Fluoro-assist feature for a diagnostic imaging device

• Main Authors: DEUCHER; JOSEPH S, EVERETT; DENNIS K, PLUT; LEONARD F, ROOS; PIETER GERHARD, PISCITELLI; MARC, FREEMAN; KENNETH L, IVAN; ANDREW J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.02.2000
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: DIAGNOSIS; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; MEASURING; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS; MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEARDIMENSIONS; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PHYSICS; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION; SURGERY; TESTING

A frame (A) of a diagnostic imaging device such as a CT scanner or an MRI device has a bore defining a patient examination region (12). A first x-ray source (B) is mounted to a frame (C) for rotation around the examination region (12). An arc of first radiation detectors (14) detects x-rays which have traversed the examination region. A first image reconstruction processor (18) reconstructs a tomographic image representation from signals generated by the first radiation detectors. A fluoroscopy device (D) is mechanically coupled to the diagnostic scanner for generating and displaying at least substantially real-time fluoroscopic projection image representations on a display monitor (60). A second x-ray source (32) transmits x-rays to an amorphous silicon flat panel radiation detector (36). A second image reconstruction processor (58) reconstructs the fluoroscopic projection image representations from signals generated by the flat panel radiation detector (36). A C-arm (30) supports the second x-ray source (32) and the flat panel radiation detector (36) in a plane offset from a plane of the C-arm. A movable mounting structure (E) is mechanically connected with the gantry (A) and the C-arm (30) to move the C-arm between a stored position and an operating position adjacent the bore.