US3596094A

US3596094A - System and method for coding exposed x-ray films

Info

Publication number: US3596094A
Application number: US822654A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leonard Corso; Theodore F Coles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-05-07
Filing date: 1969-05-07
Publication date: 1971-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-27

Abstract

A system and method for providing identifying indicia on exposed X-ray films with there being apparatus for exposing a confined elongated portion of the film to a source of X-ray and providing within the line of sight of this source indicia opaque to X-rays. These indicia are contained on members that are laterally adjustable relative to the confined elongated portion of the film thereby facilitating changing the indicia as desired so as to give the desired identification on the developed negative. After thus exposing this confined portion of the film, the film is removed from this apparatus and this portion is masked from Xrays. The principal X-ray is then taken and thereafter the film is developed to produce a negative that bears the desired subject and the identifying indicia.

Description

United States Patent m13,s96,094

[72] Inven r! W Cflm 3.50.263 9/1964 Catlin H v 250/66 142 Cownzclt Rood; 1261647 8/ i966 Murphy et all 250/67 Theodore F- Coles. 28 North Baykss A e. 34156.! H 7/1969 Barnes et al 250/67 2 A I No wuhmamn' Primary Examiner-James W. Lawrence 52 M 7 1969 Assistant Examiner-C. E. Church [45] Patented July 27' Attorney-Eldon H. Luther 54 1 svsrr-zm AND METHOD FOR comm; EXPOSED A and pmfiding idemifying My FILMS mdlcia on exposed X-ray films with there being apparatus for 3 m m exposing a confined elongated portion of the film to a source of X-ray and provtdmg wlthln the line of sight of thls source lll U-S. .t dicia opaque to X ays These are contained on mem- 250/67 hers that are laterally adjustable relative to the confined elon- [Sl] Int. Cl. 4. .G03b ll/I6 gated portion f the fil thereby f ilit ti changing the sand! 250/67 dicia as desired so as to give the desired identification on the developed negative. After thus exposing this confined portion [56] Reta-um GM of the film, the film is removed from this apparatus and this UNITED STATES PATENTS portion is masked from X-rays. The principal X-ray is than 2,837,658 6/! 958 Limbach 250/67 taken and thereafter the film is developed to produce a nega- 2,8$8,446 l0/l958 Parish............. 250/67 tive that bears the desired subject and the identifying indicia.

PMENTEBMNIQII 3,596,094

SHEET 2 OF 5 INVENTOZ LEONAQD C R$ THEODORE F. COLES A TTORNE Y PATENTED JUL27 IBYI SHEET 3 BF 5 FIG-g uuA E FlG-G OR. THEODORE 2%255 BY LEONARD ATT'OKNEY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CODING EXPOSED X-RAY FILMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In hospitals and X-ray laboratories, there exists a problem in keeping track of exposed X-Ray negatives. It is of course necessary to identify each X-ray negative, for example with a particular patient or subject, and this is currently being done by coding the X-rays in a manner such that when the film is developed the code appears on the developed Xray. For example a patient may be given a particular number as may also the operator and the X-ray room. These numbers are then secured to the cassette or film as by taping. Then upon exposure to the X-rays these indicia, which are opaque to X-rays, will appear on the developed film. This method is rather cumbersome and not very satisfactory in that indicia may be lost or not properly placed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To provide a more satisfactory system and method for thus identifying exposed X-ray film the present invention utilizes an apparatus that is designed specifically for providing this indicia on the film and which contains its own X-ray source. The apparatus has a work top or support member upon which the cassette is placed and particularly oriented. This top has provided in it an elongated slot and the stream of X-rays from the source is directed through and generally confined to this slot. There is mounted adjacent this slot a control console which contains a plurality of elongated members which are oriented transversely to the slot with the members generally being in side-by-side relation and adjustable transversely of the slot. The members contain indicia, for example numbers, which are opaque to X-rays with these indicia being contained in a portion of the elongated members that are transparent to X-rays. By laterally adjusting each of the members the desired indicia of each of the members may be positioned beneath the slot and indexing means is provided for each member to facilitate such positioning. There may be any desired number of these members in side-by-side relation and the numbers may range from to 9. Thus by laterally adjusting these members the desired code may be positioned within the lateral confines of the slot so that upon activation of the X-ray source a confined region of the film corresponding generally to the slot will be exposed so that upon developing the desired code will appear upon the film. A control circuit is provided along with indicating lights. There is a suitable control for activation of the X- ray source which includes a time switch. The control circuit includes means for preventing activation of the X-ray source unless the cassette containing the X-ray film is properly positioned on the work top.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an exploded fragmentary view of the apparatus of the invention showing the worktop, the cabinet upon which it is supported, and the guide fences for the cassette.

