Patent Application
20190357865
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to X-ray imaging systems and more particularly to a user interface of a portable X-ray detector.
A number of radiological imaging systems of various designs are known and are presently in use. Such systems generally are based upon generation of X-rays that are directed toward a subject of interest. The X-rays traverse the subject and impact a film or a digital detector. In medical diagnostic contexts, for example, such systems may be used to visualize internal tissues and diagnose patient ailments. In other contexts, parts, baggage, parcels, and other subjects may be imaged to assess their contents and for other purposes.
Increasingly, such X-ray systems use digital circuitry, such as solid-state detectors, for detecting the X-rays, which are attenuated, scattered or absorbed by the intervening structures of the subject. Solid-state detectors may generate electrical signals indicative of the intensities of received X-rays. These signals, in turn, may be acquired and processed to reconstruct images of the subject of interest.
As digital X-ray imaging systems have become increasingly widespread, digital X-ray detectors have become more portable for even greater versatility. These digital X-ray detectors may include user interfaces that provide numerous information about the detectors (e.g., temperature, charge status, Wi-Fi status, errors, etc.) to the user. The amount of information about the detector may be overwhelming to the user. In addition, the information about the detector may not be used by the user. Another issue with the digital X-ray detectors is that it might be difficult to determine the active area of a detector (e.g., during positioning of an X-ray source) when the detector is disposed underneath a patient.
Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed subject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the subject matter. Indeed, the subject matter may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.
In accordance with a first embodiment, a digital X-ray detector is provided. The detector includes a detector array configured to generate image data based on incident X-ray radiation. The detector also includes a housing in which the detector array is disposed. The detector further includes an indicator disposed adjacent a corner of the housing, wherein the indicator includes at least one light source and is configured to provide a user perceptible signal indicating a status of the digital X-ray detector.
In accordance with a second embodiment, a digital X-ray detector is provided. The detector includes a detector array configured to generate image data based on incident X-ray radiation. The detector also includes a housing in which the detector array is disposed. The housing includes multiple corners. The detector further includes multiple indicators. Each indicator of the multiple indicators is located at a respective corner of the plurality of corners. Each indicator of the multiple indicators includes at least one light source. Each indicator of the multiple indicators includes multiple indicators that together are configured to provide a single user perceptible signal indicating a single status of the digital X-ray detector.
In accordance with a third embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes determining a single status of a digital X-ray detector. The method includes providing a user perceptible signal indicating the single status of the digital X-ray detector via an indicator disposed adjacent a corner of a housing of the digital X-ray detector, wherein the indicator includes at least one light source.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present subject matter, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Furthermore, any numerical examples in the following discussion are intended to be non-limiting, and thus additional numerical values, ranges, and percentages are within the scope of the disclosed embodiments.
The following embodiments describe a portable digital X-ray detector that includes one or more indicators located adjacent a respective one or more corners of a housing of the detector. The indicators provide a user perceptible signal (e.g., via light source) of a status of the detector while also identifying or marking an active area of the detector for acquiring image data. In certain embodiments, the one or more indicators provide a single signal indicating a single status of the indicator (e.g., whether or not the detector is ready for acquiring image data). In certain embodiments, each indicator indicates the active area in both a first direction and a second direction (e.g., crosswise to the first direction). The one or more indicators may make it easier to identify the active area of the detector when a patient is disposed on the detector. In addition, the one or more indicators may provide a user interface to provide a simple indication of the status of the detector without providing too much information that typically would be ignored by the user.
Turning now to the drawings,
Source 12 is controlled by a power supply/control circuit 24 which furnishes both power and control signals for examination sequences. Moreover, detector 22 is coupled to a detector controller 26 which commands acquisition of the signals generated in the detector 22. Detector controller 26 may also execute various signal processing and filtration functions, such as for initial adjustment of dynamic ranges, interleaving of digital image data, and so forth. Both power supply/control circuit 24 and detector controller 26 are responsive to signals from a system controller 28. In general, system controller 28 commands operation of the imaging system to execute examination protocols and to process acquired image data. In the present context, system controller 28 also includes signal processing circuitry, typically based upon a general purpose or application-specific digital computer; and associated manufactures, such as optical memory devices, magnetic memory devices, or solid-state memory devices, for storing programs and routines executed by a processor of the computer to carry out various functionalities (e.g., gain calibration and gain correction), as well as for storing configuration parameters and image data; interface protocols; and so forth. In one embodiment, a general or special purpose computer system may be provided with hardware, circuitry, firmware, and/or software for performing the functions attributed to one or more of the power supply/control circuit 24, the detector controller 26, and/or the system controller 28 as discussed herein.
