Medical imaging apparatus and method of operating same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021186446-A1
Application number	US-202117180065-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2021
Priority date	Aug 28, 2014
Publication date	Jun 24, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A medical imaging apparatus is provided. The medical image apparatus includes an output unit; and a controller configured to control the output unit to display an image obtained by photographing an object and to display, over the image, a top indicator for setting a top limit for an area to be X-rayed and at least one guideline indicating a bottom limit for the area to be X-rayed according to the top indicator and the number of partial photographing operations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A medical imaging apparatus comprising:
an X-ray generator configured to perform X-ray imaging of a target object by generating and irradiating X-rays; a camera configured to obtain an image of the target object by photographing the target object; a touch screen configured to display the image of the target object by the camera, a top indicator for setting a top limit for a target area to be X-ray imaged on the image of the target object, a bottom indicator for setting a bottom limit for the target area to be X-ray imaged on the image of the target object, and receive a user's touch and drag input for modifying the target area by adjusting at least one of a position of the top indicator and a position bottom indicator; and a controller configured to: set the target area based on the adjusted at least one of the position of the top indicator and the position of the bottom indicator by the user's touch and drag input, determine a number of partial X-ray imaging operations according to the set target area, partition the target area into equally sized regions based on the determined number of partial X-ray imaging operations, and control the touch screen to display a user interface representing the determined number of partial X-ray imaging operations.

2 . The medical imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch screen to display a plurality of guidelines that indicates a respective bottom limit for each of the regions.

3 . The medical imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the touch screen is further configured to receive a user input for re-adjusting the position of the top indicator, and
the controller is further configured to: re-determine the number of partial X-ray imaging operations based on the re-adjusted position of the top indicator, and re-partition an area between the position of the bottom indicator and the re-adjusted position of the top indicator into re-adjusted equally sized regions based on the re-determined number of partial X-ray imaging operations.

4 . The medical imaging apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the bottom indicator is at a standstill while the touch screen receives the user input for re-adjusting the position of the top indicator.

5 . The medical imaging apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch screen to display the user interface representing the re-determined number of partial X-ray imaging operations.

6 . The medical imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the touch screen is further configured to receive a user input for re-adjusting the position of the bottom indicator, and
the controller is further configured to: re-determine the number of partial X-ray imaging operations based on the re-adjusted position of the bottom indicator, and re-partition an area between the position of the top indicator and the re-adjusted position of the bottom indicator into re-adjusted equally sized regions based on the re-determined number of partial X-ray imaging operations.

7 . The medical imaging apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the top indicator is at a standstill while the touch screen receives the user input for re-adjusting the position of the bottom indicator.

8 . The medical imaging apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch screen to display the user interface representing the re-determined number of partial X-ray imaging operations.

9 . The medical imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch screen to display collimation area user interface on the image of the target object for setting the collimation area.

10 . The medical imaging apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the X-ray generator comprises a collimator configured to adjust X-ray irradiation region being irradiated with X-rays by the X-ray generator,
wherein the touch screen is further configured to receive a user's drag input for adjusting at least one of a position and a size of the collimation area, and the controller is further configured to control an aperture of the collimator so that the adjusted collimation area corresponds to the X-ray irradiation region.

11 . The medical imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to acquire a plurality of partial X-ray images via the partial X-ray imaging operations and to obtain an X-ray image of the target area between the top limit and the bottom limit by combining the plurality of partial X-ray images.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Seung-Hoon
• Park Si-Won
• Kim Se-Hui
• Hwang Do-Hyeong
• Park Sung-Jin

Classifications

• A61B6/463

  characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display · CPC title

• A61B6/4233

  using matrix detectors · CPC title

• A61B6/467

  characterised by special input means · CPC title

• A61B6/5241 Primary

  combining overlapping images of the same imaging modality, e.g. by stitching · CPC title

• A61B6/469 Primary

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