FIG. 2 is an additional exploded view showing the apparatus for directing and confining the X-rays and for mounting the indicia-bearing members in the cabinet.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus of the invention.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are views of the elongated indicia-bearing members mounted in the control console.

FIG. I is a broken-away detail of the control console.

FIG. 8 is a section taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit forming a part of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a view of the code produced on an exposed X-ray film utilizing the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used throughout to designate like elements, the il lustrative and preferred embodiment of the invention includes a cabinet I0 upon the upper end of which is secured the work top l2. There is provided in this work top the elongated slot I4 as well as openings I6, 18, and 20 adjacent one end of the slot. Secured to the upper surface of work top 12 are the guide or

fence members

22 and 24. The purpose of these fence members is to properly position the cassette containing the X ray film with relation to the work top so that the slot I4 extends along the film close to one edge thereof.

There is provided an X-ray source identified generally as 26 within the cabinet 10. The X-ray stream emanating from this source is confined generally to the region of slot 14 and openings 16, I8, and 20 by means of the element 28 which, for this purpose, may be made of lead. This element is retained in position in any desired manner as by means of the members 30 positioned at the upper end thereof and members 32 at the lower end. Thus upon properly positioning the cassette on the work surface and activating the X-ray source a confined region adjacent one edge of the X-ray film will be exposed to X- rays and this region will include the slot 14 and the openings 16, l8,and 20.

Located adjacent the slot I4 is the control console designated generally 34 and which is effective to position specific indicia, such as numbers, in specific regions of the slot 14. This console includes a number of elongated indicia-bearing members 36. Each of these members has indicia provided thereon which are opaque to X-rays. For example they may contain the numbers from 0 to 9. The spacing is such that only one number may appear beneath the slot 14 and these members are mounted such that they are transverse of the slot and may be adjusted relative to the slot so that any one of the numbers thereon can appear beneath the slot. Each of the members 36 is preferably of laminated construction and the laminates are of a material that is transparent to X-rays, such as a plastic. Thus in the illustrative arrangement the lower laminate 38 (FIG. 4) is of a plastic material and has engraved in its upper surface the numbers 0 through 9 spaced longitudinally therealong as shown (FIG. 6). These engravings are filled with a material which is opaque to X-rays. This material may be in a plastic state when placed in the engravings and may harden with time. Positioned over this lower laminate and secured thereto is the upper laminate 40. This laminate is also of a plastic material transparent to X-rays but is preferably a material that one cannot see through and there is provided on the upper surface of this laminate 40 also numerals 0 through 9 corresponding to the numbers therebelow. The orientation of the numbers on the upper surface of laminate 40 may be different from that of the numbers in laminate 38 so that these outwardly visible numbers may be conveniently read by the operator. In the illustrative arrangement the outwardly visible numbers are in reverse orientation with respect to those found in laminate 38 with these latter being oriented to provide the proper disposition of the indicia on the negative.

The elongated members 36 are secured in place beneath the lower surface of the work top by means of the support member 42 which is provided with suitable elongated recesses 44 to receive and guide the elongated members as they are laterally adjusted relative to slot 14. The support member 42 is either made of an X-ray transparent material (such as plastic) or it is provided with slots 31 corresponding with the opening at the upper end of element 28 and underlying slot 14 and openings I6, 18, and 20. Each of the elongated members 36 is provided with indexing means to properly index each of its indicia centrally within the lateral confines of slot 14 and for this purpose there is provided at the far end of the member 36 the spring-pressed detent 46 which cooperates with the spaced recesses 48 in plate member 50 suitably secured beneath the work top. In the illustrative arrangement this plate is spaced from the work top by means of the spacer elements 52 and there is positioned over plate member 50 and the elongated members 36 the cover or top plate 54 with this plate having suitable slots through which extend the handles 56 secured to the members 36.

Thus by longitudinally adjusting the members 36, with there being eight such members disclosed in the preferred embodiment, any number from O to 9 may be positioned beneath the slot with respect to each of the elongated members and indexing means in the form of the detents is effective to centrally position the desired number with relation to the slot. The operator can conveniently manipulate the members 36 by means of the handles 56 and can observe what indicia is directly beneath the slot for each of the members 36 since the corresponding indicia is visible through the slot. Each of the members can be moved to an extreme position such that none of the indicia of the particular member will be within the con fines of slot 14.

In addition to having the indicia provided by members 36 appear on the film, the openings l6, l8, and 20 are provided to permit the insertion of additional indicia therein such as the identification of the X-ray room, the identification of the operator and the identification of the hospital if desired. Still further there is provided a clock mechanism to give an indication of the time that the film was coded and thus the approximate time of the X-ray. This clock mechanism includes the electric motor 58 which is effective to drive the

discs

60 and 62.

