Grid assembly positioning circuit and detector assembly including the same

• US 8,172,461 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Liu, James Zhengshe, Saunders, Rowland Frederick, Omernick, Jon Charles, Jadhav, Rajendra Shirish, Wang, Huayi, McBroom, Gary Vernon
• Primary Examiner(s): Kao, Glen
• Application Number:
  US12/550,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20110051902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 378/154, 378/155, 378/205, 378/114
• US Class Current: 378/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/06 Diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4283 characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/508 for non-human patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/547 involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device

Abstract

An x-ray grid alignment circuit for coupling an x-ray grid to a detector includes a marker configured to be mounted to the x-ray grid, a sensor configured to be mounted to the detector, the sensor generating an alignment signal based on a position of the marker, and an alignment module configured to receive the alignment signal from the sensor and utilize the alignment signal to determine if the x-ray grid is coupled to a detecting face of the detector. A detector assembly including the x-ray grid alignment circuit and a method of coupling an x-ray grid to a detector are also provided.

Claims

1. An x-ray grid alignment system for coupling an x-ray grid to a detector, the x-ray grid alignment system comprising:

a marker configured to be mounted to the x-ray grid;

a sensor configured to be mounted to the detector, the sensor generating an alignment signal based on a position of the marker; and

an alignment module configured to receive the alignment signal from the sensor and utilize the alignment signal to determine when the x-ray grid is coupled to a detecting surface of the detector and inhibit the operation of an x-ray source based on the alignment signal.

2. An x-ray grid alignment system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the alignment module is further configured to determine when the x-ray grid is not coupled to the detector.

3. An x-ray grid alignment system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the alignment module is further configured to transmit the alignment signal over a wireless communication link to a remote workstation, the wireless alignment signal indicating that the x-ray grid is coupled to the detecting surface, an opposing non-detecting surface of the detector, or not coupled to the detector.

4. An x-ray grid alignment system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the alignment module is further configured to transmit the alignment signal to a remote workstation, the remote workstation determining a scan protocol based on the alignment signal.

5. An x-ray grid alignment system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator, the alignment module activating the visual indicator when the x-ray grid is coupled to the detecting surface of the detector.

6. An x-ray grid alignment system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the marker comprises a magnet coupled to the x-ray grid, the sensor generating the alignment signal based on a polarity of the magnet.

7. An x-ray grid alignment system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the marker comprises a magnet coupled to the x-ray grid, the sensor generating the alignment signal based on a strength of the magnet.

8. An x-ray grid alignment system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the x-ray grid alignment system further comprises a second marker coupled to the x-ray grid, the alignment module configured to activate a visual indicator when the x-ray grid is coupled to an opposing non-detecting surface of the detector based on the second marker.

9. An x-ray grid alignment system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the alignment module is further configured to inhibit the operation of the x-ray source when the x-ray grid is coupled to an opposing non-detecting surface of the detector.

10. An x-ray grid alignment system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the alignment module is further configured to prompt an operator to couple the x-ray grid to the detecting surface of the detector when the x-ray grid is coupled to an opposing non-detecting surface of the detector.

11. An x-ray grid alignment system for coupling an x-ray grid to a detector, the x-ray grid alignment system comprising:

a marker configured to be mounted to the x-ray grid;

a sensor configured to be mounted to the detector, the sensor generating an alignment signal based on a position of the marker; and

an alignment module configured to receive the alignment signal from the sensor and utilize the alignment signal to determine when the x-ray grid is coupled to a detecting surface of the detector and when the x-ray grid is coupled to an opposing back non-detecting surface of the detector.

12. An x-ray grid alignment system for coupling an x-ray grid to a detector, the x-ray grid alignment system comprising:

a marker configured to be mounted to the x-ray grid;

a sensor configured to be mounted to the detector, the sensor generating an alignment signal based on a position of the marker; and

an alignment module configured to receive the alignment signal from the sensor and utilize the alignment signal to determine when the x-ray grid is coupled to a detecting surface of the detector and to activate a visual indicator on a remote workstation when the x-ray grid is coupled to the detecting surface of the detector, when the x-ray grid is coupled to an opposing non-detecting surface of the detector, and when the x-ray grid is not coupled to the detector.

13. A detector assembly comprising:

a portable detector;

an x-ray grid configured to be mounted to the portable detector; and

an x-ray grid alignment system for coupling the x-ray grid to the portable detector, the x-ray grid alignment system comprising

a marker configured to be mounted to the x-ray grid;

a sensor configured to be mounted to the portable detector, the sensor generating an alignment signal based on a position of the marker; and

an alignment module configured to receive the alignment signal from the sensor and utilize the alignment signal to determine when the x-ray grid is coupled to a detecting surface of the portable detector and to prompt an operator to couple the x-ray grid to the detecting surface of the portable when the x-ray grid is coupled to an opposing non-detecting surface of the detector.

14. A detector assembly in accordance with claim 13, wherein the alignment module is further configured to determine when the x-ray grid is coupled to the opposing non-detecting surface of the detector and when the x-ray grid is not coupled to the opposing non-detecting surface of the detector.

15. A detector assembly in accordance with claim 13, wherein the alignment module is further configured to transmit the alignment signal over a wireless communication link to a remote workstation, the wireless alignment signal indicating that the x-ray grid is coupled to the detecting surface, the opposing non-detecting surface of the detector, or not coupled to the portable detector.

16. A detector assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein the alignment module is further configured to transmit the alignment signal to a remote workstation, the remote workstation determining a scan protocol based on the alignment signal.

17. A detector assembly in accordance with claim 13 further comprising a visual indicator, the alignment module activating the visual indicator when the x-ray grid is coupled to the detecting surface of the portable detector.

18. A detector assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein the alignment module is configured to activate a visual indicator on a remote workstation when the x-ray grid is coupled to the detecting surface of the detector, when the x-ray grid is coupled to the opposing non-detecting surface of the detector, and when the x-ray grid is not coupled to the detector.

19. A detector assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein the marker comprises a magnet, the sensor generating the alignment signal based on a polarity of the magnet.

20. A detector assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein the marker comprises a magnet, the sensor generating the alignment signal based on a strength of the magnet.

21. A detector assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein the x-ray grid alignment system further comprises a second marker coupled to the x-ray grid, the alignment module configured to activate a visual indicator when the x-ray grid is coupled to the opposing non-detecting surface of the detector based on the second marker.

22. A method for coupling an x-ray grid to a portable detector, the method comprising:

providing a marker configured to be mounted to an x-ray grid;

providing a sensor configured to be mounted to the portable detector, the sensor generating an alignment signal based on a position of the marker;

determining when the x-ray grid is coupled to a detecting surface of the portable detector based on the alignment signal;

inhibiting the operation of an x-ray source based on the alignment signal; and

displaying an indication on a display when the x-ray grid is coupled to the detecting surface of the portable detector.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22 further comprising:

determining when the x-ray grid is coupled to an opposing non-detecting surface of the detector and

notifying a user that the x-ray grid is mounted to the opposing non-detecting surface of the detector.

24. A method in accordance with claim 22 further comprising determining a scan protocol based on the alignment signal.