Wireless X-ray system

• US 9,713,455 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2016
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CMT Medical Technologies Limited (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: CMT Medical Technologies Limited (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Garcia, Beatriz Matesanz, Sivan, Ilan
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMAS, COURTNEY D
• Application Number:
  US15/224,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20160331342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 378 62, 378 988
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4208 characterised by using a particular type of detector
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4283 characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5241 combining overlapping images of the same imaging modality, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5294 involving using additional data, e.g. patient information, image labeling, acquisition parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/542 involving control of exposure
• 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

A system having an X-radiation generator; an X-radiation detector; and a portable computing device. The X-radiation detector has a first wireless communication module, and a non-volatile memory. The X-radiation detector is configured to: self-trigger acquisition of an X-radiation image, store the acquired X-radiation image, and transmit the X-radiation image (or a lower-resolution version) via the first wireless communication module. The portable computing device has a second wireless communication module, and a digital screen. The portable computing device is configured to receive the X-radiation image via the second wireless communication module that communicates with the first wireless communication module, display the X-radiation image on the digital screen, enable a user to select whether to discard the X-radiation image or to transmit the X-radiation image to a server, and responsive to the user selecting to transmit the X-radiation image to the server, transmit the X-radiation image to the server.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

(a) an X-radiation generator;

(b) an X-radiation detector comprising;

a first wireless communication module, and

a non-volatile memory,

wherein said X-radiation detector is configured to;

(i) self-trigger acquisition of an X-radiation image upon detecting X-radiation generated by said X-radiation generator,

(ii) store the acquired X-radiation image in said non-volatile memory,

(iii) transmit a lower-resolution version of the X-radiation image via said first wireless communication module, and

(iv) transmit the X-radiation image to a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) server via said first wireless communication module; and

(c) a portable computing device comprising;

a second wireless communication module, and

a digital screen,

wherein said portable computing device is configured to;

(v) receive the lower-resolution version of the X-radiation image via said second wireless communication module that communicates with said first wireless communication module,

(vi) display the lower-resolution version of the X-radiation image on said digital screen,

(vii) enable a user to select whether to discard the X-radiation image from said X-radiation detector or to transmit the X-radiation image from said X-radiation detector to said PACS server, and

(viii) responsive to the user selecting to transmit the X-radiation image to the PACS server, cause said X-radiation detector to transmit the X-radiation image to the PACS server.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said portable computing device is further configured to wrap the X-radiation image in a DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) format.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said X-radiation detector is an FPD (Flat Panel Detector).

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said X-radiation detector is further configured for automatic exposure control (AEC).

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said X-radiation generator comprises a third wireless communication module; and

said first and third wireless communication modules are configured to wirelessly synchronize radiation generation by said X-radiation generator and exposure to the radiation by said X-radiation detector.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said X-radiation generator comprises a third wireless communication module;

said portable computing device is further configured to enable the user to cause said X-radiation generator to generate X-radiation, by causing said second wireless communication module to communicate with said third second wireless communication module.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said portable computing device is further configured to:

enable the user to set various X-radiation image acquisition parameters; and

operate said second wireless communication module to transmit the parameters to said X-radiation detector via said first wireless communication module.

8. The system according to claim 1, comprising multiple ones of said X-radiation detector, wherein said portable computing device is configured to perform actions (v) through (viii) with respect to each of said multiple X-radiation detectors.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a body parameter sensor for wirelessly synchronizing the acquisition of the X-radiation image with the body parameter.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the body parameter sensor is a breathing sensor configured to automatically cause the acquisition of the X-radiation image at a desired breathing stage of a patient.

11. A method comprising:

operating an X-radiation detector to;

self-trigger acquisition of an X-radiation image upon detecting X-radiation generated by an X-radiation generator,

store the acquired X-radiation image in a non-volatile memory of said X-radiation detector, and

transmit a lower-resolution version of the X-radiation image via a first wireless communication module of said X-radiation detector;

operating a portable computing device to;

receive the lower-resolution version of the X-radiation image via a second wireless communication module of said portable computing device that communicates with said first wireless communication module,

display the lower-resolution version of the X-radiation image on a digital screen of said portable computing device,

enable a user to select whether to discard the X-radiation image or to transmit the X-radiation image to a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) server via said first wireless communication module; and

further operating said X-radiation detector to;

transmit the X-radiation image to the PACS server via said first wireless communication module, responsive to the user selecting to transmit the X-radiation image to the PACS server.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising operating said portable computing device to wrap the X-radiation image in a DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) format.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said X-radiation detector is an FPD (Flat Panel Detector).

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said X-radiation detector is configured for automatic exposure control (AEC).

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein:

said X-radiation generator comprises a third wireless communication module; and

the method further comprises at least one of;

operating said first and third wireless communication modules to wirelessly synchronize radiation generation by said X-radiation generator and exposure to the radiation by said X-radiation detector, and

enabling the user to cause said X-radiation generator to generate X-radiation, by causing said second wireless communication module to communicate with said third second wireless communication module.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising operating said portable computing device to:

enable the user to set various X-radiation image acquisition parameters; and

operate said second wireless communication module to transmit the parameters to said X-radiation detector via said first wireless communication module.