MOBILE RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING APPARATUS
A mobile radiography system includes a moveable arm having an x-ray source attached thereto which can be manually positioned by an operator. A sensor detects a location of a bed or other object relative to the radiography system and generates location information so that a programmable system can restrict lateral movement of the system or arm within a zone proximate the bed or other object.
1 . A mobile radiography system comprising:
a moveable arm having an x-ray source attached thereto, the x-ray source configured to be positioned by an operator; and
a sensor for detecting a location of a bed or other object relative to the apparatus and for generating location information corresponding to the location of the bed or other object,
wherein the system includes a mechanism responsive to the location information for controlling movement of the arm with respect to a zone proximate the bed or other object.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism prevents any portion of the arm and the x-ray source from moving into the zone.
3 . The system of any of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism forcibly slows movement of the arm if a portion of the arm is moved into the zone.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system includes at least one of a light source and a sound source that is configured to be activated by the system when the sensor detects movement of the arm or other portion of the system into the zone.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the activated sound source plays a prerecorded message.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a mechanical based sensor, an ultrasonic based sensor, a laser based sensor, an optical sensor, an NFC transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, and an electromagnetic wave based sensor.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the zone comprises a three dimensional space above the bed or other object.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the zone is a logically defined space on one side of a vertical plane, and wherein the mobile radiography system is located on a side of the vertical plane opposite the zone.
9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising an input mechanism wherein an operator selects a side of the mobile system to define a position of the vertical plane.
10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a communication transceiver positioned proximate the bed or other object, wherein communication between the transceiver and the sensor defines the zone.
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a predefined three dimensional map of an examination room stored in an electronic memory of the system.
12 . A mobile radiography system comprising:
a moveable arm having an x-ray source attached thereto, the x-ray source configured to be positioned by an operator;
an input activatable by an operator to indicate a location of a zone relative to the mobile radiography system, wherein the system is configured to store spatial location information corresponding to the zone; and
a mechanism for controlling movement of a main body of the mobile radiography system when the mobile radiography system is positioned proximate the zone, and for controlling or movement of the arm when the x-ray source is positioned proximate the zone.
13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising encoders to generate directional data indicating directional movement of the main body of the mobile radiography system and the arm in relation to the zone.
14 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising a processing system to calculate a position of the main body of the mobile radiography system and the arm in relation to the zone based on the directional data and on the spatial location information.
15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising a mechanism to prevent movement of the arm into the zone.
16 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising a mechanism to control movement of the arm in response to calculating a position of the arm within the zone.
17 . A method of operating a mobile radiography system, the method comprising:
receiving a signal indicating that the mobile radiography system is near a bed or other object;
determining a position of the system at the time of receiving the signal;
determining a logical boundary of a zone, the boundary between the system and the bed or other object; and
determining if movement of the system traverses the boundary.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising restricting movement of the system beyond the boundary in response to determining that the movement of the system traversed the boundary.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising preventing movement of the system beyond the boundary.
20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising activating a notification system in response to determining that the movement of the system traversed the boundary.