TOMOSYNTHESIS COLLIMATION

A radiographic imaging apparatus having a detector, a radiation source array, and a control processor is configurable to individually energize the radiation sources. A collimator having a number of apertures is movable to either a first or second position in a path of the radiation source array. In one position, the apertures are aligned with a first subset of the radiation sources. In another position, the apertures are aligned with a second subset of the radiation sources. The second subset of the radiation sources define substantially the same radiation field that is defined by the first subset of the radiation sources. A transport apparatus translates the collimator member between at least the first and second positions according to an electronic instruction. 1. A radiographic imaging apparatus comprising:a radiation detector;a radiation source array having a plurality of radiation sources;a control processor configured to sequentially and separately energize a selected two or more of the plurality of radiation sources;a collimator movable to either a first position or a second position in a path of radiation from an energized one of the plurality of radiation sources, the collimator having a plurality of apertures wherein, when the collimator is at the first position, the plurality of apertures are aligned with a first subset of the radiation sources to define a first radiation field on the radiation detector, and when the collimator is at the second position the plurality of apertures are aligned with a second subset of the radiation sources to define a second radiation field on the radiation detector, and wherein the first and second radiation fields are substantially the same; anda transport apparatus that is energizable to move the collimator between at least the first and the second positions.2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the collimator comprises a plate having a plurality of rectangular apertures therethrough.3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein ...

Tomosynthesis collimation

A radiographic imaging apparatus having a detector, a radiation source array, and a control processor is configurable to individually energize the radiation sources. A collimator having a number of apertures is movable to either a first or second position in a path of the radiation source array. In one position, the apertures are aligned with a first subset of the radiation sources. In another position, the apertures are aligned with a second subset of the radiation sources. The second subset of the radiation sources define substantially the same radiation field that is defined by the first subset of the radiation sources. A transport apparatus translates the collimator member between at least the first and second positions according to an electronic instruction.

HYBRID IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTIVE PROCEDURES

An imaging system includes an x-ray assembly having one or more x-ray sources configured to be energized at multiple positions. A control program energizes the one or more x-ray sources in a programmed sequence and controls the timing of the sequence. 1. An imaging system comprising:an x-ray assembly aimed at an imaging region of a patient, the x-ray assembly configured to be energizable to emit ionizing radiation from one or multiple different spatial positions toward the imaging region; andcontrol hardware to energize the x-ray assembly at predetermined times each at one or more of the spatial positions,wherein a first mode of operation comprises energizing the x-ray assembly one or more times from a first spatial position toward the imaging region of the patient,a second mode of operation comprises energizing the x-ray assembly multiple times each from a different one of the spatial positions, andwherein the control hardware is configured to switch an operating mode of the imaging system between the first and second modes during one medical image examination.2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a digital x-ray detector in digital communication with the imaging system claim 1 , the detector to capture and store a plurality of radiographic images of the imaging region of the patient in response to operating the imaging system in the second mode of operation claim 1 , whereby the plurality of images are used to reconstruct a tomographic image of the imaging region of the patient.3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the detector comprises one or more stored radiographic images of the imaging region of the patient captured in response to operating the imaging system in the first mode of operation claim 2 , whereby the one or more stored radiographic images of the imaging region of the patient captured in response to operating the imaging system in the first mode of operation are used together with the plurality of images captured in the second mode to ...

Method and Device for Creating a Cephalometric Image

Extra-oral dental method and/or apparatus embodiments according to this application can generate cephalometric imaged by digital tomosynthesis. An extra-oral dental imaging system embodiment for creating a cephalometric image of at least part of a human skull can include an X-ray source, an imaging device suitable for producing multiple frames during at least part of an exposure; a memory for registering and/or storing said multiple frames; and a manipulator for displacing the imaging device along an exposure profile between multiple frames during said at least part of the exposure of said object. The imaging device has an active area having a long dimension m and a short dimension n, wherein the aspect ratio m:n is strictly inferior to 1.5. 1. A method for creating a cephalometric image of at least part of a human skull in an extra-oral dental imaging system , said system comprising:an X-ray source for irradiating an object to be imaged;an imaging device suitable for producing multiple frames during at least part of an exposure of said object;a manipulator for displacing the imaging device along an exposure profile between multiple frames during said at least part of the exposure of said object, the manipulator permitting the movement of the X-ray source and the imaging device by means of a selective translation and selective rotation,characterized in that said method comprises the following steps:setting said imaging device with an active area having a long dimension m and a short dimension n, wherein the aspect ratio m:n is strictly inferior to 1.5;synchronously displacing the X-ray source and the imaging device along said exposure profile, said exposure profile comprising at least one substantially linear section wherein said X-ray source and said imaging device are translated while rotating in the same direction; andregistering said multiple frames produced by the imaging device during the exposure of said object to be imaged.2. A method according to wherein ...

