X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Source support – Including movable source
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-17
2001-04-10
Bruce, David V. (Department: 2876)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Source support
Including movable source
C378S205000, C378S206000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213638
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical device of the type having at least one device component, which is connected to a mount having two elements that can be displaced relative to each other in a motorized fashion, and a control and computing unit which controls the motorized relative movements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
German OS 196 11 705 teaches an X-ray pickup system with a first stand, which can be displaced in three dimensions in space and at which an X-ray receiver is arranged, and a second stand, at which an X-ray source is arranged. Sensors detect the position of the X-ray receiver in space. A computer forms a control signal, with the aid of the sensor signals fed to it, for the displacement of the X-ray source, so that the X-ray source is automatically oriented to the X-ray receiver. Due to the arrangement of the X-ray receiver separately from the X-ray source, the X-ray receiver can also be operated as an X-ray pickup unit with other X-ray sources.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,548 teaches a system and a method for pre-calibrating the position of the focal spot of an X-ray tube prior to its installation in a computed tomography device. In a test device which copies the exposure of the X-ray tube in the computed tomography device, at least three beam paths are defined using a system of openings, these paths intersecting in the desired position of the focal spot on the anode of the X-ray tube. In the beam paths, X-ray detectors are arranged by means of which the deviation of the focal spot from its desired position can be determined and the desired location of the focal spot can be set.
Many imaging systems have a movable C-arm X-ray device which has a C-arm which is supported at a mount and at which an X-ray system, comprising an X-ray source and an X-ray receiver, is arranged. The C-arm is usually supported at the mount so as to be displaceable along its perimeter for X-ray pickups at different directions of projection. The mount is usually formed by a number of elements which can be moved relative to one another in a motorized fashion for vertical and horizontal displacement of the C-arm. In this way, the C-arm X-ray device can be used for a number of different medical examinations.
The use of this type of C-arm X-ray device is problematic, however, or has significant difficulties, if the X-ray device (e.g. for diagnostic purposes in orthopedics) is to be used for a series of X-ray pickups of a body part of a patient, whereby, in the course of the X-ray pickups, the X-ray system of the X-ray device must be moved as linearly as possible directly or indirectly along a line in space. A linear movement of the X-ray system along a horizontally extending line in space in the course of a series of X-ray pickups is practically impossible with known C-arm X-ray devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a medical device of the type described above wherein the device component can be moved at least indirectly along a line in space in a linear fashion.
This object is inventively achieved in a medical device having a device component which is connected to a mount and which carries an X-ray source and an X-ray receiver, the mount having elements which can be moved relative to one another in a motorized fashion, and a control and computing unit, which controls the relative movements of the elements, with line identifiers allocated to the control and computing unit which permit lines to be defined in space proceeding along different directions, along which the device component can be moved in a motorized fashion, at least indirectly, using the mount. The line identifiers cooperate with the control and computing unit of the medical device, which controls the motorized displacement of the elements of the mounting, define lines in space having different directions, or having a variable orientation in space. Since the defined lines in space are known to the control and computing unit with reference to their position, in relation to a coordinate system, for example, the ability to move the device component connected to the mount along the defined lines in a linear manner is achieved, in order to obtain a series of X-ray pickups of a body part of a patient. A number of linearly extending lines in space can be combined so as to result in a curved line, along which the device component can be moved. In addition, the device component need not necessarily be moved directly along the defined line, but alternatively can be moved indirectly relative thereto. This means that a line in space can be defined and the device component can be moved along a line which is parallel to this defined line.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention line identifier is formed by a transmitter and a receiver which respectively transmit and receive signal-carrying waves such as ultrasound waves or electromagnetic waves, particularly infrared waves, for example. One or more transmitters can be arranged at the device component, or at a reference point which is determinative for the control of the movement of the device component, and the receivers can be arranged at a defined position within a space in which the medical device is arranged and in which a coordinate system is inscribed. The positions of the receivers in the coordinate system are known to the control and computing unit. If the device component with the transmitter is guided, by means of the control and computing unit, to individual salient points that should be situated on the line in space, i.e. on the line of motion of the device component, then for each of these points in space, the coordinates in a coordinate system can be determined by the control and computing unit (e.g. with the aid of transit time measurements) by means of the emission of signal-carrying waves by the transmitter, which are received by the receiver. The coordinates of the points constitute the supporting points for defining lines by the control and computing unit and are stored by the control and computing unit.
In a variant of the invention the medical device has a reflector which reflects the signal-carrying waves which are emitted by the transmitter. In this variant attachment of the transmitter to the device component can be forgone. The transmitter or transmitters are instead arranged, like the receiver or receivers, in a defined position within the space that accepts the medical device, or within the coordinate system that is inscribed in the space. For defining a point of a line in space, the reflector, which is arranged at the reference point of the device component or is temporarily held at the reference point of the device component, reflects the signal-carrying waves emitted by the transmitter, and the receiver receives the reflected waves. By transit-time measurements, the control and computing unit can subsequently determine the position, i.e. the coordinates of the reflector, or of the reference point of the device component, in the coordinate system, and can store this for defining lines in space. The transmitter preferably transmits waves of varying frequencies, so that, for the determination of the coordinates of the reference point of the device component, or of the point in space, it can distinguish from which transmitter a wave was emitted.
In another variant of the invention the line identifier is a position sensor which detects the location of an element of the mounting and which is electrically connected to the control and computing unit. The device component, for defining a line in space, is controlled by the control and computing unit from a starting position to a point in space that is expected to be situated on the line along which the device component should be at least indirectly moved. When this is done, the position sensor supplies signals to the control and computing unit from which the position of a reference point on the device component can be calculated. With the aid of these signals, the control and computing unit determines and stores the coo
Bruce David V.
Ho Allen C.
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Aktiengesellscaft
LandOfFree
Medical device with automatically controlled rectilinear... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Medical device with automatically controlled rectilinear..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Medical device with automatically controlled rectilinear... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2458277