Systems, methods and apparatus for a reference display of a digital image detector

An apparatus to image a human medical patient, the apparatus comprising:

• a medical X-ray digital image detector having a side;
• and
• a reference display removeably mounted in the side of the medical X-ray digital image detector,
• wherein the reference display further comprises:
• a color liquid crystal display comprising physical dimensions no greater than three inches in any direction.

A medical X-ray digital image detector to display an image of a subject, the medical X-ray digital image detector comprising:

• a housing having outer walls, the outer walls comprising dimensions suitable to fit a X-ray digital image receptor within a recess of the housing;
• an electronic display mounted in the housing;
• and
• an electrical interface mounted in one of the outer walls of the housing operable to integrate with a .complimentary electrical interface, the electrical interface operably coupled to the electronic display.

A medical digital image detector comprising:

• a housing having a side;
• a medical X-ray digital image receptor mounted in the side of the housing;
• and
• a reference display fixedly mounted in the side of the of the housing and operably coupled to the medical X-ray digital image receptor, the reference display further comprising:
• a color liquid crystal display comprising physical dimensions no greater than three inches in any direction, the color liquid crystal display visible outside the housing
• wherein the reference display is operable to:
• receive reference information from the digital image receptor through a communication path;
• display the reference information.

A medical digital image detector comprising:

• a housing having a side;
• a medical X-ray digital image receptor mounted in the side of the housing;
• and
• a reference display removably mounted in the side of the housing and operable to couple to the medical X-ray digital image receptor, the reference display further comprising:
• a color liquid crystal display comprising physical dimensions no greater than three inches in any direction,
• wherein the reference display is operable to:
• receive reference information from the digital image receptor through a communication path;
• display the reference information.

A medical digital image detector comprising:

• a housing having a side;
• a reference display mounted in the side of the housing;
• a medical X-ray digital image receptor mounted in the side of the housing;
• and
• a transceiver mounted in the housing and operably coupled to the medical X-ray digital image receptor and operably coupled to the reference display, the transceiver operable to transmit reference information to through a wirelesss communication path.

A reference display comprising:

• an electrical interface operable to couple with a complimentary electrical interface of a medical digital image detector on the same side of a digital image receptor of the medical digital image detector;
• and
• a color liquid crystal display comprising physical dimensions no greater than three inches in any direction, the color liquid crystal display being operably coupled to the electrical interface wherein the color liquid crystal display is operable to display medical reference information selected from the group consisting of:
• a reference image, patient identification, attending physician, procedure technique, battery state, communication state, image registration, procedure technique parameters, service tool/diagnostic information and pager information.