# US 10,117,633 B2 · Method and apparatus for characterization of X-ray energy outputs of medical X-ray generators

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,117,633 B2
- Document ID: US10117633B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/244,416
- Filed: 2016-08-23
- Published: 2018-03-01
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-23
- Assignees: Albert Davydov
- Applicants: Iyov Intellectual Properties
- Inventors: Albert Davydov; Peter Usov
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117633B2

## CPC

- A61B 6/586: {Detection of faults or malfunction of the device}
- A61B 6/461: {Displaying means of special interest}
- A61B 6/542: {involving control of exposure}
- H05G 1/265: {Measurements of current, voltage or power}
- H05G 1/54: Protecting {or lifetime prediction}(overload protection combined with control H05G1/46)
- A61B 6/502: {for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- H05G: X-RAY TECHNIQUE (investigating or analysing materials by the use of X-rays G01N23/00; apparatus for X-ray photography G03B42/02; X-ray tubes H01J35/00; TV systems having X-ray input H04N5/321)

## Abstract

A method for continuously evaluating an X-ray unit. The method includes placing an X-ray sensor converter having a photo diode and a scintillation crystal in a path of an X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray unit, using the X-ray sensor converter to convert an X-ray beam energy into an electric signal, providing an amplifier connected to the X-ray sensor converter, conveying the electric signal from the X-ray sensor converter to the amplifier, amplifying the electric signal with the amplifier, and measuring a spectrum of the X-ray tube energy by continuously sampling and quantifying the amplified electric signal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for continuously evaluating an X-ray unit, the method comprising the steps of:
placing an X-ray sensor converter having a photo diode and a scintillation crystal in a path of an X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray unit;
using the X-ray sensor converter to convert an X-ray beam energy into an electric signal;
providing an amplifier connected to the X-ray sensor converter;
conveying the electric signal from the X-ray sensor converter to the amplifier and amplifying the electric signal with the amplifier;
measuring a spectrum of an energy emitted by the X-ray unit by continuously sampling and quantifying the amplified electric signal, said step of measuring the spectrum comprising presenting discrete values of the amplified electric signal as a continuous waveform over a predetermined period of time;
displaying the results of the step of measuring the spectrum of the X-ray tube as a continuous graph representing the continuous waveform of variations of an X-ray voltage; and
analyzing the continuous graph to determine a specific voltage emitted by the X-ray tube over a particular time interval.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of evaluating performance of the X-ray tube using results of said step of analyzing the continuous graph.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein said step of evaluating performance comprises detecting at least one of high voltage source and high voltage transformer malfunction, high voltage rectifier malfunction, thermal overload detector malfunction, pulse duration timer and automatic exposure control malfunction, tube malfunction and aluminum filter malfunction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, further comprising issuing an emergency warning to an X-ray operator when one of said malfunctions is detected.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of calculating a precise radiation exposure dosage for a particular patient using results of said step of analyzing the continuous graph.

### Claim 6

A method for continuously evaluating an X-ray unit, the method comprising the steps of:
placing an X-ray sensor converter having a photo diode and a scintillation crystal in a path of an X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray unit;
using the X-ray sensor converter to convert an X-ray beam energy into an electric signal;
providing an amplifier connected to the X-ray sensor converter;
conveying the electric signal from the X-ray sensor converter to the amplifier and amplifying the electric signal with the amplifier;
measuring a spectrum of an energy emitted by the X-ray unit by continuously sampling and quantifying the amplified electric signal;
providing a unified statistical global monitoring system; and
enabling said statistical global monitoring system to gather, store, compare, process, and report about a particular X-ray system malfunction on a global scale.