Discs

60 and 62 form a laminated structure similar to members 36 and are provided with suitable X'ray opaque indicia to form a 24-hour clock. The indicia of this clock are oriented to appear beneath opening 16.

It will be understood that it is desired to confine the Xrays as much as possible for health reasons. Accordingly there is hinged to fence member 24 a metallic cover plate 29 which will be disposed over the cassette in spaced relation thereto when the cassette is in position on the work top l2 for exposure to the X-ray source 26 to provide the desired coding on the X-ray film. This cover 29 is of a material which is substantially opaque to X-rays and is hinged to provide, if desired, easy access to the area of the slot 14.

The control of the X-ray source is through a suitable circuit illustrated in FIG. 9 with there being provided three microswitches 66 two of which are positioned in the fence member 24 and one in the fence member 22. These switches are normally open and are closed by properly positioning the cassette against the fences thus assuring proper positioning of the film with respect to slot l4 and openings l6, l8, and 20. The illustrative circuit includes the on-off switch 68 and the timeoperated switch 70 as well as the indicator lights 72 and 74. When switches 66 and 68 are closed the X-ray source may be activated by closing switch 76 which will activate the timeoperated switch 70 providing for a limited Xray exposure. The switch 70 will automatically open after a predetermined time period. During activation of the X-ray source 76 indicator light 74 will be energized while upon closing of switch 68 indicator light 72 will be energized thus providing an indication that the apparatus is ready for operation.

in accordance with the invention the cassette containing the X-ray film is properly positioned on the work top 12 and the elements of the control console adjusted to provide the desired code for the particular X-ray film. The confined re gion of the film is then exposed by activation of the X-ray source 26 so that the desired code will appear on the X-ray film upon developing the same. The cassette is then removed from the work top 12 and is then properly placed in the principal X-ray machine for X-raying the subject, for example a patient. There is placed over the confined area that has been exposed to the X-ray source a strip of lead tape or other X-ray opaque material such that this confined area will not be exposed to the X-rays of this principal X-ray machine which would result in loss of the indicia provided in accordance with the invention. With this confined area thus masked from the X-rays of the principal machine, the principal X-ray is taken after which the film is removed from the cassette and the X- ray negative produced upon which will appear the indicia or code previously mentioned.

There is shown in FIG. a blank X-ray negative to which the code has been applied in accordance with the present invention and showing the disposition of this code adjacent an edge of the negative.

It will be appreciated that with the present invention there is provided a convenient way of coding X-ray negatives which overcomes the drawbacks of systems heretofore employed which is simple to use and permits a wide variety ofidentifications to be applied to the negative. The apparatus and system of the invention is particularly convenient when a large number of X-rays are to be provided as when the skull is being X-rayed at depths that progressively vary in relatively small increments. With the invention it is an easy matter to specifically identify each X-ray with regard to the patient, operator, depth of the focus, etc.

While we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of our invention it is to be understood that such is merely illustrative and not restrictive and that variations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. We therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail ourselves of such changes as fall within the purview of our invention.

What we claim is:

l. The combination comprising a generally flat support member adapted to support an X-ray cassette and film on the working surface thereof, said support member having an elon gated slot therein, an X-ray source disposed so that the X-rays are directed through said slot and means generally confining the X-rays to the region of the slot, means supporting a plurality of elongated indicia-bearing members intermediate said working surface and said X-ray source, said members being oriented transversely of said slot and having a plurality of indicia spaced longitudinally therealong and substantially opaque to X-rays, said members being adjustable transversely of said slot and means for indexing said members in transversely adjusted positions so as to properly position the various indicia spaced along said members with relation to said slot, said members having further indicia in addition to said firstmentioned indicia with the latter indicia being positioned on the upper surface of the members and visible through said slot with such latter indicia being spaced along the elongated members and providing an indication of the first-mentioned indicia to which the film will be exposed, each of the elongated members comprising a first strip having the first-mentioned indicia engraved therein and filled with a material opaque to X-rays and a second strip overlying this engraved strip and secured thereto with this second strip having said further indicia engraved in the upper strip thereof in an orientation convenient for observation by an operator.

