Abstract: Embodiments relate to an X-ray interferometer for imaging an object comprising: a phase grating for effecting in correspondence with the phase grating geometry a phase shift to at least a part of X-ray incident onto the phase grating; and an absorption grating for effecting in correspondence with the absorption grating geometry absorption to at least a part of X-ray incident onto the absorption grating. The grating period of the phase grating, and the grating period of the absorption grating may be dimensioned such that a detector for X-rays can be placed at a relatively large distance away from the absorption grating such the phase contrast sensitivity of the image of the object detected by the detector remains substantially unaffected.

Abstract: A sensor panel of an electric cassette is provided with detection pixels for AEC to stop X-ray irradiation when an accumulated dose of the X-rays reaches a target dose. A plurality of small blocks each containing a plurality of the detection pixels for calculating the accumulated dose are disposed in each of a plurality of large blocks obtained by dividing an imaging area. The small blocks are disposed so as not to be overlapped with each other in a Y direction.

Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) system having a cooling system includes: a gantry unit, including a rotor and an assembly component; an intake provided on a first surface of the rotor; and an outtake provided on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the rotor; wherein the gantry unit is cooled by air moving through the intake and the outtake due to a rotation force or a centrifugal force generated by a rotation movement of the rotor.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging system including an X-ray source, a motorless real-time controllable 3D X-ray collimator, a digital X-ray detector, and a system controller coupled to the X-ray radiation source, the motorless real-time controllable 3D X-ray collimator, and the digital X-ray detector for controlling the motorless real-time 3D X-ray collimator to reduce X-ray radiation dose and improve image quality. The motorless real-time controllable 3D X-ray collimator includes a top panel, a bottom panel, at least one sidewall joining the top panel to the bottom panel, an open area between the top panel, bottom panel, and at least one 2D pixel array coupled to at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel, the at least one 2D pixel array having a plurality of pixels of thin film electric coils and switching thin film field-effect transistors, wherein the open area is at least partially filled with a mixture of ferromagnetic material and high X-ray attenuation material.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging system including an X-ray source, an X-ray collimator, a real-time controllable 3D X-ray attenuator, a digital X-ray detector, and a system controller coupled to the X-ray radiation source, the collimator, the real-time controllable 3D X-ray attenuator, and the digital X-ray detector for controlling the real-time controllable 3D X-ray attenuator to reduce X-ray radiation dose and improve image quality. The real-time controllable 3D X-ray attenuator includes a top panel, a bottom panel, at least one sidewall joining the top panel to the bottom panel, an open area between the top panel, bottom panel, and at least one 2D pixel array coupled to at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel, the at least one 2D pixel array having a plurality of pixels of thin film electric coils and switching thin film field-effect transistors, wherein the open area is at least partially filled with a mixture of ferromagnetic material and medium X-ray attenuation material.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining a phase-contrast digital imaging system and methods for same that can include an x-ray source for radiographic imaging; a beam shaping assembly, an x-ray grating interferometer including a phase grating and an analyzer grating; and an x-ray detector; where the source grating, the phase grating, and the analyzer grating are detuned and a plurality of uncorrelated reference images are obtained for use in imaging processing with the detuned system.

Abstract: Cooling systems of a CT system and methods of cooling the CT system are disclosed. The CT system includes a gantry and a table that moves an object into a bore of the gantry, wherein the gantry includes a cover having a front surface in which at least an inlet slot is formed and a rear surface in which exhaust holes are formed along with exhaust fans in the rear surface of the cover of the gantry. Fans for the in-take and exhaustion of air are not required to be formed on the front surface of the cover of the gantry. A hole through which external air is taken in through the inlet slot is moved in a rotor of the gantry.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of an X-ray imaging system, a column, including a first sub column, a second sub column, a third sub column, a first connector, and a second connector, supports an X-ray tube. The first connector connects the second sub column to the first sub column and includes a first rotation axis parallel to a short axis of a tabletop. The second connector connects the third sub column to the second sub column and includes a second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis and a central axis of the second sub column. The third sub column supports the X-ray tube.

Abstract: A method includes a obtaining an image of a center of a pelvis of a patient captured by an imaging device and analyzing the image of the pelvis center to determine whether or not the pelvis center is aligned with the imaging device using a computing device. When the pelvis center is not aligned with the imaging device, the method includes determining one or more alignment instructions for aligning the pelvis center with the imaging device by the computing device and transmitting the analyzed image of the pelvis center and the one or more pelvis alignment instructions to a user device in communication with the computing device. The user device executes a graphical user interface for displaying the analyzed image and one or more pelvis alignment instructions.

Abstract: There is provided a radiographic imaging device including: a radiographic imaging device main body; and a protective cover that is removably applied to a surface of the radiographic imaging device main body, wherein a thickness of the radiographic imaging device main body, with the protective cover applied, is less than or equal to 16 mm.

