ROBOTICALLY ASSISTED SELF-ALIGNING PORTABLE X-RAY MACHINE

摘要

A robotically assisted self-aligning portable x-ray machine is disclosed. The machine includes an accelerometer in a digital cassette and an accelerometer in the collimator box. Both accelerators are connected to a micro control unit (MCU), which receives the inclination along at least two axes from both accelerometers. The MCU controls a first stepper motor and a second stepper motor to align the collimator box with the cassette according to an x-ray exam protocol. Inclination of the components is based on the exam protocol. Inclination data is recorded on an x-ray image exposed after alignment. The inclination data may be used by a radiologist or a physician in making a diagnosis based on the x-ray image.

主权项

1. A system for robotically self-aligning components of an x-ray machine to record inclination data and produce an accurate digital x-ray image of a patient to allow a radiologist to precisely and accurately dictate positioning of the patient via the inclination data recorded on the digital x-ray image, the system comprising:
a first accelerometer disposed in a digital cassette of an x-ray machine and configured to determine an inclination of the digital cassette on at least two axes and to transmit digital cassette inclination data associated with the determined digital cassette inclination; a second accelerometer disposed in a collimator box of the x-ray machine and configured to determine an inclination of the collimator box on at least two axes and to transmit collimator box inclination data associated with the determined collimator box inclination; a micro control unit (MCU) connected to the first accelerometer and to the second accelerometer, the MCU configured to receive the inclination data from the first accelerometer and from the second accelerometer; a first stepper motor disposed in a first joint of the x-ray machine, the first stepper motor connected to the MCU and configured to adjust the angle, along a first axis, of the collimator box relative to the digital cassette based on instructions received from the MCU; and a second stepper motor disposed in a second joint of the x-ray machine, the second stepper motor connected to the MCU and configured to adjust the angle, along a second axis, of the collimator box relative to the digital cassette based on instructions received from the MCU.