X-ray diagnostic imaging system with a plurality of coded markers
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-7927014-B2
Publication Date
2011-04-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
Embodiments of an X-ray diagnostic imaging system comprise a plurality of coded 2D and/or 3D markers associated with surfaces of system components. The position and coding of at least some of the coded markers can be determined by a position detection system. In some embodiments, a coded marker is assigned a reference point having a known position on the surface of the system component. The positions of the system components in space can be calculated based at least in part on a reference point network determined from the position of the individual reference points measured with the position detection system. In some embodiments, the coded markers represent information with a data matrix code (DMC).
Core Innovation
An X-ray diagnostic imaging system includes a control computer and one or more system components with a plurality of markers detectable by a position detection system. Each marker is associated with a surface of a housing of a system component, and the surface comprises at least one curved portion, with multiple markers positioned on the curved portion and arranged substantially seamlessly across the curved portion to form a reference-point network on the system component housings.
Each marker comprises a 2D code representing the position of a reference point on the housing surface. The marker is pre-transformed to an orthogonal marker image that represents the marker as if viewed from a direction orthogonal to the marker, and the 2D code on the orthogonal marker image is decrypted or automatically recognized.
The decoded markers are correlated with stored codes in a look-up table accessible by the control computer, where each stored code correlates with a predetermined location on the surface of the X-ray diagnostic imaging system. The decoded markers are used to determine positions of system components in coordinate systems of the position detection system and the X-ray diagnostic imaging system, including reference-point network calculation and resulting component position calculation.
Claims Coverage
The partial document contains two independent claims, corresponding to an X-ray diagnostic imaging system and a method for determining positions of system components. Across the independent claims, the core coverage centers on curved-surface marker arrangements, pre-transformed orthogonal marker images, 2D-code decryption or recognition, correlation via a look-up table to predetermined reference-point locations, and resulting position calculation in coordinate systems.
Curved housing markers arranged substantially seamlessly
The surface of a housing comprises at least one curved portion, with multiple markers positioned on the curved portion and arranged substantially seamlessly across the curved portion.
2D code representing reference-point location on housing surface
Each marker comprises a 2D code that represents the position of a reference point on the surface of the housing.
Pre-transformation to orthogonal marker images for decoding
Each marker is pre-transformed to an orthogonal marker image that represents the marker as if viewed from a direction orthogonal to the marker, wherein the 2D code on the orthogonal marker image can be decrypted or automatically recognized.
Correlation to predetermined locations via look-up table
The decrypted or recognized 2D codes are correlated with stored codes in a look-up table accessible by the control computer, where each stored code correlates with a predetermined location on the surface of the X-ray diagnostic imaging system.
Compute component positions in X-ray diagnostic imaging system coordinate system
Positions of the one or more system components are calculated in a coordinate system of the X-ray diagnostic imaging system based at least in part on a look-up table storing positions of the reference points on the surfaces of the system components.
The independent claims cover detecting curved-surface marker networks on system component housings, converting marker images via pre-transformation to orthogonal marker images, decoding or recognizing 2D codes that represent reference-point locations, correlating the codes to predetermined reference-point positions using a look-up table in the control computer, and calculating component positions in the X-ray diagnostic imaging system coordinate system.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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