Interventional volume scanner

• US 6,619,840 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Rasche, Volker, Luetjens, Joern
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kiknadze, Irakli
• Application Number:
  US09/978,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20030072416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 378/187, 378/198, 378/196, 378/193, 378/197, 378/17
• US Class Current: 378/197
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/487 involving fluoroscopy

Abstract

A C-arm X-ray system is disclosed which includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector and a support C-arm mechanism including an outer and inner C-arm. The X-ray source and the X-ray detector are oppositely disposed on the inner C-arm. The inner C-arm is suspended upon at least one wheel construction disposed in the support C-arm. The inner C-arm may be automatically driven annularly outside of a first end of the C-arm support and into a second end of the C-arm support to close a gap normally found in conventional C-arm X-ray devices. Such construction allows the X-ray source and X-ray detector to rotate at least one full 360 degree cycle, providing an C-arm X-ray device capable of performing both fluoroscopic and CT procedures without a need to move a patient under examination (i.e., monitoring the patient in a common frame of reference for both applications).

Claims

1. A C-arm X-ray system, comprising:

an X-ray source;

an X-ray detector; and

a support C-arm construction including a support C-arm and an inner C-arm upon which the X-ray source and the X-ray detector are oppositely disposed, wherein the inner C-am, is disposed within the support C-arm and suspended upon at least one wheel construction disposed in the support C-arm;

wherein the inner C-arm may be automatically driven annularly outside of a first end of the support C-arm from within the support C-arm and into a second end of the support C-arm to within the support C-arm thereby closing the a gap between the first and second ends of the support C-arm and allowing the X-ray source and X-ray detector to rotate a full 360 degrees for performing both fluoroscopic and CT procedures without moving a patient under examination, and/or reconstructing system components.

2. The C-arm X-ray system defined by claim 1, further comprising bearing equipment attached to the support C-arm.

3. The C-arm X-ray system defined by claim 1, further comprising a slideable cover disposed outside of the support C-arm and adapted for covering the inner C-arm when the slideable cover is extended to completely cover the gap during continuous rotation of the inner C-arm.

4. The C-arm X-ray system defined by claim 1, wherein the support C-arm comprises at least two separate partial support C-arms having a common axis of rotation.

5. The C-arm X-ray system defined by claim 4, wherein said at least two separate partial support C-arms are equal in length.

6. The C-arm X-ray device defined by claim 1, further comprising a support mechanism for supporting the inner C-arm within the support C-arm.

7. The C-arm X-ray system defined by claim 6, wherein at least a first end of the inner C-arm is tapered and at least a corresponding end of the support C-arm is funnel-shaped, the funnel-shaped end of the support C-arm adapted for receiving the first tapered end of the inner C-arm.

8. The support C-arm defined by claim 6, wherein the support mechanism includes at least one driving wheel.

9. The C-arm X-ray system defined by claim 6, wherein the inner C-arm includes gear rims and the support C-arm includes at least one cogwheel.

10. The C-arm X-ray system defined by claim 9, wherein said at least one cogwheel is attached to a pair of smaller wheels on one axle.

11. The C-arm X-ray system defined by claim 10, wherein said axle is affixed to a spring arrangement for maintaining the at least one cogwheel at an effective distance from a second pair of wheels.

12. A C-arm X-ray system, comprising:

an X-ray source;

an X-ray detector; and

a support C-arm and an inner C-arm upon which the X-ray source and the X-ray detector are oppositely disposed, wherein the inner C-arm is constructed within the support C-arm and suspended upon at least one wheel construction disposed in the support C-arm such that the inner C-arm may be automatically driven annularly outside a first end of the support C-arm from within the support C-arm and into a second end of the support C-arm to within the support C-cam thereby closing a gap between the first and second ends of the support C-arm to form a closed ring, said at least one wheel construction allowing the inner C-arm to continuously rotate 360 degrees periodically.

13. The C-arm X-ray system defined by claim 12, wherein the X-ray source and X-ray detector are mounted on the inner C-arm.

14. The C-arm X-ray system defined by claim 12, wherein the X-ray source and X-ray detector rotate at least 360 degrees to perform both fluoroscopic and CT procedures without moving a patient under examination, and/or reconstructing system components.

15. The C-arm X-rays system defined by claim 12, wherein the x-ray detector and X-ray source are mounted on the inner C-arm approximately 180 degrees apart.