Patent ID: 11872072
Assignee: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  H | IPC A  H

Claim 7:
8. A timer circuit for an X-ray imaging system having an X-ray generator used to generate images of a patient, comprising:
a main power system;
a circuit interrupter connected to the X-ray generator;
a control computer;
a current sensor connected between the main power system and the circuit interrupter, and
a timing device coupled between the current sensor and the control computer, wherein the timing device is triggered when a current level detected by the current sensor exceeds an idle current level wherein X-rays are not generated by the X-ray generator, wherein the timing device measures a time period that the idle current level is exceeded, and wherein when the measured time period exceeds a predetermined time period by 10%, the circuit interrupter is configured to turn off current flow to the X-ray generator.