X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Source support – Including movable source
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-29
2003-06-10
Dunn, Drew A. (Department: 2882)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Source support
Including movable source
C378S015000, C378S196000, C378S197000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06575624
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an X-ray apparatus of the type having a C-arm X-ray device with at least one electrically operable component that is arranged at a C-arm that is adjustable relative to a holding mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is conventional to arrange an X-ray source and an X-ray receiver at a C-arm of a C-arm X-ray device, which is adjustable relative to a holding mechanism for the C-arm that is connected to the housing of the C-arm X-ray device. As a rule, the X-ray apparatus also has a separately implemented viewing device unit connected to the C-arm X-ray device via at least one cable. Given such an X-ray apparatus, the energy for the operation of the X-ray source and of the X-ray receiver as well as all data to be transferred between the X-ray source, the X-ray receiver and, for example, a data processing means arranged in the viewing device unit are transmitted via cables.
A cable module as disclosed, for example, in German OS 197 43 215 is provided in the holding mechanism for the transmission of the energy via the mechanical interface via the holding mechanism and the C-arm to the electrically operable components arranged at C-arm or for the transmission of the data between the components arranged at the C-arm and electrically operable components arranged in the housing or the viewing device unit. The cable module has cables that can be wound onto and off of drums via which the X-ray source and the X-ray receiver as well as other electrically operable components, as may be arranged at the C-arm and connected to the cables, are supplied with energy and via which the data transfer ensues between the X-ray source, the X-ray receiver and, for example, the data processing means.
A disadvantage of this form of transmission of energy and data via the mechanical interface between the holding mechanism and the C-arm of the X-ray device is the structural space that the cable module occupies in a C-arm X-ray device, particularly in the holding device, as well as the comparatively large mass of the cable module, amounting to more than 52 kg.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,415, moreover, discloses a computed tomography apparatus with a gantry carrying an X-ray system that is rotatable around a rotational center, whereby measured data are intermediately stored in a data memory rotating together with the gantry during a scan, the measured data being transmitted in non-contacting fashion to a stationary unit of the computed tomography apparatus upon standstill of the gantry. This data transmission takes place via a data transfer unit. The transmission of the data thus cannot ensue continuously.
German OS 198 37 442 discloses a computed tomography apparatus wherein the transmission of data from a rotor carrying an X-ray source and an X-ray receiver ensues in non-contacting fashion, using transmission and reception devices, to a console that is stationary relative to the rotor.
German PS 42 07 007 discloses a computed tomography apparatus wherein the data transmission from a rotor onto a console ensues with a rotating current coupling. The current coupling comprises an annular, rotating disk with interconnects with which stationary signal pickups are in contact.
German OS 195 33 819 discloses an apparatus and a method for a communication with a high data rate in a computed tomography system wherein a coupler is secured to a stationary frame and is arranged adequately close to a transmission line secured to the rotating frame for establishing a radio coupling in order to transmit an applied, modulated signal.
Further, German OS 43 03 643 discloses an X-ray system having a number of system components each allocated to a data transmission node in the CAN protocol, the data input and data output thereof having an interactive connection to other data transmission nodes via transmitters or receivers. The transmitters and receivers of at least some data transmission nodes are fashioned for the contactless transmission of data. The contactless transmission of the data is intended to assure a faster and more dependable data transmission.
The article, “Virtuelles Kabel” by Wilfried Blaesner, Design & Elektronik, 02/99, pages 16 through 18, describes a radio data transmission system that operates according to the DECT standard.
German PS 196 46 607 discloses a method and an apparatus for the positionally correct processing of X-ray cassettes having a data memory. A sensor checks whether the data memory of a cassette is at a specific position relative to the sensor at a specific point in time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,653 discloses transmitting image data from a C-arm X-ray device to a data processing means in non-contacting fashion using an optical transmission path. A disadvantage of optical transmission of data, however, is the required line-of-sight path between the transmitter and the receiver for the data, requiring a specific arrangement of the transmitter relative to the receiver.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray apparatus of the type initially described wherein data transmission and/or energy transmission via the mechanical interface between the holding mechanism and the C-arm is simplified.
This object is inventively achieved in an X-ray apparatus having a C-arm X-ray device with at least one electrically operable component that is arranged at the C-arm that is adjustable relative to a holding mechanism, having a first data transmitter and a data and energy receiver arranged at the C-arm or the component. A data and energy transmitter and a data receiver are arranged at the holding mechanism or at a housing connected to the holding mechanism for the transmission of data and/or energy. The exchange of data and/or transmission of energy between these transmitters and receivers ensues contactless, and whereby the transmission of data and/or energy can ensue continuously. As used herein, disposing these items “at” the designated apparatus part encompasses disposing them “in” the designated apparatus part. Because the transmission of data and/or energy ensues in non-contacting fashion, a cable module that occupies structural space and increases the mass of the X-ray device can be foregone. Accordingly, the data transmission and/or the energy transmission via the mechanical interface between the holding mechanism and the C-arm is significantly simplified. Moreover, the transmission of data and/or energy in the present invention can ensue continuously during the adjustment of the C-arm relative to the holding mechanism, i.e., without intermediate storage of data and/or energy, which would involve additional outlay at the X-ray device.
Further, the contactless transmission of data and/or energy via the mechanical interface makes it possible to keep this as simple as possible, so that the preconditions are created for replacing or exchanging the C-arm provided with at least one component with a different C-arm in a relatively simple way without being impeded by means for the data and/or energy transmission.
The aforementioned receiver for data and/or energy and the aforementioned transmitter for data can be separate components or can be combined as a single component. If multiple components are used, the functions respectively performed by the multiple components can be distributed in a suitable manner, such as by separating transmission functions and reception functions or by separating energy-related functions and data-related functions. The same considerations apply to the transmitter for energy and/or data and the receiver for data at the holding mechanism or the housing.
In one embodiment of the invention the transmitters and receivers for the transmission of data include at least one transmission device and at least one receiption device for the signal-carrying waves. According to versions of the invention, the transmission device can be an infrared transmitter and the reception device can be an infrared receiver or the transmission device can be a radio transmitter an
Noegel Peter
Schultz Andreas
Dunn Drew A.
Ho Allen C.
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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