Automated receptor tracking to diagnostic source assembly

Abstract

A system and method for automatically positioning an image receptor based on the position of a manually positioned diagnostic source assembly in an X-ray imaging device is provided. In a preferred embodiment of the automated tracking system, an operator manually positions a diagnostic source assembly (DSA) over the area of a patient to be imaged. Sensors in the diagnostic source assembly transmit the position of the DSA to a system controller. The system controller then calculates an optimal position of an image receptor based on the position of the DSA. Once the optimal position is calculated, the system controller sends the optimal position to a motor drive, which positions the image receptor in the calculated optimal position. Position sensors in the image receptor then send positional data of the image receptor to the system controller, which verifies that the image receptor is in the calculated optimal position. If the operator wishes to manually adjust the image receptor, they may override the motor drive and do so. The automated tracking system provides for reduced total imaging time and increased cost effectiveness over prior X-ray imaging systems by reducing the number of retakes required to obtain a satisfactory X-ray image. Reducing retakes also results in decreased exposure to radiation by the patient being imaged which is healthier to the patient.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.