Ulllted States Patent
`
`Maschke
`
`
`
`[19]
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,835,558
`
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`
`
`
`USOO5835558A
`
`
`
`[54] MOBILE X-RAY EXPOSURE APPARATUS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[75]
`
`
`
`
`Inventor: Michael Maschke, Lonnerstadt,
`
`Germany
`
`
`
`[73] Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich,
`
`
`
`
`
`Germany
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[21] Appl, No; 847,621
`.
`
`Apl‘. 28, 1997
`Flledi
`[22]
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`‘I‘Ein néuer fahbarer Rfilntgenfergrfatfir ffir den Ei3satZ1\i/III Oklfr
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ntensivstation; erste
`r a rungen mit em o i-
`inisc e
`lett,” Lutz et al., Electromedica, Vol. 4 (1982), pp. 116-119.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Die Entwicklung zur elektromobilen R6ntgenbildVerstark-
`
`
`
`
`
`er—Fernseheinrichtung mit
`Grossflachenbildverstéirker,
`
`
`
`Schone, Ro.—B1., V0. 22 (1969), pp. 243-247.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`“Flat
`(1:PaEel) Horizons
`in Digitals X—Ray Imaging,”
`Antonu , P otonics Spectra, Jun. 199 , pp. 108-110, 112,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`114 and 116.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`[DE]
`Germany ...................... .. 196 27 657.8
`Jul. 9, 1996
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Primary Exammer_Craig E. Church
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Hill & Simpson
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[51]
`Int. Cl.5 ..................................................... .. H05G 1/02
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`........................................... .. 378/198; 378/195
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[58] Field of Search ...................................... 378/198, 195
`
`
`
`[56]
`
`
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`........................... .. 378/116
`7/1994 Inoue et al.
`5,327,474
`
`
`
`
`
`
`...................... .. 378/198
`5/1997 Hanover et al.
`5,627,873
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`2645007 10/1990
`France .
`
`
`
`11/1993 Germany .
`44 41 236
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DETECTOR
`
`
`
`A
`
`
`
`.
`
`
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`
`
`
`
`
`
`arams Carries an Com Onems
`A Ortable X_ra ex Osure a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`P .
`. PP
`Y
`P
`_
`P
`required for the production of an X ray exposure. Two
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`articulated armsdartelprotvhided at acarriaigei cfiine ciirrytigigt an
`x-ray source an
`e o
`er carrying a
`e ec or
`a 1S
`a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`formed by a matrix of detector elements. Image signals from
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`%i::fi::e:;;r1::;:P:2:S.;:;;n8; ::.:°*§:3;;:1:i3::.:::::g:.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`,
`_
`,
`,
`,
`
`
`
`
`reproduced 0“ *1 HIOHHOP OP 15 Wansmlfied P0 lmage data
`
`
`
`
`
`networks. The flat detector can be inserted under the patient
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in the bed.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`
`
`
`
`
`13
`
`
`
`IMAGE
`
`ELECTRON|CS
`
`
`
`
`
`MONITOR
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`8
`
`I
`
`-III 12
`eomeol
`
`
`
`11
`|"——'|
`7
`ELECTRONICS
`
`
`9 — '
`
`
`
`
`VOLTAGE f
`GENERATOR 10 1-
`‘\.\1
`BATTERY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`\
`
`Page 1 of 3
`
`Elekta Exhibit 1015
`
`Page 1 of 3
`
`Elekta Exhibit 1015
`
`

`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`Nov. 10, 1998
`
`
`
`5,835,558
`
`
`
`
`
`
`X — RAY SOURCE
`
`
`
`
`DETECTOR
`
`13
`
`
`
`IMAGE
`
`
`ELECTRONICS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3
`
`comm -II
`
`ELECTRONICS
`|1-1 7
`9 1 -
`VOLTAGE
`
`GENERATOR 10 E.
`\N
`
`BATTERY gjfi
`"
`
`
`\
`
`Page 2 of 3
`
`Page 2 of 3
`
`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`for image playback, however, can also be directly attached
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to the carriage 1.
`
`
`
`For production of an x-ray exposure at a sick bed, the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`illustrated x-ray exposure apparatus is moved up to the bed,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the fiat detector 5 is inserted under the bed or under the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`patient, and the x-radiator 3 is set such that the flat detector
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`5 is fully struck by the x-ray beam.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The illustrated x-ray exposure apparatus also allows expo-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`sures of a standing or sitting patient. To this end, the flat
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`detector 5 can be correspondingly adjusted. For an exposure
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of the standing patient,
`the detector 5 is pivoted into a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`vertical position, with the position of the x-ray source 3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`being correspondingly set. The battery 10 can also be
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`eliminated when the x-ray generator 9 is directly connected
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to the mains terminal 11.
`
`
`
`
`
`Although modifications and changes may be suggested by
`
`
`
`
`
`
`those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventor to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`modifications as reasonably and properly come within the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`scope of his contribution to the art.
