Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging arrangement 1 for obtaining imaging data of an object 7. The imaging arrangement 1 comprises a support structure 3 having an axis of rotation 9 and comprising means 10 for rotating the support structure 3; a pair of first and second radiation modules 2a, 2b fixedly arranged on the support structure 3 along a radius perpendicular to the axis of rotation 9, wherein each of the radiation modules 2a, 2b comprises a radiation source 6a, 6b simultaneously emitting radiation; a radiation detector 4 for detecting radiation as emitted from the radiation modules 2a, 2b and passed through the object 7 being imaged; and a collimator 14 arranged between, as seen in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation 9, the pair of radiation modules 2a, 2b and the radiation detector 4. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for producing an image of the heart (5), in which the image is preferably three-dimensional and is reconstructed from a series of X-ray projection pictures from various projection directions. In this connection, the electrocardiogram (7) is recorded in parallel with the X-ray pictures and used by a data processing device (10) to control the picture-taking rate, the X-ray pulse duration, the tube current and/or the tube voltage of the X-ray device (1) in such a way that, during the phase to be displayed of maximum movement of the heart, the mean X-ray exposure rate is higher than during the other phases. The data processing device (10) may furthermore use the electrocardiogram to drive an injection pump (8) for the contrast agent in such a way that an approximately constant contrast display of the vessels is produced with minimum contrast-agent injection despite a variable flowrate in the vascular system.

Abstract: Described embodiments relate to determining an objective function to be used for mapping radiation beams to a patient body volume. The objective function has a first term related to at least one target volume and a second term related to at least one non-target volume. The second term is zero only when a product of the weight of a beamlet mapped to pass through a non-target volume portion and the dose deposited by said beamlet is equal to a first predetermined average dose constraint value for the respective non-target volume portion, for all beamlets mapped to pass through the at least one non-target volume. This limit aims to reduce the occurrence of negative beam weights. In another embodiment, the objective function has a smoothing term for biasing the weight of beamlets towards a uniform distribution within the respective beam. Radiotherapy is delivered based on the objective function.

Abstract: A computerized tomography device using an X-ray reconstructs a CT image of a sample and processes the CT image. Brown adipose candidate pixels are extracted based on a CT number of each pixel reconstructing the CT image. An erroneous pixel removal process is applied to the candidate pixels. In the erroneous pixel removal process, a boundary pixel removal process, a contraction and expansion process, or the like are applied. With this process, only the brown adipose pixels are extracted. An amount of brown adipose is determined from the brown adipose pixels and an evaluation value such as a brown adipose percentage is calculated based on the amount of brown adipose and amounts of other tissues.

Abstract: A method for automatic defect recognition in testpieces by means of an X-ray examination unit having a mechanical manipulator for positioning the testpiece in a beam path of the X-ray examination unit, wherein a positioning image of the testpiece is compared with an ideal reference image. An axis of rotation, an angle of rotation and a displacement vector are calculated in order to arrive at an exact congruence of the positioning image of the testpiece with the ideal reference image. The values of the axis of rotation, angle of rotation and displacement vector are then relayed to the mechanical manipulator and the latter then transfers the testpiece into the position corresponding to these values.

Abstract: A reconstruction process for processing pixel data for tomographic volume image data uses a concise reconstruction algorithm based on an assumption that an axis of X-ray emission axis always exists on a plane orthogonal to an axis of revolution of an X-ray tube and an FPD. In time of the reconstruction process, a corrected parameter is applied to the reconstruction algorithm for correcting a mechanical displacement occurring between the axis of revolution of the X-ray tube and FPD and the axis of X-ray emission. Thus, errors due to the mechanical displacement may be avoided by a simple data processing of setting the corrected parameter to the reconstruction algorithm, without impairing lightness of a data processing load on the reconstruction algorithm.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for screening chemicals using micro x-ray fluorescence. A method for screening a mixture of potential pharmaceutical chemicals for binding to at least one target binder involves flow-separating a solution of chemicals and target binders into separated components, exposing them to an x-ray excitation beam, detecting x-ray fluorescence signals from the components, and determining from the signals whether or not a binding event between a chemical and target binder has occurred.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a sealed container is disclosed and which includes a pulsed electron accelerator which is positioned in spaced relation relative to a first side of the sealed container, and which produces a pulsed beam of photons which passes through the sealed container and any contents enclosed within the sealed container; a detector positioned in spaced relation relative to a second, opposite side of the sealed container, and which receives the pulsed beam of photons which passes through the contents of the sealed container, and which produces an output signal; and a computer for developing a visible image from the output signal of the detector which depicts the contents of the sealed container.

Abstract: A method is for taking computed tomography scans with the aid of a CT unit and to a CT unit. An X-ray tube is moved in a circle or spiral about a z-axis in combination with a detector situated opposite and an object is scanned. The X-ray tube includes a jumping focus with two or more different jumping focal positions relative to the X-ray tube. Parallel data records are formed from the detector data obtained, and tomograms are reconstructed therefrom. When forming the parallel data records, account is taken of the different position of the respectively current jumping focus in relation to the X-ray tube (=jumping focal position) in the radial direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the three-dimensional reconstruction of the flow conditions in a vascular system (3), in which, in a first phase after the beginning of a contrast-medium injection, X-ray projection pictures are produced from the same direction (A) at a high picture-taking rate in order to observe the inflow of the contrast medium. When the contrast medium fills the vascular system (3), a rotation of the Xray device (1) takes place during which projection pictures are produced at a lower picture taking rate and/or at a lower radiation dose, from which pictures the three-dimensional structure of the vascular tree can be reconstructed. Optionally, at the end of the rotation, projection pictures may again be taken from a fixed direction that observe the drainage of the contrast medium from the vascular system (3).

