System and method to automatically assist mobile image acquisition

• US 8,177,430 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bouvier, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Hoon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanei, Mona M
• Application Number:
  US12/641,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20100296632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 378/198
• US Class Current: 378/198
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/547 involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices

Abstract

A system and method to perform image acquisition of a subject is provided. The system includes a mobile device to move an imaging system across a floor, and a brake system that restrains movement of the mobile device. A controller includes a memory having program instructions to instruct a processor to perform the steps of: instructing movement of the mobile device in support of the imaging system to a first position for image acquisition of the subject; receiving feedback that the mobile device is located at the first position; and applying a brake force to restrain movement of the mobile device. The step of applying the brake force includes generating a vacuum in restraint of movement of the mobile device with respect to the floor.

Claims

1. A method of mobile image acquisition of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an imaging system supported on a mobile device so as to steer movement of the imaging system across a floor;

releasing restraint of movement of the mobile device;

instructing movement of the mobile device in support of the imaging system to a first position for image acquisition of the subject;

receiving feedback that the mobile device is located at the first position; and

applying a brake force to restrain movement of the mobile device, wherein the step of applying the brake force includes creating a vacuum in restraint of movement of the mobile device relative to the floor;

wherein the step of applying the brake force further includes communicating electrical power to a vacuum pump so as to generate the vacuum between a vacuum clamp attached at the mobile device and the floor in restraint of movement of the mobile device with respect to the floor;

wherein a tank and a valve are located between communication of the vacuum pump to the vacuum clamp, the method further including the step of moving a position of the valve to a first valve position to communicate the vacuum from the tank to the vacuum clamp; and

wherein upon release of the vacuum by the valve to atmosphere, a spring bias moves the vacuum clamp away from the floor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the brake force further includes lowering a chassis of the mobile device with respect to wheels of the mobile device so as to engage a brake pad in contact with at least one of the wheels.

3. The method of claim 1, the method further including the step of communicating an electrical signal to the valve so as to release the vacuum at the vacuum clamp to atmosphere in response to detecting completion of the image acquisition or of an additional image acquisition at the first position of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further including lowering a chassis of the mobile device so as to lower the vacuum clamp attached at the mobile device in contact with the floor.

5. The method of claim 4, further including lifting the chassis with respect to wheels of the mobile device so as to remove restraint of the wheels of the mobile device in response to detecting release of the vacuum to atmosphere.

6. A system to perform image acquisition of a subject, comprising:

an imaging system;

a mobile device operable to move the imaging system across a floor;

a brake system that restrains movement of the mobile device with respect to the floor;

a controller in communication with the imaging system, the mobile device, and the brake system, the controller including a memory having a plurality of program instructions to instruct a processor to perform the steps of;

instructing movement of the mobile device in support of the imaging system to a first position for image acquisition of the subject;

receiving feedback that the mobile device is located at the first position; and

applying a brake force to restrain movement of the mobile device, wherein the step of applying the brake force includes creating a vacuum between a vacuum clamp of the mobile device and the floor in restraint of movement of the mobile device relative to the floor; and

a spring, wherein the system is configured such that, in operation and upon release of the vacuum by a valve of the brake system to atmosphere, a spring bias provided via the spring moves the vacuum clamp away from the floor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein program instructions to instruct the processor to perform the step of applying the brake force further includes lowering a chassis of the mobile device with respect to wheels of the mobile device so as to engage a brake pad in contact with at least one of the wheels.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein program instructions to instruct the processor to perform the step of applying the brake force further includes communicating electrical power to a vacuum pump to generate the vacuum in restraint of movement of the mobile device with respect to the floor.

9. The system of claim 8, the brake system further comprising a tank and the valve located in communication between the vacuum pump and the vacuum clamp, and further comprising program instructions to instruct a process to perform the step of moving a position of the valve to a first valve position to communicate the vacuum from the tank to the vacuum clamp.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising program instructions to instruct the processor to perform a step of lowering a chassis of the mobile device so as to lower the vacuum clamp in contact with the floor.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising program instructions to instruct the processor to perform the step of causing release of the vacuum at the vacuum clamp to atmosphere in response to detecting completion of the image acquisition or of an additional image acquisition at the first position of the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising program instructions to instruct the processor to perform the step of lifting a chassis of the mobile device with respect to wheels of the mobile device so as to remove restraint of the wheels of the mobile device in response to the release of the vacuum to atmosphere.