Patent Application
20190285558
The disclosure generally relates to a specimen radiography system, and more particularly to the configuration and operation of the specimen radiography system.
Radiography systems are used to scan tissue specimens for rapid diagnosis in medical environments such as operating rooms and clinics. Users need to be able to quickly access such systems and obtain desired images for diagnoses. Often, more than one image may be desired. In current systems, tissue specimens are manually placed and moved to particular locations in order to obtain desired magnifications and placement within the system. Such manual techniques are cumbersome, time-consuming, and prone to error (such as the specimen moving while placing it in various positions within the system). Additionally, because manual placement and movement of the specimen is required by the user, the user is typically required to reach inside the system and may be uncomfortably positioned, particularly if specimen placement is near the ground.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present improvements may be useful.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In one aspect, the present invention comprises a specimen radiography system, comprising a controller and a cabinet operably connected to the controller. The cabinet comprises an x-ray source, an x-ray detector and a specimen drawer disposed between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector. In some embodiments, the specimen drawer is automatically positionable along a vertical axis between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector.
In one embodiment, the specimen drawer is extendable from the cabinet for receiving a specimen and the specimen drawer is rotatable. The specimen drawer can be configured to extend from the cabinet at an ergonomic position relative to a user. In another embodiment, the cabinet is portable and includes a power supply. The system can further comprise a display. In one embodiment, the specimen drawer is sealed, the specimen drawer being at least one of leak-proof, washable, and sterilizable. The specimen drawer can be formed of a generally radiolucent material. In a further embodiment, the x-ray source is disposed above the x-ray detector along the vertical axis and the x-ray detector is disposed above the x-ray source along the vertical axis. In an embodiment, the specimen drawer is configured to align with a focal point of the x-ray source.
In an embodiment, the controller is configured to at least one of automatically position and rotate the specimen drawer in response to an input received by a user interface. In addition, the specimen drawer can be configured to be extendable from and retractable within the cabinet. The specimen drawer can further include a lid.
In another aspect, the present invention comprises a method of scanning a specimen in a specimen radiography system including a controller. In certain embodiments, the method comprises the steps of extending a specimen drawer from a cabinet, placing a specimen within the extended specimen drawer, positioning the specimen drawer along a vertical axis in the cabinet, the specimen drawer movable between an x-ray source and an x-ray detector, imaging the specimen with the x-ray source and the x-ray detector; and displaying the specimen image on a display screen.
In one embodiment, the x-ray source is disposed above the x-ray detector. In another embodiment, the x-ray detector is disposed above the x-ray source. The method may further comprise receiving information via a user interface to direct the specimen drawer between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector within the cabinet. And the method may further comprise, positing the specimen drawer along the vertical axis between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector in response to a magnification setting entered by a user interface. In one embodiment, the method includes comprising rotating the specimen drawer in response to a position setting received by a user interface. In the method, the specimen drawer aligns with a focal point of the x-ray source.
In another aspect, a specimen radiography system comprises a controller, and a cabinet. The cabinet comprises an x-ray source connected to the controller, an x-ray detector disposed opposite the x-ray source which may further be connected to the controller. In cabinet further comprises a specimen drawer disposed between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector, the specimen drawer including a specimen container including a specimen excised from a patient. The specimen drawer may or may not be connected to a controller. The x-ray source, the x-ray detector, and the specimen container are positioned in a first position and image the specimen container to acquire a first image and wherein the x-ray source, the x-ray detector and the specimen container are positioned in a second position to acquire a second image, and wherein the first image and the second image are viewed on a display.
In one embodiment, the x-ray source is disposed above the x-ray detector. The x-ray source can be rotated at an angle relative to a vertical central axis of the cabinet. The specimen container can be rotated at an angle relative to the vertical central axis. The specimen container can rotated at a first angle relative to the vertical central axis and the x-ray source is rotated at a second angle relative to a vertical central axis. In one example, the first angle and the second angle are different. In one embodiment, the first position includes the specimen container rotated to a positive angle and the x-ray source rotated to a negative and the second position includes the specimen container rotated to negative angle and the x-ray source rotated to a positive angle and the x-ray detector is stationary.
In one example, the first position includes the specimen container rotated to positive 15 degrees and the x-ray source rotated to negative 30 degrees and the second position includes the specimen container rotated to negative 15 degrees and the x-ray source rotated to positive 30 degrees.
