X-ray detection device for C-arm tracker and method

1. An assembly of a computer-assisted surgery processor system and a detection device for detecting X-rays and signaling the detection to the computer-assisted surgery processor system, comprising:

the detection device comprising:

an X-ray detector unit having an X-ray detector separate from X-ray imaging equipment and adapted to be positioned within a radiation field, the X-ray detector emitting a detection signal upon being excited by an X-ray beam of a given intensity;

a transmitter for outputting the detection signal in radio frequency; and

a receiver for receiving the detection signal in radio frequency and for forwarding the detection signal to the computer-assisted surgery processor system to signal the detection of the X-ray beam; and

the computer-assisted surgery processor system for recording a positional relation between a patient and imaging equipment as a response to the detection signal.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the detection device is adapted to detect X-rays from a C-arm, and the X-ray detector unit further comprises a memory for storing a definition file of a C-arm tracker used with the C-arm, the transmitter and the receiver wirelessly transmitting in radio frequency the definition file to the computer-assisted surgery processor system.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the detection device is adapted to detect X-rays from a C-arm, the imaging equipment is a C-arm tracker and the X-ray detector is mounted directly to the C-arm tracker.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 , the X-ray detector comprises at least one scintillator diode emitting the detection signal when excited by an X-ray, the detection signal being proportional to an intensity of the X-ray.

5. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the X-ray detector unit has a processor measuring an intensity of the detection signal, the transmitter outputting the detection signal if the measured intensity is above a threshold intensity.

6. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the X-ray detector unit has a processor measuring an intensity of the X-ray beam, the processor emitting the detection signal if the measured intensity is above a threshold intensity.

7. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitter outputs the detection signal is in synchronization with a falling edge of a radiation wave of the X-ray beam detected by the X-ray detector.

8. A method for signaling a detection of an X-ray to a computer-assisted surgery processor system, comprising:

activating an X-ray detection in a radiation field separate from an imaging equipment;

producing a detection signal upon detecting an X-ray beam of a given intensity in the radiation field; and

transmitting the detection signal to a computer-assisted surgery processor system using radio frequency; and

recording a positional relation between a patient and the imaging equipment with the computer-assisted surgery processor system as a response to receiving the transmitted detection signal.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

using the activating, the producing and the transmitting to detect X-rays from a C-arm;

storing a definition file of a C-arm tracker; and

transmitting the definition file to the computer-assisted surgery processor system using radio frequency.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein producing a detection signal comprises determining whether the intensity of the X-ray beam is above an intensity threshold, and transmitting the detection signal comprises transmitting the detection signal if the intensity of the X-ray beam is above the intensity threshold.

11. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

using the activating, the producing and the transmitting to detect X-rays from a C-arm with the imaging equipment being a C-arm tracker; and

further wherein activating an X-ray detection comprises mounting an X-ray detector to the C-arm tracker.

12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein transmitting the detection signal comprises synchronizing the transmission with a falling edge of a radiation wave of the detected X-rays.