X-ray system and method with digital image acquisition

• US 9,629,591 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Liu, James Zhengshe, Granfors, Paul Richard, Kump, Kenneth Scott, Xue, Ping, Langler, Donald Fayette, Kost, Brian John
• Primary Examiner(s): Kao, Glen
• Application Number:
  US13/010,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20120189098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,286 Days
• Field of Search: 378 62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4283 characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4464 the source unit or the detector unit being mounted to ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/54 Control of apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/566 involving communication between diagnostic systems

Abstract

An X-ray imaging system includes a digital X-ray detector configured to acquire X-ray image data without communication from a source controller and to send the X-ray image data to a portable detector control device for processing and image preview. The source controller is configured to command X-ray emissions of X-rays from an X-ray radiation source for image exposures.

Claims

1. An X-ray imaging system comprising:

an X-ray radiation source;

a source controller coupled to the source and configured to command X-ray emission of X-rays for image exposures;

a digital X-ray detector configured to acquire X-ray image data without communication from the source controller, wherein the detector comprises a matrix of image pixels, and the detector is configured to detect the beginning of an X-ray exposure by both continuously sampling the matrix of image pixels and recharging the image pixels between sampling prior to and during the X-ray exposure; and

a portable detector control device configured to communicate with the digital X-ray detector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect the beginning and end of an X-ray exposure, generate X-ray image data, and transfer a reconstructed image based upon the X-ray image data to the portable detector control device through wired or wireless communication.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to at least partially process the X-ray image data.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable detector control device is configured to at least partially process the X-ray image data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable detector control device is configured to display a reconstructed image based upon the X-ray image data, to allow a user to view the image, select a region of interest in the image, add position marks to the image, and to input patient information and X-ray technique into an image header for the reconstructed image.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector and/or the portable detector control device is configured to generate a DICOM compliant data file based upon the X-ray image data.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector and the portable detector control device are configured to communicate with one another wirelessly and/or through a wire.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector and/or the portable detector control device is configured to transmit processed X-ray image data to an institution image review and storage system and/or an image printer.

9. An X-ray imaging method comprising:

commanding a detector preparation signal from a portable detector control device to a digital X-ray detector wherein the detector comprises a matrix of image pixels;

commanding an X-ray radiation source to perform an X-ray exposure via a source controller coupled to the source, the source controller not being in communication with the X-ray detector;

detecting the beginning of an X-ray exposure by both continuously sampling the matrix of image pixels and recharging the image pixels between sampling prior to and during the X-ray exposure; and

acquiring X-ray image data from the detector via the portable detector control device.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising receiving on the portable detector control device a detector ready signal from the detector prior to commanding the source to perform the exposure.

11. The method of claim 9, comprising acquiring at least one offset image on the detector prior to the exposure.

12. The method of claim 9, comprising determining when the exposure ends based upon comparison of sampled image data generated by the detector.

13. The method of claim 9, comprising at least partially processing the X-ray image data on the detector.

14. The method of claim 9, comprising at least partially processing the X-ray image data on the portable detector control device.

15. The method of claim 9, comprising displaying a reconstructed image based upon the X-ray image data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the reconstructed image is displayed on the portable detector control device while an imaging subject is present in a location wherein the X-ray image data is acquired.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising repositioning the imaging subject for a further exposure based upon the reconstructed image displayed on the portable detector control device.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the detector and/or the portable detector control device is configured to generate a DICOM compliant data file based upon the X-ray image data.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the detector and the portable detector control device are configured to communicate with one another wirelessly and/or through a wire.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein the detector and/or the portable detector control device is configured to transmit processed X-ray image data to an institution image review and storage system and/or an image printer.

21. An X-ray imaging system comprising:

a digital X-ray detector configured to acquire X-ray image data without communication from a source controller and to send the X-ray image data to a portable detector control device for processing and image preview, wherein the source controller is configured to command X-ray emissions of X-rays from an X-ray radiation source for image exposures, and wherein the detector comprises a matrix of image pixels, and the detector is configured to detect the beginning of an X-ray exposure by both continuously sampling the matrix of image pixels and recharging the image pixels between sampling prior to and during the X-ray exposure.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the detector is configured to prepare for X-ray exposure in response to instructions from the portable detector control device, and to transmit a detector ready signal to the portable detector control device indicating that the detector is prepared to receive the X-ray exposure.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the detector is configured to at least partially process the X-ray image data.

24. A digital X-ray detector comprising:

a matrix of image pixels;

circuitry configured to acquire X-ray image data without communication from a source controller, wherein the source controller is configured to command X-ray emissions of X-rays from an X-ray radiation source for image exposures, and wherein the circuitry is configured to detect the beginning of an X-ray exposure by both continuously sampling the matrix of image pixels and recharging the image pixels between sampling prior to and during the X-ray exposure.

25. The digital X-ray detector of claim 24, wherein the circuitry is configured to detect the beginning and end of an X-ray exposure.

26. The digital X-ray detector of claim 24, wherein the circuitry is configured to at least partially process the X-ray image data.

27. The digital X-ray detector of claim 26, wherein the circuitry is configured to completely process the X-ray image data.

28. The digital X-ray detector of claim 24, wherein the circuitry is configured to generate a DICOM compliant data file based upon the X-ray image data.

29. The digital X-ray detector of claim 24, wherein the circuitry is configured to generate X-ray image data and to enable transfer of a reconstructed image based upon the X-ray image data to a portable detector control device through wired or wireless communication.

30. The digital X-ray detector of claim 24, wherein the circuitry is configured to enable wired or wireless communication with a portable detector control device.

31. The digital X-ray detector of claim 24, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine when an exposure ends based upon comparison of sampled image data generated by the detector.

32. The digital X-ray detector of claim 24, wherein the circuitry is configured to prepare the detector for an X-ray exposure in response to instructions from a portable detector control device, and to enable transmission of a detector ready signal to the portable detector control device indicating that the detector is prepared to receive the X-ray exposure.

33. The digital X-ray detector of claim 24, wherein the circuitry is configured to enable transmission of processed X-ray image data to an institution image review and storage system and/or an image printer.