Handheld X-ray image viewing system and method

• US 8,331,530 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2010
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Butzine, Jonathan Mark, Hannon, Jeremy Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun, Jurie
• Application Number:
  US12/786,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20110286579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 378/62, 378/63, 378/91, 378/98, 378/98.2, 378/98.5, 378114-118, 378/162, 378/165, 378/204
• US Class Current: 378/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4411 the apparatus being modular A61B6/4283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/468 allowing annotation or message recording
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network

Abstract

In one embodiment, an X-ray system includes a handheld X-ray interface device. The handheld X-ray interface device includes a wireless interface for communicating with an imaging system and a user-viewable screen configured to display patient data and to receive user input.

Claims

1. An X-ray system comprising:

an imaging system including a source of X-ray radiation, an X-ray image receptor, control circuitry for controlling the source of X-ray radiation, and a wireless interface; and

a handheld interface device configured to communicate wirelessly with the imaging system, wherein the handheld interface device comprises a user-viewable screen and is configured to display a graphical representation of an anatomical region of a patient that will receive X-ray radiation during an X-ray imaging exposure on the screen, wherein the handheld interface device is configured to receive a user input on the graphical representation that specifies an anatomy within the anatomical region for which exposure is desired, to transmit a signal to the imaging system representing the desired anatomy, and the imaging system is configured to move the X-ray source to a position required for exposing the desired anatomy to X-ray radiation in response to the signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld interface device is further configured to display patient data on the screen, and the patient data comprises patient-identifying data received from the imaging system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld interface device is further configured to display patient data on the screen, and the patient data comprises patient-identifying data received from a hospital or radiology department information system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld interface device is further configured to display patient data on the screen, and the patient data comprises an identifying image of the patient.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system comprises a camera, and is configured to transmit an image taken by the camera to the handheld interface device for display on the user-viewable screen.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user-viewable screen is a touch-screen capable of encoding inputs by touch.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the user touch input is interpreted as a multi-point gesture on the touch-screen.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld interface device is further configured to display patient data on the screen, the imaging system is configured to process X-ray image data to obtain a reconstructed X-ray image, and wherein the patient data comprises a reconstructed X-ray image.

9. An X-ray system comprising:

a handheld X-ray interface device comprising a wireless interface for communicating with an imaging system and a user-viewable screen configured to display a graphical representation of an anatomical region of a patient that will receive X-ray radiation during an X-ray imaging exposure, the handheld X-ray interface device is configured to receive user input on the graphical representation that specifies an anatomy within the anatomical region for which exposure is desired, and to transmit via the wireless interface a signal to the imaging system representing the desired anatomy that causes the imaging system to move an X-ray source to a position required for exposing the desired anatomy to X-ray radiation.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the handheld interface device is further configured to display patient data on the screen, and the patient data comprises patient-identifying data received from the imaging system or a hospital or radiology department information system.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the handheld interface device is further configured to display patient data on the screen, and the patient data comprises an identifying image of the patient.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the handheld interface device is further configured to display patient data on the screen, and the patient data comprises an image of the patient captured by a camera of the imaging system.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the user-viewable screen is a touch-screen capable of encoding inputs by touch, and wherein the user input is defined by a gesture on the touch-screen.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the handheld interface device is further configured to display patient data on the screen, and the patient data comprises a reconstructed X-ray image generated by the imaging system.

15. A method, comprising:

establishing wireless communication between an imaging system and a handheld interface device, the imaging system comprising a source of X-ray radiation, an X-ray image receptor, control circuitry for controlling the source of X-ray radiation, and a first wireless interface, the handheld interface device comprising a second wireless interface for communicating wirelessly with the imaging system and a user-viewable screen configured to display a graphical representation of an anatomical region of a patient that will receive X-ray radiation during an X-ray imaging exposure and to receive user input;

displaying a graphical representation of an anatomical region of the patient that will receive X-ray radiation during an X-ray imaging exposure on the screen;

receiving user input on the graphical representation that specifies an anatomy within the anatomical region for which exposure is desired;

transmitting a signal via the second wireless interface to the imaging system representing the desired anatomy; and

moving the X-ray source to a position required for exposing the desired anatomy to X-ray radiation in response to the signal.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

transmitting an image of the patient to the handheld interface device for display on the user-viewable screen, wherein the imaging system comprises a camera, and the image is taken by the camera.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising:

acquiring and processing X-ray image data of the specified anatomy to obtain a reconstructed X-ray image to transmit to the handheld interface device.