Method and Device for Creating a Cephalometric Image

Extra-oral dental method and/or apparatus embodiments according to this application can generate cephalometric imaged by digital tomo synthesis. An extra-oral dental imaging system embodiment for creating a cephalometric image of at least part of a human skull can include an X-ray source, an imaging device suitable for producing multiple frames during at least part of an exposure; a memory for registering and/or storing said multiple frames; and a manipulator for displacing the imaging device along an exposure profile between multiple frames during said at least part of the exposure of said object. The imaging device has an active area having a long dimension m and a short dimension n, wherein the aspect ratio m:n is strictly inferior to 1.5. 1. A method for creating a cephalometric image of at least part of a human skull using a cone beam computed tomography extra-oral dental imaging system having a conical shape x-ray beam and no cephalometric arm , said system comprising:an X-ray source for producing the conical shape x-ray beam, said conical shape x-ray beam being used for irradiating a human skull to be imaged;an imaging device suitable for producing multiple frames during at least part of an exposure of said human skull, said imaging device being positioned in a position relative to said X-ray source absent use of a cephalometric arm;a manipulator for displacing the imaging device along an exposure profile between multiple frames during said at least part of the exposure of said object, the manipulator permitting the movement of the X-ray source and the imaging device via selective translation and selective rotation, setting said imaging device with an active area having a long dimension m and a short dimension n, wherein the aspect ratio m:n is less than 1.5;', 'synchronously displacing the X-ray source and the imaging device along said exposure profile, said exposure profile comprising at least one substantially linear section wherein said X-ray source and ...

X-RAY IMAGING SYSTEMS AND DEVICES

An x-ray imaging system, such as a mobile radiography unit, includes a plurality of stationary carbon nanotube based x-ray sources to be selectively energized. A circuit enables a selected subset of the radiation sources to be energized while another subset may be disabled. A light source may be attached to the support arm of the mobile radiography unit and a source of electric power is configured to energize the light source upon operator contact with the unit. The plurality of stationary x-ray sources may be used to capture a plurality of 2-D projection images of a subject to reconstruct a 3-D image thereof. The 3-D image is used to generate a 2-D projection image of the subject. 1. An x-ray tube head comprising:a plurality of carbon nanotube based radiation sources each capable of emitting x-rays when energized by an electric current; andan enabling circuit configured to selectively enable a first subset of the radiation sources to be switchably connected to a source of the electric current, and for selectively disabling a second subset of the radiation sources from being switchably connected to the source of electric current; anda switch circuit for switchably connecting selected ones of the enabled radiation sources in the first subset to the source of electric current.2. The tube head of claim 1 , wherein the selected ones of the enabled radiation sources include all the enabled radiation sources in the first subset.3. The tube head of claim 2 , wherein the enabling circuit is further configured to disable a selected one of the radiation sources in the first subset from being connected to the source of electric current and to enable a selected one of the radiation sources in the second subset to be switchably connected to the source of electric current.4. The tube head of claim 3 , wherein the selected one of the radiation sources in the first subset has been previously associated with the selected one of the radiation sources in the second subset and the ...

DIRECTED X-RAY FIELDS FOR TOMOSYNTHESIS

Radiographic imaging systems and/or methods embodiments capable of both tomosynthesis x-ray imaging and general projection radiography x-ray imaging can include a single x-ray source assembly including a plurality of distributed x-ray sources, where at least one of the plurality of distributed x-ray sources is configured to output a beam sufficient for standard projection radiography, and each of at least two of the plurality of distributed x-ray sources is configured to output a beam at a lower radiation dose sufficient for tomosynthesis. In one embodiment, radiographic imaging systems and/or methods embodiments can include a single x-ray source; a first collimator that is configured to be adjustable for at least two dimensions; and a second collimator that is configured to provide fixed collimation. In one embodiment, a single x-ray source can include a single radiation shield or a single vacuum chamber. 1. A radiographic imaging system capable of both tomosynthesis x-ray imaging and general projection radiography x-ray imaging , the radiographic imaging system comprising:a single x-ray source assembly comprising a plurality of distributed x-ray sources, where at least one of the plurality of distributed x-ray sources is configured to output a beam sufficient for standard projection radiography, and each of at least two of the plurality of distributed x-ray sources is configured to output a beam at a lower radiation dose sufficient for tomosynthesis;an x-ray generator; anda control unit to control each x-ray source.2. The radiographic imaging system of claim 1 , where each said x-ray source for tomosynthesis is attached to its own collimator such that the x-rays from all said sources for tomosynthesis are focused to overlap at a prescribed distance or at an x-ray detector claim 1 , where said x-ray source for general radiography is attached to a collimator that is configured to be adjustable in at least two dimensions for different radiation field size.3. The ...

