Apparatus and method for controlling X-ray radiation field of X-ray imaging apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9867582-B2
Application number	US-201414315734-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2014
Priority date	Jun 26, 2013
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for controlling an X-ray radiation field of an X-ray imaging apparatus including an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector arranged opposite to the X-ray generator. The apparatus includes a light-emitting unit configured to emit light and disposed adjacent to one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector, a light-receiving unit configured to detect the light emitted by the light-emitting unit and disposed adjacent to the other one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector, a radiation field setter configured to set an X-ray radiation field based on the detected light, and an X-ray driver configured to control driving of the X-ray generation units which correspond to the set X-ray radiation field, to emit an X-ray.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for controlling an X-ray radiation field of an X-ray imaging apparatus comprising an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector arranged opposite to the X-ray generator, the apparatus comprising:
a light-emitting unit configured to emit light and disposed adjacent to one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector;
a light-receiving unit configured to detect the light emitted by the light-emitting unit and disposed adjacent to the other one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector; and
a controller configured to control setting of the X-ray radiation field based on the detected light and to control driving of X-ray generation units of the X-ray generator that correspond to the set X-ray radiation field, to emit an X-ray,
wherein the light-emitting unit comprises light-emitting elements,
wherein the light-emitting elements have a fixed relative position with respect to each other, and
wherein the light-emitting elements have a fixed relative position with respect to the one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector during controlling the X-ray radiation field of the X-ray imaging apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein X-ray generation units are linearly arranged, and
the light-emitting elements are arranged in a same direction as a direction in which the X-ray generation units are linearly arranged.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting elements comprise at least one among a light-emitting diode, an organic light-emitting diode, a laser diode, and a lamp.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the light-emitting elements emit at least one among visible rays and infrared rays.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the X-ray generation units are linearly arranged, and
the light-receiving unit has a linear light detection surface extending in a same direction as a direction in which the X-ray generation units are linearly arranged.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the X-ray generation units are linearly arranged, and
the light-receiving unit comprises light-receiving elements having a fixed relative position with respect to each other that are arranged in a same direction as a direction in which the X-ray generation units are linearly arranged.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the light-receiving elements comprise at least one among a photodiode, a phototransistor, and an image sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting unit is provided at a side surface of one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector, and
the light-receiving unit is provided at a side surface of the other one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the light-emitting unit is attached to the side surface of the X-ray generator, the side surface being a leading surface with respect to a rotation direction in which the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector rotate.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the light-receiving unit is attached to the side surface of the X-ray detector, the side surface being a leading surface with respect to a rotation direction in which the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector rotate.

11. A method of controlling an X-ray radiation field of an X-ray imaging apparatus comprising an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector arranged opposite to the X-ray generator, the method comprising:
emitting light from a light-emitting unit comprising a plurality of light-emitting elements, the light-emitting unit disposed adjacent to one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector toward the other one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements have a fixed relative position with respect to each other;
detecting the emitted light using a light-receiving unit comprising a plurality of light-receiving elements, the light-receiving unit disposed adjacent to the other one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector, wherein the plurality of light-receiving elements have a fixed relative position with respect to each other;
setting the X-ray radiation field based on the detected light; and
controlling driving of X-ray generation units of the X-ray generator that correspond to the set X-ray radiation field, to emit an X-ray, and
wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements have a fixed relative position with respect to the one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector during controlling the X-ray radiation field of the X-ray imaging apparatus.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the X-ray generation units are linearly arranged, and the emitting the light comprises:
emitting a linear light having a linear beam section that extends continuously or discontinuously in a same direction as a direction in which the X-ray generation units are linearly arranged.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the setting the X-ray radiation field comprises:
setting the X-ray radiation field as an area obtained by adding a preset width to an outer edge, to extend the X-ray radiation field into an area where the light is not detected.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the X-ray generation units that are linearly arranged and the method further comprises:
rotating the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector, which face each other, around a rotational axis that is between the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector and parallel to a direction in which the X-ray generation units are linearly arranged.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the light-emitting unit is attached to a side surface of the X-ray generator, the side surface being a leading surface in a rotation direction in which the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector rotate, and configured to emit light prior to emission of the X-ray by the X-ray generator.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the light-receiving unit is attached to a side surface of the X-ray detector, the side surface being a leading surface in a rotation direction in which the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector rotate, and configured to receive light prior to detection of the X-ray by the X-ray detector.

17. An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising:
a cylindrical assembly comprising:
an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector arranged opposite to the X-ray generator,
a light emitter configured to emit light and disposed adjacent to one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector, the light emitting comprising a plurality of light-emitting elements, and
a light receiver configured to detect the light and disposed adjacent to the other one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector, the light receiver comprising a plurality of light-receiving elements,
wherein the light emitter and the light receiver are arranged in parallel and opposite to one another along a circumference of the cylindrical assembly and have an elongated linear shape that extends in a direction parallel to a central axis of the cylindrical assembly; and

a controller configured to control setting of an X-ray radiation field based on the detected light,
wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements have a fixed relative position with respect to each other,
wherein the plurality of light-receiving elements have a fixed relative position with respect to each other, and
wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements have a fixed relative position with respect to the one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector during controlling the X-ray radiation field of the X-ray imaging apparatus.

18. The X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 17 , wherein:
the X-ray genera

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Jong-Pil
• Han Woo-Sup

Classifications

• H01J35/16

  Vessels; Containers; Shields associated therewith · CPC title

• A61B6/502

  for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography · CPC title

• A61B6/4071

  Pencil beams · CPC title

• A61B6/08 Primary

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

• A61B6/4014

  arranged in multiple source-detector units · CPC title