Abstract: An inspection system based upon an imaging enclosure characterized by an enclosing body, or skin. A source of penetrating radiation and a spatial modulator for forming the penetrating radiation into a beam, are both concealed entirely within the body of an enclosure such as a shipping container for convenient operational deployment. Multiple modules, such as for providing power and for enclosing an operator console may be coupled to the imaging enclosure. An image is formed of the contents of the object based in part on the scatter signal and the relative motion signal. A detector, which may be separate or part of the scatter detector module, may exhibit sensitivity to decay products of radioactive material.

Abstract: A radiodiagnostic apparatus includes a data collection unit, a primary correction unit, a body contour detection unit, a secondary correction unit, and a reconstruction unit. The primary correction unit calculates a plurality of primary extrapolation expression candidates for correcting second projection data so as to obtain third projection data candidates formed from the second projection data and a plurality of primary extrapolation expression candidates and for obtaining third projection data from the plurality of third projection data candidates.

Abstract: A radiographic inspection system includes an electron gun, a fixed anode of a dense material, and apparatus for steering an electron beam generated by the electron gun to multiple focal spots on the anode. A detector includes a plurality of individual detector elements. Operation of the system includes is carried out by directing the electron beam at a first time interval to a first focal spot on the anode, generating a first X-ray beam aligned with a first detector element. During a second time interval, the electron beam is directed to a second focal spot on the anode, spaced-away from the first focal spot, generating a second X-ray beam aligned with a second detector element. This cycle is repeated with additional focal spots in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional pattern. The detector element output is read in coordination with the position of the electron beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and systems for computationally efficient optimization of radiation dose delivery that involve determining an objective function to be used for mapping radiotherapy beams to a patient body volume having at least one target volume and at least one non-target volume. The objective function has a first term related to the at least one target volume and a second term related to the at least one non-target volume. The second term is zero only if the weights of beamlets mapped so as to pass through the non-target volume(s) are zero. The second term helps to avoid the occurrence of negative beam weights, thereby facilitating computationally efficient optimization using matrix inversion. An optimal set of weights of beamlets is determined using the objective function. Radiotherapy is delivered based on the determined optimal set of weights.

Abstract: In a method for correcting non-reproducible geometric errors occurring during the operation of an x-ray C-arm device, having a C-arm carrying an x-ray source, during orbital displacement of the C-arm during a scan for 3D reconstruction of a subject volume, a 2D dataset, which is not impaired by non-reproducible geometric errors during the scan, is determined. This 2D dataset is compared to known projection matrices of the x-ray C-arm device, which compensate reproducible geometric errors of the C-arm device. The result of the comparison is used to modify the projection matrices of the scan to compensate non-reproducible geometric errors that occur during the scan.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for using nanoparticle seeded short-wavelength discharge generator sources discharge sources, for use with X-ray, XUV and EUV light emissions. Applications can include EUV lithography. Additional embodiments can use the generator sources for Hollow Cathode Plasma Discharge (HCPD) lamps, and dense plasma focus (DPF) devices and other sources. Target streams of gases such as Xe and nanoparticles such as tin, copper, or lithium can be heated with laser type sources to emit nano-droplets therefrom.

Abstract: To provide an image processing device and method capable of achieving a high-speed reconstruction process to a cone-beam CT image, an area necessary for reconstruction in a projection image is determined from a slice position to be reconstructed, and a convolution process is executed by using the determined area. Moreover, the slice position to be reconstructed is divided into plural blocks, the areas of the projection image corresponding thereto are cut out, and the processing unit is set for each block as local data of each block, and the set unit is allocated with respect to each operation, whereby parallel processes are executed.

Abstract: The present invention provides internal gain charge coupled devices (CCD) and CT scanners that incorporate an internal gain CCD. A combined positron emission tomography and CT scanner is also provided.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging system is constituted of: an X-ray imaging device that includes a scintillator, which converts an X-ray image to an optical image, and an imaging element, which acquires an X-ray observed image by detecting the optical image generated by the scintillator; a first subtracter that performs a subtraction process between a first X-ray observed image, which contains a first noise image component, and a second X-ray observed image, which contains a second noise image component, to generate a noise image; a threshold value processing circuit that performs a threshold value process on the noise image to extract the first noise image component; and a second subtracter that subtracts the extracted first noise image component, from the first X-ray observed image to generate a noise- removed image.

Abstract: A radiation generator comprising a radiation source, a high voltage tank assembly to energize the radiation source and a power circuit configured to supply alternating current (AC) power to the high voltage tank assembly is provided. The high voltage tank assembly comprises a voltage multiplier assembly configured to include a printed circuit board comprising multiple slots, plurality of electrical components configured to be mounted on the printed circuit board and at least one insulating cover with multiple projections configured to be placed on one of the first surface and the second surface of the printed circuit board. Further, the projections of the insulating cover are configured to fit into the slots of the printed circuit board. The projections when fitted into the slots provide insulation barrier to the electrical components mounted on the printed circuit board.