WO2011051799A1

WO2011051799A1 - A device for viewing radiographic images

Info

Publication number: WO2011051799A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/002790
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesco Negro
Original assignee: Francesco Negro
Priority date: 2009-10-29
Filing date: 2010-10-26
Publication date: 2011-05-05
Also published as: ITMI20091881A1

Abstract

A device (10) for viewing radiographic images stored on a data support, the device exhibiting a casing which can be applied to a wall, the casing being provided with a display (5) for viewing the radiographic images and internally comprising power supply means, a motherboard (2) for controlling, via a program installed on a hard disk (3), at least a scanner (4) for reading radiographic data on a data support, and means for processing a radiographic image displayed, the elements being configured such as to enable autonomous and independent functioning of the display device. The invention further comprises a method for visual display of radiographic images stored on a data support in an operating theatre, including use of means for displaying the radiographic images and for inserting the data support inside the visual display means.

Description

A DEVICE FOR VIEWING RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGES

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for viewing radiographic images.

Background Art

As is known in the medical and surgical fields it is often necessary to obtain images of internal tissues and organs by means of radiographic images, or X- ray sensitive images, obtained by using specific equipment.

The radiographic images are then used by doctors to diagnose various pathologies, for example for searching bone structures and the possible presence of anomalies such as fractures, deformations, or other bone pathologies. The X-ray pictures are also used, with the aid of contrast means, for visual display of specific pathologies.

Radiographic images are also used by surgeons as a means for visually displaying internal organs of patients upon whom the surgeons are about to operate.

In cases where pictures are memorized on a data support, a first problem arises due to the fact that it is not possible to take a computer into an operating theatre for obvious problems relating to sterilization.

Consequently, surgeons are forced to operate on the basis of their memory of the content of the pictures examined, or to leave the operating theatre to go to a computer station and look at the images of interest.

Further, access to a computer is usually slow and laborious, since it is a general-purpose tool, not specific for the mentioned application, and it also requires some time to start up as well as some experience on the doctor's part for its correct use.

Further, there do exist systems which enable visual display of the pictures on a data support directly in the operating theatre. However, such systems are connected to a remote computer and exhibit various drawbacks, amongst which are the high cost and poor practicality of the equipment.

Nonetheless, in such systems there is only one monitor in the operating theatre, whereas the computer and scanner of data supports are in a remote room. ln this case, if it is necessary to display the image contained on a different data support, such as a CD or DVD, or if it is necessary to leave the operating theatre in order to change the CD or DVD, it also becomes necessary to have personnel available for changing the CD or DVD.

Disclosure of Invention

The aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-cited drawbacks, allowing a fast scanning of the pictures in electronic format in the operating theatre also when the pictures are memorized on different data supports.

A further aim is to realize an radiographic image scanner which does not require an operator to have any specific knowledge of computers.

Another aim of the invention is to attain the above-cited aim in the ambit of a practical and relatively economical solution.

The aims are attained with a device for visually displaying radiographic images on a data support, characterized in that the device exhibits a casing which can be applied to a wall, in which the casing is equipped with a screen for visual display of radiographic images, and internally comprises power supply means, a motherboard for controlling, via a program installed on a hard disk, at least a scanner for reading the radiographic data on a data support, means for reading the specific electronic format of the radiographic images, and means for processing the radiographic image displayed, the elements being configured such as to enable autonomous and independent functioning of the display device.

The invention further comprises a method for visually displaying radiographic images on a data support in an operating theatre, and further includes means for inserting the data support internally of the visual display means in the operating theatre.

Further characteristics of the invention are comprised in the dependent claims. Brief description of drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description that follows, given by way of non-limiting example, and illustrated in the figures of the accompanying tables of drawings, in which: figure 1 is a schematic exploded view of the scanner of radiographic images of the invention; and

figure 2 is a block diagram representing the main operational stages of the functioning of the scanner of the invention.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

The figures illustrate a device for reading X-ray pictures, denotes in its entirety with reference number 10, in which the scanning device is an element 15 provided with a display 5 for viewing radiographic images. The device of the invention for reading X-ray pictures is preferably to be applied on a wall, for example in an operating theatre or consulting room, positioned at the best height possible for an easy display of the pictures and for interacting with the device.