2. The combination comprising a generally flat support member adapted to support an X-ray cassette and film on the working surface thereof, said support member having an elongated slot therein, an X-ray source disposed so that the X-rays are directed through said slot and means generally confining the X-rays to the region of the slot, means supporting a plurality of elongated indicia-bearing members intermediate said working surface and said X-ray source, said members being oriented transversely of said slot and having a plurality of indicia spaced longitudinally therealong and substantially opaque to X-rays, said members being adjustable transversely of said slot and means for indexing said members transversely adjusted positions so as to properly position the various indicia spaced along said members with relation to said slot said members having indicia in addition to said first-mentioned indicia with thelatter indicia being positioned on the upper surface of the members and visible through said slot with such latter in dicia being spaced along the elongated members and providing an indication of the first-mentioned indicia to which the film will be exposed, and a timing device including a motordriven portion that has X-ray opaque indicia indicating the time of day said driven portion having a region exposed to said X-rays positioned intermediate said source and said working surface.

3. In an X-ray film-coding device the combination comprising a generally horizontally disposed work top having an elongated slot provided therein, a plurality of elongated indiciabearing members mounted beneath said work top transversely of said slot, an X-ray source beneath said members, support means retaining said members in position and permitting them to be adjusted transversely of the slot, said members having X- ray opaque indicia spaced longitudinally therealong at intervals not less than the width of the slot such that upon adjustment of said members laterally of the slot any one desired indicia on the member may be positioned beneath the slot, means providing an indication of the indicia that is positioned beneath the slot with respect to each elongated member, this lastnamed means comprising indicia placed within the confines of the slot on the upper surface of said elongated member for positioning beneath said slot and thereby being visible to an operator, said elongated members being of laminated construction with the indicia spaced therealong at least some of said indicia being numbers from 0 to 9 and with the lower laminate having these numbers on its upper surface and opaque to X-rays while the upper laminate which is of a visually nontransparent plastic has the same numbers positioned thereabove on its upper surface.

Claims

1. The combination comprising a generally flat support member adapted to support an X-ray cassette and film on the working surface thereof, said support member having an elongated slot therein, an X-ray source disposed so that the X-rays are directed through said slot and means generally confining the X-rays to the region of the slot, means supporting a plurality of elongated indicia-bearing members intermediate said working surface and said X-ray source, said members being oriented transversely of said slot and having a plurality of indicia spaced longitudinally therealong and substantially opaque to X-rays, said members being adjustable transversely of said slot and means for indexing said members in transversely adjusted positions so as to properly position the various indicia spaced along said members with relation to said slot, said members having further indicia in addition to said firSt-mentioned indicia with the latter indicia being positioned on the upper surface of the members and visible through said slot with such latter indicia being spaced along the elongated members and providing an indication of the firstmentioned indicia to which the film will be exposed, each of the elongated members comprising a first strip having the firstmentioned indicia engraved therein and filled with a material opaque to X-rays and a second strip overlying this engraved strip and secured thereto with this second strip having said further indicia engraved in the upper strip thereof in an orientation convenient for observation by an operator.

2. The combination comprising a generally flat support member adapted to support an X-ray cassette and film on the working surface thereof, said support member having an elongated slot therein, an X-ray source disposed so that the X-rays are directed through said slot and means generally confining the X-rays to the region of the slot, means supporting a plurality of elongated indicia-bearing members intermediate said working surface and said X-ray source, said members being oriented transversely of said slot and having a plurality of indicia spaced longitudinally therealong and substantially opaque to X-rays, said members being adjustable transversely of said slot and means for indexing said members transversely adjusted positions so as to properly position the various indicia spaced along said members with relation to said slot said members having indicia in addition to said first-mentioned indicia with the latter indicia being positioned on the upper surface of the members and visible through said slot with such latter indicia being spaced along the elongated members and providing an indication of the first-mentioned indicia to which the film will be exposed, and a timing device including a motor-driven portion that has X-ray opaque indicia indicating the time of day said driven portion having a region exposed to said X-rays positioned intermediate said source and said working surface.

3. In an X-ray film-coding device the combination comprising a generally horizontally disposed work top having an elongated slot provided therein, a plurality of elongated indicia-bearing members mounted beneath said work top transversely of said slot, an X-ray source beneath said members, support means retaining said members in position and permitting them to be adjusted transversely of the slot, said members having X-ray opaque indicia spaced longitudinally therealong at intervals not less than the width of the slot such that upon adjustment of said members laterally of the slot any one desired indicia on the member may be positioned beneath the slot, means providing an indication of the indicia that is positioned beneath the slot with respect to each elongated member, this last-named means comprising indicia placed within the confines of the slot on the upper surface of said elongated member for positioning beneath said slot and thereby being visible to an operator, said elongated members being of laminated construction with the indicia spaced therealong, at least some of said indicia being numbers from 0 to 9 and with the lower laminate having these numbers on its upper surface and opaque to X-rays while the upper laminate which is of a visually nontransparent plastic has the same numbers positioned thereabove on its upper surface.