Wireless Panel Association for Digital Radiography
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Solution Overview
Problem
In digital radiography systems with multiple portable receiver panels, there is a risk of incorrect panel identification leading to unnecessary patient exposure and inefficiency due to the lack of a systematic method to manage panel allocation and communication.
Innovation Solution
A method involving unique labels and on-screen icons is used to associate each digital radiology receiver panel with an x-ray imaging room, allowing operators to systematically select and communicate with the active panel, ensuring correct panel usage and reducing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple portable DR receiver panels are used to improve flexibility and portability, then the ease of operation and adaptability increase, but the risk of incorrect panel identification and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the identification task into multiple segments: physical labels on panels, corresponding icons on the console, and a data structure associating them. This segmentation allows operators to verify panel identity through multiple independent cues, reducing identification errors while maintaining flexibility with multiple portable panels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary association data structure that links panel identifiers, console icons, and imaging rooms. This intermediary layer mediates between the physical panel and the system's panel management, providing a reliable mapping that prevents incorrect panel selection even when multiple portable panels are in use
2Productivity
If multiple portable DR receiver panels are deployed across multiple imaging rooms, then the productivity and resource utilization improve, but the device complexity and difficulty of managing panel allocation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The association data structure serves multiple functions: it stores panel identifiers, links to console icons, tracks imaging room assignments, and enables operator selection. This universal data structure consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate tracking systems, reducing management complexity while supporting high resource utilization across multiple rooms and panels
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to operators through console icons that display the currently selected panel and its associated imaging room. This feedback mechanism allows operators to verify their selections and the system to track panel usage, reducing errors and simplifying management of multiple portable panels across multiple locations
3Ease of operation
If wireless communication is used for portable panels, then the ease of operation and portability improve, but the reliability of communication and risk of addressing errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-associated panel identifiers with console icons and imaging rooms before the actual imaging process. This preliminary setup creates a reliable reference framework that guides wireless communication and panel selection, reducing addressing errors even though the panels are wirelessly connected and highly portable
Data Source
AI summary
A method for obtaining an x-ray image stores an association between a digital radiology receiver panel, a label that is applied to one or more surfaces of the digital radiology receiver panel, and an x-ray imaging room. A response to an operator instruction designates the digital radiology receiver panel having the stored association as an active digital radiology receiver panel in the x-ray imaging room. Instructions are transmitted wirelessly to the active digital radiology receiver panel. Image data is obtained from the active digital radiology receiver panel following exposure to x-ray radiation.