X-ray compass for determining device orientation
Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining the orientation of a device with respect to an x-ray source are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention is coupled to a medical device in order to determine the rotational orientation of the medical device with respect to the x-ray source. In such an embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a scintillator portion which is adapted to emit photons upon the absorption of x-rays emitted from the x-ray source. An x-ray blocking portion is coupled to the scintillator portion. The x-ray blocking portion is disposed so as to vary the quantity of x-rays which penetrate the scintillator portion based upon the particular rotational orientation of the medical device with respect to the x-ray source. A photon transport mechanism is also coupled to the scintillator portion. The photon transport mechanism is adapted to pass the photons emitted from the scintillator portion to an electronics portion. By analyzing the quantity of the photons, the electronics portion determines the rotational orientation of the medical device with respect to the x-ray source. 25 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6333199
- Patent Number(s):
- 5912945
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 8-880850
- Assignee:
- Univ. of California, Oakland, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 23 Jun 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE; DESIGN; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; MEASURING METHODS; MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS; MEDICAL SUPPLIES; ORIENTATION; ROTATION; SCINTILLATION COUNTERS; X-RAY EQUIPMENT; X-RAY SOURCES; EQUIPMENT; MOTION; RADIATION DETECTORS; RADIATION SOURCES; 550600* - Medicine
Citation Formats
Da Silva, L B, Matthews, D L, Fitch, J P, Everett, M J, Colston, B W, and Stone, G F. X-ray compass for determining device orientation. United States: N. p., 1999.
Web.
Da Silva, L B, Matthews, D L, Fitch, J P, Everett, M J, Colston, B W, & Stone, G F. X-ray compass for determining device orientation. United States.
Da Silva, L B, Matthews, D L, Fitch, J P, Everett, M J, Colston, B W, and Stone, G F. Tue .
"X-ray compass for determining device orientation". United States.
@article{osti_6333199,
title = {X-ray compass for determining device orientation},
author = {Da Silva, L B and Matthews, D L and Fitch, J P and Everett, M J and Colston, B W and Stone, G F},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and method for determining the orientation of a device with respect to an x-ray source are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention is coupled to a medical device in order to determine the rotational orientation of the medical device with respect to the x-ray source. In such an embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a scintillator portion which is adapted to emit photons upon the absorption of x-rays emitted from the x-ray source. An x-ray blocking portion is coupled to the scintillator portion. The x-ray blocking portion is disposed so as to vary the quantity of x-rays which penetrate the scintillator portion based upon the particular rotational orientation of the medical device with respect to the x-ray source. A photon transport mechanism is also coupled to the scintillator portion. The photon transport mechanism is adapted to pass the photons emitted from the scintillator portion to an electronics portion. By analyzing the quantity of the photons, the electronics portion determines the rotational orientation of the medical device with respect to the x-ray source. 25 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1999},
month = {6}
}