Method and apparatus for synchronizing operation of an x-ray system and a magnetic system
First Claim
1. An x-ray apparatus comprising:
- an x-ray source;
a flat panel x-ray detector disposed to detect x-rays emitted by said x-ray source and operable in a cycle consisting of operation of said flat panel x-ray detector;
a magnetic system that emits a magnetic field in which said flat panel x-ray detector is disposed, said magnetic field having a field strength sufficient to disturb operation of said flat panel x-ray detector during a part of said cycle; and
a control unit in communication with said flat panel x-ray detector and said magnetic system, said control unit activating said magnetic system to emit said magnetic field only at a time in said cycle other than during said part of said cycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An x-ray apparatus has a flat panel x-ray detector, the operation of which is susceptible to interference by strong magnetic fields. In order to allow the x-ray system to be operated concurrently with a magnetic system, such as a magnetic tracking system or a magnetic localization system, that emits a magnetic field of sufficient field strength to interfere with the operation of the flat panel x-ray detector, a control unit is provided that operates both the flat panel x-ray detector and the magnetic system. The control unit synchronizes operation of the magnetic system with the operation of the flat panel x-ray detector so that the magnetic system emits the magnetic field only at times that do not interfere with the operation of the flat panel x-ray detector.
91 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An x-ray apparatus comprising:
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an x-ray source; a flat panel x-ray detector disposed to detect x-rays emitted by said x-ray source and operable in a cycle consisting of operation of said flat panel x-ray detector; a magnetic system that emits a magnetic field in which said flat panel x-ray detector is disposed, said magnetic field having a field strength sufficient to disturb operation of said flat panel x-ray detector during a part of said cycle; and a control unit in communication with said flat panel x-ray detector and said magnetic system, said control unit activating said magnetic system to emit said magnetic field only at a time in said cycle other than during said part of said cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for operating an x-ray apparatus having an x-ray source, a flat panel x-ray detector disposed to detect x-rays emitted by said x-ray source and operable in a cycle consisting of operation of said flat panel x-ray detector, and a magnetic system that emits a magnetic field in which said flat panel x-ray detector is disposed, said magnetic field having a field strength sufficient to disturb operation of said flat panel x-ray detector in a part of said cycle, and said method comprising the steps of:
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placing a control unit in communication with said flat panel x-ray detector and said magnetic system; and via said control unit, initiating said cycle and activating said magnetic system to emit said magnetic field only at a time other than during said part of said cycle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An x-ray apparatus comprising:
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an x-ray source; a flat panel x-ray detector disposed to detect x-rays emitted by said x-ray source; flat panel x-ray detector electronics for electronically operating said flat panel x-ray detector in a cycle; a control unit connected to said flat panel x-ray detector electronics for supplying a signal to said flat panel x-ray detector electronics to initiate said cycle, said signal having a frequency; a magnetic system that emits a magnetic field in which said flat panel x-ray detector is disposed, said magnetic field having a field strength sufficient to disturb operation of said flat panel x-ray detector during a part of said cycle at a frequency approximating said frequency of said signal; and a phase locked loop connected between said flat panel x-ray detector electronics and said control unit for causing said signal from said control unit to be supplied to said flat panel x-ray detector electronics only at a time outside of said part of said cycle.
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Specification