In the embodiment illustrated in
Also, the processor 60 is linked to detector interface circuitry 64. The detector 22 converts X-ray photons received on its surface to lower energy photons. The detector 22 includes a detector array 66 that includes an array of photodetectors to convert the light photons to electrical signals. Alternatively, the detector 22 may convert the X-ray photons directly to electrical signals. These electrical signals are converted to digital values by the detector interface circuitry 64 which provides the values to the processor 60 to be converted to imaging data and sent to the imaging system 10 (e.g., system controller 28, operator workstation 32, etc.) to reconstruct an image of the features within a subject. Alternatively, the imaging data may be sent from the detector 22 to a server to process the imaging data.
The processor 60 is also linked to an illumination circuit 68. The detector controller 58, in response to a signal received from the imaging system 10, may send a signal to the processor 60 to signal the illumination circuit 68 to illuminate one or more lights to indicate the active status (or where desired, any status) of the detector 22 in response to the signal. Further, the processor 60 is linked to a memory 70. The memory 70 may store various configuration parameters, calibration files, and detector identification data. As described in greater detail below, the illumination circuit 68 may be coupled to one or more indicators located at or adjacent one or more respective corners of the detector 22. In certain embodiments, one or more indicators may be located anywhere along a side extending between adjacent corners of the detector 22. Each indicator may include one or more light sources (e.g., light emitting diodes (LEDs)). In certain embodiments, the indicators may together provide a single user perceptible signal (i.e., light up together and in the same manner) to indicate a single status of the detector 22 (e.g., whether the detector 22 is ready for acquiring image data). The readiness of the detector 22 may take into account numerous factors (e.g., Wi-Fi status, battery status, presence of errors, etc.). Providing a single user perceptible signal related to the readiness of the detector 22 provides a simple, useful user interface for the user. In addition, the one or more indicators may be located on the detector 22 (e.g., in the corners) in a manner that indicates the active area of the detector to help in positioning the X-ray source.
Each indicator 72 may include one or more light sources (e.g., LEDs) disposed within the detector 22. In certain embodiments, each indicator 72 may include a translucent or transparent material (e.g., light plastic material) disposed over the light sources that functions as a light guide. In some embodiments, each indicator 72 may include a strong material robust to cracking (e.g., metal such as stainless steel, hard plastic, etc.) configured to absorb a mechanical shock to the corner 80 to keep the translucent or transparent material from breaking.
In certain embodiments, the indicators 72 act as a single user interface communicating a single user perceptible signal representing a single status of the detector 22 (e.g., whether the detector 22 is ready for acquiring image data). For example, the indicators 72 may remain off and only turn on (e.g., light up) when the detector 22 is ready. Alternatively, the indicators 72 may light up as a first color to indicate the detector 22 is ready and light up as a different second color when the detector 22 is not ready (e.g., due to error, low battery, etc.). In some embodiments, the indicators 72 may flash. In some embodiments, the indicators 72 may be utilized separately. In other embodiments, the indicators 72 may be utilized to separately indicate multiple different types of information related to the detector 22 (e.g., Wi-Fi strength, battery level, errors due to temperature and/or mechanical shock, etc.).
Besides indicating the status of the detector 22, the indicators 72 also indicate an active area 82 (edges of the active area 82) of the detector 22 for acquiring the image data. For example, when lit up, each indicator 72 indicates the active area 82 in a first direction 84 (e.g., along a width of the detector 22) and in a second direction 86 (e.g., along a longitudinal length of the detector 22) crosswise (e.g., orthogonal or perpendicular) to the first direction 84. In certain embodiments, each indicator 72 include a first light source or first set of light sources to indicate the active area 82 in the first direction 84 and a second light source or second set of light sources to indicate the active area 82 in the second direction 86. The indicators 72 make it easier for the user to visualize the active area for positioning the X-ray source when the detector 22 is disposed underneath a patient. The utilization of the indicators 72 helps avoid missing any desired anatomy during imaging.
As depicted in
Technical effects of the disclosed embodiments include providing one or more indicators located adjacent a respective one or more corners of a housing of a detector. The indicators provide a user perceptible signal (e.g., via light source) of a status of the detector while also identifying or marking an active area of the detector for acquiring image data. In certain embodiments, the one or more indicators provide a single signal indicating a single status of the indicator (e.g., whether or not the detector is ready for acquiring image data). The one or more indicators may provide a user interface to provide a simple indication of the status of the detector without providing too much information that typically would be ignored by the user. In addition, the one or more indicators may make it easier to identify the active area of the detector when a patient is disposed on the detector.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
