Mobile x-ray machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10653386-B2
Application number	US-201515514103-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2015
Priority date	Sep 25, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for positioning an x-ray machine having an x-ray source and a detector. A second X-ray image is recorded once an x-ray apparatus has been positioned by using information of an alignment point in a first x-ray image.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for positioning an x-ray machine including an x-ray source and a detector, the apparatus comprising:
a displaceable platform including a moveable x-ray source and/or detector, said platform displaceable by motorized, controllable wheels;
a computer supported on said platform, said computer including a controller configured to:
mark, in a first x-ray image in a 3D data record created preoperatively or intraoperatively, at least one alignment point or a trajectory in the 3D data record for forming at least one second x-ray image;
retrieve from the 3D data record, spatial coordinates of the noted alignment point or trajectory;
derive spatial coordinates for a position of the x-ray source for a second x-ray image from the received spatial coordinates of the alignment point or trajectory;
generate control signals to bring about motorized alignment of said x-ray source and/or detector, such that said alignment point or trajectory lies approximately centrally in a second x-ray image, said control signals controlling at least one of said motorized, controllable wheels or said moveable x-ray source and/or detector; and

said controller additionally configured to control the displacement of said platform supporting the x-ray source, the detector and said computer based on said alignment point or trajectory, by operating said motorized, controllable wheels to move said platform in order to position the x-ray machine.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controller coordinates control of the x-ray machine by ascertaining control signals for motorized alignment of the x-ray machine based on actual position data and predetermined coordinates of the at least one alignment point in the preoperative or intraoperative 3D data record.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , which further comprises:
at least one of a positioning module or a repositioning module carrying out a comparison of target and actual values between a current alignment and a desired alignment of the x-ray source; and
a single motorizable positioning device being actuated or a plurality of motorizable positioning devices being included for positioning the x-ray source.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the x-ray machine has a C-arm disposed on the platform, the x-ray source being disposed at the C-arm.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , which further comprises a visualization unit for displaying at least one x-ray image by noting the at least one alignment point in the preoperative or intraoperative 3D data record.

6. A method for positioning an x-ray machine according to claim 1 , the method comprising the following steps:
aligning the x-ray source according to a prescription of at least one alignment point or a trajectory being matched in a preoperative or intraoperative 3D data record and noted in a first x-ray image; and
creating at least one second x-ray image.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said controller is configured to capture the at least one alignment point being predeterminable in the preoperative or intraoperative 3D data record for ascertaining control signals for a motorizable positioning device for aligning the mobile x-ray machine and forming corresponding control signals.

8. The method according to claim 6 , which further comprises ascertaining control signals for motorized alignment of the x-ray machine based on actual position data and predetermined coordinates of the at least one alignment point in the preoperative or intraoperative 3D data record.

9. The method according to claim 6 , which further comprises:
carrying out a comparison of target and actual values between a current alignment and a desired alignment of the x-ray source; and
positioning the x-ray source by a singular actuation of motorizable elements or by an inclusion of a plurality of motorizable elements.

10. The method according to claim 6 , which further comprises aligning the x-ray source according to the prescription of at least one alignment point noted in the preoperative or intraoperative 3D data record and creating the second x-ray image for an alignment point in each case.

Assignees

• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Gemmel Alexander
• Kleinszig Gerhard
• Wei Wei
• Weiten Markus

Classifications

• A61B6/4441

  the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm · CPC title

• A61B6/587 Primary

  Alignment of source unit to detector unit · CPC title

• A61B6/547

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

• A61B6/469

  for selecting a region of interest [ROI] · CPC title

• A61B6/545

  involving automatic set-up of acquisition parameters · CPC title