The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 13, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 27, 1998
Donald E. Negrelli, Gates Mills, OH (US);
Picker International, Inc., Highland Heights, OH (US);
Abstract
A virtual C-arm support system,is used in a radiographic imaging apparatus of the type including an x-ray source,and an x-ray detector,. The support system includes a first positioning system,operatively connected to the x-ray source for selectively positioning the x-ray source in a range of first orientations,relative to the examination region E. A second positioning system,is operatively connected to the x-ray detector,for selectively positioning the x-ray detector in a range of second orientations,relative to the examination region E. A control unit,is in operative command of at least one of the first and second positioning systems to maintain a predetermined spatial relationship between the x-ray source and the detector for each of the ranges of the first and second orientations relative to the examination region. In a second embodiment, the control unit is in operative command of only the first positioning system, the second positioning system being manually movable. The control unit maintains a predetermined spatial relationship between the x-ray source and detector by moving the x-ray source in response to manual movement of the x-ray detector for each of the ranges of first and second orientations of the source and detector relative to the examination region.