Abstract:
An apparatus for determination of the mineral content in bones and comprising an X-ray source (12) capable of releasing X-ray radiation at at least two different energy levels for radiation of a preselected target area, and a camera part including a scintillator (22) receiving the X-ray radiation which have passed through the target area and emitting visible light, a CCD-sensor (25), and optical means for focusing the radiation from the scintillator on the CCD-sensor (25). The CCD-sensor communicates with an electronic circuit adapted to read out the CCD-sensor and to transfer data signals to a computer, said data signals representing the received radiation intensity and consequently a number of images (usually two received at their respective energy level) of the part of a person which should be examined. The apparatus is adapted to limit the energy content of the X-ray radiation emitted through the person in such a manner that the skin of said person is not subjected to more than a predetermined, allowed amount of energy. In this mananer an apparatus for determination of the mineral content in bones of living persons is provided, and this apparatus is smaller and less expensive than the hitherto known apparatuses at the same time as it is easy and quick to use, whereby the examination can be performed by a specialized physician.
Abstract:
The present method and device according to the invention is by a compensation signal to guarantee that picture element within preferably faintly exposed image areas in dental x-raying will be located within a desired signal level interval, which on a video monitor (25) is corresponding to the light intensity which should have been obtained with a dental x-ray film, to thereby on the video monitor (25) facilitate improved dynamics and thus obtain maximum imaging sensitivity for gray level variations, e.g., enamel and dentine in dental x-raying. Additionally is achieved that the strong dependence of the image sensor to, e.g., ambient temperature regarding its dark current is compensated by a signal processing device (20, 23) already upon generation of raw data for the image to thus utilize maximum possible image quality and resolution prior to subsequent processing by a processor (22) by means of a non-linear digitalization (21).
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for dynamically controlling the generation of radiation pulses during pulse-type fluoroscopic imaging. Brightness of an image produced by a pulse (200) is detected (202), converted to a digital value (204) and compared to an acceptable predetermined value range (206, 208). If the brightness is not acceptable, the pulse rate is reset (212) to a predetermined, relatively fast rate and the energy level for the next pulse adjusted up or down (210) to increase or decrease the brightness as necessary. Once the brightness is found to be acceptable, the pulse rate is returned to the original pulse rate (218). If it is determined that motion is occurring (214, 216), the pulse rate will increase (212) to the relatively fast predetermined pulse rate to provide substantially real-time imaging. If the brightness becomes unacceptable (208) for a pulse during the period of motion, the energy level for the subsequent pulse will be adjusted (210). This technique of pulse control effectively reduces patient dosage and operator exposure to radiation, provides substantially real-time imaging during periods of relative motion and provides rapid image stabilization times.
Abstract:
A method is described for contrast equalization of X-ray photographs made with an apparatus for slit radiography. A controllable absorption device (8) interacts with the slit diaphragm (2) to influence the fanshaped X-ray beam (3) per sector. The absorption device (8) is controlled (10) as a function of the quantity of radiation instantaneously transmitted (11) per sector through a body (7) in a manner such that the quantity of radiation transmitted in a particular sector through the absorption device is reduced with an increasing value of the transmission of the body occuring instantaneously in said sector from a first threshold value upwards. Above the threshold value, a higher transmission value results to a predetermined extent in an essentially higher quantity of radiation transmitted through the body, at least in regions of relevance for the X-ray photograph.
Abstract:
X-ray compensation masks (51) are prepared by exposing an X-ray target object (43), such as a patient, to a first beam of X-rays. The X-ray fluence from the patient is received by an electronic image receptor (44) which provides an output signal indicating the intensity of the X-rays at all positions in the image field. The image information is converted by an image processor (47) to transformed X-ray intensity values for a plurality of pixels which cover the image field. A mask generating controller (48) determines the minimum transformed intensity value for any pixel, assigns to each pixel an attenuation number which is proportional to the difference between the transformed intensity value for the pixel and the minimum transformed intensity value, and issues control signals to a mask former (49) which deposits on a non-attenuating substrate (50) attenuating masses in a two dimensional array of pixels with the mass thickness in each pixel proportional to the attenuation number. When the mask (51) is inserted into the beam from the X-ray source (41), and a second exposure taken, the X-ray fluence passing through both the attenuating mask (51) and the patient (43) will be substantially equalized across the image field.
Abstract:
A handheld radiographic device is provided, the device may include an X- ray detector adapted to provide a digital radiographic frame of a dynamic image of an object under investigation, a position determination subsystem adapted to provide position data associated with a digital radiographic frame and an image processing controller adapted to combine multiple radiographic frames using the position data associated with each of the radiographic frames and thus to produce a static image. Moreover, a method is provided for producing a static image from multiple radiographic frames using a handheld radiographic device.
Abstract:
In the absence of pulses from a pulse generator (105) when an object (5) to be inspected is not in the imaging range (a range of irradiation by an X-ray source (1)) in an X-ray image intensifier (2), the voltage applied by the grid voltage control (110) to a first grid electrode (71) in an X-ray tube (11) is controlled with respect to a predetermined negative voltage at a negative voltage generator (112), whereas in the presence of pulses from a pulse generator (105) when an object (5) to be inspected is in the imaging range (a range of irradiation by an X-ray source (1)) in an X-ray image intensifier (2) in the absence of pulses from a pulse generator (105), the voltage applied by the grid voltage control (110) to a first grid electrode (71) in an X-ray tube (11) is controlled with respect to a positive reference voltage at a reference voltage generator (115), thereby stabilizing both cutoff voltage and grid voltage.
Abstract:
An X-ray examination apparatus comprises an exposure control circuit (20) which supplies a control signal for adjustment of the X-ray source (1). The exposure control circuit (20) determines the control signal from an area of the X-ray image in which no overexposure occurs. To this end, the exposure control circuit comprises a selection unit (23) for determining a measuring part from an electronic image signal, formed from the X-ray image by means of an X-ray detector (5, 8, 7), by comparing the signal level of the electronic image signal with an upper limit value which is dependent on the setting of the X-ray apparatus, for example of the high voltage and the anode current of the X-ray source. The upper limit value preferably amounts to the difference between the overexposure level and a safety margin. The safety margin serves to render the exposure control circuit insensitive to small fluctuations of the intensity and energy of the X-ray beam (3) generated by the X-ray source (1).
Abstract:
A computed tomography x-ray imaging system (10) acquires a three-dimensional array of x-ray attenuation values using a cone beam x-ray source (13) and a curved two-dimensional array (16) of detector elements. Two-dimensional image slices are reconstructed using a filtered backprojection method, and corrections are made to the images to account for inaccuracies in the reconstruction method and for incomplete data due to the cone beam geometry.