Portable radiological imaging system

• US 8,325,875 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Omernick, Jon Charles, Marar, Rajeev Ramankutty, Butzine, Jonathan Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiknadze, Irakli
• Application Number:
  US12/786,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20110286575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 378/98.8, 378/62, 378/63, 378/102, 378/108, 250/580, 250/370.09
• US Class Current: 378/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/42 Arrangements for detecting radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network

Abstract

In one embodiment, a portable radiological imaging system includes a portable base station having an X-ray source and a power supply, a wireless X-ray detector configured to receive X-ray radiation from the source and to generate image data based upon the received radiation, and a portable image processing system removably carried by the base station and configured to receive the image data from the detector and to process the image data to produce and display a user-viewable image derived from the image data.

Claims

1. A portable radiological imaging system, comprising:

a portable base station having an X-ray source and a power supply;

a wireless X-ray detector configured to receive X-ray radiation from the source and to generate image data representative of an anatomical region based upon the received radiation;

a portable image processing system removably carried by the base station and configured to receive the image data from the detector and to process the image data to produce and display a user-viewable image derived from the image data, wherein the portable image processing system is separate from the detector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processing system is received in a holder within the base station.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the image processing system is not coupled to the base station other than being physically held in the holder.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the imaging system comprises a handswitch interface capable of sensing the reception of the image processing system into the holder and preparing for exposure control upon sensing the reception.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the handswitch interface is capable of sensing signals related to an exposure sequence and inhibiting an exposure based on a status of the detector.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processing system comprises a wireless receiver for receiving the image data wirelessly from the detector, a computer configured to execute an image reconstruction routine to derive the user-viewable image from the image data, and a user-viewable screen coupled to the computer for displaying the user-viewable image.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the computer of the image processing system is configured to be stored in a holder of the base station during use, with the user-viewable screen extending from the holder.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the user-viewable screen is movable between a viewing position and a stowed position, and is placed in a non-illuminated condition when in the stowed position.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the image processing system comprises a dock for holding the detector when the detector is not in use.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the image processing system comprises a source of electrical power, and is configured to provide power to the computer and for maintaining a charge on the detector by power from the source of electrical power.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processing system is configured to receive data indicative of a hospital worklist for image sequences to be performed by displacement of the system.

12. A portable radiological imaging system, comprising:

a portable image processing system separate from and configured to be removably carried by an X-ray source base station, the processing system comprising a wireless receiver for receiving image data representative of an anatomical region wirelessly from an X-ray detector, a computer configured to execute an image reconstruction routine to derive the user-viewable image from the image data, and a user-viewable screen coupled to the computer for displaying the user-viewable image, wherein the portable image processing system is separate from the detector.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the image processing system comprises a dock for a wireless X-ray detector when the detector is not in use.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the image processing system comprises a rechargeable source of electrical power, and is configured to provide power to the computer and for maintaining a charge on the detector by power from the source of electrical power.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer of the image processing system is configured to be stored in a holder of the base station during use, with the user-viewable screen extending from the holder.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the user-viewable screen is movable between a viewing position and a stowed position, and is placed in a non-illuminated condition when in the stowed position.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the image processing system is configured to receive data indicative of a hospital worklist for image sequences to be performed by displacement of the imaging system.

18. A method for operating a portable radiological imaging system, comprising:

removably mounting a portable processing system on a portable base station, the base station comprising an X-ray source, a power supply, and a holder for the portable processing system, the portable processing system comprising a wireless receiver for receiving image data representative of an anatomical region wirelessly from an X-ray detector, a computer configured to execute an image reconstruction routine to derive the user-viewable image from the image data, and a user-viewable screen coupled to the computer for displaying the user-viewable image, wherein the portable processing system is separate from the detector.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising docking a wireless X-ray detector in a dock of the portable processing system when the detector is not in use.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the portable processing system comprises a rechargeable source of electrical power, and wherein the method comprises providing power for operation of the computer and for maintaining a charge on the detector by power from the source of electrical power.

21. The method of claim 18, comprising extending the user-viewable screen extending from the holder during use to permit viewing of the user-viewable image.

22. The method of claim 18, comprising wirelessly transmitting the image data from a wireless X-ray detector to the portable processing system after acquisition of the image data during an imaging sequence.

23. The method of claim 18, comprising wirelessly transmitting worklist data to the portable processing system and displaying a worklist on the user-viewable screen based upon the worklist data.