X-ray diagnostic device for producing computed tomography and radioscopic exposures

• US 6,487,267 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wolter, Ingbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Church, Craig E.
• Application Number:
  US09/576,915
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4-20
• US Class Current: 378/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/419 computed tomograph
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/612 biological material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/046 using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]

Abstract

An x-ray diagnostic apparatus allows computed tomography exposures to be prepared in a first operating mode, and radioscopic exposures in a second operating mode.

Claims

1. An x-ray diagnostic apparatus comprising:

a radiation emitter which emits x-rays;

a controllable gating arrangement disposed in a path of said x-rays for gating said x-rays;

a patient table adapted to receive a patient thereon disposed in said path of said x-rays;

a multi-line solid-state radiation detector disposed for detecting x-ray which have proceeded through said patient, for producing electrical signals dependent on an intensity of said x-rays incident thereon;

a rotatable gantry on which said radiation emitter and said multi-line solid-state radiation detector are mounted opposite each other;

a signal processor connected to said multi-line solid-state radiation detector for processing said electrical signals;

a display monitor connected to said signal processor; and

a control unit connected to said gantry, said radiation emitter and said signal processor for, in a first operating mode, rotating said gantry around a common center between said radiation emitter and said multi-line solid-state radiation detector, and operating said gating arrangement to produce a narrow fan beam of said x-rays, so that said electrical signals represent a plurality of projection data sets, and for operating said signal processor to generate a CT image from said projection data sets for display on said display monitor, and in a second operating mode, for maintaining said gantry and said patient table stationary and for operating said gating arrangement to produce an x-ray beam of said x-rays which is incident on substantially an entirety of said multi-line solid-state radiation detector, and for operating said signal processor to convert said electrical signals into a real time, two-dimensional image for display on said display monitor.

2. An x-ray diagnostic device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for selectively switching between said first operating mode and said second operating mode.

3. An x-ray diagnostic device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said control unit controls a size of said x-ray beam in said second operating mode is by operating said gating arrangement.

4. An x-ray diagnostic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a controllable beam diaphragm disposed in front of said multi-line radiation detector, and wherein said control unit controls said controllable beam diaphragm dependent on said first operating mode and said second operating mode.

5. An x-ray diagnostic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a stray radiation grid movable by said control unit to a position in front of said multi-line radiation detector in said second operating mode.