# US 9,039,283 B2 · Method and apparatus for producing an X-ray projection image in a desired direction

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- Number: US 9,039,283 B2
- Document ID: US9039283B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/649,629
- Filed: 2012-10-11
- Published: 2013-04-11
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2011-10-11
- Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
- Applicants: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
- Inventors: Rainer Graumann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039283B2

## CPC

- A61B 6/08: Auxiliary means for directing the radiation beam to a particular spot, e.g. using light beams
- A61B 6/4441: {the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm}
- A61B 6/547: {involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A method for producing an X-ray projection image of a body region of a patient using a desired spatial location of a central ray, includes positioning a pointing element relative to the patient indicating a location of a pointing line and causing the location of the pointing line to coincide with the desired central ray location. A pointing line location and a central ray location currently set on an X-ray machine are recorded. A measure for deviation between the pointing line and the currently set central ray location is determined and used to set the desired central ray location. A medical apparatus includes an X-ray machine taking an X-ray projection image along a central ray, a pointing element indicating a pointing line, an acquisition unit detecting the pointing line location and the currently set central ray location, and a control and evaluation unit implementing software carrying out the method.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing an X-ray projection image of a body region of a patient using a desired spatial location of a central ray, the method comprising the following steps:
positioning a pointing element relative to the patient to indicate a location of a pointing line as the desired location of the central ray;
recording the location of the pointing line and a location of the central ray currently set on an X-ray machine;
measuring the deviation between the location of the pointing line and the currently set location of the central ray of the X-ray machine and calculating a spatial difference value between the current location and the desired location of the central ray; and
positioning the X-ray machine so that the central ray coincides with the pointing line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises outputting the measure for the deviation to a user through a user interface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises outputting the measure for the deviation to the X-ray machine as a control signal and adjusting the X-ray machine by motor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises indicating the currently set location of the central ray with the pointing element.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises moving the pointing element manually relative to the patient.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises visually indicating the desired location of the central ray.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises optically acquiring the currently set location of the central ray and the location of the pointing line.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A medical apparatus for producing an X-ray projection image of a body region of a patient using a desired spatial location of a central ray, the medical apparatus comprising:
an X-ray machine configured to take an X-ray projection image along the central ray;
a pointing element configured to indicate a pointing line;
an acquisition unit configured to record a location of the pointing line and a currently set location of the central ray; and
a control and evaluation unit configured to implement software programmed to carry out the method according to claim 1.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The medical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said X-ray machine is a C-arm-X-ray machine.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The medical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said pointing element is pencil-shaped.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The medical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said acquisition unit is mounted on the X-ray machine.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The medical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said acquisition unit has an acquisition area encompassing a projection area of the X-ray machine.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The medical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said acquisition unit is a camera.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The medical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said acquisition unit operates in the visible light region.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The medical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said acquisition unit has a plurality of sub-units with acquisition areas at least partially overlapping each other.