Mobile X-ray imaging with detector docking within a spatially registered compartment
The present approach relates to the use of a spatially registered detector docking compartment to determine source and detector alignment in a patient imaging context. In certain implementations, sensors and/or cameras provide visual data that may be analyzed to determine a spatial relation between an X-ray source and landmarks provided on a patient support surface, where the landmarks have a known spatial relationship to a detector positioned beneath the patient support surface.
1. A method for determining an X-ray scan geometry, comprising:
positioning a portable detector within a docking compartment provided in a patient support structure;
positioning a mobile X-ray imager with respect to the patient support structure, wherein the mobile X-ray imager comprises an X-ray source in a known geometric relationship to an optical sensor;
analyzing a visual image generated by the optical sensor of one or more landmarks directly disposed on a patient-facing surface of the patient support structure;
determining a source-detector geometry based on a known spatial relationship between the one or more landmarks and the docking compartment.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the visual image enables determining the source-detector geometry.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the portable detector within the docking compartment comprises engaging with portable detector with one or more positioning features within the docking compartment.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more positioning features comprise complementary mating or engagement features.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient support structure comprises a patient bed, a gurney, or an incubator.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile X-ray imager is configured to move the X-ray source so as to acquire a sequence of images at different views during an acquisition sequence.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
acquiring the visual image using a camera provided on the mobile X-ray imager.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
controlling a collimator of the mobile X-ray imager during an image acquisition sequence based on the source-detector geometry.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
controlling operation of the X-ray source during an image acquisition sequence based on the source-detector geometry.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing the source-detector geometry to an image reconstruction algorithm; and
reconstructing an image using the image reconstruction algorithm.
11. A patient support structure, comprising:
a patient support surface configured to support a patient when in use;
a docking compartment configured to hold a portable detector, wherein the docking compartment is provided opposite the patient support surface; and
one or more landmarks directly disposed on the patient support surface, wherein the one or more landmarks have a known spatial relationship with the docking compartment.
12. The patient support structure of claim 11 , wherein the patient support structure is one of an incubator, a patient bed, or a gurney.
13. The patient support structure of claim 11 , further comprising:
one or more positioning features within the docking compartment.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more positioning features comprise complementary mating or engagement features.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more landmarks comprise one or more of crosshairs, radiopaque markers, optical patterns, or LED lights.
16. A method for acquiring X-ray images, comprising:
positioning a portable detector within a docking compartment provided in a patient support structure;
positioning a mobile X-ray imager with respect to the patient support structure, wherein the mobile X-ray imager comprises:
an X-ray source configured to move over a limited angular range during image acquisition; and
a collimator configured to control one or both of a size or shape of an emitted X-ray beam;
acquiring a visual image using an optical sensor, wherein the visual image includes the X-ray source and one or more landmarks directly disposed on a patient-facing surface of the patient support structure;
analyzing the visual image of the X-ray source and the one or more landmarks to determine a source-detector geometry based on a known spatial relationship between the one or more landmarks and the docking compartment; and
controlling operation of one or both of the X-ray source and the collimator based on the source-detector geometry during an X-ray acquisition.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein positioning the portable detector within the docking compartment comprises engaging with portable detector with one or more positioning features within the docking compartment.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more positioning features comprise complementary mating or engagement features.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the patient support structure comprises a patient bed, a gurney, or an incubator.