Digital image detector
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGary V. McBroom, Nicholas Ryan Konkle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A digital detector of a digital imaging system is provided. In one embodiment, a digital detector includes a detector array disposed in a housing and configured to generate image data based on received radiation. The digital detector may also include a battery configured to be disposed within a receptacle of the housing and to supply operating power to the detector array. In one embodiment, the battery or the detector may provide for wireless data communication. In certain embodiments, a tethered plug configured to be disposed within the receptacle may be provided. In one such embodiment, the tether may be rotatable relative to the plug. Additional systems, methods, and devices are also disclosed.
Claims16
A tether for connecting a portable detector to an imaging system, the tether comprising:
- a cable portion comprising both power conductors configured to transmit power and data conductors configured to transmit medical image data;
- a plug shaped to fit within a battery receptacle of a housing of the portable detector when a battery is not present and to simultaneously connect the data conductors to data line contacts within the battery receptacle and to connect the power conductors to power line contacts within the battery receptacle;
- and
- a rotatable structure connecting the cable portion to the plug such that the cable portion swivels in at least one-dimension with respect to the plug when the plug is inserted within the battery receptacle.
A digital X-ray detector comprising:
- a detector array configured to generate medical image data based on incident X-ray radiation;
- a housing in which the detector array is disposed;
- and
- a receptacle within the housing, the receptacle configured to non-simultaneously receive a tether plug and a removable battery, wherein the receptacle includes a connector configured to connect to the tether plug, when present, so as to receive power via two or more electrical contacts present in the connector and to exchange medical image data via two or more data contacts present in the connector and wherein the connector is configured to receive power from the battery, when present, via the two or more electrical contacts present in the connector.
A method comprising:
- generating electronic medical image data in response to X-rays incident upon a digital detector array of a digital X-ray detector;
- determining whether the digital X-ray detector is coupled to an X-ray imaging system via a wireless connection or a wired connection formed by a tethered plug inserted into a complementary battery receptacle of the digital X-ray detector;
- transmitting the electronic medical image data via the wired connection if the wired connection is present;
- receiving power for the digital detector array via the wired connection if the wired connection is present;
- transmitting the electronic medical image data via the wireless connection if the wireless connection is present and the wired connection is not present;
- and
- storing the electronic medical image data on a storage device for later transmission if neither the wired or wireless connection is present.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.