X-ray apparatus having portable visual indicator

• US 7,502,444 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Marar, Rajeev R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun; Jurie
• Application Number:
  US11/753,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20080292056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 378/91, 378/98, 378/98.2, 378/98.3, 378/98.5, 378/101, 378/102, 378114-118, 378/204
• US Class Current: 378/98
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/10 Safety means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means

Abstract

In embodiments, x-ray apparatus for imaging a subject, the x-ray apparatus having a base assembly and an x-ray source supported by the base assembly, the x-ray source being operable for generating x-ray energy, the x-ray apparatus having a control system for controlling operation of the x-ray source, the x-ray apparatus including: a detector for detecting a monitored condition, the detector generating detector output; the control system receiving the detector output; and the control system including a portable visual indicator independent of the base assembly and portable in relation thereto, the portable visual indicator displaying a state of the monitored condition.

Claims

1. X-ray apparatus for imaging a subject, the X-ray apparatus having a base assembly and an X-ray source supported by the base assembly, the X-ray source being operable for generating X-ray energy, the X-ray apparatus having a control system for controlling operation of the X-ray source, the X -ray apparatus comprising:

a plurality of detectors, each detector operable to detect a respective monitored condition and operable to generate detector output;

the control system receiving the detector output; and

the control system including a portable visual indicator

independent of the base assembly and portable in relation thereto, the portable visual indicator displaying a state of the monitored condition wherein the monitored condition includes all of the following;

apparatus conditions, subject conditions, environment conditions, procedure information and subject information.

2. X-ray apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising:

the portable visual indicator being manually carried by the operator.

3. X-ray apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising:

the portable visual indicator includes a display driver stored in a memory and executable by a suitable processor connected to drive operation of a LCD visual display.

4. X-ray apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising:

the control system including a visual representation displayed on the portable visual indicator, the visual representation indicating the state of the monitored condition.

5. X-ray apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising:

the control system including a control for selectively displaying different visual representations from among a plurality of the same.

6. X-ray apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising:

the control system including an exposure prep and hold switch selectively operable by the operator for initiating operation of the X-ray source, the exposure prep and hold switch being supported by the portable visual indicator.

7. X-ray apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising:

the control system including a remote connection operable to provide communication between the portable visual indicator and the base assembly.

8. X-ray apparatus according to claim 7 and comprising:

the remote connection including a flexible hardwired cable connected between the portable visual indicator and the base assembly.

9. X-ray apparatus according to claim 7 and comprising:

the remote connection including a wireless connection operable to provide communication between elements of the control system supported by the portable visual indicator and elements of the control system supported by the base assembly.

10. An X-ray apparatus having a base assembly, the X-ray apparatus comprising:

a control system including a portable visual indicator carried by an operator and portable in relation to the base assembly, the portable visual indicator having a portable visual display;

the control system including a visual representation of at least one condition displayed on the portable visual display wherein the at least one condition includes all of the following;

apparatus conditions, subject conditions, environment conditions, procedure information and subject information; and

the control system including a control for selectively displaying different visual representations from among a plurality of the same, wherein the different visual representations are graphical icons each associated with and identifying a respective condition of the at least one condition.

11. The Xray apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the portable visual indicator further comprises a manual icon selection mechanism.

12. The X-ray apparatus according to claim 10 and comprising:

the visual representation indicating a state of the at least one condition.

13. The X-ray apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of the icons are displayed simultaneously on the visual display.

14. The X-ray apparatus according to claim 10 and comprising:

the control system including an exposure prep and hold switch selectively operable by the operator for initiating operation of an X-ray source, the exposure prep and hold switch being supported by the portable visual indicator.

15. The X-ray apparatus according to claim 10 and comprising:

the control system including a remote connection operable to provide communication between the portable visual indicator and the base assembly.

16. The X-ray apparatus according to claim 15 and comprising:

the remote connection including a flexible hardwired cable connected between the portable visual indicator and the base assembly.

17. The X-ray apparatus according to claim 15 and comprising:

the remote connection including a wireless connection operable to provide communication between elements of the control system supported by the portable visual indicator and elements of the control system supported by the base assembly.

18. An X-ray apparatus for imaging a subject, the X-ray apparatus having a base assembly and an X-ray source supported by the base assembly, the X-ray source being operable for generating X-ray energy, the X-ray apparatus having a control system for controlling operation of the X-ray source the X-ray apparatus including a plurality of detectors, each detector being operable to monitor a respective condition;

the X -ray apparatus comprising;

the control system including a portable visual indicator carried by an operator, the portable visual indicator having a portable visual display, the control system including a plurality of visual representations, each visual representation corresponding to a respective condition, the condition including all of the following apparatus conditions, subject conditions, environment conditions, procedure information and subject information, the portable visual indicator including at least one of the visual representations displayed on the portable visual display, the at least one of the visual representations indicating a state of the respective at least one condition; and

the control system including a control for selectively displaying different visual representations from among the plurality of visual representations, wherein the different visual representations are graphical icons each associated with and identifying a respective condition of the at least one condition.

19. The X-ray apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the control system includes an exposure prep and hold switch selectively operable by the operator for initiating operation of the X-ray source, the exposure prep and hold switch being supported by the portable visual indicator.

20. The X-ray apparatus according to claim 18 and comprising:

the control system including a remote connection operable to provide communication between a portable housing of the portable visual display and the base assembly.