Portable electronic radiographic imaging apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for electronic generation of radiographic images during medical procedures, the apparatus comprising: a movable support structure transportable to and from, and selectively positionable relative to, a radiation source; an imaging screen comprising a photostimulable composition; means mounting the screen on the support structure for selective positioning movement of the screen among various spatial orientations thereof relative to the radiation source; and means mounted on the support structure for capturing in electronic form images produced by the screen; wherein the means mounting the screen on the support structure comprises an upstanding stanchion fixed on the support structure, an arm extending laterally outwardly from the stanchion and defining a longitudinal arm axis, means for moving the arm vertically along the stanchion and rotatably with respect to the longitudinal arm axis, and means mounting the screen pivotably with respect to the arm.

Claim 2

An apparatus for electronic generation of radiographic images during medical procedures, the apparatus comprising: a movable support structure transportable to and from, and selectively positionable relative to, a radiation source; an imaging screen comprising a photostimulable composition; means mounting the screen on the support structure for selective positioning movement of the screen among various spatial orientations thereof relative to the radiation source; and means mounted on the support structure for capturing in electronic form images produced by the screen; wherein the means mounting the screen on the support structure comprises an upstanding stanchion fixed on the support structure, an arm extending laterally outwardly from the stanchion and defining a longitudinal arm axis, means for moving the arm vertically along the stanchion and rotatably with respect to the longitudinal arm axis, and means mounting the screen pivotably with respect to the arm.

Claim 14

An apparatus for electronic generation of radiographic images during medical procedures wherein a radiation source may be selectively oriented to direct a radiation beam in diverse portal directions to deliver a radiation dose to a predetermined field of a patient's body to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a wheeled cart transportable to and from, and selectively positionable relative to, the radiation source; an imaging screen comprising a photostimulable composition; means mounting the screen on the cart for selective positioning movement of the screen relative to the cart among various spatial orientations of the screen with respect to the radiation source so as to subtend the radiation beam opposite the patient's body from the radiation source in substantially any portal direction of the radiation beam; means mounted on the cart for capturing in electronic from images produced by the screen; processing means communicating with the image capturing means for receiving and displaying the captured images; wherein the means mounting the screen on the cart comprises an upstanding stanchion fixed on the cart, an arm extending laterally outwardly from the stanchion and defining a longitudinal arm axis, means for moving the arm vertically along the stanchion and rotatably with respect to the longitudinal arm axis, and means mounting the screen pivotably with respect to the arm.

Claim 15

An apparatus for electronic generation of radiographic images during medical procedures wherein a radiation source may be selectively oriented to direct a radiation beam in diverse portal directions to deliver a radiation dose to a predetermined field of a patient's body to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a wheeled cart transportable to and from, and selectively positionable relative to, the radiation source; an imaging screen comprising a photostimulable composition; means mounting the screen on the cart for selective positioning movement of the screen relative to the cart among various spatial orientations of the screen with respect to the radiation source so as to subtend the radiation beam opposite the patient's body from the radiation source in substantially any portal direction of the radiation beam; means mounted on the cart for capturing in electronic from images produced by the screen; processing means communicating with the image capturing means for receiving and displaying the captured images; wherein the means mounting the screen on the cart comprises an upstanding stanchion fixed on the cart, an arm extending laterally outwardly from the stanchion and defining a longitudinal arm axis, means for moving the arm vertically along the stanchion and rotatably with respect to the longitudinal arm axis, and means mounting the screen pivotably with respect to the arm.

Claim 23

An apparatus for electronic generation of radiographic images during radiation therapy procedures wherein a radiation source may be selectively oriented to direct a radiation beam in diverse portal directions to deliver a radiation dose to a predetermined field of a patient's body to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a wheeled cart transportable to and from, and selectively positionable relative to, the radiation source; an imaging screen comprising a photostimulable composition; means mounting the screen on the cart for selective positioning movement of the screen relative to the cart among various spatial orientations of the screen with respect to the radiation source so as to subtend the radiation beam opposite the patient's body from the radiation source in substantially any portal direction of the radiation beam, the means mounting the screen on the cart comprising an upstanding stanchion fixed on the cart, an arm extending laterally outwardly from the stanchion and defining a longitudinal arm axis, means for moving the arm vertically along the stanchion and rotatably with respect to the longitudinal arm axis, and a housing mounted pivotably with respect to the arm, the housing supporting the screen in an exposed disposition with an imaging surface of the screen facing interiorly within the housing; camera means mounted to the housing to face interiorly thereof and a mirror within the housing for reflecting the imaging surface of the screen to the camera means for capturing images produced by the screen; and computer means communicating with the camera means for storing and displaying the photographed images in digital form.

