X-ray detector having an accelerometer
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorKenneth S. Kump
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system of electronically detecting and measuring gravitational loads placed on an x-ray detector is disclosed. An x-ray detector incorporates an accelerometer that detects and provides an output as to the extent of gravitational loads or forces placed thereon. The accelerometer may also time and/or date stamp each recorded event such that a technician may determine when the x-ray detector was subjected to a particular load. A microcontroller/microprocessor may also compare a current reading of the accelerometer to a threshold and, based on the comparison, provide an audio or visual indication that the x-ray detector has been subjected to a potentially damaging gravitational load.
Claims19
An x-ray imaging system comprising:
- an x-ray detector configured to detect radiation emitted by an x-ray source and attenuated by a subject to be imaged, and provide an electrical output that may be processed for reconstruction of an image of the subject;
- at least one electronic sensor configured to detect gravitational loads placed on the x-ray detector;
- a controller configured to read out data from the at least one electronic sensor at predefined intervals and compare the gravitational load of a current reading of an electronic sensor to a threshold and illuminate an LED on the x-ray detector based on the comparison.
An x-ray imaging system comprising:
- an x-ray detector configured to detect radiation emitted by an x-ray source and attenuated by a subject to be imaged, and provide an electrical output that may be processed for reconstruction of an image of the subject;
- at least one electronic sensor configured to detect gravitational loads placed on the x-ray detector;
- and
- one or more mechanical sensors that mechanically detect gravitational loads placed on the x-ray detector, wherein the one or more mechanical sensor includes a fluid filled label sealed to a surface of the x-ray detector, wherein the fluid changes color when exposed to a given gravitational load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.