US5608775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
X-ray diagnostic installation having a solid-state image converter and method for operating same
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1995-09-29
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Granted: 1997-03-04
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Expires: 2015-09-29
Abstract
Abstract An x-ray diagnostic installation has a high-voltage generator, an x-ray tube supplied by the high-voltage generator, and a solid-state image converter on which x-rays, attenuated by an examination subject disposed between the x-ray tube and the solid-state image converter, are incident. A control unit is connected to the high-voltage generator and to the solid-state image converter, and controls the high-voltage generator to cause the x-ray tube to emit a first x-ray pulse of a short duration which produces an x-ray exposure in the solid-state image converter. The control unit conducts a read out of the solid-state image converter to obtain a measured value representative of the x-ray dose rate, the control unit using this measured value to calculate the x-ray transparency of the examination subject and, from the x-ray transparency, to calculate an optimum x-ray dose. The control unit then operates the high-voltage generator to cause the x-ray tube to emit a second x-ray pulse, having the optimum x-ray dose, for acquiring a diagnostic image of the examination subject.
Inventors
- 👤 Dietrich Hassler
- 👤 Martin Hoheisel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:26
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/26; H05G1/30; H05G1/36; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/30; H05G1/38; H05G1/42; H05G1/44; H05G1/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
An x-ray diagnostic installation comprising: a high-voltage generator; an x-ray tube supplied by said high-voltage generator for emitting an x-ray beam; a solid-state image converter disposed in said x-ray beam and having a plurality of light-sensitive elements arranged in a matrix, said solid-state image converter converting an x-ray image produced by said x-ray beam incident on said solid-state image converter into a corresponding optical image; said x-ray tube and said solid-state image converter being adapted to receive an examination subject therebetween, said examination subject having an x-ray transparency; and control means connected to said high-voltage generator and to said solid-state image converter for operating said high-voltage generator for causing said x-ray tube to emit a first x-ray pulse for producing an x-ray exposure of said examination subject in said solid-state image converter, said control means including means for reading out said solid-state image converter during said x-ray exposure for obtaining a measured value representative of an x-ray dose rate, said control means including calculating means supplied with said measured value for determining the x-ray transparency of said examination subject and for calculating an optimum x-ray dose dependent on said x-ray transparency, and said control means operating said high-voltage generator for causing said x-ray tube to emit a second x-ray pulse with said optimum x-ray dose for obtaining said optical image of said examination subject, said first x-ray pulse having a duration which is short relative to a duration of said second pulse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
An x-ray diagnostic installation comprising: a high-voltage generator; an x-ray tube supplied by said high-voltage generator for emitting an x-ray beam; a solid-state image converter disposed in said x-ray beam and having a plurality of light-sensitive elements arranged in a matrix, said solid-state image converter converting an x-ray image produced by said x-ray beam incident on said solid-state image converter into a corresponding optical image; said x-ray tube and said solid-state image converter being adapted to receive an examination subject therebetween, said examination subject having an x-ray transparency; and control means connected to said high-voltage generator and to said solid-state image converter for operating said high-voltage generator for causing said x-ray tube to emit a first x-ray pulse for producing an x-ray exposure of said examination subject in said solid-state image converter, said control means including means for reading out said solid-state image converter during said x-ray exposure for obtaining a measured value representative of an x-ray dose rate, said control means including calculating means supplied with said measured value for determining the x-ray transparency of said examination subject and for calculating an optimum x-ray dose dependent on said x-ray transparency, and said control means operating said high-voltage generator for causing said x-ray tube to emit a second x-ray pulse with said optimum x-ray dose for obtaining said optical image of said examination subject, said first x-ray pulse having a duration which is short relative to a duration of said second pulse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An x-ray diagnostic installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solid-state image converter comprises an aSi:H detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
An x-ray diagnostic installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solid-state image converter has an x-ray-sensitive area and wherein said x-ray exposure comprises a dominant having a dominant area which is smaller than said x-ray-sensitive area, and wherein said means for reading out said solid-state image converter during said x-ray exposure comprises means for reading out said solid-state image converter only within said dominant area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
An x-ray diagnostic installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said optical image has a plurality of image lines, and wherein said means for reading out said solid-state image converter during said x-ray exposure comprises means for reading out only a portion of said lines of said optical image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
