Medical imaging device and method of operating a medical imaging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11147525-B2
Application number	US-201716347577-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2017
Priority date	Nov 4, 2016
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A medical imaging device includes an x-ray source disposed at a first end of an arm, and an x-ray detector disposed at a second end of the arm opposite of the x-ray source. At least one of the x-ray source, the x-ray detector, and a portion of the arm are selectively adjustable with respect to the arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medical imaging device, comprising:
an arm including a first end, a second end, and an arc-shaped curvature between the first end of the arm and the second end of the arm;
an x-ray source configured to be positioned along the arc-shaped curvature of the arm; and
an x-ray detector disposed at the second end of the arm;
wherein the arm, the x-ray source, and the x-ray detector are configured to operate in two arrangements:
a first arrangement in which the x-ray source is at the first end of the arm, the x-ray detector is at the second end of the arm opposite of the x-ray source such that x-rays emitted from the x-ray source are receivable by the x-ray detector through a space between the first end of the arm and the second end of the arm, wherein an access to the space by a medical professional is limited; and
a second arrangement in which the x-ray source is positioned along the arc-shaped curvature of the arm so that the x-ray source and the x-ray detector are out of an alignment with each other such that a medical professional can access a patient in the space for conducting a surgical procedure.

2. The medical imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to automatically position at least one of the x-ray source and the x-ray detector.

3. The medical imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to position by voice-activated commands at least one of the x-ray source and the x-ray detector.

4. The medical imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the arm includes a general “C” shape curvature so that the x-ray source and the x-ray detector are aligned along an imaging axis when disposed at the first end and the second end, respectively.

5. The medical imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the x-ray source is slidable along an inner surface of the arm.

6. The medical imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the x-ray source includes a curvature shaped to match the curvature of the arm.

7. The medical imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the x-ray source includes a top portion including a convex surface arranged and configured to contact a concave inner surface of the arm.

8. A medical imaging device, comprising:
an arm including a first end and a second end;
an x-ray source disposable at the first end of the arm; and
an x-ray detector disposed at the second end of the arm;
wherein the arm, the x-ray source, and the x-ray detector are configured to operate in two arrangements:
a first arrangement in which the x-ray source is positioned opposite of the x-ray detector such that x-rays emitted from the x-ray source are receivable by the x-ray detector through a space between the first end of the arm and the second end of the arm, wherein an access to the space is limited; and
a second arrangement in which the x-ray source is out of an alignment relative to the x-ray detector such that a medical professional can access a patient in the space for conducting a surgical procedure; and
wherein the x-ray source is slidably adjustable along a curvature of the arm to transition between the first arrangement and the second arrangement.

9. The medical imaging device according to claim 8 , wherein the x-ray source is re-positionable relative to the x-ray detector by sliding the x-ray source along a surface of the arm.

10. The medical imaging device according to claim 8 , wherein the x-ray source is configured to be shaped to match the curvature of the arm.

Assignees

• Hologic Inc

Inventors

• Keil Richard
• Santos Daniel
• Guetersloh Mark
• Wilson Kevin
• Pham Tri
• Danilkin Alexsey

Classifications

• A61B6/4476

  related to motor-assisted motion of the source unit · CPC title

• A61B6/4085

  Cone-beams · CPC title

• A61B6/467

  characterised by special input means · CPC title

• A61B6/4452

  the source unit and the detector unit being able to move relative to each other · CPC title

• A61B6/4441 Primary

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