Abstract:
Controls and methods of operating a radiographic device facilitate intuitive control of the device. A touch screen may display selectable items and a processor may have a memory for storing one or more routines for performing functions associated with the selectable items. Some of the selectable items may provide projection shortcuts, in which the memory has stored a predetermined set of voltage and exposure time values for a given projection angle and/or patient body type that are accessed and executed by the processor. Other selectable items may be provided that permit discrete, incremental changes in radiographic device settings.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/591,124, filed on Jan. 26, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    This disclosure generally relates to radiographic imaging systems and methods, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for controlling operation of radiographic devices. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The benefits of radiographic devices and procedures to detect and diagnose medical conditions are well documented in the art. A radiographic device typically includes an x-ray tube that is positioned near a patient and a media for capturing an x-ray image. The radiographic device may include various controls that affect the characteristics of the radiation generated by the x-ray tube. Primary among these are a voltage control (generally measured in killivolts kV) that affects how far the radiation penetrates the target, a current control (generally measured in milliamps mA) that affects the number of photons produced by the tube that are ultimately directed toward the target area, and an exposure time control (generally measured in seconds) that affects how long the radiation is directed to the target area. 
         [0006]    The controls provided for conventional radiographic devices are overly difficult to understand and use. Radiographic devices for generating podiatric images, for example, generally provide a separate knob for controlling each x-ray characteristic. Accordingly, the device may have a voltage control knob, a current control knob, and an exposure time control knob. Each of these control knobs allows analog input of the associated x-ray characteristic, and therefore may not permit precise settings, adjustments, or repeatability. More recently, some podiatric radiographic devices have employed membrane key pads with LED display screens. While these more recent machines may permit more precise control of x-ray characteristics, the controls may be difficult to navigate and still require the operator to have a significant level of background knowledge to select suitable settings for the desired radiographic image. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0007]    According to certain aspects of this disclosure, a radiographic device may include a base, a support arm coupled to the base, and a radiographic source coupled to the support arm and operable to generate a radiographic dose having a voltage and an exposure time. A touch screen may have a display operable to show a control option screen, the control option screen including a plurality of selectable items, and a location detector for detecting a location of an object interacting with the display and generating a location signal. A processor may be operably coupled to the radiographic source and the touch screen and includes a memory. The processor may be programmed to store a plurality of executable functions, wherein each executable function is associated with a selectable item, identify one of the selectable items as an operative selectable item corresponding to the location signal, and execute the function associated with the operative selectable item by adjusting at least one of the voltage and exposure time of the radiographic source. 
         [0008]    According to other aspects of this disclosure, a method is provided of controlling a radiographic device having a base, a support arm coupled to the base, and a radiographic source coupled to the support arm and operable to generate a radiographic dose having a voltage and an exposure time. The method includes showing a plurality of selectable items on a display, detecting a location of an object interacting with the display and generating a location signal, identifying one of the selectable items as an operative selectable item corresponding to the location signal, and executing a function associated with the operative selectable item by adjusting at least one of the voltage and exposure time of the radiographic source. 
