Medical X-ray system having a common support and a further component for mounting a radiation receiver

A medical X-ray system having a radiation source (5) and a radiation receiver (6) which receives radiation emitted by the source. The two components are arranged on a common support (7), the radiation receiver being mounted on the support in such a way that it can be detached and mounted to at least one further system component (11), in particular a wall bucky.

The following disclosure is based on German Patent Application No. 
19639977.7, filed on Sep. 27, 1997, which is incorporated into this 
application by reference. 
FIELD OF AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to new and useful improvements in medical X-ray 
systems having a radiation source and a radiation receiver. More 
particularly, the invention relates to such a medical X-ray system in 
which the radiation source and receiver are arranged on a common support. 
In such known X-ray systems, the radiation source, i.e. the X-ray tube, and 
the radiation receiver (for example a cassette grid drawer or a digital 
image receiver) are arranged on a common C-shaped or U-shaped support. The 
distance between them is therefore fixed. The range of examinations which 
can be carried out with the system is therefore limited to those for which 
this distance is adequate. Some examinations require a larger 
film-to-focus distance (for example about 180 cm in the case of chest 
X-rays). If the system is also to be used for these examinations, the 
system is normally provided with a second radiation receiver. The second 
receiver may be mounted on the wall, for example on a wall bucky. 
Providing the X-ray machine with two radiation receivers, one on the 
support and one on the wall bucky, naturally makes the machine more 
expensive. The additional costs are particularly high if the machine uses 
a digital radiation receiver in the form of an image detector, which is 
substantially more expensive than a cassette grid drawer. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an X-ray system with 
which it is possible to carry out a wider range of examinations than is 
possible with conventional, single receiver systems. It is a further 
object of the invention to provide a system that avoids the additional 
costs associated with incorporating more than one radiation receiver into 
the system. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These and other objects are achieved by the subject matter defined by claim 
1. Particularly advantageous refinements of the invention are the subject 
matter of the dependent claims. 
In a medical X-ray system of the above-described type, the problems 
associated with the conventional arrangement are solved according to the 
invention by designing the X-ray system to mount the radiation receiver on 
the support in a such a way it can be detached and mounted on at least one 
further system component. In particular, this further system component can 
be a wall bucky. 
According to the invention, the radiation receiver (for example an 
expensive digital image sensor) can be mounted on the support in a first 
position so as to be rigidly coupled relative to the radiation source. 
Once coupled in this manner, the receiver can be moved in fixed 
relationship with the source by means of the support structure (for 
example a C-bar or a U-bracket). If, however, the system is to be used to 
take a chest X-ray, for example, the radiation receiver can be detached 
from the support and fitted to a further system component. This further 
component is preferably mounted on a wall of the examining room, for 
example as a wall bucky or the like. This enables a single system or a 
single examination room facility with a single detachable radiation 
receiver to perform a multiplicity of examinations, for which normally two 
radiation receivers would be required. 
Moving the radiation receiver should be a straightforward procedure, 
particularly in hospitals, where speed is frequently critical in examining 
accident patients or the like. To meet this requirement, a further 
configuration of the invention uses a radiation receiver which is mounted 
with a snap-fit mechanism. The radiation receiver simply plugs into the 
support or the system component and latches there. Complex and 
time-consuming manual operations are consequently unnecessary. 
According to one embodiment of the invention, the radiation receiver used 
is a digital image sensor. In this case it is expedient to design the 
snap-fit mechanism so that it provides both mechanical and electrical 
connection of the radiation receiver to the support or system component. 
This comprehensive mechanical and electrical connection carries, inter 
alia, both the power supply and the signals supplied by the image sensor. 
The support and system component, in turn, are provided with appropriate 
lines extending to the various electric and electronic components, e.g., a 
power supply, a console, a data memory and the like. 
Certain methods of examination require pictures taken using oblique 
irradiation. Accordingly, a further configuration of the invention 
provides for such irradiations by mounting the radiation receiver on the 
support or system component so that it can pivot. The snap-fit mechanism 
can itself be pivotable. 
The support is generally designed as a C-bar or U-bracket. When the 
radiation receiver is arranged elsewhere, it is important that the free 
end of the support, which would otherwise carry the radiation receiver, 
does not project into the X-ray beam emitted by the radiation source and 
thereby impair the picture. The invention prevents this by allowing the 
radiation source to be movable on the support, in particular 
longitudinally. The X-ray beam can then be kept clear of the projecting 
free end of the support by pivoting the radiation source or by moving it 
along the support. 