`
`
`
`
`
`I claim as my invention:
`
`
`
`
`1. A mobile x-ray exposure apparatus comprising:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a manually movable portable carriage having non-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`motorized means for freely moving said carriage with-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`out any directional constraint;
`
`
`
`
`an x-ray source and first articulation means attached to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`said portable carriage for mounting said x-ray source
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`on said portable carriage for allowing three-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`dimensional position adjustment of said x-ray source;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a fiat radiation detector comprised of a matrix of detector
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`elements which emit image signals dependent on radia-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion from said x-ray source incident thereon;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`second articulation means attached to said portable car-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`riage separately form said first articulation means, for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mounting said flat detector on said portable carriage for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`allowing three-dimensional position adjustment of said
`
`
`
`
`
`fiat detector; and
`
`
`
`image electronics, completely contained in said portable
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`carriage, supplied with said image signals and emitting
`video signals, at an output within said portable carriage,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`produced from said image signals.
`
`
`
`
`
`2. An x-ray exposure apparatus as claimed in claim 1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`further comprising a plug on an exterior of said portable
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`carriage connected to said output of said image electronics
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`for supplying said video signals to a playback arrangement
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`selected from the group consisting of a video monitor and an
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`image data network.
`
`
`
`3. An x-ray exposure apparatus as claimed in claim 1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`further comprising a voltage generator completely contained
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in said portable carriage and connected to said x-ray source,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`said voltage generator having a mains terminal, proceeding
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`from said portable carriage connectable to an external power
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`source for supplying power to said voltage generator.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4. A mobile x-ray apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`comprising a voltage generator contained in said carriage
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and connected to said x-ray source, and a battery contained
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in said carriage and connected to said voltage generator for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`supplying power to said voltage generator, said battery
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`having a mains terminal connectable to an external power
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`source for recharging said battery.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`5,835,558
`
`
`
`1
`
`MOBILE X-RAY EXPOSURE APPARATUS
`
`
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`
`
`
`The present
`invention is directed to a mobile x-ray
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`exposure apparatus, of the type which can be moved adja-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cent the bed of a patient to obtain x-ray exposures of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`patient in the bed.
`
`
`
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`
`
`
`
`
`It is known for producing x-ray exposures of a lying
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`patient to insert an x-ray film cassette under the patient and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to bring a carriage having a three-dimensionally adjustable
`
`
`
`
`
`
`x-ray source up to the patient bed. The x-radiator is then
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`aligned such that the film in the x-ray film cassette is exactly
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`struck by the x-rays (attenuated by the patient). The patient
`is lifted for the insertion and for the removal of the x-ray film
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cassette. The x-ray film cassette is thereby manipulated
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`independently of the carriage supporting the x-ray source.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
`
`An object of the present invention is to provide an x-ray
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`exposure apparatus which enables exposes of a lying patient
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and which carries all components required for an exposure.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`This object is inventively achieved in an inventive x-ray
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`exposure apparatus having a fiat detector composed of a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`matrix of detector elements, preferably amorphous silicon
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(a-Si) detector elements, is provided, this being connected to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the carriage (which also carries the x-ray source) by an
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`articulated arm. Accordingly, the fiat detector can be inserted
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`under the patient at the patient bed as a consequence of its
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`low structural height and an electronic image generation is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`possible. An additional advantage is the capability of struc-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`turally supported manipulation for inserting the detector
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`under a patient.
`
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`
`
`
`The single figure is a side view of an exemplary embodi-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ment of a mobile x-ray exposure apparatus, constructed in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`accordance with the principles of the present invention.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`
`
`
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`
`The drawing shows a carriage 1 displaceable on the floor
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`that carries and supports an articulated arm 2 to which an
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`x-ray source 3 is mounted so as to be threedimensionally
`
`
`
`
`
`
`adjustable in space. A second articulation arm 4 carriers a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`flat detector 5, likewise three-dimensionally adjustable in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`space. The fiat detector 5 is formed by a matrix of detector
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`elements, preferably the amorphous silicon detector ele-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ments. The detector signals from the detector elements are
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`supplied to image electronics 7 via a line 6 guided in the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`articulated arm 4. Control electronics 8 serves for control-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ling readout at the fiat detector 5 as well as controlling a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`voltage generator 9 arranged in the carriage 1. The voltage
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`generator 9 is supplied by a battery 10 that can also be
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`formed by an accumulator that can be charged via a mains
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`connection 11.
`
`
`The output image signals of the image electronics 7 can
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`be supplied via a plug-type connection 12 to a monitor 13
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and/or to image data networks for image playback. monitor
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`15
`
`
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`
`
`35
`
`
`
`40
`
`45
`
`
`
`50
`
`55
`
`
`
`60
`
`Page 3 of 3
`
`Page 3 of 3