         [0009]    According to further aspects of this disclosure, a controller is provided for a radiographic device having a base, a support arm coupled to the base, and a radiographic source coupled to the support arm and operable to generate a radiographic dose having a voltage and an exposure time. The controller includes a display operable to show a control option screen, the control option screen including a voltage control area including a voltage increase selectable item, a voltage decrease selectable item, and a voltage display box configured to display a voltage setting value, an exposure time control area including an exposure time increase selectable item, an exposure time decrease selectable item, and an exposure time display box configured to display an exposure time setting value, and a first projection shortcut selectable item. The display further includes a location detector for detecting a location of an object interacting with the display and determining a location signal, and a processor operably coupled to the touch screen and programmed to determine a voltage increase signal when the location signal is associated with the voltage increase selectable item, determine a voltage decrease signal when the location signal is associated with the voltage decrease selectable item, determine an exposure time increase signal when the location signal is associated with the exposure time increase selectable item, determine an exposure time decrease signal when the location signal is associated with the exposure time decrease selectable item, and determine a first set of predetermined voltage and exposure time signals when the location signal is associated with the first projection shortcut selectable item. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    For a more complete understanding of the disclosed methods and apparatuses, reference should be made to the embodiment illustrated in greater detail on the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a radiographic device according to the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the radiographic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of an exemplary welcome screen shown on a display of the radiographic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an exemplary control option screen shown on a display of the radiographic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of an exemplary confirmation screen shown on a display of the radiographic device of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0016]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the disclosed embodiments are sometimes illustrated diagrammatically and in partial views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosed methods and apparatuses or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    This disclosure relates to control apparatus and methods for a radiographic device. The radiographic device is capable of delivering a radiographic dose that can be characterized by certain parameters, such as voltage and exposure time. In certain embodiments, the apparatus and methods may use a touch screen to interface with the user. A display may provide a control option screen having a plurality of selectable items. The selectable items may be associated with processor functions that adjust the parameters of the radiographic dose. Certain selectable items provide incremental adjustments by increasing or decreasing a parameter. Other selectable items may be associated with specific x-ray projections, and therefore may be associated with a set of predetermined parameters. The touch screen provides a clear, intuitive layout that permits a user to quickly and easily adjust the settings of the radiographic device as desired. Additionally, user selected settings may be stored to memory, thereby allowing radiographic settings to be quickly and easily repeated. 
         [0018]    Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to  FIG. 1 , the radiographic device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure is generally referred to by reference numeral  20 . The radiographic device  20  is described and illustrated herein for use in podiatry treatment, but the teachings provided herein may be applied to radiographic devices used in other fields. 
         [0019]    The radiographic device  20  includes a foot platform  22  and a removable foot separation plate  24  extending perpendicular to the platform  22 . An image capturing device, such as a film cartridge or a digital receiver, may be inserted either in the foot separation plate  24  or a tray positioned below the platform  22 , depending upon the desired x-ray view. Hand rail legs  26  are mounted to the platform  22  and provide a patient support hand rail. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a head mounting assembly  28  has a first end  30  pivotably coupled to the platform  22  and a second end  32  connected to a radiographic source  34 . As used herein, the radiographic source is meant to include a power source and an associated collimator which is attached to and depends from the power source. The power source is capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation sufficient to generate x-ray images. The mounting assembly  28  includes a pair of vertical mounting members  36  having lower ends disposed in a mounting apparatus  38 . The mounting apparatus  38  may include spring loaded mounting means for holding the vertical mounting members  36  in a desired position, such as the mounting means disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,668, assigned to the current assignee and incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, other means for holding the vertical mounting members  36  in place may also be used. The upper ends of the vertical mounting members  36  are coupled to a U-shaped mounting plate  40  using bolts  42 . A horizontal mounting member  44  has a first end attached to the U-shaped mounting plate  40  and a free second end carrying a collar  46 . The horizontal mounting member  44  is hollow to define an internal socket  48 . A yoke  50  is provided for coupling the radiographic source  34  to the mounting assembly  28  and allowing angular adjustment not only about the Y axis, but also about an axis that is parallel to the lateral direction, referred to herein as the X axis. 
         [0021]    The radiographic device  20  described herein allows the radiographic source to be positioned for multiple projections without requiring significant repositioning of the patient&#39;s feet. For example, the vertical mounting members  36  may be rotated laterally in directions S or T as shown in  FIG. 1  and the radiographic source  34  may be rotated about the Y axis defined by the horizontal mounting member  44  and to obtain lateral or medial oblique projections. For these projections, the vertical mounting members  36  form substantially a right angle to the longitudinal direction. In addition, the vertical mounting members  36  may be rotated longitudinally in directions Q and R and the yoke  50  may be adjusted to an appropriate angle about the X axis to obtain additional projections such as the AP projection. The yoke  50  allows the radiographic source  34  to be tilted about the X axis so that the radiographic source  34  is directed to substantially the same target area. 
