Diagnostic device with a mobile signal recording device and a stationary evaluation device

There are known x-ray diagnostic devices that have a recording unit From beam transmitter and beam receiver as well as A stationary evaluation device connected thereto Respectively. In this case, Electrical signals obtained via cable of the stationary Evaluation device. The stationary evaluation device Converts these signals into image signals which Then displayed on a monitor as an image of the object.

Such a device is known from EP-A-0 544 974. US Pat. No. 4,936,635 A1 describes a system for measuring Of objects in three dimensions. In a preferred embodiment This system is used for 3D surveying of a Mouth cavity. The system consists of a stationary Evaluation unit and a mobile detection unit, Which creates point records using triangulation and the Of the stationary evaluation unit in different ways Such as floppy disks, optical fiber optics, LAN connections (Local Area Network) or other communication systems With high bandwidth, where they evaluated and May be further processed.

The object of the invention is the further advantageous embodiment A diagnostic device That a cost-effective handling is achieved High usage comfort.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a Diagnostic device with a mobile signal recording device, Which comprises a beam receiver for generating electrical signals Signals depending on the radiation shadow of a Transmitted object, Which includes a computing and storage unit, a display and A communication device; With a stationary one having a communication device evaluation device, Wherein the communication device is configured as a bidirectional communication device And for signal transmission Between the mobile signal receiving means and the stationary ones Evaluation device.

An advantage of the invention is that, via the mobile signal recording device The electrical energy generated by the beam receiver Signals are recorded, if necessary stored and By bidirectional communication of the stationary evaluation device Or from the stationary evaluation device Can be queried.

The mobile signal pickup device can be advantageous Can be used in several rooms, so that only A mobile signal pickup device is required. The signal transmission is wireless. If several examination rooms are provided, Can also be advantageous if further stationary evaluation devices And, if desired, further mobile signal recording devices Are provided via a network With each other. The evaluation of the Mobile signal pickup devices Thus performed by one of the stationary evaluation devices will.

Further advantages and details of the invention result From the following description of an exemplary embodiment With reference to the drawings, in conjunction with the subclaims.

It shows:<sl><li>1 shows an X-ray diagnostic device according to the invention,</li><li>FIG. 2 shows a structure of a mobile signal recording device Of the X-ray diagnostic device according to FIG. 1,</li><li>FIG. 3 is a network programming interface of the X-ray diagnostic device According to FIGS</li><li>FIG. 4 shows a schematic of a recording sequence of the X-ray diagnostic device According to FIG.</li></sl>

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an X-ray diagnostic device According to the invention. This X-ray diagnostic device Has different spaces 1, 2, 3, 4, in which computers, for example, personal computers 5, 6, 7, 8, are provided as stationary evaluation devices Which are connected to one another via a data network 9 to stand. In a space 2 is a mobile signal receiving device 11 available. This mobile signal recording device 11 has a beam receiver 12, which detects the beam transmitted during transmission Of an object of investigation by radiation of a Ray transmitter 13 Signals. The mobile signal recording device 11 Is connected to the network 9 and thus via a base station 14 With the computers 5, 6, 7, 8 in a bidirectional connection. Particularly preferably, between the mobile Signal receiving means 11 and the base station 14 Bidirectional radio connection. Alternatively, an infrared connection be provided.

With reference to FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment is now shown A mobile signal recording device 11 will. This mobile signal pickup device 11, As already explained, a beam receiver 12, Whose signals are fed to an image acquisition subsystem 15 Which has an analog part 16, a radiation detection part 17, a local image memory 18, and a DMA portion 19. In the analog part 16, the signals received by the beam receiver 12 out analogue signals by means of an analog-to-digital converter Into digital signals. This digital Signals are stored in a random-access memory (RAM) , Which can be carried out particularly quickly if, for this purpose, A subsystem (DMA) is used that provides direct access To this memory. The imaging subsystem is Via a bus 20 with a local computer 21, a display 22, a network card 23 and further additional cards 24 connected.

