Mobile X-ray imaging with detector docking within a spatially registered compartment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10531850-B2
Application number	US-201715698439-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2017
Priority date	Sep 7, 2017
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

The present approach relates to the use of a spatially registered detector docking compartment to determine source and detector alignment in a patient imaging context. In certain implementations, sensors and/or cameras provide visual data that may be analyzed to determine a spatial relation between an X-ray source and landmarks provided on a patient support surface, where the landmarks have a known spatial relationship to a detector positioned beneath the patient support surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for determining an X-ray scan geometry, comprising:
positioning a portable detector within a docking compartment provided in a patient support structure;
positioning a mobile X-ray imager with respect to the patient support structure, wherein the mobile X-ray imager comprises an X-ray source in a known geometric relationship to an optical sensor;
analyzing a visual image generated by the optical sensor of one or more landmarks directly disposed on a patient-facing surface of the patient support structure;
determining a source-detector geometry based on a known spatial relationship between the one or more landmarks and the docking compartment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the visual image enables determining the source-detector geometry.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the portable detector within the docking compartment comprises engaging with portable detector with one or more positioning features within the docking compartment.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more positioning features comprise complementary mating or engagement features.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient support structure comprises a patient bed, a gurney, or an incubator.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile X-ray imager is configured to move the X-ray source so as to acquire a sequence of images at different views during an acquisition sequence.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
acquiring the visual image using a camera provided on the mobile X-ray imager.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
controlling a collimator of the mobile X-ray imager during an image acquisition sequence based on the source-detector geometry.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
controlling operation of the X-ray source during an image acquisition sequence based on the source-detector geometry.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing the source-detector geometry to an image reconstruction algorithm; and
reconstructing an image using the image reconstruction algorithm.

11. A patient support structure, comprising:
a patient support surface configured to support a patient when in use;
a docking compartment configured to hold a portable detector, wherein the docking compartment is provided opposite the patient support surface; and
one or more landmarks directly disposed on the patient support surface, wherein the one or more landmarks have a known spatial relationship with the docking compartment.

12. The patient support structure of claim 11 , wherein the patient support structure is one of an incubator, a patient bed, or a gurney.

13. The patient support structure of claim 11 , further comprising:
one or more positioning features within the docking compartment.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more positioning features comprise complementary mating or engagement features.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more landmarks comprise one or more of crosshairs, radiopaque markers, optical patterns, or LED lights.

16. A method for acquiring X-ray images, comprising:
positioning a portable detector within a docking compartment provided in a patient support structure;
positioning a mobile X-ray imager with respect to the patient support structure, wherein the mobile X-ray imager comprises:
an X-ray source configured to move over a limited angular range during image acquisition; and
a collimator configured to control one or both of a size or shape of an emitted X-ray beam;

acquiring a visual image using an optical sensor, wherein the visual image includes the X-ray source and one or more landmarks directly disposed on a patient-facing surface of the patient support structure;
analyzing the visual image of the X-ray source and the one or more landmarks to determine a source-detector geometry based on a known spatial relationship between the one or more landmarks and the docking compartment; and
controlling operation of one or both of the X-ray source and the collimator based on the source-detector geometry during an X-ray acquisition.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein positioning the portable detector within the docking compartment comprises engaging with portable detector with one or more positioning features within the docking compartment.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more positioning features comprise complementary mating or engagement features.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the patient support structure comprises a patient bed, a gurney, or an incubator.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Tkaczyk John Eric
• Lai Hao

Classifications

• A61B6/587

  Alignment of source unit to detector unit · CPC title

• A61B6/04

  Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like · CPC title

• A61B6/0407

  Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body · CPC title

• A61B6/547

  involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device · CPC title

• G06T2207/20092

  Interactive image processing based on input by user · CPC title