         [0022]    The radiographic source  34  may be adjustable to generate different radiographic doses based on the type of projection or patient. Typically, a radiographic dose is measured by current (in milliamps), voltage (in kV), and exposure time (in seconds). In the exemplary embodiment, the radiographic source  34  has a set current value and adjustable voltage and exposure time values. The voltage and exposure time values needed to capture clear x-ray images may differ depending on the projection angle and patient type. Common projections for podiatric applications, for example, include dorsal/plantar (DP), lateral, lateral oblique, medial oblique, raised hallux, and axial calcaneal. Each of these projections may require the x-rays to travel through a different portion of the patient&#39;s body, and therefore may require a different voltage or exposure time to clearly capture the desired image. Still further, the body size of the patient may dictate a different voltage or exposure time, with larger patients generally requiring additional voltage and/or exposure time and smaller patients requiring less voltage and/or exposure time. 
         [0023]    The radiographic device  20  may further include a touch screen  60  for interfacing with a user. As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the touch screen  60  includes a display  62  and a location detector  64 . The display  62  is operative to show graphical images, such as selectable items. The location detector  64  is configured to detect a location of an interaction with the display  62  by the user. The interaction may be by a finger, stylus, or other object that is placed in contact with or in proximity to the display at a static location. Additionally or alternatively, the interaction may be a dynamic movement of the finger, stylus, or other object, such as a swiping, pinching, expanding, or other motion. The display  62  may be configured to generate a signal indicating the location at which the object interacts with the screen. An exemplary touch screen  60  having a display  62  and location detector  64  is the touch screen Model No. ezLCD-004 manufactured by Earth Computer Technologies, Inc. 
         [0024]    A processor  66  is operatively coupled to both the radiographic source  34  and the touch screen  60 . The processor  66  includes a memory  68  that may store routines for executing functions associated with the selectable items. For example, based on the stored routines, the processor  66  may be programmed to generate images on the display  62 , such as the screens illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 . A welcome screen  70  is shown in  FIG. 3 , and includes a selectable item in the form of a proceed button  72 . 
         [0025]    In response to an interaction detected in the area associated with the proceed button, the processor  66  may be programmed to advance to a control option screen  74  shown in  FIG. 4 . The exemplary control option screen  74  includes a voltage control area  76  having a voltage increase selectable item  78 , a voltage decrease selectable item  80 , and a voltage display box  82 . An interaction detected at the voltage increase selectable item  78  may initiate an associated voltage increase function stored in the memory  68  that incrementally raises the voltage setting of the radiographic source  34 , such as by 1 kV. Conversely, an interaction detected at the voltage decrease selectable item  80  may initiate an associated voltage decrease function stored in the memory  68  that incrementally lowers the voltage setting of the radiographic source  34 . The processor  66  may further be programmed to display the current voltage setting value in the voltage display box  82 . The voltage control area may include an optional voltage store selectable item  84  associated with a voltage store function that saves the current voltage setting value for a subsequent radiograph operation. 
         [0026]    The control option screen  74  may also include an exposure time control area  86  having an exposure time increase selectable item  88 , an exposure time decrease selectable item  90 , and an exposure time display box  92 . An interaction detected at the exposure time increase selectable item  88  may initiate an associated exposure time increase function stored in the memory  68  that incrementally raises the exposure time setting of the radiographic source  34 , such as by 0.01 s. Conversely, an interaction detected at the exposure time decrease selectable item  90  may initiate an associated exposure time decrease function stored in the memory  68  that incrementally lowers the exposure time setting of the radiographic source  34 . The processor  66  may further be programmed to display the current exposure time setting value in the exposure time display box  92 . The exposure time control area may include an optional exposure time store selectable item  94  associated with an exposure time store function that saves the current exposure time setting value for a subsequent radiograph operation. 
         [0027]    The control option screen  74  may further include a projection shortcut selectable item which permits a user to quickly and easily adjust the settings of the radiographic source  34  for a selected, predetermined projection and/or body type. Accordingly, the processor  66  may be programmed to execute a projection shortcut function when an interaction is detected at the projection shortcut selectable item. The processor  66  may be programmed to determine a set of predetermined voltage and exposure time signals when the location signal is associated with the projection shortcut selectable item. 
