Wireless X-ray detector operation coordination system and method

• US 8,243,883 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Omernick, Jon Charles, Boehm, Manfred David, Rao, Gireesha C., Liu, James Zhengshe, Liu, Chuande, Shankaranarayana, Kiran, Arista, Karla Angelica
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Courtney
• Application Number:
  US12/776,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20110274251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 378/98, 378/98.8, 378114-116
• US Class Current: 378/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 7/00 Details of radiation-measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for coordinating operation of X-ray detectors in a wireless X-ray system includes detecting multiple wireless X-ray detectors within an operative range of an X-ray base station, the detected X-ray detectors each having one of multiple possible statuses, including an active status corresponding to a designation of the X-ray detector as a desired recipient of radiation during a current X-ray imaging sequence, an inactive status corresponding to a designation of the X-ray detector as not the desired recipient of radiation during a current X-ray imaging sequence, and an unenabled status corresponding to the X-ray detector not being configured to operate with the X-ray base station. The method also includes determining the current status of each detected X-ray detector and displaying on a user-viewable screen a visual indication of the status of each detected X-ray detector.

Claims

1. A method for coordinating operation of X-ray detectors in a wireless X-ray system, comprising:

detecting a plurality of wireless X-ray detectors within an operative range of an X-ray base station, a first of the X-ray detectors having an active status corresponding to a designation of the first X-ray detector as a desired recipient of radiation during a current X-ray imaging sequence, and a second X-ray detector having a status different from the active status;

determining the current status of each detected X-ray detector; and

displaying on a user-viewable screen a visual indication of the status of each detected X-ray detector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second X-ray detector is configured to operate with the X-ray base station, and wherein the status displayed for the second X-ray detector is an inactive status corresponding to a designation of the second X-ray detector as not the desired recipient of radiation during a current X-ray imaging sequence.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising receiving a user input on the X-ray base station for changing which of the first and the second X-ray detectors has an active status.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second X-ray detector is not configured to operate with the X-ray base station, and wherein the status displayed for the second X-ray detector is an unenabled status.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising receiving a user input on the X-ray base station for configuring the second X-ray detector for operation with the X-ray base station.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein configuration of the second X-ray detector comprises an interchange of calibration data between the detector and the X-ray base station.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein configuration of the second X-ray detector comprises verifying compatibility of software and firmware of the detector for use with the X-ray base station.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying on the user-viewable screen identifying data of the detected X-ray detectors.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving a user input for indicating which of the first and second X-ray detectors has an active status, and emitting from the first X-ray detector a user-discernible indication that it has an active status.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user-discernible indication comprises illumination of a light from the first X-ray detector.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying an icon on the user-viewable screen indicating that multiple X-ray detectors have been detected.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying on the user-viewable screen a listing of all detected X-ray detectors within the operative range, receiving a user selection of one of the detected X-ray detectors, and displaying on the user-viewable screen a visual indication of the status of the selected X-ray detector.

13. A method for coordinating operation of X-ray detectors in a wireless X-ray system, comprising:

detecting a plurality of wireless X-ray detectors within an operative range of an X-ray base station, the detected X-ray detectors each having one of multiple possible statuses, including an active status corresponding to a designation of the X-ray detector as a desired recipient of radiation during a current X-ray imaging sequence, an inactive status corresponding to a designation of the X-ray detector as not the desired recipient of radiation during a current X-ray imaging sequence, and an unenabled status corresponding to the X-ray detector not being configured to operate with the X-ray base station;

determining the current status of each detected X-ray detector; and

displaying on a user-viewable screen a visual indication of the status of each detected X-ray detector.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the visual indication comprises a listing of the detected X-ray detectors and their respective status.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising disabling emission of X-rays from the X-ray base station if no detected detector has an active status.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising receiving a user input on the X-ray base station for changing which of the detected X-ray detectors has an active status, and changing the status of the X-ray detectors based upon the input.

17. The method of claim 13, comprising receiving a user input on the X-ray base station for configuring an X-ray detector having an unenabled status, and entering into a configuration routine in response to the input.

18. The method of claim 13, comprising receiving a user input for indicating which of the detected X-ray detectors has an active status, and emitting from the X-ray detector a user-discernable indication that it has an active status.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the user-discernable indication comprises illumination of a light from the active X-ray detector.

20. The method of claim 13, comprising displaying an icon on the user-viewable screen indicating that multiple X-ray detectors have been detected.

21. The method of claim 13, comprising displaying on the user-viewable screen a listing of all detected X-ray detectors within the operative range, receiving a user selection of one of the detected X-ray detectors, and displaying on the user-viewable screen a visual indication of the status of the selected X-ray detector.

22. The method of claim 13, comprising receiving a user input identifying which X-ray detector is to have an active status.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the user input originates from the X-ray detector that is to have the active status.

24. The method of claim 17, comprising wirelessly updating configuration data between the detector and the X-ray base station.

25. The method of claim 13, comprising assigning active status to any detector physically coupled to the X-ray base station.

26. A wireless X-ray detector operation coordination system, comprising:

detection circuitry configured to detect a plurality of wireless X-ray detectors within an operative range of an X-ray base station and to determine a current status of each detected X-ray detector, the detected X-ray detectors each having one of multiple possible statuses, including an active status corresponding to a designation of the X-ray detector as a desired recipient of radiation during a current X-ray imaging sequence, an inactive status corresponding to a designation of the X-ray detector as not the desired recipient of radiation during a current X-ray imaging sequence, and an unenabled status corresponding to the X-ray detector not being configured to operate with the X-ray base station; and

a user-viewable screen configured to display a visual indication of the status of each detected X-ray detector.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the detection circuitry is provided in a fixed X-ray base station.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the detection circuitry is provided in a mobile X-ray base station.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the X-ray base station is configured to receive an input to change which of the detected X-ray detectors has an active status.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the X-ray base station is configured to receive an input to configure an X-ray detector having an unenabled status and to enter into a configuration routine in response to the input.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the X-ray base station is configured to receive an input to indicate which of the detected X-ray detectors has an active status, and the system comprises an active X-ray detector configured to emit a user-discernible indication in response to the input.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the user-viewable screen is configured to display an icon indicating that multiple X-ray detectors have been detected.