Method of making X-ray photographs or exposures or other type of

Details Method of making X-ray photographs or exposures or other type of Method of making X-ray photographs or exposures or other type of

1997-01-28

1998-06-09

Wong, Don

X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices

Photographic detector support

With object support or positioning

378167, 378175, G03B 4204

Patent

active

057647240

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method of imaging a person or an object in at least two directions by X-ray photography, while using an X-ray cassette as a receptor or other forms of radiation-absorbing techniques with the aid of a radiation receptor, for instance for electronic image storage.
In imaging processes of this kind, there is used a radiation source which is supported for movement in X-, Y- and Z-directions and which is rotatable about a horizontal axis. The receptor unit may be mounted in or positioned beneath a patient table and is movable in the X-direction. Movement of the radiation source may be initiated automatically, as the receptor unit is moved.
By X-direction is meant here and in the following a direction of movement which is parallel with one long side of the patient table, while by Y-direction is meant a direction of movement perpendicular to the extension of said long side, i.e. a direction of movement parallel with the short sides of the table. By Z-direction is meant movement in a vertical direction. This enables the patient table to be brought to different positions in relation to a tower column or a ceiling-mounted tower which carries the beam source.
The present invention also relates to a patient table equipped with a receptor unit, and more specifically to a patient table of the kind defined in the preamble of claim 5.


BACKGROUND PRIOR ART

GB-B-1,323,769 (Picker Corp.) describes apparatus comprising a receptor part disposed in a patient support table, and an overlying ceiling-mounted beam source. The apparatus enables side-on photographs to be taken with a horizontal beam path, by swinging-up the patient's support table about a horizontal axis and pivoting the beam source. The apparatus also enables the image size and the shutter setting to be varied in relation to the beam-source/receptor distance ("SID", i.e. "source-image-distance". However, movement of the beam source and swinging of the patient support table must be effected manually, which is experienced as troublesome by the radiologists concerned.
EP-A-0 430 934 (AO Medical Products) describes a method of the aforesaid kind in which activation of a secondary receptor pivotally associated with the receptor unit or mountable thereon and extending in a vertical plane results, optionally after a time delay, in automatic movement of the beam source to a basic setting for horizontal, centered beam path onto the secondary receptor.
A Philips brochure describes a patient support table which carries a receptor unit for a vertical beam path. This receptor unit can be swung outwards and upwards from one side of the table, to a position for receiving a horizontal beam path.
This latter arrangement, which is considered to represent the nearest prior art, has a number of drawbacks. When the receptor unit is to be swung out and up to receive a horizontal beam path, it is necessary for personnel who need to stand on the other side of the table in order to manoeuver the beam source to move around the table to swing the receptor unit outwards and upwards, and then move back around the table and place themselves in their original position in which the beam source can be manoeuvered. This procedure is experienced by the personnel as being both troublesome and time-consuming. The described solution also has other drawbacks from an ergometric aspect.
Another drawback is that the receptor unit is not centred in relation to the beam path when swung outwards and upwards from the table, and it is therefore necessary to move the beam source in the X-direction when adjusting for horizontal beam path.
Furthermore, this known arrangement only allows an exposure to be taken from one side of the patient. It is often difficult to "turn" the patient, particularly when the patient is seriously injured.
The effect of these drawbacks may sometimes be so serious as to impair the clarity of the pictures to an extent such as to require the X-ray to be taken again, therewith exposing the patient to an unnecessarily high radiation dosa

REFERENCES:
patent: 4468803 (1984-08-01), Ronci
patent: 5023899 (1991-06-01), Ohlson
patent: 5157707 (1992-10-01), Ohlson

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