Abstract: An apparatus and method comprising a cathode structure which can be a cylindrical filament coiled in a helix or which can be constructed of a ribbon or other suitable shape. The cathode structure can be heated by passage of an electrical current, or by other means such as bombardment with energetic electrons. Selected portions of the surface of the cathode structure have an altered property with respect to the non-selected portions of the surface. In one embodiment, the altered property is a curvature. In another embodiment, the altered property is a work function. By altering the property of the selected portions of the surface, the electron beam intensity is increased, and the width is decreased.

Abstract: A radiation apparatus includes a first radiation source configured to generate radiation suitable for therapeutic treatment, and a structure for supporting a body. The structure comprises a curved surface adapted to receive a body portion to be treated during a therapeutic treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a radiation procedure includes a radiation filter having a first portion and a second portion, the first and the second portions forming a layer for filtering radiation impinging thereon, wherein the first portion is made from a first material having a first x-ray filtering characteristic, and the second portion is made from a second material having a second x-ray filtering characteristic. An apparatus for use in a radiation procedure includes a first target material, a second target material, and an accelerator for accelerating particles towards the first target material and the second target material to generate x-rays at a first energy level and a second energy level, respectively.

Abstract: A radiation system employs magnetic field to move particle beams and radiation sources. The radiation system includes a source operable to produce a particle beam, a scanning magnet operable to scan the particle beam, and a target configured to be impinged by at least a portion of the scanned particle beam to produce radiation.

Abstract: A radiation apparatus includes a radiation source movable in translational and/or rotational degrees of freedom, and a structure adapted to support a body. The structure is provided with an opening to allow a portion of the body passing through to be exposed to at least a portion of the therapeutic radiation while in use.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer program products that generate estimates of errors caused by extraneous radiation in tomographic systems, such as cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) systems, fluoroscopic tomography systems, radiographic tomography systems, laminar tomography imaging systems, and the like. In one group of inventions, spatial errors are estimated from projection data collected where a known spatial perturbation has been introduced into radiation intensity of the source. In another group of inventions, temporal errors are estimated from a sequence of projections where a known perturbation in the radiation intensity of the source for different projections has been introduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a radiation procedure includes a radiation filter having a first portion and a second portion, the first and the second portions forming a layer for filtering radiation impinging thereon, wherein the first portion is made from a first material having a first x-ray filtering characteristic, and the second portion is made from a second material having a second x-ray filtering characteristic. An apparatus for use in a radiation procedure includes a first target material, a second target material, and an accelerator for accelerating particles towards the first target material and the second target material to generate x-rays at a first energy level and a second energy level, respectively.

Abstract: A method is described. A total number of traps to be filled in a detector of an imaging system is estimated based on a measured signal sensed by the detector. The measured signal is adjusted based on the estimated total number of traps and a current trap state of the detector. The trap state of the detector is subsequently updated.

Abstract: Devices and methods for implementing selective, or asymmetric, attenuation of an x-ray beam. In one example, a filter is provided that is substantially in the form of a wedge where some portions of the filter are thicker, and thus provide greater attenuation, than other, thinner portions of the filter. The filter is situated between the target surface of the anode and the x-ray subject so that x-rays generated by the target pass through the filter before reaching the x-ray subject. Specifically, the filter is oriented so that the thicker portion of the filter receives the higher intensity portion of the x-ray beam, while the thinner portion of the filter receives the relatively lower intensity portion of the x-ray beam. Thus, the gain profile of the x-ray beam is flattened so that the intensity, or flux, of the x-ray beam is relatively uniform throughout a substantial portion of the beam profile.

Abstract: Disclosed are imaging systems, methods, and computer program products that generate estimates of scattered radiation in tomographic imaging systems, such as cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) systems, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, a first group of projections is taken of an object with the radiation covering a wide band of the object, and a second group of projections is taken of the object with the radiation covering a narrower band of the object. The projections of the second group cover less of the object, but have less scattered radiation. The scattered radiation within the narrower band may be estimated from differences between projections from the first and second groups, or from representations thereof.

Abstract: A method is described. A total number of traps to be filled in a detector of an imaging system is estimated based on a measured signal sensed by the detector. The measured signal is adjusted based on the estimated total number of traps and a current trap state of the detector. The trap state of the detector is subsequently updated.

Abstract: Disclosed are imaging systems, methods, and computer program products that generate estimates of scattered radiation in tomographic imaging systems, such as cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) systems, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, a first group of projections is taken of an object with the radiation covering a wide band of the object, and a second group of projections is taken of the object with the radiation covering a narrower band of the object. The projections of the second group cover less of the object, but have less scattered radiation. The scattered radiation within the narrower band may be estimated from differences between projections from the first and second groups, or from representations thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method comprising a cathode structure which can be a cylindrical filament coiled in a helix or which can be constructed of a ribbon or other suitable shape. The cathode structure can be heated by passage of an electrical current, or by other means such as bombardment with energetic electrons. Selected portions of the surface of the cathode structure have an altered property with respect to the non-selected portions of the surface. In one embodiment, the altered property is a curvature. In another embodiment, the altered property is a work function. By altering the property of the selected portions of the surface, the electron beam intensity is increased, and the width is decreased.

Abstract: Data signal amplification and processing circuitry with multiple signal gains for increasing dynamic signal range. An incoming data signal is processed in accordance with multiple signal gains. The resultant signals have multiple signal values which are compared to predetermined lower and higher thresholds.

Abstract: Devices and methods for implementing selective, or asymmetric, attenuation of an x-ray beam. In one example, a filter is provided that is substantially in the form of a wedge where some portions of the filter are thicker, and thus provide greater attenuation, than other, thinner portions of the filter. The filter is situated between the target surface of the anode and the x-ray subject so that x-rays generated by the target pass through the filter before reaching the x-ray subject. Specifically, the filter is oriented so that the thicker portion of the filter receives the higher intensity portion of the x-ray beam, while the thinner portion of the filter receives the relatively lower intensity portion of the x-ray beam. Thus, the gain profile of the x-ray beam is flattened so that the intensity, or flux, of the x-ray beam is relatively uniform throughout a substantial portion of the beam profile.

Abstract: Data signal amplification and processing circuitry with multiple signal gains for increasing dynamic signal range. An incoming data signal is processed in accordance with multiple signal gains. The resultant signals have multiple signal values which are compared to predetermined lower and higher thresholds.

Abstract: Data signal amplification and processing circuitry with multiple signal gains for increasing dynamic signal range. An incoming data signal is processed in accordance with multiple signal gains. The resultant signals have multiple signal values which are compared to predetermined lower and higher thresholds.

Abstract: A method of generating images of a portion of a body includes introducing a contrast agent into the body, generating a first set of image data using radiation at a first energy level after the contrast agent is introduced into the body, generating a second set of image data using radiation at a second energy level after the contrast agent is introduced into the body, and creating a volumetric composite image using the first and the second sets of image data.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a radiation procedure includes a radiation filter having a first portion and a second portion, the first and the second portions forming a layer for filtering radiation impinging thereon, wherein the first portion is made from a first material having a first x-ray filtering characteristic, and the second portion is made from a second material having a second x-ray filtering characteristic. An apparatus for use in a radiation procedure includes a first target material, a second target material, and an accelerator for accelerating particles towards the first target material and the second target material to generate x-rays at a first energy level and a second energy level, respectively.

Abstract: Data signal amplification and processing circuitry with multiple signal gains for increasing dynamic signal range. An incoming data signal is processed in accordance with multiple signal gains. The resultant signals have multiple signal values which are compared to predetermined lower and higher thresholds.