Position sensing device for a portable detection device

• US 8,690,426 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Liu, James Zhengshe, Saunders, Rowland, Kump, Kenneth, Langler, Donald, Schley, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Allen C.
• Application Number:
  US12/815,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20110305319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 378/98.8, 378/162, 378/165, 378/189, 378/191, 378/196, 378/197, 378/198, 378/205, 250/370.09
• US Class Current: 378/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/508 for non-human patients
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 42/02 using X-rays

Abstract

A method of fabricating a portable x-ray detector includes coupling a gravity sensor to the portable x-ray detector and coupling a processor to the gravity sensor. The processor is programmed to receive an input from the gravity sensor, determine a physical orientation of the portable x-ray detector based on the received input, and generate an indication to reposition the portable x-ray detector. A portable detector and an imaging system including the portable detector are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

coupling a 3-axis gravity sensor to a portable x-ray detector;

coupling a processor to the 3-axis gravity sensor and to a workstation, the processor being programmed to perform a processing method comprising;

transmitting orientation information corresponding to a physical orientation of the portable x-ray detector determined using the 3-axis gravity sensor to the workstation; and

generating, with the workstation, a command that instructs an operator to rotate the portable x-ray detector in at least one direction to align the portable x-ray detector with an x-ray source based on the physical orientation of the portable x-ray detector determined using the 3-axis gravity sensor.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein coupling the 3-axis gravity sensor to the portable x-ray detector comprises:

coupling the 3-axis gravity sensor proximate to a centerpoint of the portable x-ray detector.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the processing method which the processor is programmed to perform comprises:

receiving a wireless request from a workstation; and

wirelessly transmitting orientation information from the 3-axis gravity sensor to the workstation, the orientation information representing the physical orientation of the portable x-ray detector with respect to the earth.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising re-orienting, with the workstation, a displayed image based on the orientation information.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising generating, with the workstation, an indication representing an alignment of the portable x-ray detector with respect to an x-ray source.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising inhibiting, with the workstation, an operation of an x-ray source based on the received orientation information.

7. A system comprising:

a workstation; and

a portable x-ray detector comprising;

a detector panel including a plurality of detector elements;

a 3-axis gravity sensor installed within the portable x-ray detector; and

a processor, the processor programmed to;

transmit orientation information corresponding to a physical orientation of the portable x-ray detector determined using the 3-axis gravity sensor to the workstation, wherein the workstation is configured to generate a command that instructs an operator to rotate the portable x-ray detector in at least one direction to align the portable x-ray detector with an x-ray source.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the 3-axis gravity sensor is coupled proximate to a centerpoint of the portable x-ray detector.

9. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the processor is further programmed to:

receive a wireless request from the workstation; and

wirelessly transmit orientation information from the 3-axis gravity sensor to the workstation, the orientation information representing the physical orientation of the portable x-ray detector with respect to the earth.

10. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the workstation is configured to re-orient a displayed image based on the orientation information.

11. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the workstation is further configured to generate an indication representing an alignment of the portable x-ray detector with respect to an x-ray source.

12. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the workstation is further configured to inhibit an operation of an x-ray source based on the received orientation information.

13. A medical imaging system comprising:

an x-ray source;

a workstation; and

a portable x-ray detector configured to receive x-rays generated by the x-ray source, the portable x-ray detector including a 3-axis gravity sensor installed within the portable x-ray detector, and a processor coupled to the 3-axis gravity sensor, the processor programmed to transmit orientation information corresponding to a physical orientation of the portable x-ray detector determined using the 3-axis gravity sensor to the workstation, wherein the workstation is configured to generate a command that instructs an operator to rotate the portable x-ray detector in at least one direction to align the portable x-ray detector with the x-ray source.

14. A medical imaging system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the 3-axis gravity sensor is coupled proximate to a centerpoint of the portable x-ray detector.

15. A medical imaging system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the processor is further programmed to wirelessly transmit the orientation information from the 3-axis gravity sensor to the workstation, the orientation information representing the physical orientation of the portable x-ray detector with respect to the earth.

16. A medical imaging system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the workstation is configured to generate an image of an object, and re-orient the image based on the orientation information.

17. A medical imaging system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the workstation is further configured to generate an indication representing an alignment of the portable x-ray detector with respect to the x-ray source.

18. A medical imaging system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the workstation is configured to inhibit the operation of the x-ray source based on the orientation information.