Claim 24

An apparatus for electronic generation of radiographic images during radiation therapy procedures wherein a radiation source may be selectively oriented to direct a radiation beam in diverse portal directions to deliver a radiation dose to a predetermined field of a patient's body to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a wheeled cart transportable to and from, and selectively positionable relative to, the radiation source; an imaging screen comprising a photostimulable composition; means mounting the screen on the cart for selective positioning movement of the screen relative to the cart among various spatial orientations of the screen with respect to the radiation source so as to subtend the radiation beam opposite the patient's body from the radiation source in substantially any portal direction of the radiation beam, the means mounting the screen on the cart comprising an upstanding stanchion fixed on the cart, an arm extending laterally outwardly from the stanchion and defining a longitudinal arm axis, means for moving the arm vertically along the stanchion and rotatably with respect to the longitudinal arm axis, and a housing mounted pivotably with respect to the arm, the housing supporting the screen in an exposed disposition with an imaging surface of the screen facing interiorly within the housing; camera means mounted to the housing to face interiorly thereof and a mirror within the housing for reflecting the imaging surface of the screen to the camera means for capturing images produced by the screen; and computer means communicating with the camera means for storing and displaying the photographed images in digital form.

Claim 26

An apparatus for electronic generation of radiographic images during medical procedures, the apparatus comprising: a rollable support structure transportable to and from, and selectively positionable relative to, a radiation source; an imaging device for detecting the radiation source and producing a corresponding electronic image; and an arm arrangement mounted on the support structure and defining a longitudinal arm axis, the arm arrangement supporting the imaging device for selective movement vertically relative to the support structure and rotatably relative to the arm axis for selective positioning movement of the imaging device among various spatial orientations thereof relative to the radiation source, and wherein the imaging device is pivotable with respect to the arm arrangement.

Claim 27

An apparatus for electronic generation of radiographic images during medical procedures, the apparatus comprising: a rollable support structure transportable to and from, and selectively positionable relative to, a radiation source; an imaging device for detecting the radiation source and producing a corresponding electronic image; and an arm arrangement mounted on the support structure and defining a longitudinal arm axis, the arm arrangement supporting the imaging device for selective movement vertically relative to the support structure and rotatably relative to the arm axis for selective positioning movement of the imaging device among various spatial orientations thereof relative to the radiation source, and wherein the imaging device is pivotable with respect to the arm arrangement.

Claim 31

An apparatus for electronic generation of radiographic images during medical procedures wherein a radiation source may be selectively oriented to direct a radiation beam in diverse portal directions to deliver a radiation dose to a predetermined field of a patient's body to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a wheeled cart transportable to and from, and selectively positionable relative to, the radiation source; an imaging screen comprising a photostimulable composition; an arm arrangement mounted on the cart and defining a longitudinal arm axis, the arm arrangement supporting the imaging screen for selective movement vertically relative to the cart and rotatably relative to the arm axle for selective positioning movement of the screen among various spatial orientations thereof with respect to the radiation source so as to subtend the radiation beam opposite the patient's body from the radiation source in substantially any portal direction of the radiation beam and wherein the imaging screen is pivotable with respect to the arm arrangement; means mounted on the cart for capturing in electronic form images produced by the screen; and processing means communicating with the image capturing means for receiving and displaying the captured images.

Claim 32

An apparatus for electronic generation of radiographic images during medical procedures wherein a radiation source may be selectively oriented to direct a radiation beam in diverse portal directions to deliver a radiation dose to a predetermined field of a patient's body to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a wheeled cart transportable to and from, and selectively positionable relative to, the radiation source; an imaging screen comprising a photostimulable composition; an arm arrangement mounted on the cart and defining a longitudinal arm axis, the arm arrangement supporting the imaging screen for selective movement vertically relative to the cart and rotatably relative to the arm axle for selective positioning movement of the screen among various spatial orientations thereof with respect to the radiation source so as to subtend the radiation beam opposite the patient's body from the radiation source in substantially any portal direction of the radiation beam and wherein the imaging screen is pivotable with respect to the arm arrangement; means mounted on the cart for capturing in electronic form images produced by the screen; and processing means communicating with the image capturing means for receiving and displaying the captured images.