X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Source support – Including movable source
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-16
2001-05-22
Kim, Robert H. (Department: 2882)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Source support
Including movable source
C378S198000, C378S114000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234672
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to mobile x-ray fluoroscopic imaging systems with miniature C-arm apparatus, and more particularly to miniature C-arm apparatus having C-arm mounted controls which activate certain functions of the imaging system.
In present-day medical practice, x-ray fluoroscopic imaging systems provide images of bone and tissue that are similar to conventional film x-ray shadowgrams but are produced by conversation of an incident x-ray pattern to a “live” enhanced (intensified) optical image that can be displayed on a video monitor directly, i.e., essentially contemporaneously with the irradiation of the patient's body or body portion being imaged. The term “fluoroscopic imaging” is used herein to designate such provision of directly video-displayed x-ray images. An imaging device, including an image intensifier, suitable for use in such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,142,101, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.
In some x-ray fluoroscopic imaging systems, the entire system is carried on an easily movable cart and an x-ray source and detector are mounted on a rotatable mini C-arm dimensioned for examining smaller body parts such as the extremities (wrists, ankles, etc.) of a human patient.
One illustrative example of a commercially available mini C-arm x-ray fluoroscopic imaging system is that sold under the trade name “FluoroScan III” by FluoroScan Imaging Systems, Inc., of Northbrook, Ill. Further examples of mini C-arm x-ray fluoroscopic imaging systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,873 and copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/199,952, filed Nov. 24, 1998 (and assigned to the same assignee as the present application), both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference.
Mini C-arm x-ray fluoroscopic imaging systems are also being used to measure bone mineral density (BMD) of bones in, for example, the forearm or wrist, or in the ankle or heel (calcaneal region) of a human patient. An example of such an x-ray fluoroscopic imaging system is described in allowed copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/794,615 filed on Feb. 3, 1997 which is assigned to Hologic, Inc., the parent company of the assignee of the present application, and which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.
Generally, such mini C-arm x-ray fluoroscopic imaging systems and x-ray bone densitometry systems are economical in space, conveniently movable (as within a hospital, clinic or physician's office) to a desired temporary location of use, and offer superior safety (owing to low levels of electric current utilization and reduced exposure of personnel to scatter radiation) as well as ease of positioning the x-ray source and detector relative to a patient's extremity for imaging. The various functions and operations of the system are conventionally controlled by buttons or switches on a control panel that is positionally associated with the cart.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The x-ray fluoroscopic imaging system according to the present application includes a processing system, such as a computer, and peripheral devices enclosed within a portable cabinet and a C-arm apparatus that is mounted to the cabinet. The processing system controls the operation of the various components of the imaging system, provides a camera or image processing to transform in real time image data received from an image receptor for display, printing or storage, and communicates with peripheral devices. The computer may also be configured to communicate with a local area network to transfer, for example, image data to locations remote from the sterile environment. An example of a suitable processing system is a personal computer running the “Windows 95”®, DOS, UNIX, MacOS or other operating systems. Examples of peripheral devices include display monitors, image (or video) printers and image storage devices (or recorders).
The C-arm apparatus includes a C-arm assembly, a support arm assembly and an articulating arm assembly. The C-arm assembly includes a C-arm having a track for guiding rotational movement of the C-arm, an x-ray source assembly including an x-ray source and an x-ray detector assembly including an image receptor and camera. The x-ray source and detector assemblies are located at opposing ends of the C-arm so that the x-ray source and image receptor face each other and x-rays emitted by the x-ray source impinge on the image receptor.
The support arm assembly engages the C-arm track so that the C-arm is movable relative to the support arm, and the articulating arm assembly is provided to facilitate movement of, including change in the angular orientation of, the source and detector assemblies relative to a patient's body portion being imaged. The articulating arm assembly includes at least one movable arm (which may be, e.g., a single member, or an articulated element constituted of two or more pivotally interconnected members) wherein a first end portion of the arm is connected to the support arm assembly and a second end portion of the arm is connected to a mobile base or portable cabinet. Preferably, the first end portion is so connected to the support arm assembly that the support arm assembly can be rotated relative to the movable arm.
During surgical procedures a sterile field is created around a patient to ensure that foreign substances or organisms do not infect the patient. Any instruments or persons within this field have to be sterile or covered by a sterile draping material. The sterile field is generally defined by the American College of Surgeons and published by the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN). Generally, the sterile field is defined as the area occupied by the sterile draping material on any operating room table, including the patient table and instrument tables. To permit sterile personal to position the x-ray fluoroscopic imaging system C-arm assembly in the sterile field a clear surgical drape covers the C-arm assembly.
In accordance with the present invention, and as a particular feature thereof, to permit surgeons to activate certain functions of the x-ray fluoroscopic imaging system within this sterile field, at least one of the x-ray source assembly or the x-ray detector assembly, both of which are used within the sterile field, includes a control panel that provides a physician with easy access to predefined imaging control functions associated with the x-ray fluoroscopic imaging system within the sterile field. The control panel may include audio and/or visual indicators to alert the physician and others to the activation of certain functions of the system, such as the x-ray source. By thus locating the control panel on an end of the C-arm, a surgeon can activate the functions without placing a hand or arm in the path of the x-ray beam.
In a preferred embodiment, this control panel includes an array of membrane switches, wherein each switch in the array is provided to activate a function performed by the x-ray fluoroscopic imaging system. Examples of functions controlled by the control panel switches include: x-ray source activation; image printing; image noise suppression; camera rotation; and x-ray source voltage/current control. However, it is also contemplated that other functions or all of the functions of the x-ray fluoroscopic imaging system can be controlled by the control panel on an end of the C-arm. For ease of use each membrane switch in the array has a raised button profile which provides tactile feedback, completes a signal circuit when contact material mounted on the underside of the raised button profile is depressed against a base layer, and breaks the signal circuit when pressure on the contact material is released. The raised button profile of each switch provides a tactile response so that a surgeon wearing protective surgical gloves can feel when a switch is being depressed and released.
The x-ray fluoroscopic imaging system may also include a foot control panel which is similar to the above-described control
Brown Sandra L.
Keane Scott M.
Tomasetti Perry J.
Cooper & Dunham LLP
FluoroScan Imaging Systems, Inc.
Hobden Pamela R.
Kim Robert H.
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