X ray apparatus and method of operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10098609-B2
Application number	US-201514965945-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2015
Priority date	Dec 12, 2014
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

An X-ray apparatus which aligns an X-ray radiator with an X-ray detector, an X-ray apparatus which aligns an X-ray radiator with an X-ray detector while maintaining a Source to Image-receptor Distance (SID) and a Source to Object Distance (SOD) therebetween, and methods of operating the X-ray apparatuses are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An X-ray apparatus comprising:
an X-ray radiator configured to irradiate an X-ray in a radiation direction;
an X-ray detector comprising an incidence surface, the X-ray detector being configured to detect the X-ray radiated from the X-ray radiator to the incidence surface;
a controller configured to:
acquire first angle information representing an inclination of the X-ray detector,
acquire second angle information representing an angle by which the X-ray radiator is rotated from a reference position, and
determine a rotation angle of the X-ray radiator for aligning the X-ray radiator with the X-ray detector of the X-ray radiator based on the first angle information and the second angle information, and a rotation direction of the X-ray radiator based on a motion information corresponding to a motion of the X-ray detector such that a radiation direction of the X-ray radiator is perpendicular to the incidence surface of the X-ray detector; of the X-ray detector; and

a driver configured to rotate the X-ray radiator by the rotation angle in the rotation direction.

2. The X-ray apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is further configured to:
determine the rotation angle based on a difference between the first angle and the second angle, and
determine the rotation direction based on whether the X-ray detector rotates in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

3. The X-ray apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an output unit having a screen, wherein the output unit is configured to display information on the screen representing that the X-ray radiator is aligned with the X-ray detector after the X-ray radiator is rotated by the rotation angle in the rotation direction.

4. The X-ray apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the output unit is further configured to display the first angle information and the second angle information.

5. The X-ray apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a user input unit configured to receive a command regarding alignment of the X-ray radiator with the X-ray detector from a user, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the rotation angle and the rotation direction according to the command.

6. The X-ray apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the rotation angle and the rotation direction to the driver via a Controller Area Network (CAN).

7. A method of operating an X-ray apparatus, the method comprising:
acquiring first angle information representing an inclination of an X-ray detector,
acquiring second angle information representing an angle by which an X-ray radiator is rotated from a reference position;
acquiring motion information corresponding to a motion of the X-ray detector;
determining a rotation angle and a rotation direction of the X-ray radiator for aligning the X-ray radiator with the X-ray detector based on the first angle information, the second angle information, and the motion information; and
rotating the X-ray radiator by the rotation angle in the rotation direction.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein
the determining comprises:
determining the rotation angle based on a difference between the first angle and the second angle; and
determining the rotation direction based on whether the X-ray detectors in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

9. An X-ray apparatus comprising:
an X-ray radiator configured to irradiate an X-ray in a radiation direction:
an X-ray detector comprimising an incidence surface, the X-ray detector being configured to detect the X-ray radiated from the X-ray radiator to the incidence surface:
a controller configured to:
acquire information comprising information about a preset point on an object located between the X-ray radiator and the X-ray detector, and information about a Source to Object Distance (SOD), wherein the SOD is a distance between the preset point on the object and the X-ray radiator, and
determine a location and a rotation angle for aligning the X-ray radiator with the X-ray detector with the SOD being maintained, such that the radiation direction is perpendicular to the incidence surface, based on the acquired information, and

a driver configured to move the X-ray radiator according to the location and the rotation angle.

10. A method of operating an X-ray apparatus, the method comprising:
acquiring information comprising:
angle information representing an inclination of an X-ray detector,
motion information corresponding to a motion of the X-ray detector;
information about a preset point on the X-ray detector, and
information about an SID, wherein the SID is a distance between the preset point on the X-ray detector and an X-ray radiator;

determining a location and a rotation angle for aligning the X-ray radiator with the X-ray detector with the SID being maintained, based on the acquired information; and
moving the X-ray radiator according to the location and the rotation angle determined to align the X-ray radiator with the X-ray detector with the SID being maintained.

11. An X-ray apparatus comprising:
an X-ray radiator configured to irradiate an X-ray in a radiation direction;
an X-ray detector comprising an incidence surface, the X-ray detector being configured to detect the X-ray radiated from the X-ray radiator to the incidence surface;
a controller configured to:
acquire information, comprising angle information representing an inclination of the X-ray detector, information about a preset point on the X-ray detector, and information about a Source to Image-receptor Distance (SID), wherein the SID is a distance between the preset point on the X-ray detector and the X-ray radiator, and
determine a location and a rotation angle of the X-ray radiator for aligning the X-ray radiator with the X-ray detector with the SID being maintained, such that the radiation direction is perpendicular to the incidence surface, based on the acquired information; and

a driver configured to move the X-ray radiator according to the location and the rotation angle.

12. The X-ray apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising an image acquirer configured to acquire an image of a marker displayed on the X-ray detector wherein the image of the marker is generated by light from a collimator.

13. The X-ray apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to acquire information about the SID based on the image of the marker.

14. The X-ray apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the marker comprises an intersection between cross-lines of the collimator that is marked on the X-ray detector by light of a laser pointer included in the collimator.

15. The X-ray apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the marker comprises an intersection between cross-lines of the collimator that is marked on the X-ray detector by light of a lamp when the lamp of the collimator is turned on.

16. The X-ray apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a user input unit configured to receive a command regarding maintenance of the SID between the X-ray radiator and the X-ray detector and alignment of the X-ray radiator and the X-ray detector from a user, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the rotation angle according to the command.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
acquiring information comprising:
information about a preset point on an object located between the X-ray radiator and the X-ray detector, and
information about an SOD which is a distance between the preset point on the object and the X-ray radiator;

determining a location and a rotation angle for a

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Tae-Eui
• Hwang Do-Hyeong
• Kim Seung-Hoon
• Park Sung-Jin
• Park Il-Hwan

Classifications

• G01N2223/612

  biological material · CPC title

• G01N2223/419

  computed tomograph · CPC title

• A61B6/467

  characterised by special input means · CPC title

• A61B6/4464

  the source unit or the detector unit being mounted to ceiling · CPC title

• A61B6/588

  Setting distance between source unit and detector unit · CPC title