Patent ID: 12232895

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Novel Mobile CT Imaging System Comprising a Mobile CT Imaging Machine with an On-Board Digital Radiography Imager

Looking first atFIGS.9-13, there is shown a novel mobile CT imaging system100comprising a mobile CT imaging machine105with an on-board digital radiography imager110.

Novel mobile CT imaging machine105may comprise the aforementioned mobile CT imaging machine5B (i.e., where free-rolling castors62are used to move the system quickly between locations, and centipede belt drives63are used to move the machine during scanning); or novel mobile CT imaging machine105may comprise the aforementioned mobile CT imaging machine5C (i.e., where powered mecanum wheels70(also known as “omni” wheels or “ilon” wheels) are used to move the machine quickly between locations, and powered wheels63C are used to move the machine during scanning); or novel mobile CT imaging machine105may comprise the aforementioned mobile CT imaging machine5D (i.e., where so-called “Liddiard” wheels76are used to move the machine both quickly between locations and during scanning); or novel mobile CT imaging machine105may comprise any other mobile CT imaging machine capable of moving between locations before and/or after scanning.

On-board digital radiography imager110is movably mounted to mobile CT imaging machine105such that on-board digital radiography imager110may be selectively interposed opposite to X-ray tube assembly25, with the anatomy to be scanned interposed between the X-ray source (i.e., X-ray tube assembly25) and on-board digital radiography imager110when it is desired to perform digital radiography imaging, and selectively moved out of position of the X-ray source (i.e., X-ray tube assembly25) so as to expose X-ray detector assembly30to the X-ray source when it is desired to perform CT imaging, as will hereinafter be discussed in further detail.

More particularly, on-board digital radiography imager110generally comprises a detector plate115for selectively detecting X-rays emitted from X-ray tube assembly25which have passed through the anatomy disposed in center opening20of mobile CT imaging machine105when detector plate115is positioned opposite X-ray tube assembly25with the anatomy to be scanned disposed between detector plate115and X-ray tube assembly25. To this end, on-board digital radiography imager110is configured to be capable of selectively assuming: (i) a first “retracted” position (which also may be referred to herein as a “standby” position) (seeFIGS.10and12) in which detector plate115is not diametrically-opposed to X-ray tube assembly25and is not positioned in front of X-ray detector assembly30, whereby to enable CT imaging via X-ray tube assembly25and X-ray detector assembly30, and (ii) a second “extended” position (which also may be referred to herein as a “scanning” position) (seeFIGS.11and13) in which detector plate115is diametrically-opposed to X-ray tube assembly25and is positioned in front of X-ray detector assembly30such that the anatomy to be scanned can be interposed between X-ray tube assembly25and detector plate115(i.e., by disposing the anatomy which is to be scanned inside center opening20), whereby to enable digital radiography imaging of the anatomy disposed in center opening20via X-ray tube assembly25and detector plate115.

To this end, on-board digital radiography imager110comprises powered systems configured to selectively move detector plate115between its first “retracted” position and its second “extended” position.

More particularly, in one preferred form of the present invention, on-board digital radiography imager110comprises at least one rail120mounted to rotating disc23, with detector plate115being slidably mounted to the at least one rail120so that detector plate115can be selectively moved between its first “retracted” position and its second “extended” position. In a preferred form of the present invention, and looking now atFIG.12, detector plate115is preferably moved on the at least one rail120by means of one or more telescoping arms125. The one or more telescoping arms125generally comprise a first end130pivotally mounted to rotating disc23, and a second end135which is pivotally mounted to detector plate115. In this way, retracting the one or more telescoping arms125causes detector plate115to assume its first “retracted” position, and extending the one or more telescoping arms125causes detector plate115to assume its second “extended” position.

In use, when mobile CT imaging system100is to be used for CT imaging, detector plate115is placed into its first “retracted” position (i.e., where detector plate115is not diametrically-opposed to X-ray tube assembly25and is not positioned in front of X-ray detector assembly30), and then mobile CT imaging machine105is used in the traditional manner to produce CT images of anatomy disposed in the central opening20(i.e., with rotating disc23moving, X-ray tube assembly25emits X-ray beam40and X-ray detector assembly30detects the X-ray beam40passing through the anatomy along a full range of radial positions, so as to enable CT imaging). When mobile CT imaging system100is to be used for digital radiography, detector plate115is moved into its second “extended” position (i.e., by extending the one or more telescoping arms125in order to dispose detector plate115diametrically-opposed to X-ray tube assembly25with detector plate115positioned in front of X-ray detector assembly30), and then mobile CT imaging machine105is used to produce digital radiography images of anatomy disposed in central opening20(i.e., with rotating disc23stationary, X-ray tube assembly25emits X-ray beam40and detector plate115detects the X-ray beam40passing through the anatomy at a single position, so as to enable digital radiography imaging). Note that when mobile CT imaging system100is to be used for digital radiography, the rotational position of rotating disc23may be adjusted as needed to provide the desired angle of imaging.

Thus, with the present invention, the same X-ray tube assembly25may be used for CT imaging as well as for digital radiography imaging. It should be appreciated that the power level of X-ray beam40(and hence the amount of radiation) emitted by X-ray tube assembly25can be adjusted depending on whether the X-ray tube assembly25is being used for CT imaging or for digital radiography imaging. By way of example but not limitation, the power level of X-ray beam40may be significantly reduced when it is desired to use novel mobile CT imaging system100to perform digital radiography imaging. Thus, with the present invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of radiation exposure to the patient when higher energy X-rays are not required to perform the desired imaging (e.g., when performing digital radiography imaging).

Novel Mobile CT Imaging System Comprising an On-Board Ultrasound Imager

Looking next atFIG.14, in another form of the invention, novel mobile CT imaging system100may comprise a mobile CT imaging machine105with an on-board ultrasound imager140(either in addition to on-board digital radiography imager110or without on-board digital radiography imager110). More particularly, on-board ultrasound imager140generally comprises an ultrasound wand145which can be stored on a rack150on mobile CT imaging machine105, and an adjustable viewing screen155for displaying the images obtained by ultrasound wand145. More particularly, ultrasound wand145comprises an emitter configured to emit sound waves having a frequency appropriate for imaging, and a probe configured to detect reflected sound waves, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Ultrasound wand145may be wireless, or ultrasound wand145may be connected to CT imaging machine105via one or more wires. The supporting electronics for on-board ultrasound imager140may be housed in the torus10and/or base15of mobile CT imaging machine105.

Thus, with the present invention, the same mobile CT imaging system100may be used to perform CT imaging, digital radiography imaging and ultrasound imaging.

Application to Other Types of Scanning Systems

It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to use in medical applications or, indeed, to use with CT machines. Thus, for example, the present invention may be used in connection with mobile CT machines used for non-medical applications, e.g., with mobile CT machines used to scan inanimate objects. Furthermore, the present invention may be used with non-CT-type mobile scanning systems. Thus, for example, the present invention may be used in conjunction with mobile SPECT machines, mobile MRI machines, mobile PET machines, mobile X-ray machines, etc., i.e., wherever the mobile scanning machine may require close tracking to a scan path.

Modifications

It will be appreciated that still further embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular constructions herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the invention.