In another embodiment, the x-ray source and the x-ray detector are both rotated relative to a vertical axis central of the cabinet. In one example, the first position includes the x-ray source rotated to a negative angle and the second position includes the x-ray source rotated to a positive angle and the specimen container remains stationary. The first position may include the x-ray source rotated to negative 45 degrees and the second position includes the x-ray source rotated to positive 45 degrees.
In another embodiment, the first position includes the x-ray source rotated to a negative angle and the second position includes the x-ray source rotated to a positive angle and the specimen container remains stationary. In one example, the first position includes the x-ray source rotated to negative 45 degrees and the second position includes the x-ray source rotated to positive 45 degrees.
In another embodiment, the first position includes the x-ray source rotated to a zero angle and the second position includes the x-ray source rotated to a 90 degree angle and the specimen container remains stationary. In one example, the first position includes the x-ray source rotated to a zero angle and the second position includes the x-ray source rotated to a 90 degree angle and the specimen container moves horizontally toward the x-ray detector.
In another embodiment, the system further comprises a second x-ray source and a second x-ray detector. In one example, the second x-ray source is disposed orthogonal to the first x-ray source and the second x-ray detector is disposed orthogonal to the first x-ray detector. In one example, the first position includes the specimen container placed centrally between the first and second x-ray detectors and the first and second x-ray sources. The second position may include the specimen container moved along a horizontal axis to be proximal to the second detector.
In another aspect, a method of scanning a specimen in a specimen radiography system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of imaging the specimen with the x-ray source and the x-ray detector at a first position and storing a first image, imaging the specimen with the x-ray source and the x-ray detector at a second position and storing a second image, processing the first and the second image, and displaying the first and second specimen image on a display screen.
By way of example, one or more embodiments of the disclosed device will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several exemplary embodiments are shown. The subject matter of the present disclosure, however, may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Referring to
The cabinet 105 may be configured for scanning tissue specimens, e.g., by radiography. A specimen may be manually placed in an enclosed space 130 of the cabinet 105 for scanning. The enclosed space 130 may have adjustable shelves or other manual placement means for disposing the specimen at a different height H in the cabinet 105. The placement of the specimen in the enclosed space 130 of the cabinet 105 is related to a magnification of the image shown on the display 120, in that an x-ray source 135 and an x-ray detector 140 are disposed at opposite ends of the cabinet 105. A user may scan the specimen at a first magnification by placing the specimen at a selected height in the enclosed space 130 of the cabinet 105. If the user desires to adjust the magnification of the scanned specimen, the user must manually adjust the height of the specimen within the cabinet 105 before scanning. This results in additional time needed to acquire desired images, and manual adjustment of the specimen between each scan. The user must also bend to the level of the cabinet 105 to properly adjust the specimen in between scans, and the cabinet 105 on the stand 110 may result in a top-heavy system.
Referring now to
The system 200 may further include a display 210, a user interface 215, a controller 220, and a power supply 225 operably connected to each other. In an embodiment, the controller 220 and the power supply 225 may be enclosed within a housing 255 of the cabinet 205. In an embodiment the controller 220 and/or power supply 225 may be disposed at the base 260 of the cabinet 205. The cabinet 205 may include protection of the controller 220 and the power supply 225 from radiation of the x-ray source 230. In an embodiment, the cabinet 205 may be portable. For example, the cabinet 205 may include wheels 265.
A specimen drawer 245 may be included in the cabinet 205. The cabinet 205 may be configured for the specimen drawer 245 to extend from and retract into the cabinet 205 for user access. In an extended state, illustrated at 245a, a user may deposit, retrieve, and/or adjust a specimen in the specimen drawer 245. In an embodiment, the specimen drawer 245 may be extendable and/or retractable at a position in the cabinet 205 at an average user height from the base 260 and/or the wheels 265. This allows the user to handle the specimen relative to the specimen drawer 245 in an ergonomic manner. That is, the user does not have to uncomfortably bend and/or reach to access the specimen, improving user accessibility and comfort, and reducing potential musculoskeletal injury to the user from operating the specimen radiography system 200.
