Method and apparatus for enhanced sensitivity filmless medical x-ray imaging, including three-dimensional imaging

Patent · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:870132

Parker, Sherwood ^[1]

---

1. Berkeley, CA

A filmless X-ray imaging system includes at least one X-ray source, upper and lower collimators, and a solid-state detector array, and can provide three-dimensional imaging capability. The X-ray source plane is distance z.sub.1 above upper collimator plane, distance z.sub.2 above the lower collimator plane, and distance z.sub.3 above the plane of the detector array. The object to be X-rayed is located between the upper and lower collimator planes. The upper and lower collimators and the detector array are moved horizontally with scanning velocities v.sub.1, v.sub.2, v.sub.3 proportional to z.sub.1, z.sub.2 and z.sub.3, respectively. The pattern and size of openings in the collimators, and between detector positions is proportional such that similar triangles are always defined relative to the location of the X-ray source. X-rays that pass through openings in the upper collimator will always pass through corresponding and similar openings in the lower collimator, and thence to a corresponding detector in the underlying detector array. Substantially 100% of the X-rays irradiating the object (and neither absorbed nor scattered) pass through the lower collimator openings and are detected, which promotes enhanced sensitivity. A computer system coordinates repositioning of the collimators and detector array, and X-ray source locations. The computer system can store detector array output, and can associate a known X-ray source location with detector array output data, to provide three-dimensional imaging. Detector output may be viewed instantly, stored digitally, and/or transmitted electronically for image viewing at a remote site.

• Research Organization: University of Hawaii
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-83ER40103
• Assignee: University of Hawaii (Honolulu, HI)
• Patent Number(s): US 5461653
• OSTI ID: 870132
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/378/
100
absorbed
apparatus
array
associate
capability
collimator
collimators
computer
coordinates
corresponding
data
defined
detected
detector
detector array
detector output
digitally
dimensional imaging
distance
electronically
enhanced
enhanced sensitivity
filmless
horizontally
image
imaging
including
instantly
irradiating
located
location
locations
medical
method
moved
neither
nor
openings
output
output data
pass
pattern
plane
planes
positions
promotes
proportional
provide
ray imaging
relative
remote
repositioning
respectively
scanning
scattered
sensitivity
similar
site
size
solid-state
solid-state detector
source
source location
store
stored
substantially
thence
three-dimensional
transmitted
triangles
underlying
upper
velocities
viewed
viewing
x-ray
x-ray imaging
x-ray source
x-rayed
x-rays
z