RADIATION CONTROL AND MINIMIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD
A radiation control system and method are provided in which radiation delivered to a patient and/or the operator of the equipment is minimized. The radiation control system may be used in a large variety of applications including applications in which radiation source is used to inspect an object, such as, for example, medical imaging, diagnosis and therapy, in manufacturing operation using radiation, in airports scanning systems, in different security setups, and in nuclear reactors automation and process control. The radiation control system and method may also be used with 3D imaging.
1 . An apparatus for tracking of operator attention for medical radiation optimization, comprising:
an attention monitor device that senses, in real time, a focus of attention of an operator of a medical radiation system to generate a sensed attention monitoring signal;
a signal processor that signal processes the sensed attention monitoring signal to determine the focus of attention of the operator of the medical radiation system; and
a medical radiation system whose radiation is stopped when the focus of attention of an operator of a medical radiation system is not on a monitor of the medical radiation system.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attention monitor device is one of a head posture monitor, a gaze tracking monitor, a gaze direction monitor and a mental attention monitoring device.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attention monitor device is a set of eyewear for the operator having a transmitter and a receiver and a reflective coating on the monitor wherein a signal from the transmitter reflects off of the reflective coating on a monitor when the user attention is on the monitor and is received by the receiver.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attention monitor device is a device worn on the head of the operator having a transmitter and the monitor having a receiver wherein the transmitter and the receiver communicate with each other to determine the focus of attention of the operator.
5 . A method for tracking of operator attention for medical radiation optimization, the method comprising:
sensing, by an attention monitor device, in real time if an operator of a medical radiation system is focused on a monitor of the medical radiation system to generate a sensed attention monitoring signal;
signal processing, using a signal processor connected to the attention monitor device, the sensed attention monitoring signal to determine if the operator of the medical radiation system is focused on the monitor of the medical radiation system; and
controlling the radiation of a medical radiation system based on the focus of the operator on the monitor of the medical radiation system
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein sensing the focus of attention further comprises sensing the focus of attention using one of a head posture monitor, a gaze tracking monitor, a gaze direction monitor and a mental attention monitoring device.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein sensing the focus of attention further comprises using a set of eyewear for the operator having a transmitter and a receiver and a reflective coating on a monitor wherein a signal from the transmitter reflects off of the reflective coating on a monitor when the user attention is on the monitor and is received by the receiver.
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein sensing the focus of attention further comprises using a device worn on the head of the operator having a transmitter and a monitor having a receiver wherein the transmitter and the receiver communicate with each other to determine the focus of attention of the operator.