The beam receiver 12 can in this case preferably be arranged in three Phases: <sl><li>1. Readiness (arbitrarily long), impinging radiation Is detected.</li><li>2. After rapid radiation detection, as fast as possible Switching to the integration phase, in which the Ray image from the radiation receiver 12 into a two-dimensional Charge image is converted.</li><li>3. Exchanging the charge image into the image acquisition subsystem Followed by digitization and transmission To the computer 5, 6, 7, 8.</li></sl>

For voltage supply of the mobile signal recording device 11, a replaceable rechargeable battery 25 can be provided, which is provided by A stationary charging station 26 Can The charging station 26 can be configured as a stationary table- Or wall support, which is a problem-free and fast Handling. So that the mobile signal recording device 11 Small size and cost-effective And low power consumption It is advantageous if there is no possibility for image representation Or to the patient dialogue. The user dialog Is effected via the computer (s) 5, 6, 7, 8, wherein the mobile Signal recording device 11 Status and error messages By means of an alphanumeric display or via LEDs. At the same time, an image representation using Flat screen, eg LCD, useful.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a network programming interface Between the mobile signal receiving means 11 and the computer 5, 6, 7, 8. The Mobile signal receiving means 11 comprises a first block 27, namely, image formation, image transfer, and communication Between the mobile signal pickup device and The computer 5, 6, 7, 8 Already explained, the three operating phases: <sl><li>1. Readiness,</li><li>2. Radiation detection and</li><li>3. Exchanging the signals of the beam receiver 12 via the Analog-to-digital converter and the DMA and clocking into the RAM of the mobile signal pickup device 11.</li></sl>

The image transfer, ie the transmission of the received image Ray shadows, is effected from the RAM Via a network card to the computer 5, 6, 7, 8. The communication Between the mobile signal pickup device 11 and The computer 5, 6, 7, 8 takes place via a bi-directional Sending, not only of image data, but also for control purposes, Error messages and status displays. It is a Another block 28 concerning the network API (Application Programming interface), a block 29 relating to the operating system And a block 30 relating to the network layer. Blocks corresponding to the blocks 28 to 30 Also the block switching image of the computer 5, 6, 7, 8, for example A server 10 and, in addition, a block 34 For image processing the image signals of the beam receiver 12 for patient selection and patient allocation as well as the Image archiving. For data transfer between computers 5, 6, 7, 8, and also between the computer of the mobile Signal receiving means 11 and the computers 5, 6, 7, 8 Several steps are necessary, which are carried out in so-called Layers. These layers are partial Standardized and there exist corresponding ones Software protocols. This software must be installed on the mobile Signal recording device 11 as well as on the computer 5, 6, 7, 8, in order for the information to be transmitted (Image data, status) between the blocks 27 and 34 Can be exchanged.

An example of a process for creating a X-ray image in a bidirectional communication system Is shown and referred to, for example, in FIG In particular to the communication via a radio network (Wireless LAN).

As a software structure, a distributed client-server solution has emerged Has proven to be particularly advantageous. In this way Can be any number of mobile signal pickup devices 11 over the network with an arbitrary number Stationary evaluation devices. The The task of the client is the acquisition of the raw image data and The transmission of this data to one of the computers 5, 6, 7, 8. This has the task to further process this raw data And patient-related.

Within the scope of the invention, the beam receiver 12 can not Only for the conversion of an X-ray shadow but one Device for measuring a 3-D image for dental restoration (CEREC), an intraoral color video camera for diagnosis, one A device for measuring the tooth depth, a device For measuring the tooth strength in the jaw (PERIOTEST), A device for measuring and checking the occlusion And / or a device for measuring chemical data (pH value) Of the saliva. It is self-evident that the Then a respective control and control unit is provided Detection system.

Bidirectional communication is to be ensured That the signals are reliably received by the mobile signal pickup device 11 to the computer 5, 6, 7, 8 and in a form That the correct reception of the image data Acknowledged and repeated in the event of a fault. This important safety aspect is used for radiation hygiene.