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US 11,141,121 B2Granted
Fluoroscope with movable head and barrier to vary source to skin distance
AssigneeOnyx Technical Consulting, LLC
InventorsChristopher Eaves, Daniel G. Reed, James F. Reed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
For radiation safety, a fluoroscope has an adjustable X-ray source-to-intensifier distance (SID) and an X-ray transparent spacer positioned between the source and receptor. As a distance between the source and the intensifier is changed, the spacer is moved or a different sized transparent spacer is used, to ensure a safe minimum skin-to-source distance (SSD) is maintained. A processor is programmed to inhibit the generation of X-rays if the SID is greater than a defined distance and the spacer is not in position.
Claims12
A fluoroscope, comprising:
- an X-ray source;
- an X-ray receptor;
- a support arm that supports the X-ray source and X-ray receptor in a spaced relation;
- a mechanism for changing a distance between the X-ray source and the X-ray receptor;
- means for maintaining a minimum source to skin distance (SSD) between the X-ray source and the skin of a patient disposed between the X-ray source and X-ray receptor;
- and
- an X-ray transparent spacer between the X-ray source and the X-ray receptor, wherein the mechanism for changing the distance comprises a linkage that allows the X-ray source to move closer to, or farther away from, the X-ray receptor and wherein the means for maintaining the minimum source to skin distance comprises a cam surface on the linkage that moves the X-ray transparent spacer away from the X-ray source as the distance between the X-ray source and the X-ray receptor is increased.
4 more elements
A fluoroscope, comprising:
- an X-ray source;
- an X-ray receptor;
- a support arm that supports the source and receptor in a spaced relation;
- a mechanism for changing a distance between the source and the receptor;
- a platform between the source and the receptor, the platform configured to support a portion of a body imaged by the fluoroscope;
- an adjustment member that changes a minimum distance between the platform and the source, from a first value to a second value, as the distance between the source and the receptor exceeds a threshold;
- and
- an X-ray transparent spacer between the X-ray source and the X-ray receptor, wherein the mechanism for changing the distance comprises a linkage that allows the X-ray source to move closer to, or farther away from, the X-ray receptor and wherein the adjustment member comprises a cam surface on the linkage that moves the X-ray transparent spacer away from the X-ray source as the distance between the X-ray source and the X-ray receptor is increased.
5 more elements
A fluoroscope, comprising:
- a C-shaped support rail;
- an X-ray imaging receptor coupled to the C-shaped support rail;
- an imaging head including an X-ray source that is movably coupled to the C-shaped support rail such that the imaging head can be moved to a first position farthest away from the imaging receptor or to a second position closest to the imaging receptor;
- a spacer that is extendable from the imaging head;
- position sensors to detect the position of the imaging head with respect to the imaging receptor and whether the spacer is extended from the imaging head;
- and
- a processor that is programmed to inhibit operation of the X-ray source based on signals from the position sensors that indicate that the imaging head is at the first position farthest away from the imaging receptor and the spacer is not extended
- wherein the spacer is an X-ray transparent spacer between the X-ray source and the X-ray receptor, wherein a mechanism for changing the distance comprises a linkage that allows the X-ray source to move closer to, or farther away from, the X-ray receptor and wherein a means for maintaining the minimum source to skin distance comprises a cam surface on the linkage that moves the X-ray transparent spacer away from the X-ray source as the distance between the X-ray source and the X-ray receptor is increased.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.