System for locating cassettes for producing digital images

• US 6,533,453 B1
• Filed: 06/14/1999
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Norway AS (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Norway AS (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Baudet, Jean Louis, Rit, Vincent, Picard, Catherine, Heidsieck, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Allen C.
• Application Number:
  US09/284,168
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 378/32, 378/114, 378/115, 378/116, 378/182, 378/189, 378/204, 378/205, 378/207, 250/255.89
• US Class Current: 378/189
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2928 using solid state detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 42/04 Holders for X-ray films

Abstract

System for locating cassettes for producing digital images, in a radiography apparatus of the type comprising an X-ray source, means for data processing, a support for the cassette in an active position and a storage space for the cassette in the inactive position. The cassette comprises means for detecting the insertion of the cassette into the support and means for detecting the identification of the cassette.

Claims

1. System for locating a cassette for producing digital images, in a radiography apparatus of the type comprising an X-ray source, means for data processing, a support for the cassette in the active position and a storage space for the cassette in the inactive position, the cassette comprising means for detecting the insertion of the cassette into the support and means for detecting the identification of the cassette.

2. System according to claim 1 comprising means for data processing comprises means for processing the digital signals output by the cassette, and means for controlling the X-ray source.

3. System according to claim 2 comprising means for preventing the introduction of the cassette of standard paraellepipedal format into the storage space, the housing for the cassette in the support and in the storage space being provided with truncated coners and the cassette whose introduction is allowed being of parallelepipedal format with truncated corners.

4. System according to claim 1 comprising means for preventing the introduction of the cassette of standard paraellepipedal format into the storage space, the housing for the cassette in the support and in the storage space being provided with truncated corners and the cassette whose introduction is allowed being of parallelepipedal format with truncated corners.

5. System for locating a cassette for producing digital images comprising a support for the cassette in the active position and a storage space for the cassette in the inactive position, the cassette comprising means for detecting the insertion of the cassette into the support and means for detecting the identification of the cassette.

6. System according to claim 5 having means for data processing comprising means for processing the digital signals output by the cassette, and means for controlling an X-ray source.

7. System according to claim 6 comprising means for preventing the introduction of a cassette having a substantially parallelepipedal format into the storage space, the housing for the cassette in the support and in the storage space being provided with truncated corners, and the cassette whose introduction is allowed being of parallelepipedal format with truncated corners.

8. System according to claim 5 comprising means for preventing the introduction of a cassette having a substantially parallelepipedal format into the storage space, the housing for the cassette in the support and in the storage space being provided with truncated corners, and the cassette whose introduction is allowed being of parallelepipedal format with truncated corners.

9. System according to claim 5 wherein the cassette comprises a detector for detecting insertion into the support.

10. System according to claim 9 wherein the detector is a mechanical relay.

11. System according to claim 5 wherein the cassette comprises a detector for identification in the storage space.

12. System according claim 11 wherein the detector is in the form of a relay magnetically triggered by a magnet fitted to the storage space.

13. System according to claim 5 wherein the cassette comprises a lock for immobilization in the support, a locking detector connected to the support, and means for digitizing the signal from the locking detector in order to send locking data to means for data processing.

14. System according to claim 13 wherein the second support comprises means for preventing the introduction of a cassette having a substantially parallelepipedal format, the housing for the cassette in the second support being provided with truncated coners, and the cassette whose introduction is allowed being of parallelepipedal format with truncated coners.

15. System according to claim 14 wherein the cassette comprises an insertion detector and an identification detector relating to the second support, which are in the form of a mechanical relay and a relay magnetically triggered by a magnet fitted to the second support.

16. System according to claim 14 wherein the cassette comprises a lock for immobilization in the second support, a locking detector connected to the second support, and means for digitizing the signal from the locking detector in order to send locking data to means for data processing.

17. System according claim 13 wherein the cassette comprises a lock for immobilization in the second support, a locking detector connected to the second support, and means for digitizing the signal from the locking detector in order to send locking data to means for data processing.

18. System according to claim 13 wherein the locking detector is an electrical contact.

19. System according to claim 5 comprising a puncture device capable of performing a biopsy and comprising a second support for the cassette in the active position.

20. System according to claim 19 wherein the cassette comprises an insertion detector and an identification detector relating to the second support, which are in the form of a mechanical relay and a relay magnetically triggered by a magnet fitted to the second support.

21. System according to claim 20 wherein the cassette comprises a lock for immobilization in the second support, a locking detector connected to the second support, and means for digitizing the signal from the locking detector in order to send locking data to means for data processing.

22. System according to claim 5 wherein the cassette is equipped with cables for transmission to means for data processing and comprises a handle intended for the cassette to be gripped and for the exit of the cable from the cassette to be protected.

23. System according to claim 5 comprising means for locking the cassette into the support.