In known X-ray systems, the support can generally be moved both 
horizontally and vertically. In order to achieve this same effect when the 
radiation detector is detached from the support and mounted instead on the 
system component, the invention mounts the radiation receiver on the 
system component so that it can move, in particular, vertically. The 
radiation receiver can thus be aligned with the radiation source when it 
is detached from the support. The ability to move the radiation receiver 
vertically on the system component is especially advantageous in 
situations where the radiation source is positioned low to the ground, 
e.g., in the case of a chest X-ray or the like of a child. The radiation 
source and the radiation receiver can be coupled and moved together by 
means of a servo-control when the receiver is mounted on the system 
component. Receiver and source preferably track each other automatically, 
e.g., through sensors and appropriate electronic control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The conventional art, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, will be explained first. The 
advantages of the ring system according to the invention will then be 
discussed. 
FIG. 4 shows an X-ray system comprising a radiation source 1 and an 
associated radiation receiver 2. These two components are rigidly coupled 
to one another on a common support 3, designed as a C-bar. The distance 
between the radiation source 1 and the radiation receiver 2 cannot be 
varied because of the rigid support coupling. This means that the 
film-to-focus distance is fixed. This can also be seen in FIG. 5, which 
shows the X-ray system of FIG. 4 in a position for taking horizontal 
pictures. The second position, shown by dashed lines, illustrates the 
horizontal movement of the system (in directions of double arrow A). 
In order to use this system to take pictures with different film-to-focus 
distances, it is necessary to mount an additional radiation receiver on a 
system component, here in the form of a Bucky wall stand 4. The radiation 
source 1 is then aligned so that the X-ray radiation strikes this 
additional radiation receiver. The system thus requires two radiation 
receivers. 
The X-ray system of FIG. 1, which constitutes a first embodiment of the 
invention, also comprises a radiation source 5 and a radiation receiver 6 
mounted on a common support 7. The radiation receiver 6 is, for example, a 
digital image sensor. According to the invention, a snap-fit mechanism, 
shown in simplified form in FIG. 2, makes it possible to detach the 
radiation receiver 6 from the support 7. This snap-fit mechanism 8 
comprises a plug 9. As shown here, by way of example, the plug 9 is 
mounted on the radiation receiver 6, although it can be mounted on the 
support 7. The plug 9 is received by a socket 10 which, according to the 
embodiment shown, is provided on the support 7 and on a remote system 
component. The remote system component is a Bucky wall 11 in the exemplary 
embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The plug 9 simply plugs into this socket 10 
and latches there. 
If the radiation receiver 6 is fashioned as a digital image sensor, the 
interconnection between the socket 10 and the plug 9 also preferably 
establishes an electrical and/or electronic connection to the digital 
image sensor. The snap-fit connection supplies current to the sensor and 
also loops through both the signals supplied by the sensor and the control 
signals destined for it. A socket 10 of this same type is also mounted on 
the Bucky wall 11, as shown in FIG. 1. 
The embodiment of FIG. 2 provides only a single snap-fit connection. It is, 
however, also possible to fasten the radiation receiver with a connection 
utilizing multiple plugs. This improves stability, since a digital image 
sensor conventionally weighs up to about 20 kg. 
The basic arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is further able to take chest X-rays, 
which require a larger film-to-focus distance (about 180cm) than the 
support 7 can accommodate. This is achieved by removing the radiation 
receiver 6 from the support 7 by means of the snap-fit mechanism and 
plugging it into the socket 10 on the Bucky wall 11. As schematically 
shown in FIG. 3, the radiation source 5 is then appropriately positioned 
by moving it horizontally (in the directions of double arrow B) and 
vertically (in the directions of double arrow C) and shifting it along the 
support 7. The radiation source 5 is positioned so that it is opposite, 
and centralized with respect to, the radiation receiver 6. The two 
components are, of course, also aligned with respect to the object to be 
examined. As FIG. 3 shows, the support 7 is positioned so that it does not 
project into the beam path 12 of the radiation source 5. 
As FIG. 3 also shows, the radiation receiver 6 can be moved vertically (in 
the directions of double arrow D) to set the appropriate height for the 
receiver 6. According to a preferred embodiment a servo control 13 is 
provided for automating the procedure for aligning the radiation source 
and receiver. This can be performed, for instance, through appropriate 
sensors and drives operating according to a master/slave protocol, 
whereby, e.g., the radiation receiver 6 mimics movements of the radiation 
source 5. At the end of the examination, the radiation receiver 6 is then 
detached again from the socket 10 on the wall bucky 11 and returned to the 
socket 10 on the support 7. 
The above description of the preferred embodiments has been given by way of 
example. From the disclosure given, those skilled in the art will not only 
understand the present invention and its attendant advantages, but will 
also find apparent various changes and modifications to the structures 
disclosed. It is sought, therefore, to cover all such changes and 
modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as 
defined by the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.