         [0028]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the control option screen  74  includes a plurality of projection shortcut selectable items  96 , with the processor  66  executing a projection shortcut function associated with each projection shortcut selectable item  96 . For example, projection shortcut selectable items  96   a - c  may designate shortcuts for dorsal/plantar projections for small, medium, and large body types, respectively. When the location signal is associated with the projection shortcut selectable item  96   a  for a small body type, the processor  66  may be programmed to determine a first set of predetermined voltage and exposure time signals. Similarly, second and third sets of predetermined voltage and exposure time signals may be respectively associated with the projection shortcut selectable items  96   b,    96   c  for medium and large body types. In an exemplary embodiment, the first set of predetermined signals may include a voltage signal of 50 kV and an exposure time of 0.5 s, the second set may include a voltage signal of 50 kV and an exposure time of 0.75 s, and the third set may include a voltage signal of 60 kV and an exposure time of 0.5 s. 
         [0029]    The projection shortcut selectable items  96   d - f  may designate shortcuts for lateral projections for small, medium, and large body types, respectively. Again, the processor  66  may be programmed to determine fourth, fifth, and sixth sets of predetermined voltage and exposure time signals respectively associated with the selectable item  96   d  for lateral projection/small body type, selectable item  96   e  for lateral projection/medium body type, and selectable item  96   f  for lateral projection/large body type. In an exemplary embodiment, the fourth set of signals may include a voltage signal of 55 kV and an exposure time of 0.5 s, the fifth set may include a voltage signal of 65 kV and an exposure time of 0.75 s, and the sixth set may include a voltage signal of 65 kV and an exposure time of 0.5 s. 
         [0030]    Still further, the projection shortcut selectable items  96   g - i  may designate shortcuts for oblique projections for small, medium and large body types, respectively. The processor  66  may be programmed to determine seventh, eighth, and ninth sets of predetermined voltage and exposure time signals respectively associated with the selectable item  96   g  for oblique projection/small body type, selectable item  96   h  for oblique projection/medium body type, and selectable item  96   i  for oblique projection/large body type. In an exemplary embodiment, the seventh set of signals may include a voltage signal of 60 kV and an exposure time of 0.5 s, the eighth set may include a voltage signal of 70 kV and an exposure time of 0.75 s, and the ninth set may include a voltage signal of 70 kV and an exposure time of 0.5 s. 
         [0031]    While the exemplary embodiment includes nine projection shortcut selectable items  96   a - i , it will be appreciated that fewer or greater than nine projection shortcut selectable items may be provided. Additionally, while the selectable items are illustrated as using text to indicate the function associated with the selectable item, icons may alternatively be used. 
         [0032]    The control option screen  74  may also include a store selectable item  98  for saving all current parameter values. For example, the processor  66  may be programmed to store the current settings for voltage and exposure time, which may be displayed in the voltage display box  82  and the exposure time display box  92 , respectively. The processor  66  may be programmed to use those settings the next time the control option screen  74  is used. 
         [0033]    The control option screen  74  further includes a selectable item  100  for locking the settings prior to taking the radiographic image. In the illustrated embodiment, the selectable item  100  is marked with an “OK”. The processor  66  may be programmed to prevent further adjustment of the settings once the selectable item  100  is selected. In response, a confirmation screen  102  ( FIG. 5 ) may be shown on the display  62 . The confirmation screen may include a voltage display box  104  for showing the selected voltage setting, an exposure time display box  106  for showing the selected exposure time setting, and a back button  107  for returning to the control option screen  74 . In addition, the confirmation screen  102  includes a ready status box  108 , which indicates that the control values are set and the radiographic source  34  may be operated to generate the desired radiation dose. 
         [0034]    In operation, the touch screen control may be configured to show a plurality of selectable items on the display, detect a location of an object interacting with the display and generate a location signal, identify one of the selectable items as an operative selectable item corresponding to the location signal, and execute a function associated with the operative selectable item by adjusting at least one of the voltage and exposure time of the radiographic source. 
         [0035]    While only certain embodiments have been set forth, alternatives and modifications will be apparent from the above description to those skilled in the art. These and other alternatives are considered equivalents and within the spirit and scope of this disclosure and the appended claims.