Patent Number: 052609847
Section: description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An x-ray diagnostics installation constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, which includes an x-ray tube 2 fed by a high-voltage generator 1. The x-ray tube 2 is provided with a primary radiation diaphragm 3, for example, a heart contour diaphragm. The x-ray tube 2 generates an x-ray beam which is limited by the primary radiation diaphragm 3 (i.e., by the beam-interacting elements thereof). The x-ray beam as limited by the primary radiation diaphragm 3 penetrates a patient 4, and the attenuated radiation is incident on an input screen of an x-ray image intensifier 5. The incident radiation image is intensified and is reproduced on the output screen of the x-ray image intensifier 5, from which it is imaged on the target of a video camera 8 by means of optics 6 having an iris diaphragm 7. A processing circuit 9 is connected to the video camera 8, the processing circuit 9 being connected to a monitor 10 for displaying the x-ray image in visible form. The processing circuit 9 may include a transducer, an image store and calculating units operating in a known manner. Synchronization of the various components of the installation of FIG. 1 is undertaken by a central control unit 11. A diaphragm positioning control unit 12 having a setting element 13 (shown in greater detail in FIG. 2) is connected to the primary radiation diaphragm 3. The control unit 12 consists of a control box to which an operating lever 14 provided with a cap 15 is attached, the operating lever 14 and the cap 15 being in the shape of a mushroom knob. In the manner of a joystick, the operating lever 14 can be pivoted in all directions, and it can be rotated by its cap 15. Additionally, the operating lever 14 can be pressed or pulled by grasping the cap 15, as described below. The monitor 10 on which the image of a heart 16 is schematically portrayed is shown in FIG. 3. A diaphragm plate 17 of the primary radiation diaphragm 3 is also seen in the image. The setting element 13 is schematically shown in FIG. 4. When the setting element 13 is moved or pivoted in one of the directions of the double arrow 18, the diaphragm plate 17 is moved in a corresponding direction, as indicated by the double arrow 19. When the operating lever 14, for example, is pivoted toward the bottom left in the direction of the double arrow 18, this results in the primary radiation diaphragm 3 becoming more closed, because the diaphragm plate 17 moves toward the contour of the heart 16 toward the bottom left in the direction of the double arrow 19. If pivoting of the primary radiation diaphragm is required, this is undertaken buy a rotational motion of the setting element 13 in the direction of the double arrow 20, which causes a rotation of the primary radiation diaphragm 3, and thus of the diaphragm plate 17 in the direction of the double arrow 21. A further example is shown in a similar manner in FIGS. 5 and 6. The diaphragm plate 17 in this example is situated in the upper region of the video image. For example, this could be effected by moving the diaphragm plate from the position shown in FIG. 3 by turning the setting element 13 toward the left. Pivoting of the setting element 13 in the direction of the double arrow 22 then causes the primary radiation diaphragm 3 to open or close, by moving the diaphragm plate 17 in a corresponding direction of the double arrow 23. Rotational motion according to the double arrow 24 causes the primary radiation diaphragm 3 to execute a rotational motion conforming to the double arrow 25. It is thus insured that the alignment of the primary radiation diaphragm 3 and the video image thereof on the monitor 10 will agree during setting of the primary radiation diaphragm 3, so that the attending personnel can identify by visual contact the direction in which the primary radiation diaphragm 3 is to be moved, and can implement a corresponding operation via the setting element 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 12 can also be connected to the high-voltage generator 1. Each actuation of the setting element 13 supplies a control signal to the high-voltage generator 1, which reduces the radiation dose in the transillumination mode in response thereto, so the patient 4 receives a lower radiation load during the setting of, for example, the heart contour diaphragm as the primary radiation diaphragm 3. Such setting can be undertaken with a reduced does because high-quality x-ray images are not required during setting, since no diagnosis is undertaken. The control unit 12 can also be connected, for example, to the processing circuit 9, causing a line representing the edge of the diaphragm plate 17 to be mixed into the video image. Actuation of the setting element 13 may also initiate an automatic gain control so that, for example, the brightness of the video image remains the same given the reduced dose. The control unit 12 can also be connected to the iris diaphragm 7 disposed in the optics 6. Operation of the iris diaphragm 7 can be undertaken by pressing and pulling the setting element 13. For example, pressing on the operating lever 14 can close the iris diaphragm 7, and pulling on the cap 15 can open iris diaphragm 7. Instead of only one operating lever 14 having a plurality of functions, a plurality of operating levers can alternatively be provided as the setting element, with the respective functions being divided among these operating levers. Thus, a first operating lever, by its pivot motion, can move the diaphragm plate 17 to open and close the diaphragm 3, with a second operating lever effecting rotation of the diaphragm plate 17 in the direction of the double arrows 21 or 25 by rotating such a second lever toward the right or the left against a detent. Even more functions can be integrated in the operating lever 14. For example, pivoting of the setting element 13 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the double arrows 22, i.e., toward the right for example, can cause a rotary motion of the diaphragm plate 17 in the direction of the double arrows 25 toward the left, until the edge of the diaphragm plate 17 is disposed perpendicularly relative to the direction of the pivoting of the setting element 13. Closing or opening of the diaphragm 3 by means of moving the diaphragm plate 17 can be subsequently undertaken by another actuation of the setting element in the desired direction. The control of the diaphragm plate 17 from the position shown in FIG. 5, however, can also be achieved by pivoting the setting element in a desired direction of the double arrow 22 takes place first up to a detent, with the setting element being subsequently pivoted in the direction of the double arrow 24. A rotation in the direction of the double arrow 25 and a subsequent closing of the diaphragm plate 17 will then occur. The x-ray diagnostics installation disclosed herein provides an ergonometric operation of the primary radiation diaphragm which is based on operating possibilities which unambiguously correspond to the displayed image. A rotary motion of the setting element 13 in the form of a mushroom knob is implemented for rotating the primary radiation diaphragm 3 and a tilting or pivoting motion of the setting element 13 in the desired direction is implemented for introduction and withdrawal of the diaphragm plates in directions perpendicular to an axis through the center of the image. Regardless of the individual geometrical conditions of the x-ray apparatus, the video image, from the standpoint of the operator, is the only reference point which must be observed in order to correctly and accurately position the elements of the primary radiation diaphragm 3. 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.