the first and second images.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of remotely controlling the movement of any one of the X-ray emitter and X-ray detector comprises holding immobile the X-ray detector is held immobile and the X-ray emitter is moved.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of remotely controlling the movement of any one of the X-ray emitter and X-ray detector comprises holding immobile the X-ray emitter and X-ray detector.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of remotely controlling the movement of any one of the X-ray emitter and X-ray detector comprises moving both the X-ray emitter and the X-ray detector.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of remotely controlling the movement of any one of the X-ray emitter and X-ray detector comprises translating the X-ray emitter and the X-ray detector along parallel and opposite paths.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of stereoscopically combining the first and second images includes the steps of:

alternately displaying the first and second images in rapid succession, and

simultaneously alternately obscuring the view of the first and second images from each of a viewer'"'"'s right and left eyes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the X-ray beam axis is oriented at different angles with respect to the X-ray detector in the first and second imaging positions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the X-ray beam axis when the X-ray emitter is at the first imaging position and the X-ray beam axis when the X-ray emitter is at the second imaging position coincide with the same area on the X-ray detector.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the X-ray beam axis when the X-ray emitter is at the first imaging position intersects the X-ray beam axis when the X-ray emitter is at the second imaging position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the intersection of the X-ray beam axes is situated at least as distantly away from the X-ray emitter as the X-ray detector.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the X-ray beam axis at the first imaging position is oriented at an angle with respect to the X-ray beam axis at the second position, this angle being greater than 0 degrees and less than 10 degrees.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a) measuring the location of the X-ray emitter at the first imaging position;

b) measuring the location of the X-ray emitter at the second imaging position;

c) measuring distances between objects contained in the first image;

d) measuring distances between objects contained in the second image;

e) utilizing the measured locations and distances of steps a.-d. to determine the relative depths of objects in the first and second images.

13. A radiographic imaging system comprising:

an X-ray emitter which is actuatable to emit an X-ray beam centered about an X-ray beam axis;

an X-ray detector having a generally planar configuration, the X-ray detector being situated within the path of the X-ray beam to thereby generate an image when the X-ray detector receives the X-ray beam;

a target area situated between the X-ray detector and the X-ray emitter, wherein a target to be radiographically imaged may be located;

a network, the network coupling at least one of the X-ray emitter and X-ray detector to a remote facility;

wherein at least one of the X-ray emitter and X-ray detector are automatically movable via operator commands communicated via the network to generate in rapid succession;

a first image of the target area, wherein the X-ray emitter is situated at a first imaging position in an imaging plane which is at least substantially parallel to the plane of the X-ray detector, and

a second image of the target area, wherein the X-ray emitter is situated in a second imaging position in the imaging plane.

14. The radiographic imaging system of claim 13, further comprising an emitter actuator operatively associated with the X-ray emitter, the emitter actuator being actuatable to move the X-ray emitter across a path within the imaging plane.

15. The radiographic imaging system of claim 13, further comprising a detector actuator operatively associated with the X-ray detector, the detector actuator being actuatable to move the X-ray detector across a path parallel to the imaging plane.

16. The radiographic imaging system of claim 15, further comprising an emitter actuator operatively associated with the X-ray emitter, the emitter actuator being actuatable to move the X-ray emitter across a path within the imaging plane.

17. The radiographic imaging system of claim 13, wherein:

the X-ray beam axis is at a first angle with respect to the plane of the X-ray detector when the X-ray emitter is at the first imaging position, and

the X-ray beam axis is at a second angle with respect to the plane of the X-ray detector when the X-ray emitter is at the second imaging position.

18. The radiographic imaging system of claim 13, further comprising means for generating a stereoscopic view of the target area from the first and second images.

19. The radiographic imaging system of claim 18, wherein the means for generating a stereoscopic view of the target area includes:

a screen whereupon the first and second images are displayed, and

eyeglasses having two viewing ports wherein each port obscures a respective one of the first and second images from a viewer'"'"'s eyes.

20. A radiographic imaging system comprising:

an X-ray emitter which is actuatable to emit an X-ray beam centered about an X-ray beam axis;

an X-ray detector having a generally planar configuration, the X-ray detector being situated within the path of the X-ray beam to thereby generate an image when the X-ray detector receives the X-ray beam;

a network, the network coupling at least one of the X-ray emitter and X-ray detector to a remote facility;

wherein at least one of the X-ray emitter and the X-ray detector are movable via operator commands communicated via the network in a plane oriented at least substantially parallel to the plane of the X-ray detector, whereby the X-ray emitter may be activated to generate images from different imaging positions relative to the X-ray detector;

a display providing the images from different imaging positions in rapid alternating succession, and

eyeglasses having two viewing ports wherein each port alternately obscures the images from different imaging positions in synchronization with the display.