US5438604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
X-ray diagnostics installation for intermittent transillumination
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1994-07-26
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Granted: 1995-08-01
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Expires: 2014-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An x-ray diagnostics installation for intermittent fluoroscopy of an examination subject has an x-ray tube, supplied by a high-voltage generator, an x-ray image intensifier video chain with an image pick-up unit, and control logic for the high-voltage generator and for the video chain which controls the high-voltage supply to continuously operate x-ray tube and which controls read out of the pick-up unit so that the read out is pulsed or intermittent. Read out of the pick-up unit is suppressed for a number of potentially available images, and image playback ensues in the manner of a stroboscope. The high-voltage supply can then be set to values such that the x-ray dose rate of the x-ray tube is lower than the dose rate which is normal for standard fluoroscopy.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinz Horbaschek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:28
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/64
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
293 words
An x-ray diagnostics installation comprising: an x-ray tube fed by a high-voltage supply for generating x-rays for fluoroscopic examination of a subject; a video chain including image pick-up means for converting an optical x-ray image of said subject into a video signal sequence, by integrating said optical x-ray image, said video signal sequence consisting of a plurality of video images, and display means for displaying said x-ray image represented by said video images; and control means for, in a first mode, controlling operation of said high-voltage supply for continuously operating said x-ray tube to generate x-rays at a first intensity and for controlling operation of said video chain for reading out optical x-ray images, respectively integrated over first integration times, from said image pick-up means to obtain a plurality of successive video images supplied to said display means and for controlling display of said successive video images by said display means as displayed successive images each having an image duration, and, in a second mode, for controlling operation of said high-voltage supply for continuously operating said x-ray tube to generate x-rays at a second intensity, lower than said first intensity, said images pick-up means in said second mode integrating respective optical x-ray images generated at said second intensity over second integration times each of which is longer than any of said first integration times, and for controlling operation of said video chain for intermittently reading out said image pick-up means in a pulsed mode after a period of multiple image durations to obtain a plurality of intermittent video images supplied to said display means and for controlling display of said intermittent video images by said display means as displayed intermittent images each having the same image duration as said displayed successive video images.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
293 words
An x-ray diagnostics installation comprising: an x-ray tube fed by a high-voltage supply for generating x-rays for fluoroscopic examination of a subject; a video chain including image pick-up means for converting an optical x-ray image of said subject into a video signal sequence, by integrating said optical x-ray image, said video signal sequence consisting of a plurality of video images, and display means for displaying said x-ray image represented by said video images; and control means for, in a first mode, controlling operation of said high-voltage supply for continuously operating said x-ray tube to generate x-rays at a first intensity and for controlling operation of said video chain for reading out optical x-ray images, respectively integrated over first integration times, from said image pick-up means to obtain a plurality of successive video images supplied to said display means and for controlling display of said successive video images by said display means as displayed successive images each having an image duration, and, in a second mode, for controlling operation of said high-voltage supply for continuously operating said x-ray tube to generate x-rays at a second intensity, lower than said first intensity, said images pick-up means in said second mode integrating respective optical x-ray images generated at said second intensity over second integration times each of which is longer than any of said first integration times, and for controlling operation of said video chain for intermittently reading out said image pick-up means in a pulsed mode after a period of multiple image durations to obtain a plurality of intermittent video images supplied to said display means and for controlling display of said intermittent video images by said display means as displayed intermittent images each having the same image duration as said displayed successive video images.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An x-ray diagnostics installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means includes setting means for selecting a number of image durations comprising said period of multiple image durations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
An x-ray diagnostics installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for generating a pulse for effecting each read-out of a video image from said image pick-up, and setting means for selectively varying a spacing between pulses which define said period of multiple image durations and means, responsive to said spacing between said pulses, for automatically and correspondingly adjusting said high-voltage supply for maintaining a constant dose rate per x-ray image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An x-ray diagnostics installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pick up means comprises a video camera.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An x-ray diagnostics installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pick-up means comprises a CCD converter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An x-ray diagnostics installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said video chain includes an x-ray image intensifier having an integrated semiconductor transducer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-31 | 1999-01-30 | 1999-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-31 | 2003-01-30 | 2003-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-31 | 2007-01-30 | 2007-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |