Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a medical imaging system C-arm. In one embodiment, an imaging system comprises a C-arm including an inner circumferential wall forming a first pair of grooved flanges and the outer circumferential wall forming a second pair of grooved flanges, where each of the first pair of grooved flanges and second pair of grooved flanges comprises a composite material. A C-shaped portion of the C-arm may be configured to rotate isocentrically around a rotational axis.

Abstract: A control circuit accesses topograms of a patient that include patient content that is beyond the portion of the patient that appears in the three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) images for that patient. The control circuit uses those topograms to derive a virtual volumetric structure representing at least some of the patient content that is beyond the aforementioned portion of the patient that appears in the 3D CT images. That virtual volumetric structure can then be used to predict potential collisions when assessing a radiation treatment plan for the patient that utilizes the aforementioned radiation treatment platform. By one approach the topograms include at least two substantially orthographic views of the aforementioned patient content.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for reconstructing incomplete data of X-ray absorption contrast computed tomography (CT) based on deep learning (DL). The method includes the following steps: using a filtered back projection (FBP) algorithm to obtain an initial reconstructed image; forward projecting the initial reconstructed image to obtain artifact-contaminated complete projection sequences; using a DL technique to process the artifact-contaminated projection sequences to obtain artifact-free projection sequences; using the FBP algorithm to reconstruct the artifact-free projection sequences to obtain a final reconstructed image. Compared with the traditional incomplete data reconstruction methods, the examples of the present invention feature a simpler calculation process, fewer parameters to be manually set, a faster calculation speed and higher image quality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for inspecting battery cells for automation of total inspection. To this end, the present invention is configured such that test objects are sequentially stacked on a test object casing provided on an upper portion of a mounting stage of a main stage, images of the test objects are obtained by radiography after the test object casing is moved to a test object inspection unit, and the test objects stacked on the test object casing are unloaded to the outside after the images are obtained. Accordingly, the present invention enables total inspection to be performed on battery cells, which are the test objects, in order to quickly divide good and defective products, and solves a delay of a flow rate caused by X-ray inspection of the test object inspection unit in order to improve productivity and efficiency.

Abstract: Sterile barriers or sterile drapes that can be used with medical devices, including hand-held or self-supported X-ray equipment, are described in this application. In particular, this application describes sterile drapes that can be used with a medical device, the drape comprising a closed end portion, a middle portion with a size sufficient to enclose a part of the medical device being used near a patient, and an open end portion, the end portion configured to be closed by a user once the middle portion encloses the part of the medical device being used near a patient, wherein the sterile drape creates a sterile barrier around substantially the entire medical device once the open end is closed. Using the sterile drape allows the medical device, such as a hand-held or self-supported X-ray device, to be used in a medical procedure that requires a sterile field near the patient without disrupting that sterile field. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: The X-ray tube disclosed herein includes an electron emission part including an electron emission element using a cold cathode; an anode part having an anode surface with which an electron emitted from the electron emission part collides; and a focusing structure disposed between the electron emission part and a target part disposed on the anode surface. The focusing structure has a plurality of focal point areas that are applied with a voltage in a mutually independent manner. The electron emission part has first and second electron beam emission areas that are on/off controlled in a mutually independent manner. The X-ray tube is designed in such a way that a collision area of the electron beam emitted from each of the first and second electron beam emission areas on the anode surface moves in response to a voltage applied to the focusing structure.

Abstract: A system and method for material decomposition of a single energy spectrum x-ray dataset includes accessing the single energy spectrum x-ray dataset, receiving a user-selection of a desired energy for decomposition, and decomposing the single energy spectrum x-ray dataset into material bases as a linear combination of energy dependence function of selected basis materials and the corresponding spatial dependence material bases images.

Abstract: A method of making an apparatus suitable for detecting X-ray is disclosed. In an example, the method includes: obtaining a semiconductor substrate with a first electrical contact on a first surface and a second electrical contact on a second surface opposite the first surface, the second electrical contact comprising a plurality of discrete portions; forming a plurality of trenches extending into at least 70% of a thickness of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the plurality of trenches encircle each of the discrete portions.

Abstract: This application describes an internal, re-chargeable power source for a portable medical device. The power source contains a removable battery pack comprising a lithium-containing material with 5 to 7 battery cells in series, each individual cell having a current capacity ranging from about 3000 mAh to about 3700 mAh. The power source can have a total energy capacity ranging from about 65 Watt-hour to about 170 Watt-hours. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: An imaging system is disclosed. The imaging system is operable to acquire and/or generate image data at positions relative to a subject. The imaging system includes a drive system configured to move the imaging system.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic-imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a gantry device and a processing circuitry. The gantry device includes an opening in which a subject is inserted. The processing circuitry is configured to set an inserting range indicating a range in which the subject is inserted into the opening by move of the subject or by move of the gantry device based on a scan plan. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire a position of the subject in the inserting range as first position information. The processing circuitry is configured to determine whether the subject interferes with the gantry device based on the first position information.

