Ge Medical Systems Global Technology, LLC

General Electric Company

Michael M Crain

Michael John Pajerski

Douglas P Dietz

Michael John Barber

Seth R Banks

Daniel I Kerpelman

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 articulated arms provide for at least two axes of independent motion. An axis controller sends movement signals to each axis, and receives position signals from each axis to coordinate movement of the axes of the articulated arms according to a contained program. A network interface communicates with the axis controller for receiving at least a portion of the program over a network.

Automatically reconfigurable x-ray positioner

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

Two independently articulated arms, each having at least two independent axes of motion, support 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 two arms are each supported at one end by a common base wherein the common base provides at least one common axis of motion for both the first and second articulated arms. Further, an axis controller sends movement signals to the common axis and independent axes and receives position signals from the common axis and independent axes to coordinate movement of the first and second arms according to a predefined program.

X-ray positioner with side-mounted, independently articulated arms

A simplified ion chamber for determining radiation from an X-ray source with the chamber having a single emitter electrode and a collector electrode of substantially the same size. A spacer element for positioning between the emitter and the collector electrodes is composed of a molded cellular plastic sheet with open areas molded in the sheet for alignment with ion collecting areas of the collector electrode and the open areas being formed with tapered walls. The spacer element also has pathways formed by higher density areas corresponding to conductive pathways of the collector electrode.

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Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Michael M Crain