Method and system of aligning x-ray detector for data acquisition
A method and system of aligning an x-ray detector and x-ray tube for data acquisition are presented. The x-ray detector and x-ray tube are equipped with transmitters and receivers designed to provide feedback relating to the orientation, spacing, and general position thereof. In this regard, a user can effectively and efficiently position the x-ray tube and x-ray detector relative to one another for data acquisition.
1. An x-ray detector comprising:
a scintillator designed to output light in response to reception of x-rays;
a detector element array configured to detect light output from the scintillator and output electrical signals indicative of the x-rays received by the scintillator for image reconstruction;
a plurality of electronic position sensors; and
a controller configured to receive and process feedback from the plurality of electronic position sensors and to determine, from the feedback, perpendicularity of a plane of the scintillator relative to an x-ray source.
2. The x-ray detector of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to provide one of an audio and a visual acknowledgement when the scintillator is positioned at a desired position relative to the x-ray source.
3. The x-ray detector of claim 2 wherein the controller is further configured to provide one of an audio and visual acknowledgement when the plane of the scintillator is at a position substantially perpendicular to the x-ray source.
4. The x-ray detector of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to emit an electronic signal at a point of triangulation defining a line of perpendicularity extending through a center of the plane of the scintillator.
5. The x-ray detector of claim 4 wherein the controller is further configured to provide one of an audio and a visual acknowledgment when the x-ray source is deemed positioned at the point of triangulation.
6. The x-ray detector of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electronic position sensors includes one of GPS sensors, line-of-sight sensors, and sonar sensors.
7. The x-ray detector of claim 6 wherein the line-of-sight sensors include infrared sensors.
8. The x-ray detector of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electronic position sensors includes three electronic sensors.
9. The x-ray detector of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to illuminate one or more LEDs based on the perpendicularity of the plane of the scintillator relative to the x-ray source.
10. The x-ray detector of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electronic position sensors is further configured to provide feedback as to a distance of a plane defined by the plurality of electronic position sensors from the x-ray source.
11. An x-ray imaging system comprising:
an x-ray source configured to provide a beam of x-rays at a subject to be imaged;
a positionable x-ray detector configured to detect x-rays attenuated by the subject;
a plurality of sensors designed to receive feedback from at least one energy source; and
a controller configured to process the feedback and to electronically determine, from the processed feedback, if a plane of the positionable x-ray detector is substantially perpendicular to the beam of x-rays during imaging of the subject.
12. The x-ray imaging system of claim 11 wherein the positionable x-ray detector includes the plurality of sensors.
13. The x-ray imaging system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of sensors includes one of:
line-of-sight sensors;
sonar sensors; and
GPS sensors.
14. The x-ray imaging system of claim 13 wherein the line-of-sight sensors include infrared sensors.
15. The x-ray imaging system of claim 12 wherein the x-ray source includes the at least one energy source, wherein the at least one energy source is configured to emit a detectable signal toward the plurality of sensors of the positionable x-ray detector.
16. The x-ray imaging system of claim 13 wherein the controller is further configured to determine when the x-ray source is positioned at a point of reference and provide one of an audible and visual indication to a user when the x-ray source is deemed positioned at the point of reference.
17. The x-ray imaging system of claim 15 wherein the energy sources are configured to emit visible light.
18. The x-ray imaging system of claim 11 wherein the x-ray source and the positionable x-ray detector include GPS receivers designed to provide position data to the controller.
19. The x-ray imaging system of claim 11 wherein the positionable x-ray detector is a flat panel, solid state x-ray detector.
20. An x-ray detector comprising:
means for converting x-rays into electrical signals capable of being processed for reconstruction of an image; and
means for electronically determining orientation of the converting means relative to an x-ray source such that a plane of the converting means is substantially perpendicular to an x-ray beam during data acquisition.
21. An x-ray detector comprising:
a scintillator designed to output light in response to reception of x-rays;
a detector element array configured to detect light output from the scintillator and output electrical signals indicative of the x-rays received by the scintillator for image reconstruction;
a plurality of electronic position sensors; and
a controller configured to receive output from the plurality of electronic position sensors and triangulate a position of the scintillator.