Radiological imaging device with improved scouting functionality
AssigneeEpica International, Inc.
InventorsCosimo Lorenzetto, Leonardo Manetti, Massimiliano Leonori, Marco Bargiotti
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Abstract
A radiological image is acquired of a part of a patient by positioning the patient within an analysis zone of the radiologic imaging device and setting an imaging start location. The part of the patient to be diagnosed is included between the start location and an end location. A series of images is acquired with a radiologic beam beginning at the start location and continuing until the end location is imaged. The images in the series of images are stitched together to form a composite scouting image.
Claims24
A method to acquire a radiological image of a part of a patient, comprising:
- positioning at least part of the patient within an analysis zone of a radiological imaging device comprising:
- a gantry defining the analysis zone in which said at least part of the patient is positioned;
- a source suitable to emit radiation that passes through said at least part of the patient, the radiation defining a central axis of propagation;
- a detector arranged to receive the radiation and to generate data signals based on the radiation received;
- a gantry rotation ring to which the source and the detector are mounted and a rotational bearing configured to rotate the ring;
- a controller adapted to acquire an image from data signals received continuously from the detector while the gantry rotation apparatus continuously rotates the ring and the source emitting the radiation and the detector receiving the radiation that are mounted to the ring, so as to scan said at least part of the patient;
- a linear bearing that translates the gantry;
- and
- a sensor system to trigger acquisition of images at a defined interval as the gantry translates,
- wherein the sensor system comprises a laser-tracked track with discrete steps or notches that are spaced according to the defined interval;
- setting an imaging start location, wherein said at least part of the patient is included between the start location and an end location;
- acquiring with a radiological beam emitted by the source a series of images at the defined interval beginning at the start location and continuing until the end location is imaged;
- and
- stitching together the images in the series of images to form a composite scouting image.
A radiological imaging device comprising:
- a gantry defining an analysis zone in which at least part of a patient is placed;
- a source suitable to emit radiation that passes through said at least part of the patient, the radiation defining a central axis of propagation;
- a detector arranged to receive the radiation and to generate data signals based on the radiation received;
- a gantry rotation ring to which the source and the detector are mounted and a rotational bearing configured to rotate the ring;
- a controller adapted to acquire an image from data signals received continuously from the detector while the gantry rotation apparatus continuously rotates the ring and the source emitting the radiation and the detector receiving the radiation that are mounted to the ring, so as to scan said at least part of the patient;
- a linear bearing that translates the gantry;
- and
- a sensor system to trigger acquisition of images at a defined interval as the gantry translates,
- wherein the sensor system comprises a laser-tracked track with discrete steps or notches that are spaced according to the defined interval.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.