In the retracted state, illustrated at 245b, the specimen drawer 245 is brought into alignment along the vertical axis 240. The specimen drawer 245 may be movable between the x-ray source 230 and the x-ray detector 235 along the vertical axis 240, as illustrated at 245c. The specimen drawer 245 may be movable in a downward vertical motion to sit atop the x-ray source 230 or the x-ray detector 235 at the base 260 of the cabinet 205. For example, as shown in
The specimen drawer 245 may be rectangular, or any shape configured to be extendable from and movable within the cabinet 205. In embodiments, the drawer may be circular, cylindrical, or conical. The specimen drawer 245 may have a depth so that a specimen is contained within the specimen drawer 245, thereby preventing leakage in the cabinet 205 and/or contamination of the specimen. In an embodiment, the specimen drawer 245 may include a lid.
The specimen drawer 245 may be configured out of a material that x-rays may pass through, e.g., a carbon fiber material and/or other generally radiolucent material. The specimen drawer 245 may be configured to be leak-proof, washable, and/or sterilizable so that it may be easily cleanable between specimen samples without having to clean the entire interior of the cabinet 205, thereby reducing the time needed for the scanning operation and increasing user efficiency.
The controller 220 may automatically control the position of the specimen drawer 245 relative to the x-ray source 230 and the x-ray detector 235, receiving information by a user from the user interface 215. For example, the user may desire a series of images of a scanned specimen. The controller 220 may direct the specimen drawer 245 to the desired positions along the vertical axis 240 between the x-ray source 230 and the x-ray detector 235, without the user having to manually move the specimen. This automatic control of the position of the specimen drawer 245 allows the user to receive the desired images in a repeatable manner without having to manually adjust the specimen. Time needed for scanning a specimen is also reduced because the specimen drawer 245 may be driven to the position(s) immediately without user interference. Alternatively, in response to user input or preset settings, the specimen drawer 245 may be automatically positioned for various views including various magnification views. One or more sensors may optionally be used to ensure that the central vertical axis 240 of the specimen drawer 245 is aligned with the focal spot 275 of the x-ray source 230 (
The cabinet 205 may include known positioning mechanisms for moving and positioning the specimen drawer 245, including but not limited to tracks, conveyors, and/or pulley mechanisms. The mechanism may be controllable by the controller, and include sensors or other detection means for determining the position of the specimen drawer 245 relative to the x-ray source 230 and the x-ray detector 235. The controller 220 may relate the relative position of the specimen drawer 245 to the x-ray source 230 and/or the x-ray detector 235 to a desired magnification of an image of the specimen.
The housing 255 of the cabinet 205 may include an opening for the specimen drawer 245 to extend from, for user access. The opening may be a cut-out of the housing 255, and may include a cover, or door. The door may be sealable so that radiation is contained within the cabinet 205. The door may have a locking mechanism so that the door cannot be opened during scanning to ensure user safety.
In operation, a user may operate the specimen radiography system 200 via the user interface 215. For example, the controller 220 may direct the specimen drawer 245 to extend from the cabinet 205. Once in the extended position 245a, the user may place a specimen in the specimen drawer 245 and direct the specimen drawer 245 to retract within the cabinet 205. In an embodiment, a sensor may detect the specimen and retract in response to the sensor. For example, the sensor may be a vision and/or weight sensor to detect presence of the specimen.
The specimen drawer 245 including the specimen may be retractable within the cabinet 205. For example, the controller 220 may control the specimen drawer to eject from an opening of the cabinet 205 to receive a specimen, and retract back into the cabinet 205. The specimen drawer 245 may then be aligned along the vertical axis 240, so that the specimen drawer 245 is aligned between the x-ray source 230 and the x-ray detector 235. For example, the controller 220 may automatically align vertical axes of the specimen drawer 245 with the focal point 275 of the x-ray source 230 so that the specimen is aligned with the focal point 275 (
The specimen scanning system 200 may scan the specimen and the specimen drawer 245, by the controller 220 generating signals to the x-ray source 230 and the x-ray detector 235. The specimen drawer 245 may be scanned in one or more positions along the vertical axis 240. The scanned image of the specimen is a function of the position of the specimen drawer 245 along the vertical axis 240. For example, a distance from the x-ray detector 235 to the specimen drawer 245 relates to a magnification of the specimen in the scanned image.