An x-ray diagnostic installation as claimed in claim 4 wherein said control means further comprises means for reading out all lines of said optical image after said second x-ray pulse and means for combining said portion of said lines which were read out after said first x-ray pulse with said lines which were read out after said second x-ray pulse.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An x-ray diagnostic installation as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for combining comprises means for additively superimposing said portion of said lines which were read out after said first x-ray pulse with said lines which were read out after said second x-ray pulse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
An x-ray diagnostic installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for reading out said solid-state image converter comprises means for obtaining a series of measured values from said solid-state image converter, and wherein said calculating means comprises means for adding said measured values in said series of measured values for determining the x-ray transparency of said examination subject and for calculating said optimum x-ray dose.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
An x-ray diagnostic installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises means for operating said high-voltage generator at a first x-ray tube voltage for generating said first x-ray pulse and for operating said high-voltage generator at a second x-ray tube voltage for generating said second x-ray pulse, said second x-ray tube voltage being higher than said first x-ray tube voltage.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for operating an x-ray diagnostic installation having a high-voltage generator, an x-ray tube which emits an x-ray beam directed at an examination subject, said subject having an x-ray transparency, and a solid-state image converter on which said x-ray beam, attenuated by said examination subject, is incident as an x-ray image, said solid-state image converter converting said x-ray image into a corresponding optical image, said method comprising the steps of: operating said high-voltage generator for causing said x-ray tube to emit a first x-ray pulse which produces an x-ray exposure in said solid-state image converter; reading out said solid-state image converter to obtain a measured value representative of an x-ray dose rate; calculating said x-ray transparency of said examination subject dependent on said measured value and calculating an optimum x-ray dose for said examination subject dependent on said x-ray transparency; and operating said high-voltage generator for causing said x-ray tube to emit a second x-ray pulse having said optimum x-ray dose for producing said x-ray image of said examination subject, said first x-ray pulse having a duration which is short relative to a duration of said second x-ray pulse.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for operating an x-ray diagnostic installation having a high-voltage generator, an x-ray tube which emits an x-ray beam directed at an examination subject, said subject having an x-ray transparency, and a solid-state image converter on which said x-ray beam, attenuated by said examination subject, is incident as an x-ray image, said solid-state image converter converting said x-ray image into a corresponding optical image, said method comprising the steps of: operating said high-voltage generator for causing said x-ray tube to emit a first x-ray pulse which produces an x-ray exposure in said solid-state image converter; reading out said solid-state image converter to obtain a measured value representative of an x-ray dose rate; calculating said x-ray transparency of said examination subject dependent on said measured value and calculating an optimum x-ray dose for said examination subject dependent on said x-ray transparency; and operating said high-voltage generator for causing said x-ray tube to emit a second x-ray pulse having said optimum x-ray dose for producing said x-ray image of said examination subject, said first x-ray pulse having a duration which is short relative to a duration of said second x-ray pulse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said solid-state image converter has an x-ray-sensitive area and wherein said x-ray exposure comprises a dominant having a dominant area which is smaller than said x-ray-sensitive area, and wherein the step of reading out said solid-state image converter during said x-ray exposure comprises reading out said solid-state image converter only within said dominant area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said optical image has a plurality of image lines, and wherein the step of reading out said solid-state image converter during said x-ray exposure comprises reading out only a portion of said lines of said optical image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 comprising the additional steps of reading out all lines of said optical image after said second x-ray pulse, and combining said portion of said lines which were read out after said first x-ray pulse with said lines which were read out after said second x-ray pulse.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the step of combining said portion of said lines which were read out after said first x-ray pulse with said lines which were read out after said second x-ray pulse comprises additively superimposing said portion of said lines which were read out after said first x-ray pulse with said lines which were read out after said second x-ray pulse.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the step of reading out said solid-state image converter comprises obtaining a series of measured values from said solid-state image converter, and wherein the step of calculating said x-ray transparency comprises adding said measured values in said series of measured values for determining the x-ray transparency of said examination subject and for calculating said optimum x-ray dose.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the step of operating said high-voltage generator for causing said x-ray tube to emit a first x-ray pulse comprises operating said high-voltage generator at a first x-ray tube voltage for generating said first x-ray pulse and wherein the step of operating said high-voltage generator for causing said x-ray tube to emit a second x-ray pulse comprises operating said high-voltage generator at a second x-ray tube voltage for generating said second x-ray pulse, said second x-ray tube voltage being higher than said first x-ray tube voltage.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-03 | 2000-09-02 | 2001-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-03 | 2004-09-02 | 2005-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-03 | 2008-09-02 | 2009-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |