Reflective alignment light for computerized tomography
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorKarl J. Scheibengraber
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Abstract
The conventional cylindrical lens of a laser alignment device is replaced with a non-planar reflective device for spreading the collimated laser beam into a fan-shaped linear pattern for patient alignment use. In one form, a mirror-coated cylindrical rod is used to generate axial alignment lines, and in another form, a mirror-coated cone is used to generate the coronal alignment lines.
Claims2
In a computerized tomography system having a gantry with a central opening and into which a patient can be placed for scanning, an alignment device for positioning a patient with respect to the central opening comprising:
- a source for projecting a beam of collimated light;
- and a reflective cylindrical rod disposed in such a position as to reflect said beam of collimated light in a diverging linear pattern.
A patient-alignment apparatus for positioning a staged patient for subsequent longitudinal advancement into the cylindrical gantry opening of an X-ray scanner having an X-ray source and detector means for scanning the patient to produce a tomographic image in the plane of the scan comprising:
- a light source for projecting a light beam in a direction away from the patient;
- non-planar reflecting means attached to a supporting element and disposed in such a position as to reflect said beam as a reference line on the staged patient;
- and mounting and pendulum means for maintaining said non-planar reflecting means in a fixed position with respect to said light beam irrespective of the rotation of the supporting element to which it is mounted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.