One or more positions for the specimen drawer 245 along the vertical axis 240 may be pre-programmed in the controller 220 to receive a pre-selected set of magnifications of the specimen, which may be stored in a memory of the controller. A user may select the pre-programmed positions, and/or may enter desired magnifications of images.
The specimen drawer 245 is then moved to a desired location, e.g., shown at 245c. The x-ray source 230 may then send x-rays to the x-ray detector 235, capturing an image of the specimen disposed between. The image may then be shown on the display 210, and/or stored in the memory of the controller 220.
Referring now to
A specimen radiography system is often used in the operating room to verify that the entire lesion was removed during a lumpectomy. These specimen are often large, and are sometimes comprised of dense tissue. In addition, if the lesion is comprised of dense tissue, a traditional specimen radiography system may not properly determine if the specimen includes cancerous tissue. An example of a specimen is shown in
In the embodiments of
Referring now to
The x-ray source 530 and the x-ray detector 535 are aligned along a vertical axis 540, so that the x-ray detector 535 may receive x-rays from the x-ray source 530 that travel through the specimen container 585. In one example, the detector is a HDT detector.
Similarly to system 200, a specimen drawer 545 may be included in the cabinet 505. A user may deposit, retrieve, and/or adjust a specimen container 585 in the specimen drawer 545. The specimen container 585 includes one or more samples collected by a user and placed into the container 585 after the specimens are excised from the patient. The specimen drawer 545 and the specimen container 585 may include connection or contact point or mechanisms that allow the specimen container 585 to attached to the drawer 545. For example, the bottom of the specimen container 585 and the top of the drawer 545 may include a snap fit design, having a male connection on the drawer 545 and a female counterpart on the container 585. Other methods of connection are contemplated are within the scope of this application.
The specimen drawer is capable of being tilted while the specimen container is connected to it with respect to the vertical axis 540 and the housing and base 560 of the cabinet 502. It is contemplated that the entire drawer can be titled or alternatively a portion of the drawer can be titled. To tilt the drawer, many mechanisms can be implemented. For example, an electro-mechanical system or a hydraulic system can be implemented that is actuated and controlled by a controller. The tilting mechanism can for example include two cross-bars that are disposed under the specimen drawer and which are alternatively extended and lowered. The rotation or the title of the specimen drawer is at a central point, the drawer and the specimen container does not translate along a horizontal axis in line with the top of the detector.
Mechanisms for holding the specimen in place inside the specimen container are also contemplated.
The x-ray source 530 is also rotated between position A shown in
The specimen drawer 545 and/or the specimen container 585, and the x-ray source 530 can be connected to the controller for control the movement of the specimen drawer 545 and/or the specimen container 585, and the x-ray source 530. In one example, the control of the specimen drawer 545 and/or the specimen container 585, and the x-ray source 530 can be controlled via the arm assembly and/or the tilting mechanism as described above. Both the arm assembly and/or the tilting mechanism may include a motor that translates a signal from the controller into motion of the arm assembly and/or the tilting mechanism.
In one embodiment, the specimen drawer 545 is tilted into a direction opposite the rotation of the x-ray source 530, with respect to the vertical axis 540, the specimen drawer facing away from the source. For example, if the specimen drawer 545 is rotated in the positive direction, the x-ray source 530 is rotated into the negative direction as shown in Position A. Similarly, if the specimen drawer 545 is rotated in the negative direction, the x-ray source 530 is rotated into the positive direction as shown in Position B. The x-ray source 530 can activated for a particular exposure time as the x-ray source 530 moves into the imaging position A, and exposure is repeated with the imaging position B, a total cycle period lasting seconds. After each exposure the x-ray source 530 is deactivated. In each of the imaging positions A and B, the contents of the x-ray detector are read out and stored.
In one example of use of the system, the specimen drawer 545, including the specimen container 585, is movable +/−15° in a plane in reference to the vertical axis 540 and the x-ray source is rotated +/−30° in a plane in reference to the vertical axis 540 and in reference to the specimen drawer and container. In one example, the x-ray source 530 is rotated +30 deg and the specimen drawer is rotated −15 deg and an image is taken. Then the x-ray source 530 is rotated −30 deg and the specimen drawer 545 is rotated +15 deg and another image is taken. The resultant images taken of the specimen would be +45 deg and −45 deg. In this embodiment, the x-ray detector 535 is stationary and is not moved while both the specimen drawer 545 and the x-ray source 530 are rotated. By keeping the x-ray detector 535 stationary greater image quality can be achieved. Any other angles of rotation for both the specimen container and the x-ray source are contemplated.
