Computed radiography positioning method and system

Abstract

An apparatus for obtaining an intraoral x-ray image from a patient, the apparatus has an x-ray source and a radio-frequency transceiver coupled to the x-ray source and energizable to transmit an interrogation signal, wherein the transceiver is in signal communication with four or more antennae. An intraoral image detector forms an image upon exposure to radiation received from the x-ray source. A radio-frequency transponder is coupled to the image detector and is configured to respond to the interrogation signal by transmitting a wireless response signal. A control logic processor is in communication with the transceiver and provides an output signal indicative of the spatial position of the image detector according to response signals received from the transponder at the four or more antennae. An indicator responds to the output signal by indicating the relative position of the image detector.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for obtaining an intraoral x-ray image from a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 an x-ray source;   a radio-frequency transceiver coupled to the x-ray source and energizable to transmit an interrogation signal, wherein the transceiver is in signal communication with one or more antenna;   an intraoral image detector that forms an image upon exposure to radiation received from the x-ray source;   a radio-frequency transponder that is coupled to the image detector and is configured to respond to the interrogation signal by transmitting a wireless response signal;   a control logic processor that is in communication with the transceiver and that provides an output signal indicative of the spatial position of the image detector according to response signals received from the transponder at the one or more antenna; and   an indicator that responds to the output signal by indicating the relative position of the image detector.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the intraoral image detector is one of the following: a photosensitive film imaging device, a storage phosphor imaging device, or a digital detector device. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the indicator is a display that further indicates a recommended adjustment of the relative position of the image detector. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for obtaining an intraoral x-ray image from a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 an x-ray source;   a radio-frequency transceiver coupled to the x-ray source and energizable to transmit an interrogation signal, wherein the transceiver is in signal communication with three or more antennae;   an intraoral image detector that forms an image upon exposure to radiation received from the x-ray source;   a radio-frequency transponder coupled to the image detector, the radio-frequency transponder configured to transmit wireless response signal in response to the interrogation signal from the radio-frequency transceiver;   a control logic processor in communication with the transceiver and provides an output signal which is a result of a triangulation calculation based on a strength of the wireless response signal at each of the three or more antennae, a strength of the output signal is assessable in accordance with a RSSI (received signal strength indicator) technology such that the output signal becomes indicative of the spatial position of the image detector; and   an indicator indicating the relative position of the image detector with respect to the x-ray source.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the intraoral image detector is selected from the group consisting of: a photosensitive film imaging device, a storage phosphor imaging device, and a digital detector device. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the indicator is a display that further indicates a recommended adjustment of the relative position of the image detector. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the four or more antennas are encased and disposed at equal distances from each other and from an optical axis of the x-ray source. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the indicator is coupled to the x-ray source. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the antennae are planar and they lie in planes that are oblique with respect to an optical axis of the x-ray source. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the radio frequency transponder is coupled to a center region of the image detector. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the radio-frequency transceiver is in signal communication with four antennae that receive the response signal emanated by the radio-frequency transponder and the transceiver is in signal communication with a dedicated antenna which transmits the interrogation signal to the radio-frequency transponder. 
     
     
         27 . A method for detecting the relative position of an intraoral imaging detector with respect to an x-ray source for obtaining an intraoral x-ray image from a patient, the method comprising:
 coupling a radio-frequency transceiver to the x-ray source, wherein the radio-frequency transceiver is energizable to transmit an interrogation signal;   coupling an antenna to the radio frequency transceiver;   coupling a radio-frequency transponder to the imaging detector, wherein the transponder is configured to respond to the interrogation signal from the radio-frequency transceiver by transmitting a wireless response signal;   providing an output signal based on a wireless response signal strength at the antenna, the output signal being assessable in accordance with RSSI (received signal strength indicator) technology whereby the output signal is indicative of the spatial position of the image detector; and   responding to the output signal by displaying the relative position of the image detector.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  comprising displaying the relative position of the image detector on a display screen. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein displaying the indicator comprises energizing a guide that is coupled to the x-ray source. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the intraoral image detector is one of: a photosensitive film imaging device, a storage phosphor imaging device, or a digital detector device. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for obtaining an intraoral x-ray image from a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 an x-ray source having an optical axis;   a radio-frequency transceiver coupled to the x-ray source, the radio-frequency transceiver energizable to transmit an interrogation signal;   an antenna coupled to the radio frequency transceiver and movable between a first position and a second position, the antenna being disposed within the optical axis in the first position and disposed outside of the optical axis in the second position;   an intraoral image detector that forms an image upon exposure to radiation received from the x-ray source;   a radio-frequency transponder coupled to the image detector and configured to respond to the interrogation signal by transmitting a wireless response signal;   a control logic processor in communication with the transceiver to provide an output signal indicative of the spatial position of the image detector according to response signals received from the transponder when the antenna is in the first position; and   an indicator that responds to the output signal by indicating the relative position of the image detector when the antenna is in the first position.