The scanning device provides a power supply unit 1 for sourcing from the power supply grid, and which also supplies the voltage necessary to power the other electronic components. Alternatively, the power supply for the scanner can be a battery. The power supply unit is connected to a motherboard 2 which controls, via a suitable software, a hard disk 3 for reading radiographic data on CD or DVD. Other supports for radiographic information and their respective scanners can be provided, without forsaking the ambit of the claimed invention.

The motherboard 2 contains all the interface electronic circuitry between the various main components, amongst which is the processor processing the program.

The hard disk 3 contains all the necessary information for carrying out the program.

The device 10 also provides a scanner 4 which is an electro-mechanical device used for the reproduction of multimedia content or, more in general, for reading data stored on data supports for the purpose.

The supports can be in the form of a CD, DVD, or other types of data support. The data of the radiographic images pictures and the information associated to them are memorized in a specific format which can only be read by a specific program, which in the present case can be memorized on the hard disk 3. The device 10 also includes means for processing the radiographic image displayed, for example for enlarging the particular areas of interest thereof, or for displaying various images of a same organ from different angles.

To this end, a pointing device 7 or a hardware device can be provided, enabling the user to interact with the operative system, such as a mouse or trackball integrated with the support of the display.

A screen of the touch-screen type can be provided for elaborating the displayed image.

The scanning device 10 comprises an operative system, or a subroutine unit or data structure responsible for the control and management of the hardware components. Preferably, though not exclusively, the operative system known as Ubuntu running on GNU/Linux can be used.

The operative system is optimised and customised for performing the functions required by the invention, which enables a rapid system start-up as well as an installed capacity to read the specific format of the radiographic systems.

Following the block chart of figure 2, on switching-on 20, the image scanner 10 exhibits a completely white screen interface, with no start-up menu and icons; this means radiographic images can be displayed.

The software verifies the presence of a data support in the scanner 4, following step 21. On detection (step 22) of the presence of a support with radiographic images in digital format, the image can be brought up on the display (step 23).

Alternatively the system goes into stand-by mode (step 24).

Therefore, by simple insertion of the CD, or such other similar support, containing the image in digital format, the radiographic image will be immediately displayed on the screen.

What emerges from all of the above is how the invention attains its aim of solving technical problems.

Further, it enables a patient's private information to be safeguarded, as the scanner is not equipped for memorization of the data and in particular of the images, so that it can only be viewed by the medical personnel in the operating theatre or in the consulting room. Finally, the device of the invention is a stand-alone device which does not need external connections and only comprises those functions that are essential to the display of the pictures, therefore it is a very practical and economical device. Obviously, modifications and improvements dictated by contingencies or special cases may be applied to the invention without its forsaking the ambit of the following claims.

Claims

1 ). A device (10) for viewing radiographic images stored on a data support, characterised in that the device exhibits a casing which can be applied to a wall, the casing being provided with a display (5) for viewing the radiographic images, and internally comprises power supply means, a motherboard (2) for controlling, via a program installed on a hard disk (3), at least a scanner (4) for reading radiographic data on a data support, means for reading a specific electronic format of the radiographic images and means for processing a radiographic image displayed, the elements being configured such as to enable autonomous and independent functioning of the display device.

2). The device (10) of claim 1 , wherein the means for processing the radiographic image displayed comprise a pointing device integrated into a support of the display (5).

3). The device (10) of claim 1 , wherein the means for processing the radiographic image displayed comprise a touch-screen.

4). The device (10) of claim 1 , wherein the power supply means comprise either a power supply which can be connected to an electric power supply grid or to a battery.

5). The device (10) of claim 1 , wherein the means for reading the electronic format of the radiographic image are a program memorized on the hard disk. 6). The device (10) of claim 1 , wherein the data support is a CD or a DVD.

7). A method for viewing radiographic images stored on a data support in an operating theatre comprising use of autonomous display means of radiographic images in the operating theatre and insertion in situ of the data support internally of the display means.

8). Use of a visual display device as in claim 1 for visual display of radiographic images inside an operating theatre.