The images taken at position A and position B are then the viewed side by side on the display. By taking more than one image at different angles, more information about the specimen can be obtained. For example, slices advantageously reduce or eliminate problems caused by tissue overlap and structure noise in two-dimensional mammography imaging Various imaging algorithms may additional be used to reduce distortion and clean up the resultant images.
It is appreciated by the inventors, that in order to obtain optimal image quality, the specimen inside the specimen container should remain stationary. Any change to the specimen inside the specimen container could result in imaging artifacts, including blurring of the image. Large specimens, such as those excised as a result of a lumpectomy, may be particularly at risk of moving during imaging while the specimen container is being moved. The density or thickness of the specimen can be obtained by using ultrasound and imaging the specimen in the specimen container prior to taking the images at various positions, including Position A and Position B. Based on the determination of the thickness, the controller can then control the angle of rotation of both the x-ray source and the specimen drawer. In one example implementation, if the specimen is over a threshold of a particular thickness, the rotation angles are lowered in order to minimize specimen movement. In another example implementation, a table of multiple thicknesses corresponds to particular angles of rotation, with larger angles for thinner samples and smaller angles corresponding to larger samples.
Referring now to
In an embodiment, as shown in
The x-ray source 630 and the x-ray detector 635 can be connected to the controller for control the movement of the x-ray source 630 and the x-ray detector 635. In one example implementation the x-ray source 630 and the x-ray detector 635 can be connected to the controller via the arm assembly 690. A signal from the controller can be translated into instructions to move the arm assembly which then translated the motion to the x-ray detector and the x-ray source.
In example use of the system 600, in Position A, the x-ray source 630 and the x-ray detector 635 with respect to the vertical axis 540, are not moved and remains at 0 deg. The x-ray source is then activated and an image is taken. The x-ray source 630 and the x-ray detector 635 are then moved together into Position B, at 90 deg. with respect to the vertical axis 540, where the x-ray source is activated.
Inventors appreciate that imaging in position B could potentially result in magnification artifacts. In order to reduce artifacts, the specimen container 685 could be moved horizontally towards the x-ray detector 635 to be placed closer to the x-ray detector 635. In one embodiment, the specimen drawer 645 may include mechanical assembly that allows for the specimen drawer to be moved to the position closer to the x-ray detector 635 in Position C. In one embodiment, a conveyor belt would translate the specimen container linearly in the horizontal direction. In another embodiment, a central platform having a horizontal section where the container is placed and a vertical arm could be translated into movement along the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, a first image is taken at Position A and a second image is taken at Position C.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In example use of the system 600f, as shown in
Note that with reference to
Referring now to
Some embodiments of the disclosed system may be implemented, for example, using a storage medium, a computer-readable medium or an article of manufacture which may store an instruction or a set of instructions that, if executed by a machine (i.e., processor or microcontroller), may cause the machine to perform a method and/or operations in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In addition, a server or database server may include machine readable media configured to store machine executable program instructions. Such a machine may include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like, and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof and utilized in systems, subsystems, components, or sub-components thereof. The computer-readable medium or article may include, for example, any suitable type of memory unit, memory device, memory article, memory medium, storage device, storage article, storage medium and/or storage unit, for example, memory (including non-transitory memory), removable or non-removable media, erasable or non-erasable media, writeable or re-writeable media, digital or analog media, hard disk, floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), optical disk, magnetic media, magneto-optical media, removable memory cards or disks, various types of Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), a tape, a cassette, or the like. The instructions may include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, encrypted code, and the like, implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/or interpreted programming language.
As used herein, an element or operation recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural elements or operations, unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.
The present disclosure is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, other various embodiments of and modifications to the present disclosure, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, such other embodiments and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, although the present disclosure has been described herein in the context of a particular implementation in a particular environment for a particular purpose, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present disclosure may be beneficially implemented in any number of environments for any number of purposes. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breadth and spirit of the present disclosure as described herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/417,598, filed Nov. 4, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2017/060044 | 11/3/2017 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62417598 | Nov 2016 | US |
