Method and apparatus for aligning an X-ray source and detector at various source to image distances
AssigneeGE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
InventorsJohn Jun Zhang, Xianfeng Ni, Eric Nicholas Stepanovich, Renuka Uppaluri, Manfred David Boehm
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Abstract
A digital radiographic imaging system includes an offset table for determining mechanical and structural offsets which would, if not corrected, misalign the source and detector during use. The method can correct for inaccuracies in mechanical linkages, examination rooms and other mounting structures, and “drift” induced during use of the system.
Claims20
A method for calibrating the alignment of a source to a detector in a medical imaging system to account for variations due to mechanical or physical misalignments in the system, the method comprising the following steps:
- determining a reference position for each of the source and the detector at a known source to image distance;
- moving the source to a second source to image distance;
- determining an offset between the expected location of the source and the actual location of the source at the second source to image distance;
- during operation, moving the source by a distance equivalent to the offset, wherein the source and detector are aligned.
A method for calibrating a source and a detector in a digital radiographic system, the method comprising the following steps:
- selecting a first source to image distance;
- calibrating an alignment of the source and the detector wherein a reference position in at least one of a longitudinal, latitudinal, and vertical direction is determined for each of the source and the detector;
- storing the reference positions;
- moving the source to at least a second source to image distance;
- determining an offset calculated from the misalignment of the source and the detector at the second location;
- storing the offset wherein, during operation, the offset is used to align the source with the detector.
A method for calibrating a digital radiographic imaging system, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) calibrating a home position at a first known source to image distance;
- (b) moving the source to a second source to image distance;
- (c) directing the source at the detector;
- (d) moving the source to an aligned position, wherein the source is aligned with the detector;
- (e) calculating an offset as a function of the aligned position;
- (f) storing the offset;
- and
- (g) repeating steps (c) through (f) to develop a map of offsets for the digital radiographic system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.