Mobile tomosynthesis system and method

An x-ray source assembly is configured to move an x-ray source along an imaging trajectory while a counterweight is configured to move simultaneously with the x-ray source assembly to counterbalance the x-ray source assembly.

HYBRID IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTIVE PROCEDURES

An imaging system includes an x-ray assembly having one or more x-ray sources configured to be energized at multiple positions. A control program energizes the one or more x-ray sources in a programmed sequence and controls the timing of the sequence. 119.-. (canceled)20. A method of operating an imaging system , the method comprising:providing an x-ray assembly comprising one or more x-ray sources;energizing one of the one or more x-ray sources one or more times at one predetermined position;capturing one or more radiographic images of a subject in response to the step of energizing one of the one or more x-ray sources;determining that the one or more captured radiographic images of the subject depicts an event occurring in the subject and, in response to the step of determining, energizing the one or more x-ray sources multiple times;capturing a plurality of radiographic images of the subject in response to the step of energizing the one or more x-ray sources multiple times.21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising capturing a second plurality of radiographic images of the subject and reconstructing at least a portion of the second plurality of captured radiographic images of the subject to form a tomosynthesis image of the subject.22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising fixing a plurality of x-ray sources in a circular or elliptical arrangement within the x-ray assembly.23. (canceled)24. The method of claim 22 , further comprising providing a collimator for each of the plurality of x-ray sources claim 22 , and adjusting an aperture of each collimator.25. The method of claim 21 , further comprising detecting motion in the subject during the step of capturing the second plurality of radiographic images of the subject and claim 21 , in response thereto claim 21 , capturing a third plurality of radiographic images of the subject and forming a tomosynthesis image of the subject using the third fourth plurality of radiographic images of the subject.26. ...

DETECTOR ALIGNMENT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD

Laser sources are configured to project planar laser beams in a preselected geometric relationship. A laser detector is configured to detect, locate, and identify the planar laser beams. 1. An apparatus comprising:a first source of electromagnetic radiation configured to project a first planar beam detectable along a first dimension; anda second source of electromagnetic radiation configured to project a second planar beam detectable along a second linear dimension.2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second source of electromagnetic radiation is further configured to project a third planar beam detectable along a third linear dimension.3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second sources are configured such that the first claim 2 , second and third planar beams are detectable between about one foot and about ten feet from the apparatus.4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second sources are configured such that the first claim 2 , second and third planar beams are detectable between about one foot and about ten feet from the apparatus using a planar beam sensor assembly having an area of between about 16 square inches and about 900 square inches.5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second source is configured to project the second and third planar beams along transverse planes.6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second source is configured to project the second and third planar beams along perpendicular planes.7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second sources are configured such that the first linear dimension and the second linear dimension are detectible as parallel lines.8. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second sources are configured such that the first linear dimension and the second linear dimension are detectible as collinear.9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first and second sources are configured such that the third linear dimension is detectible as being perpendicular ...

Mobile tomosynthesis system and method

Tomosynthesis collimation

Assessment of radiographic systems and operators using task-based phantom

A method for image quality assessment of a digital radiography system extracts and isolates one or more individual targets from a phantom image, then obtains operator responses by displaying each isolated individual target and recording a corresponding operator response related to image appearance for each isolated individual target. The accumulated operator responses are stored to obtain the image quality assessment.

Directed x-ray fields for tomosynthesis

Position sensing apparatus for radiation imaging system

A radiation imaging system includes a radiation head with a radiation source and an adjustable angular orientation. A radiation image detection device has a photostimulable medium that records an image according to radiation emitted from the radiation source. An measurement sensor apparatus, preferably inertial, is coupled to the photostimulable medium to provide three- dimensional data for determining the orientation of the photostimulable medium. There is at least one indicator responsive to the orientation data from the measurement sensor apparatus for indicating an orientation adjustment of the radiation source is needed in at least one direction.

Digital image reconstruction using inverse spatial filtering

A method for processing a source digital image wherein the source digital image is comprised of a plurality of pixels. A spatial filter is applied to the source digital image to produce an enhanced digital image. An inverse spatial filter is applied to the enhanced digital image to produce an estimated digital image. A difference digital image is then produced from the estimated digital image and the source digital image, wherein the difference digital image is representative of a difference between the source digital image and the estimated digital image. The difference digital image and the enhanced digital image can be transmitted from a first device to a second device remote. At the second device, a reconstructed digital image can be generated from the difference digital image and the enhanced digital image, wherein the reconstructed digital image is substantially equivalent to the source digital image.

