Patent ID: 6088424
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
A videofluoroscopy system for providing a picture-in-a-picture real time x-ray image, the videofluoroscopy system comprising:a) a videofluoroscopy device having a vertical housing defining a vertical channel and a vertical axis, an arm-member having a back side, an x-ray device having a signal output, vertical movement means enclosed within the vertical channel for moving the arm-member along the vertical axis, rotation means mounted along the back side of the arm-member for rotating the arm-member from the vertical axis and a mounting block positioned between the vertical movement means and the rotation means providing communication therebetween,b) a video camera mounted upon the arm-member, proximal to the x-ray device and having a video signal output,c) a controller having at least one input and at least one output, the at least one input receiving the x-ray device signal output, the controller converting the x-ray device signal to a video signal output and directing it to the at least one controller output,d) an electrical circuit having at least two video signal inputs and at least one video signal output, one of the at least two video signal inputs receiving the video camera video signal output and another one of the at least two video signal inputs receiving the controller video signal output, the electrical circuit capable of combining the two video signals into a single image video signal having a first smaller image overlaid a second larger image, the single image video signal directed to the at least one video signal output of the electrical circuit, the single image video signal representing the picture-in-a-picture real time x-ray image,e) a monitor for viewing the picture-in-a-picture real time x-ray image, andf) power means coupled to the system for supplying electrical power thereto.