Method of testing a medical imaging device

• US 20060239415A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Liu, James Zhengshe, Kump, Kenneth Scott, Omernick, Jon C., Kukrer, Olgun
• Granted Patent: US 7,324,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/583 using calibration phantoms

Abstract

A method of testing a portable x-ray device includes sensing an environmental stimulus experienced by the portable x-ray device, transmitting a signal related to the environmental stimulus to a processing unit, determining whether the signal meets an alert threshold, activating a detector of the portable x-ray device if the signal meets the alert threshold, producing a gray image through the activating step, comparing the gray image produced through the activating step with a control gray image corresponding to a properly functioning detector.

Claims

1. A method of testing imaging quality of a medical imaging device, comprising:

sensing an environmental stimulus experienced by the medical imaging device;

transmitting a signal related to the environmental stimulus to a processing unit;

determining whether the signal meets an alert threshold;

activating a detector of the medical imaging device if the signal meets the alert threshold;

producing a gray image through said activating; and

comparing the gray image produced through said activating with a control gray image corresponding to a properly functioning detector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical imaging device is a portable x-ray device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental stimulus is a physical shock to the portable x-ray device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental stimulus is a power surge.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental stimulus is a temperature of the portable x-ray device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental stimulus is an ambient temperature.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprises providing a sensor on or within the medical imaging device, wherein said sensing comprises sensing an environmental stimulus through said sensor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises a thermometer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an alert graphic if the signal meets the alert threshold.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises an accelerometer.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a thermometer.

11. A system for testing imaging quality of a portable x-ray device, comprising:

a portable x-ray device comprising (i) an x-ray source;

(ii) a detector; and

(iii) at least one sensor adapted to sense at least one environmental stimulus; and

a processing unit in communication with said at least one sensor, said processing unit receiving a stimulus signal from said at least one sensor, said processing unit responsive to determine whether the stimulus signal meets a predetermined alert threshold related to damage to said portable x-ray device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said processing unit is responsive to activate said detector if the stimulus signal meets the predetermined alert threshold to produce a gray image, and wherein said processing unit compares the gray image with a control gray image corresponding to a properly functioning detector.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a monitor in communication with said processing unit, wherein said processing unit is responsive to display an alert message on said monitor if the stimulus signal meets the predetermined threshold.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the environmental stimulus is a physical shock to the portable x-ray device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the environmental stimulus is a power surge.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the environmental stimulus is a temperature of the portable x-ray device.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the environmental stimulus is an ambient temperature.

20. A method of testing imaging quality of an x-ray imaging device, comprising:

providing at least one stimulus sensor on or within the x-ray imaging device;

sensing an environmental stimulus experienced by the x-ray imaging device through the at least one stimulus sensor, wherein the environmental stimulus includes at least one of a physical shock, power surge, temperature of the x-ray imaging device, and ambient temperature of an imaging environment;

transmitting a signal related to the environmental stimulus to a processing unit;

determining whether the signal meets an alert threshold;

displaying an alert graphic if the signal meets the alert threshold. activating a detector of the x-ray imaging device if the signal meets the alert threshold;

producing a gray image through said activating; and

comparing the gray image produced through said activating with a control gray image corresponding to a properly functioning detector.