Adjusting a collimator of an X-ray source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11090020-B2
Application number	US-201916357533-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2019
Priority date	Mar 26, 2018
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

A method is disclosed for adjusting a collimator of an X-ray source. In an embodiment, the method includes detecting an arrangement of an X-ray detector with respect to the X-ray source; automatically determining an adjustment for the collimator based on the detected position of the X-ray detector with respect to the X-ray source; and automatically adjusting the collimator based on the determined adjustment for the collimator. An X-ray device and computer readable medium are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for adjusting a collimator of an X-ray source having a radiation source therein, comprising:
detecting, via a 3D camera, an arrangement of an X-ray detector with respect to the X-ray source;
automatically determining an adjustment for the collimator based on a position of the X-ray detector determined with respect to the X-ray source;
moving the radiation source with respect to the collimator; and
automatically adjusting the collimator based on the adjustment determined for the collimator, wherein the 3D camera is mechanically connected to the X-ray source and is configured to move together with the X-ray source,
wherein an image generated by the 3D camera includes an irradiation area of the X-ray source, and
wherein the image generated by the 3D camera includes the X-ray detector.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the X-ray detector comprises a mobile X-ray detector to allow a free exposure arrangement of the X-ray detector.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the automatically adjusting of the collimator comprises at least one of:
automatically adjusting a height of a light field of the collimator,
automatically adjusting a width of the light field of the collimator, and
automatically adjusting a rotation of the light field of the collimator.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automatically adjusting of the collimator comprises at least one of:
automatically adjusting a height of a light field of the collimator,
automatically adjusting a width of the light field of the collimator, and
automatically adjusting a rotation of the light field of the collimator.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the arrangement of the X-ray detector with respect to the X-ray source comprises detecting a position of the X-ray detector, and wherein
an adjustment for the X-ray source is automatically determined based on the position of the X-ray detector detected, and
a position of the X-ray source is automatically adjusted based on the adjustment for the X-ray source determined.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
outputting a warning indicating when an optimal adjustment of the collimator cannot be achieved with arrangement of the X-ray detector detected with respect to the X-ray source.

7. A non-transitory computer program product storing a computer program, the computer program being loadable into a memory of a processing device of an X-ray device, and including program code sections to cause the processing device to execute the method of claim 1 when the computer program is executed in the processing device.

8. A non-transitory computer readable media storing computer executable instructions for, when executed by a processor, perform the method of claim 1 .

9. A method for adjusting a collimator of an X-ray source, comprising:
detecting, via a 3D camera, an arrangement of an X-ray detector with respect to the X-ray source to determine a position of the X-ray detector detected with respect to the X-ray source;
automatically determining an adjustment for the collimator based on the position of the X-ray detector determined with respect to the X-ray source; and
automatically adjusting the collimator based on the adjustment determined for the collimator,

wherein the detecting of the arrangement of the X-ray detector with respect to the X-ray source comprises;
capturing an image comprising the X-ray detector and the X-ray source,
automatically computing, based on the image captured, at least one of:
a distance between the X-ray detector and the X-ray source, and
an orientation of the X-ray detector with respect to the X-ray source.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the X-ray detector comprises a mobile X-ray detector to allow a free exposure arrangement of the X-ray detector.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the automatically adjusting of the collimator comprises at least one of:
automatically adjusting a height of a light field of the collimator, and
automatically adjusting a width of the light field of the collimator.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
outputting a warning indicating when an optimal adjustment of the collimator cannot be achieved with arrangement of the X-ray detector detected with respect to the X-ray source.

13. A non-transitory computer program product storing a computer program, the computer program being loadable into a memory of a processing device of an X-ray device, and including program code sections to cause the processing device to execute the method of claim 9 when the computer program is executed in the processing device.

14. A non-transitory computer readable media storing computer executable instructions for, when executed by a processor, perform the method of claim 9 .

15. An X-ray device, comprising:
an X-ray source including a collimator, a radiation source and an actuator configured to move the radiation source with respect to the collimator;
a capturing device including a 3D camera and configured to detect an arrangement of an X-ray detector with respect to the X-ray source,
wherein the capturing device is mechanically connected to the X-ray source and is configured to move together with the X-ray source,
wherein an image generated by the capturing device includes an irradiation area of the X-ray source, and
wherein the image generated by the 3D camera includes the X-ray detector, and

a processor configured to
determine an adjustment for the collimator based on a detected position of the X-ray detector with respect to the X-ray source, and
adjust the collimator based on the adjustment determined for the collimator.

16. An X-ray device, comprising:
an X-ray source including a collimator;
an X-ray detector; and
at least one processor configured to
detect, via a 3D camera, an arrangement of the X-ray detector with respect to the X-ray source by automatically computing, based on an image captured by the 3D camera including the X-ray detector and the X-ray source, at least one of:
a distance between the X-ray detector and the X-ray source, and
an orientation of the X-ray detector with respect to the X-ray source;

automatically determine an adjustment for the collimator based on a position of the X-ray detector determined with respect to the X-ray source; and
automatically adjust the collimator based on the adjustment determined for the collimator.

Assignees

• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Oepping Susanne
• Nanke Ralf
• Fuhrmann Michael
• Tamersoy Birgi
• Chang Yao-Jen
• Chen Terrence

Classifications

• G21K1/04

  using variable diaphragms, shutters, choppers · CPC title

• A61B6/4405

  the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley · CPC title

• A61B6/08

  Auxiliary means for directing the radiation beam to a particular spot, e.g. using light beams · CPC title

• A61B6/588

  Setting distance between source unit and detector unit · CPC title

• A61B6/06

  Diaphragms · CPC title