General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology, LLC

Michael John Pajerski

Michael M Crain

Jonathan C Boomgaarden

Steven James Gray

Dennis J Cotic

Manfred David Boehm

Michael John Barber

Seth R Banks

Thomas Murray Leeds

Gerald K Flakas

A ceiling mount x-ray imaging assembly is provided comprising a track assembly. A carriage assembly is mounted to the track assembly and allows linear movement of said carriage assembly. An extendable column is rotatably mounted to the carriage assembly and has a carriage mount end and a patient directional end. The carriage mount end is rotatable about a vertical axis located at a vertical rotation location positioned in proximity to the carriage mount end. An x-ray tube assembly is rotatably mounted to the extendable column adjacent a patient directional end and is rotatable about a horizontal axis located at a horizontal rotation location positioned. A communication cable assembly provides communication between the x-ray tube assembly and the carriage assembly. The vertical rotation location and the horizontal rotation location are positioned at opposing ends of the extendable column.

Ceiling mounted x-ray tube support

An x-ray positioner is provided having two independently articulated arms supporting an x-ray tube and x-ray detector, respectively, that are mounted offset to the patient and controlled to track a bolus travelling through a patient. A controller is provided with feedback information regarding the bolus to determine the rate of travel, and to produce motion signals to the arms to automatically track the movement of the bolus.

Bolus tracking x-ray positioner

Two independently articulated arms supporting an x-ray tube and x-ray detector, respectively, are mounted offset to the patient and controlled to simulate a wide variety of conventional x-ray positioners. The arms are at least partially defined by a plurality of links that are connected at joints having independent axes of motion. The number of links, and corresponding degrees of freedom for the arms may be predetermined based on the end user application for the positioner.

Scaleable x-ray positioner

Collimator apparatus is provided for an X-ray imaging system comprising an X-ray tube disposed to project an X-ray beam, and a detector spaced apart from the X-ray tube for receiving X-rays of the beam within an Active Imaging Area (AIA). The apparatus comprises a first collimator positioned along the path of the beam, the first collimator being vertically adjustable, and being operable to symmetrically collimate the beam. The apparatus further comprises a second collimating device positioned between the first collimator and the detector. The second collimating device limits the uppermost rays of the symmetrically collimated beam which reach the detector to a predetermined upper boundary. Thus, the second collimating device serves to fix the upper edge of the AIA on the detector. At the same time, the second collimating device allows the lowermost rays of the symmetrically collimated beam reaching the detector, which define the lower edge of the AIA, to have a lower boundary which is determined by selective adjustment of the first collimator.

Asymmetric collimator for chest optimized imaging

A mobile x-ray unit operates from a rechargeable battery in a number of different modes which draw current from the battery. The present invention determines the number of patient exams remaining in the mobile x-ray unit, and has the capability of monitoring battery capacity usage as well as displaying information. The current drawn from the battery is measured as the system operates, which allows for the remaining capacity of the battery to be calculated. The remaining capacity of the battery can be adjusted based on usage of the system in each particular application. The system then calculates patient exams remaining based on the adjusted calculated remaining capacity of the battery, and displays the calculated patient exams remaining.

Method and system for determining exams remaining in battery powered

A control system for providing power to independently driven wheels of a power driven cart for transporting medical diagnostic equipment. A manually engageable handle is mounted to the cart in a position allowing a person to exert a manual force on the handle in a direction in which it is desired for the cart to move. Force sensors are coupled to the handle to sense the manual force applied to it in a plane parallel to the plane on which the cart is to be moved. The force sensors provide signals representative of the magnitude and direction of the manual force applied to the handle in forward, reverse and turning directions. Electronic circuits are coupled to the force sensors for providing control signals to motors driving the wheels of the cart for independently controlling direction and velocity of movement of the cart.

Growing community of inventors

Oconomowoc, WI, United States of America

Michael John Pajerski