Remote visual feedback of collimated area and snapshot of exposed patient area

1. An X-ray diagnostic imaging system, comprising:

an X-ray source for generating and controlling an X-ray beam radiated towards a patient under examination, the X-ray source comprising an X-ray tube, an X-ray collimator assembly and a camera and camera control apparatus disposed proximate the X-ray tube to image a camera field of view (FOV) that is substantially coincident with a maximum footprint or FOV of the X-ray beam, wherein both the X-ray beam and camera FOVs are shaped and/or limited by collimator assembly operation;

an X-ray imaging device arranged for receiving the X-ray beam and acquiring latent image frames of a region of interest (ROI) within the patient's anatomy;

a system controller coupled to the X-ray source and X-ray imaging device for controlling the X-ray tube, X-ray collimator assembly, camera and camera control apparatus, and X-ray imaging device positioning;

an image processing chain comprising an image processor that is coupled to the system controller, which receives acquired image frames from the X-ray imaging device for processing; and

a display device coupled to the image processing chain for displaying post-processed image frames as an X-ray diagnostic image of the ROI;

wherein the camera control apparatus retractably positions the camera into and out of a path of the X-ray beam when the X-ray tube is inactive to focus the camera to image the camera FOV at the patient wherein a feedback signal is generated in response to an image signal acquired by the camera, the feedback signal provided to system to control the collimator assembly and camera operation.

2. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the camera control apparatus includes a mirror.

3. The X-ray imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the mirror is retractably positioned by the camera control apparatus within a cross-sectional area of the X-ray beam path to focus the camera to image the camera FOV.

4. The X-ray imaging system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the mirror is operational for camera image acquisition only when the X-ray tube is not radiating.

5. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the position of the camera and the X-ray tube is synchronized when a collimator beam-limiting means defines a collimator opening that is at a maximum.

6. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the feedback signal is used for automatic synchronization of the camera and X-ray beam FOVs.

7. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the camera image is displayed with the X-ray image on the display device during normal imaging operation.

8. The X-ray imaging system as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the collimator opening and camera FOV are clearly visualized in the camera image.

9. The X-ray imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the camera is controlled to acquire current images only when the X-ray system is not actively imaging.

10. The X-ray imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein a user provides an input to generate the feedback signal in response to viewing a camera image reconstructed from the camera image signal to control the collimator assembly and camera operation.

11. The X-ray imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a conventional light that lights the FOV.

12. The X-ray imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein adjusting a size of the collimator constricts the FOV of the X-ray beam and camera substantially similarly.

13. The X-ray imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the camera is a video camera.

14. The X-ray imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the camera, focusing assembly and mirror are maintained outside a maximum cross-section area of the X-ray beam path with the X-ray tube positioned at a maximum distance from the imaging device.

15. The X-ray imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , where the camera is arranged with the X-ray tube in a closed housing that allows for imaging.

16. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the X-ray source and X-ray imaging device are disposed at opposite ends of a C-ram constructed to rotate about the patient in a substantially circular path, and wherein the X-ray imaging device comprises a digital detector.

17. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the C-ram X-ray system is limited in mobility to image a top hemisphere of a plane that is substantially coplanar with a fixed plane of the detector.

18. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the X-ray system is constructed to conduct interventional imaging, and wherein the X-ray imaging device comprises a digital detector.

19. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the X-ray system is constructed to conduct X-ray fluoroscopic imaging.

20. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the X-ray system is constructed to conduct live Roadmapping.

21. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 19 , further comprising an image contrast injector and contrast injector control mechanism coupled to the system controller and controllable via a user interface.

22. The X-ray imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the X-ray imaging device comprises an X-ray image intensifier assembly and the system controller includes image intensifier processing and control means.

23. The X-ray imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the X-ray imaging device comprises an X-ray film cartridge, and the system controller and image processing chain are constructed to conduct X-ray film imaging.

24. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a user workstation.

25. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a hard disk or other direct memory device for storing the X-ray diagnostic images and/or camera images.

26. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the X-ray diagnostic image is arranged in DICOM format.

27. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a user interface, wherein the user interface comprises without limitation one of a keyboard, a trackball device, joystick, mouse, touch pad, light pen, eye sensor.

28. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a patient-support table with table control means in electrical communication with the system controller, wherein the X-ray source is mounted above the table such that a user may control table, X-ray imaging device and patient position via a user interface to affect FOV.

29. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a patient-support table with table control means in electrical communication with the system controller, wherein the X-ray source is mounted below the table such that a user may control table, X-ray imaging device and patient position via a user interface to affect FOV.

30. The X-ray diagnostic imaging system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a console in communication with the X-ray system, which console includes a display and user interface by which a user may conduct imaging operations at a fixed distance from the system.

31. An X-ray diagnostic imaging system, comprising:

an X-ray source for generating and controlling an X-ray beam radiated towards a patient under examination, the X-ray source comprising an X-ray tube, an X-ray collimator assembly and a miniaturized CCD-based camera with lens and camera control apparatus disposed proximate the X-ray tube to image a camera field of view (FOV) that is substantially coincident with a maximum footprint or FOV of the X-ray beam when the X-ray tube is inactive, wherein both the X-ray beam and camera FOVs are shaped and/or limited by collimator assembly operation;

an X-ray imaging device arranged for receiving the X-ray beam and acquiring latent image frames of a region of interest (ROI) within the patient's anatomy when the X-ray tube is active;

a system controller coupled to the X-ray source and X-ray imaging device for controlling the X-ray tube, X-ray collimator assembly, CCD-based camera with lens and camera control apparatus, and X-ray imaging device positioning;

an image processing chain comprising an image processor that is coupled to the system controller, which receives acquired image frames from the X-ray imaging device for processing; and

a display device coupled to the image processing chain for displaying post-processed image frames as an X-ray diagnostic image of the ROI;

wherein during inactive X-ray imaging operation, the camera control apparatus retractably positions one of the CCD camera and lens into and out of an X-ray beam path in order to image the camera FOV at the patient; and

wherein a feedback signal is generated in response to processing the camera FOV image to control collimator assembly, camera and camera control apparatus operation.

32. A method for X-ray diagnostic imaging that includes using a camera and retractable mirror to image a camera field of view (FOV) that is substantially coincident and coplanar with a radiation footprint or FOV of an X-ray beam radiated towards a patient under examination, wherein both the X-ray beam and camera FOVs are shaped and/or limited by collimation, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring a camera image of the camera FOV that is equivalent to the X-ray beam FOV by retractable positioning one of the camera and retractable mirror into a path traversed by the X-ray beam to capture the camera FOV before actively X-ray imaging the patient;

displaying the camera image;

adjusting collimation and patient positioning to define the X-ray beam FOV based on the displayed camera image, before actively X-ray imaging the patient;

radiating the collimated X-ray beam towards the patient during active X-ray imaging;

acquiring and processing X-ray image information to reconstruct an X-ray image from the acquired X-ray image information; and

displaying the reconstructed X-ray image with the displayed camera image.

33. The method of X-ray imaging as set forth in claim 32 , wherein the step of radiating may be postponed or interrupted for X-ray beam readjustment or patient repositioning for desired X-ray imaging based on the camera image displayed.

34. The method for X-ray diagnostic imaging as set forth in claim 32 , wherein the camera image and X-ray image are displayed together.

35. The method for X-ray diagnostic imaging as set forth in claim 32 , wherein the step of adjusting is based on a feedback control signal automatically generated in accordance with the camera image.

36. The method for X-ray diagnostic imaging as set forth in claim 32 , wherein the step of adjusting is based on a feedback control signal generated by user input in response to viewing the camera image.

37. The method for X-ray imaging as set forth in claim 32 , wherein the steps of radiating, acquiring and processing and displaying are conducted for displaying a live X-ray image.

38. The method for X-ray imaging as set forth in claim 37 , further comprising a step of subtraction imaging processing.

39. The method for X-ray imaging as set forth in claim 38 , wherein the step of subtraction imaging is carried out during a live fluoroscopic roadmapping process.

40. The method for X-ray imaging as set forth in claim 39 , wherein the live fluoroscopic roadmapping is carried out to support an interventional procedure.

41. The method for X-ray imaging as set forth in claim 32 , wherein the step of displaying includes displaying the X-ray image at a remote location.

42. The method for X-ray imaging as set forth in claim 32 , wherein the step of acquiring and processing includes storing the live X-ray image in DICOM format.

43. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine comprising an X-ray imaging system to perform the method steps set forth in claim 32 .