EP0176282A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exit beam indicator for radiographic equipment
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1985-09-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-09-11
Abstract
Abstract An x-ray beam from a source 10 has dimensions determined by a collimator 26 comprising plates (28a, 28b, 30a and 30b) adjusted by electric motors (32 and 34) respectively. An indicator (60) for indicating the dimensions of the x-ray beam is located on the other side of the patient from the collimator (26) and comprises two pairs of light sources, one pair of which (62 and 64) are movably mounted on a bar (66). These light sources are mounted for both linear and angular movement and are controlled to move with the collimator plates so that as the plates are moved toward and away from each other, the light sources are correspondingly moved and rotated. The light planes (76 and 78) from the respective light sources (62 and 64) and corresponding planes from the other two sources lie on the extension of the x-ray beam (12) formed by collimator (26) and converge at the source (10) of the x-rays so as to provide an outline on the patient of the x-ray beam which is visible to the operator. The control system for the light sources includes sources (42, 46) providing signals indicative of the desired and actual positions of the collimator plates (28), and sources (50, 52) providing signals indicative of the desired and actual positions of the x-ray source (10). These signals control the rotation of a motor (96) driving a drum (94) controlling the movement of a cable (90) having portions connected to control the light sources (62, 64).
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Lescrenier
- 👤 Val Bautista
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/08; G; G21; G21K; G21K1/00; G21K1/02; G21K1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
An indicator for indicating at least one dimension of a X-ray beam diverging from an X -ray source, said X -ray source being located on one side of an object and the X-ray beam exiting on a second side of the object, the X -ray beam being defined by movable collimator means and having an axis, said indicator comprising: a base member positioned on the second side of the object; a pair of light sources mounted on said base member for generally linear movement toward and away from each other normal to the axis of the X-ray beam and for angular movement about an axis normal to the direction of linear movement of the light sources and the axis of the X-ray beam, said light sources providing beams of light for application to the second side of the object and capable of defining one dimension of said X-ray beam; operating means for providing linear and angular movement of the light sources; and control means connected to said operating means and couplable to the collimator means for causing said operating means to move said light sources so that the beams of light are congruent with the edges of the X-ray field, as defined by the collimator means, and converge at the source of the X-ray beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
An indicator for indicating at least one dimension of a X-ray beam diverging from an X -ray source, said X -ray source being located on one side of an object and the X-ray beam exiting on a second side of the object, the X -ray beam being defined by movable collimator means and having an axis, said indicator comprising: a base member positioned on the second side of the object; a pair of light sources mounted on said base member for generally linear movement toward and away from each other normal to the axis of the X-ray beam and for angular movement about an axis normal to the direction of linear movement of the light sources and the axis of the X-ray beam, said light sources providing beams of light for application to the second side of the object and capable of defining one dimension of said X-ray beam; operating means for providing linear and angular movement of the light sources; and control means connected to said operating means and couplable to the collimator means for causing said operating means to move said light sources so that the beams of light are congruent with the edges of the X-ray field, as defined by the collimator means, and converge at the source of the X-ray beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An indicator according to Claim 1 wherein said beams of light are planes of light forming generally parallel lines when applied to the object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An indicator according to claim 1 or claim 2 further including a second pair of light sources, operating means, and control means mounted on said base member for defining a second dimension of the X -ray beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An indicator according to any preceding claims wherein the X -ray source is movable toward and away from the object.and wherein said control means includes means for altering the linear movement of said light sources in accordance with the movement of the X-ray source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
An indicator according to any preceding claims wherein said operating means comprises cable means mounted on said base member and having a plurality of generally parallel segments, and means for moving selected ones of of said segments in similar or opposite directions responsive to said control means, said light sources being coupled to said segments for obtaining said linear and angular movement from the movement of said selected ones of said segments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
163 words
An indicator according to Claim 5 wherein said cable means includes first, second, third, and fourth segments, one of said light sources being connected between said first and third segments, the other of said light sources being connected between said second and fourth segments and wherein said cable segment moving means includes first means coupled to said control means for moving said first and third segments in the same direction and said second and fourth segments in the same direction but opposite to the direction of movement of said first and third segments to obtain said linear movement of said light sources toward and away from each other, said cable segment moving means further including second means coupled to said control means for moving said first and second cable segments in the same direction and said third and fourth cable segments in the same direction but opposite the direction of said first and second segments for obtaining angular movement of said light sources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An indicator according to claim 6 wherein said first moving means comprises a drum around which said cable is wrapped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An indicator according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said second moving means comprises means forming a bight in said cable and for expanding and contracting said bight to provide the angular movement of said light sources.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said operating means comprises lead screw means coupled to said light sources and motor means coupled to said lead screw means for rotating same for obtaining linear and angular movement of said light sources.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An indicator according to any preceding claim wherein said control means is in the form of analog control means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An indicator according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said control means is in the form of digital control means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An indicator according to any preceding claims wherein said light sources provide a beam of laser light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
An indicator according to any preceding claims for indicating the x-ray beam exiting a patient.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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