Data transfer between an x-ray detector and an arithmetic unit via a network protocol

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020128079-A1
Application number	US-201916717188-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 17, 2019
Priority date	Oct 27, 2016
Publication date	Apr 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A detector apparatus for use as part of a data network includes a plurality of x-ray detectors, each of the plurality of x-ray detectors including a network-capable network interface, and a switch or router, connected to each of the network-capable network interfaces of the plurality of x-ray detectors, each of the plurality of x-ray detectors including a distinct IP address such that the data network is adjustable to take a change in a number of the plurality of x-ray detectors into account. The plurality of x-ray detectors are configured to detect x-rays generated from a single x-ray source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A detector apparatus for use as part of a data network, comprising:
a plurality of x-ray detectors, each of the plurality of x-ray detectors including a network-capable network interface; and a switch or router, connected to each of the network-capable network interfaces of the plurality of x-ray detectors, each of the plurality of x-ray detectors including a distinct IP address such that the data network is adjustable to take a change in a number of the plurality of x-ray detectors into account, wherein the plurality of x-ray detectors are configured to detect x-rays generated from a single x-ray source.

2 . The detector apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network-capable network interfaces are configured to transfer data via an Internet protocol.

3 . The detector apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network-capable network interfaces and the switch or router are configured to communicate with each other over a network protocol.

4 . The detector apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network-capable network interfaces and the switch or router are configured to transfer data via an Internet protocol.

5 . The detector apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switch or router includes a plurality of switches or routers and wherein the detector apparatus includes the plurality of switches or routers, and each of the plurality of switches or routers are connected to the network-capable network interface of at least one of the plurality of x-ray detectors.

6 . The detector apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a timer connected to the switch or router.

7 . The detector apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the switch or router includes a plurality of switches or routers and wherein the timer is connected to the plurality of switches or routers.

8 . The detector apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of x-ray detectors includes a time receiver, and a same point in time is synchronizable to a clock of each of the time receivers to enable the data to be read out when a time coincides with the same point in time.

9 . The detector apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switch or router includes a plurality of switches or routers and wherein a timer is connected to the plurality of switches or routers.

10 . A medical device having:
the detector apparatus of claim 1 ; a transfer unit; and an arithmetic unit.

11 . The detector apparatus of claim 1 , wherein,
the switch or router includes a plurality of switches or routers, and the detector apparatus further comprises a timer connected to the plurality of switches or routers.

12 . A rotor for a medical device comprising:
an x-ray source; and a detector apparatus configured to detect x-rays generated from the x-ray source, wherein the detector apparatus includes,
a plurality of x-ray detectors, each of the plurality of x-ray detectors including a network-capable network interface, and
a switch or router, connected to each of the network-capable network interfaces of the plurality of x-ray detectors, each of the plurality of x-ray detectors including a distinct IP address such that a data network associated with the detector apparatus is adjustable to take a change in a number of the plurality of x-ray detectors into account.

13 . A medical device comprising:
the rotor of claim 12 , wherein the medical device includes a computed tomography system.

14 . A medical imaging device comprising:
the rotor of claim 12 ; and a stator.

15 . The medical imaging device of claim 14 , further comprising:
a patient couch configured to move into and out of the rotor.

16 . The medical imaging device of claim 14 , wherein the data network further includes an arithmetic unit.

17 . The rotor of claim 12 , wherein the x-ray source is on one side of the rotor, and at least one of the plurality of x-ray detectors is on an opposite side of the rotor.

18 . The rotor of claim 12 , wherein the network-capable network interfaces are configured to transfer data via a network protocol, and
the network protocol is used within the rotor.

19 . A method for operating an apparatus of a data network, the method comprising:
detecting x-ray radiation via a plurality of x-ray detectors, the x-ray radiation generated from a single x-ray source, each of the plurality of x-ray detectors including a network-capable network interface; acquiring data from the network-capable interfaces; and transferring the data acquired from the network-capable network interfaces of the plurality of x-ray detectors to a switch or router, via a network protocol, each of the plurality of x-ray detectors including a distinct IP address such that the data network is adjustable to take a change in a number of the plurality of x-ray detectors into account.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the data includes a time stamp.

Assignees

• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Eismann Alfons
• Ergler Thorsten
• Pryymak Taras
• Reitz Bodo
• Graf Alexander
• Goetz Edmund
• Hartmann Stefan
• Hilderscheid Thomas
• Chaudhury Shameem Kabir
• Stadlthanner Kurt
• Hosemann Michael

Classifications

• G01T7/00

  Details of radiation-measuring instruments · CPC title

• A61B6/032

  Transmission computed tomography [CT] · CPC title

• G01T1/2964

  Scanners (using scintigraphy G01T1/166) · CPC title

• G01T1/20

  with scintillation detectors · CPC title

• A61B6/4266

  characterised by using a plurality of detector units (A61B6/4014 takes precedence) · CPC title