Abstract: The presently described method is directed to determining a way of positioning a patient before execution of a medical procedure involving irradiating the patient with ionizing treatment radiation based on comparing medical images of the patient with a pre-acquired medical image. The planning computed tomography is searched for an image of the reference structure in order to determine the position of the patient relative to a patient support device. A retroreflective marker device, having a known and advantageously fixed position relative to the base plate, is detected by a navigation system operatively coupled to a motor of the support device. Based on the detected position of the marker device, the motor of the support device is activated to drive the patient into a desired position relative to beam direction along which the treatment radiation is to be issued towards the patient to execute the medical procedure.

Abstract: A method of aligning the radiation beam in a radiotherapy system comprising a source for producing a beam of radiation and an imaging device for imaging from the beam, both mounted to be rotatable about an axis, a fiducial phantom between the source and imaging device, the method comprising: rotating the beam and imaging device in a trajectory about the axis while obtaining images of the fiducial phantom from a plurality of different angles, at least one image including a feature of the imaging apparatus, adjusting the trajectory of the source relative to that feature to position the isocenter substantially in the center of the volume, determining from each image of the fiducial phantom the position of the source at the rotational position the image was obtained, and calculating the center of rotation of the positions of the source to define the isocenter of the system.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for controlling collimation operation of a collimator in an x-ray imager during an intervention carried out by an operator. A first medical device is made to progress through a patient in an exploratory phase of the intervention. A path is recorded in a scout image formed from footprints of the first device as recorded in a sequence of projection images acquired by imager during the exploratory phase. Apparatus uses the path in the scout image to control collimation of the x-ray beam during a subsequent delivery phase where a second medical is made to progress through patient, said second device following the first device substantially along the same path.

Abstract: An X-ray apparatus and system are capable of preventing possible generation of after-images and ghost images due to partial imaging of an object by determining an order of imaging operations with respect to a plurality of partial X-ray imaging regions based on size information about portions of the object respectively represented on the plurality of partial X-ray imaging regions.

Abstract: An FPD detects an X-ray image of an object. The FPD includes a plurality of pixels arranged in its image capturing field. Each pixel receives X-rays emitted from an X-ray source, and outputs a pixel value in accordance with an X-ray dose applied thereto. A pixel determiner determines a minimum-value pixel out of the pixels based on the pixel values of the pixels. The minimum-value pixel is a pixel whose pixel value is the lowest. The pixel determiner sets the minimum-value pixel as an exposure control pixel. A comparator compares a first integrated value, which is an integrated value of the pixel values of the minimum-value pixel, with a predetermined first threshold value. The comparator performs X-ray emission control such that, when the first integrated value has reached the first threshold value, the X-ray source stops emitting the X-rays.

Abstract: In an X-ray imaging apparatus, a detection panel has monitor pixels for monitoring X-rays. A signal processor samples a dose signal of a dose per unit time of X-rays according to an output of the monitor pixels. A start detector checks whether irradiation of X-rays is started according to a result of comparison between the dose signal and a start threshold. An AEC device acquires cumulative dose from a start time of the start of irradiation of X-rays until acquisition time after a predetermined time according to the dose signal. According to the cumulative dose, a predicted time point of a reach of the cumulative dose to a target dose is estimated. A stop signal is transmitted to a radiation source controller at the predicted time point, to stop the irradiation of X-rays.

Abstract: A gantry assembly for use with an imaging system is provided. The gantry assembly includes an x-ray source and a modular detector assembly that includes a plurality of selectively removable detector modules. A first detector module of the plurality of detector modules is mounted at a first distance from the x-ray source and a second detector module of the plurality of detector modules is mounted at a second distance from the x-ray source. The first distance is different from the second distance. The gantry assembly is configured to image objects using both a first field of view and a second field of view that is larger than the first field of view.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting incident X-ray radiation by way of a direct-converting X-ray radiation detector. A semi-conductor material used for detection purposes is irradiated with additional radiation with an energy level of at least 1.6 eV in order to produce additional charge carriers. A direct-converting X-ray radiation detector is disclosed for detecting X-ray radiation, at least including a semi-conductor material used for X-ray detection and at least one radiation source which irradiates the semi-conductor material with additional radiation, the radiation having an energy level of at least 1.6 eV. A CT system including an X-ray radiation detector is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes an X-ray tube, collimators including through holes respectively collimating an X-ray and diffraction bodies provided in the holes respectively, diffracting the X-ray at an angle to an X-ray energy, X-ray detection elements provided at predetermined distances from the bodies, counting circuitry counting the number of photons originating from the X-ray, storage circuitry storing statistical information, corresponding to energy bins in the X-ray, concerning a count distribution of count values with positions of the elements, classification circuitry classifying the numbers of counted photons for the bins by using the information, reconstruction circuitry reconstructing a medical image to the bins based on the number of photons classified for the bins.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide corrections for fluctuations in dose or energy of radiation sources including x-ray radiation sources. The corrections can be applied to improve the quality of transmission radiography data or other radiation imagery or to facilitate feedback control of a radiation source to improve stability.