Tiled digital radiography detectors for long-length imaging

• US 9,820,703 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Wojcik, Timothy J., Jadrich, Bradley S., effinger, Friedrich H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Application Number:
  US14/942,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20160135764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 378189, 378190, 250586, 250332, 2502082, 2502081, 250581, 25037008
• 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 6/4411 the apparatus being modular A61B6/4283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings

Abstract

A digital radiographic detector having a radiolucent cover and housing at one or more edges of the detector allows radiographic imaging using multiple detector arrangements with overlapping edges that do not obstruct radiographic images captured thereby.

Claims

1. A digital radiographic detector comprising:

a housing comprising a top side, a bottom side substantially parallel to the top side, and a plurality of edges extending between a periphery of the top side and a periphery of the bottom side to form an interior volume of the housing; and

a multilayer imaging structure within the interior volume of the housing, the multilayer imaging structure comprising a substantially planar imaging side configured to face the top side of the housing and to face an external radiographic energy source emitting radiographic energy toward the top side of the housing,

wherein the top side of the housing comprises a radiolucent material, at least one of the plurality of edges of the housing is made from a radiolucent material, and wherein at least one of the plurality of edges of the housing is made from a radiopaque material.

2. The detector of claim 1, wherein the multilayer imaging structure further comprises:

an imaging device layer to receive light energy; and

a scintillator layer adjacent the device layer, the scintillator layer to convert the radiographic energy to the light energy.

3. The detector of claim 2, wherein the top side of the housing is sealingly attached to the at least one of the plurality of edges of the housing made from the radiopaque material.

4. The detector of claim 3, wherein the bottom side of the housing comprises a radiopaque material, the bottom side of the housing is sealingly attached to the at least one of the plurality of edges of the housing made from the radiolucent material.

5. The detector of claim 2, further comprising a scanning circuit, a read-out circuit, and a bias circuit all enclosed within the interior volume of the housing and in electrical communication with the imaging device layer.

6. The detector of claim 2, further comprising a transmitter for wirelessly communicating with an image control processing system and for wirelessly transmitting a ready signal to the image control processing system.

7. A digital radiography system comprising:

an x-ray source configured to emit x-rays;

a first DR detector comprising;

a housing comprising a top side, a bottom side substantially parallel to the top side, and a plurality of edges extending between a periphery of the top side and a periphery of the bottom side to form an interior volume of the housing; and

a multilayer structure within the interior volume of the housing, the multilayer structure comprising a substantially planar imaging side configured to face the top side of the housing and to face the x-ray source emitting the x-rays toward the top side of the housing, an imaging device layer to receive light energy, and comprising a scintillator layer adjacent the device layer, the scintillator layer to convert the x-rays to the light energy,

wherein the top side of the housing comprises a radiolucent material, and wherein two opposing parallel edges of the plurality of edges of the housing are made from a radiolucent material;

and

second and third DR detectors each positioned behind one of the two opposing parallel edges of the first DR detector with respect to the x-ray source and each comprising a radiopaque housing without radiolucent edges.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the top side of the housing comprises an outermost top surface of the first DR detector.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the top side of the housing extends continuously to form the two opposing parallel edges of the plurality of edges of the housing made from the radiolucent material.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising an image acquisition control system configured to wirelessly communicate with the first, second, and third DR detectors and to wirelessly receive a ready signal from each of the first, second, and third DR detectors before activating the x-ray source.

11. A long-length imaging system comprising:

first and second DR detectors, each comprising;

a housing comprising a top side, a bottom side substantially parallel to the top side, and a plurality of edges extending between a periphery of the top side and a periphery of the bottom side to form an interior volume of the housing; and

a multilayer structure within the interior volume of the housing, the multilayer structure comprising a substantially planar imaging side configured to face the top side of the housing, an imaging device layer to receive light energy, and comprising a scintillator layer adjacent the device layer, the scintillator layer to convert radiographic energy to the light energy,

wherein the top side of the housing comprises a radiolucent material, and wherein only one edge of the plurality of edges of the housing is made from a radiolucent material;

and

a third DR detector disposed behind the first and second DR detectors, such that said only one radiolucent edge of the first and second DR detectors each overlaps a different parallel edge of the third DR detector, the overlapped edges of the third DR detector comprising radiopaque edges.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a transportable support structure securing in a vertical relative position the first and second DR detectors with a preselected gap size therebetween.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the transportable support structure comprises means for moving the transportable support structure such that the first and second DR detectors are simultaneously positioned forward of the third DR detector.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for moving the transportable support structure comprises wheels powered by an electric motor.

15. The system according to claim 11, further comprising an x-ray source, and wherein the system is configured to capture a portion of a radiographic image of a subject on each of the first, second, and third DR detectors simultaneously using one exposure by the x-ray source.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the preselected gap size is large enough for the third DR detector to be exposed by the one x-ray exposure.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising an image acquisition control system configured to wirelessly communicate with each of the first, second, and third DR detectors and to wirelessly receive a ready signal from each of the first, second, and third DR detectors before activating the x-ray source.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the third DR detector is a non-portable DR detector fixed in a stationary position, and wherein the first and second DR detectors are each a portable independently usable DR detector.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the first, second and third detectors are disposed along a horizontal axis.