Abstract:
A method of imaging a patient's uncompressed region of interest using X-ray cone beam computed tomography or cone beam digital tomography comprises the step of introducing an effective amount of a contrast agent to the uncompressed region of interest. A system for imaging a patient's uncompressed region of interest using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) or cone beam digital tomography (CBDT) comprises an X-ray source transmitting an X-ray to the uncompressed region of interest, an image acquisition system acquiring a plurality of two-dimensional projection images data for a CBCT or CBDT data set with at least one of the projection images acquired in 35 milliseconds or less, and a processor generating a three-dimensional computed tomography image data set resolving voxels with dimensions of 0.4 mm or less in at least two orthogonal directions.
Abstract:
A method of imaging a patient's uncompressed region of interest using X-ray cone beam computed tomography or cone beam digital tomography comprises the step of introducing an effective amount of a contrast agent to the uncompressed region of interest. A system for imaging a patient's uncompressed region of interest using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) or cone beam digital tomography (CBDT) comprises an X-ray source transmitting an X-ray to the uncompressed region of interest, an image acquisition system acquiring a plurality of two-dimensional projection images data for a CBCT or CBDT data set with at least one of the projection images acquired in 35 milliseconds or less, and a processor generating a three-dimensional computed tomography image data set resolving voxels with dimensions of 0.4 mm or less in at least two orthogonal directions.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a system 10 for irradiating a breast 20 of a patient 22. The system 10 comprises a gantry 12 rotatable about a horizontal axis 14 and comprising a radiation source 16 for generating a radiation beam 18 and a detector 24 spaced from the radiation source 16, and a barrier 26 disposed between the patient 22 and the gantry 12. The barrier 26 is provided with an opening 30 adapted to allow a breast 20 passing therethrough to be exposed to the radiation beam 18. In some embodiments, the barrier 26 is provided with an opening 30 adapted to allow both the breast 20 and the tissue leading from the breast to axilla and the muscle tissue of the adjacent chest wall passing therethrough to be exposed to the radiation beam 18.
Abstract:
Portions of the radiation source are obscured so that the radiation only passes through the specific areas of the patient related to the regions-of-interest to the doctor. Scattered radiation received by detector pixels that are obscured by direct-line of sight radiation are used to estimate the scattered radiation in the un-obscured portion, which can be used to increase the accuracy of the image taken through the un-obscured portion.
Abstract:
A method for collecting computed tomography (CT) image data includes determining a number of intervals N into which a respiratory cycle is to be divided, determining a number of respiratory cycles M to be covered in one gantry rotation, and rotating a gantry to collect at least M×N sets of CT image data of at least a portion of a patient, wherein each set of the CT image data corresponds to a phase of a respiratory cycle.
Abstract:
A photodetector for detecting megavoltage (MV) radiation comprises a semiconductor conversion layer having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, a first electrode coupled to the first surface, a second electrode coupled to the second surface, and a low density substrate including a detector array coupled to the second electrode opposite the semiconductor conversion layer. The photodetector includes a sufficient thickness of a high density material to create a sufficient number of photoelectrons from incident MV radiation, so that the photoelectrons can be received by the conversion layer and converted to a sufficient of recharge carriers for detection by the detector array.
Abstract:
A method of coating the joined crystals within a semiconductor conversion layer to reduce the dark current without compromising the sensitivity of the conversion layer is presented. A semiconductor conversion layer comprising a plurality of joined crystals and permeated by a polymer material and having microscopic voids is also presented.
Abstract:
A photodetector having a heterojunction structure is described that may operate to reduce contact corrosion and/or reduce dark current while maintaining high x-ray sensitivity. The heterojunction structure may be formed by a plurality of halide semiconductor materials.