Method and device for creating a cephalometric image

Extra-oral dental method and/or apparatus embodiments according to this application can generate cephalometric imaged by digital tomosynthesis. An extra-oral dental imaging system embodiment for creating a cephalometric image of at least part of a human skull can include an X-ray source, an imaging device suitable for producing multiple frames during at least part of an exposure; a memory for registering and/or storing said multiple frames; and a manipulator for displacing the imaging device along an exposure profile between multiple frames during said at least part of the exposure of said object. The imaging device has an active area having a long dimension m and a short dimension n, wherein the aspect ratio m:n is strictly inferior to 1.5.

Position sensing apparatus for radiation imaging system

A radiation imaging system includes a radiation head with a radiation source and an adjustable angular orientation. A radiation image detection device has a photostimulable medium that records an image according to radiation emitted from the radiation source. An measurement sensor apparatus, preferably inertial, is coupled to the photostimulable medium to provide three- dimensional data for determining the orientation of the photostimulable medium. There is at least one indicator responsive to the orientation data from the measurement sensor apparatus for indicating an orientation adjustment of the radiation source is needed in at least one direction.

Hybrid imaging apparatus and methods for interactive procedures

An imaging system includes an x-ray assembly having one or more x-ray sources configured to be energized at multiple positions. A control program energizes the one or more x-ray sources in a programmed sequence and controls the timing of the sequence.

Method and device for creating a cephalometric image

Extra-oral dental method and/or apparatus embodiments according to this application can generate cephalometric imaged by digital tomosynthesis. An extra-oral dental imaging system embodiment for creating a cephalometric image of at least part of a human skull can include an X-ray source, an imaging device suitable for producing multiple frames during at least part of an exposure; a memory for registering and/or storing said multiple frames; and a manipulator for displacing the imaging device along an exposure profile between multiple frames during said at least part of the exposure of said object. The imaging device has an active area having a long dimension m and a short dimension n, wherein the aspect ratio m:n is strictly inferior to 1.5.

Pulminary nodule detection in a chest radiograph

A method of generating a pulmonary nodule image from a chest radiograph. The method includes the steps of: producing a map of a clear lung field; removing low frequency variation from the clear lung field to generate a level image; and performing at least one grayscale morphological operation on the level image to generate a nodule-bone image. Pulmonary nodules can be detected using the nodule-bone image by the further steps of: pulmonary nodules from a chest radiograph. The method includes the steps of: identifying candidate nodule locations in the nodule-bone image; segmenting a region around each candidate nodule location in the nodule-bone image; and using the features of the segmented region to determine if a candidate is a nodule.

Pulminary nodule detection in a chest radiograph

A method of generating a pulmonary nodule image from a chest radiograph. The method includes the steps of: producing a map of a clear lung field; removing low frequency variation from the clear lung field to generate a level image; and performing at least one grayscale morphological operation on the level image to generate a nodule-bone image. Pulmonary nodules can be detected using the nodule-bone image by the further steps of: pulmonary nodules from a chest radiograph. The method includes the steps of: identifying candidate nodule locations in the nodule-bone image; segmenting a region around each candidate nodule location in the nodule-bone image; and using the features of the segmented region to determine if a candidate is a nodule.

Advanced automatic digital radiographic hot light method and apparatus

A method for automatically modifying the rendering of an image based on an analysis of pixel values within a selected region of interest. The method includes: providing a digital input image of digital pixel values and tone scale look-up table (LUT); creating a default rendered image by applying the tone scale lookup table to the input image; displaying the default rendered image; selecting a region of interest from the input image; computing the histogram of the pixel values within the region of interest; creating a bright light image by remapping the pixel values within the region of interest based on an analysis of the histogram and the tone scale table.

Digital radiographic hot light method and apparatus

A method for automatically modifying the rendering of an image based on an analysis of pixel values within a selected region of interest. The method includes: providing a digital input image of digital pixel values and tone scale look-up table (LUT); creating a default rendered image by applying the tone scale lookup table to the input image; displaying the default rendered image; selecting a region of interest from the input image; computing the histogram of the pixel values within the region of interest; creating a bright light image by remapping the pixel values within the region of interest based on an analysis of the histogram and the tone scale table; wherein the tone scale lookup table has been adjusted by one or more of increasing or decreasing the overall contrast, and of reversing the polarity of the tone scale LUT; and overlaying the bright light image on default rendered image.