Abstract: A method for controlling an X-ray source configured to emit, from an X-ray spot on a target, X-ray radiation generated by an interaction between an electron beam and the target, wherein the X-ray spot is determined by the field of view of an X-ray optical system of the X-ray source. The method includes providing the target, providing the electron beam forming an electron spot on the target and interacting with the target to generate X-ray radiation, and adjusting a width and total power of the electron beam such that a maximum of the power density profile in the electron spot is below a predetermined limit, and such that a total power delivered to the target in the X-ray spot is increased.

Abstract: Disclosed are calibration assembly and calibration method of calibrating geometric parameters of a CT apparatus. The calibration assembly includes at least one calibration unit each including a plurality of calibration wires, and the plurality of calibration wires are arranged regularly in a same plane. The calibration assembly is easy to be processed and can be used to calibrate geometric parameters of a CT apparatus, and the calibration operations are simple and easy to be implemented.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for spectral computed tomography (CT) imaging. In one embodiment, a method comprises performing a scan of a subject to acquire, with a detector array comprising a plurality of detector elements, projection data of the subject, generating corrected path-length estimates based on the projection data and one or more selected correction functions, and reconstructing at least one material density image based on the corrected path-length estimates. In this way, the fidelity of spectral information is improved, thereby increasing image quality for spectral computed tomography (CT) imaging systems, especially those configured with photon-counting detectors.

Abstract: Systems and method for performing X-ray computed tomography (CT) that can improve spectral separation and decrease motion artifacts without increasing radiation dose are provided. The systems and method can be used with either a kVp-switching source or a single-kVp source. When used with a kVp-switching source, an absorption grating and a filter grating can be disposed between the X-ray source and the sample to be imaged. Relative motion of the filter and absorption gratings can by synchronized to the kVp switching frequency of the X-ray source. When used with a single-kVp source, a combination of absorption and filter gratings can be used and can be driven in an oscillation movement that is optimized for a single-kVp X-ray source. With a single-kVp source, the absorption grating can also be omitted and the filter grating can remain stationary.

Abstract: A measurement X-ray CT apparatus calibrates a geometrical positional relationship between a focus of an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, and a rotation center of a rotating table in advance. The measurement X-ray CT apparatus then obtains projection images by irradiating the object to be measured with X-rays to perform a CT scan, and generates a three-dimensional image of the object to be measured by CT reconstruction of the projection images. The measurement X-ray CT apparatus further includes a reference frame that is made of a material and has a structure less susceptible to environmental changes, and sensors that are located on the reference frame and intended to successively obtain calibration values of the geometrical positional relationship between the focus of the X-ray source and the X-ray detector during the CT scan. The calibration values are used as parameters of the CT reconstruction.

Abstract: A method of making a treatment plan with a treatment planning system and radiotherapy system are provided. The method includes: acquiring a preset dose distribution scheme; generating at least one radiation dose distribution scheme to be used with the treatment planning system, wherein the treatment plan system is adapted to at least one of beam energy of the radiotherapy system, a size of a collimator of the radiotherapy system, a radiation angle and radiation time of the radiotherapy system; and comparing the at least one radiation dose distribution scheme to be used with the preset dose distribution scheme, and determining, among the at least one radiation dose distribution scheme, a radiation dose distribution scheme that is the closest to the preset dose distribution scheme to make the treatment plan.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described using a forward model to correct pulse pileup in spectrally resolved X-ray projection data from photon-counting detectors (PCDs). To calibrate the forward model, which represents each order of pileup using a respective pileup response matrix (PRM), an optimization search determines the elements of the PRMs that optimize an objective function measuring agreement between the spectra of recorded counts affected by pulse pileup and the estimated counts generated using forward model of pulse pileup. The spectrum of the recorded counts in the projection data is corrected using the calibrated forward model, by determining an argument value that optimizes the objective function, the argument being either a corrected X-ray spectrum or the projection lengths of a material decomposition. Images for material components of the material decomposition are then reconstructed using the corrected projection data.

Abstract: An image processor applies computation processing to a plurality of CT images formed by irradiation of radiation of a plurality of energy levels to acquire monochromatic CT images. The image processor acquires a first energy level CT image formed by irradiation of first energy level radiation and a second energy level CT image formed by irradiation of second energy level radiation, applies a plurality of weighted computations to the first and second energy level CT images to compute a plurality of monochromatic CT images as a result of the weighted computations, segments a surrounding region of a highly-absorbent material circumferentially into a plurality of regions of interest having a predetermined area and calculates a standard deviation of the surrounding region by using a mean value of image data of each region of interest, for each monochromatic CT image, and selects a monochromatic CT image with a small standard deviation.

Abstract: A real-time fluoroscopic imaging system includes a collimator and a detector which are rotationally movable independent of the support assembly, e.g., c-arm, to which they are mounted. Rotational movement of the collimator and the detector are coordinated such that the orientation of the detector with respect to the collimator does not change. The collimator may include a geared flange member to facilitate rotation, and may be a single molded piece formed of a plastic such as tungsten polymer material. The system may also include a plurality of interchangeable collimators characterized by different shapes. A display is provided to present an image to an operator, and image orientation logic displays a target anatomy in a selected orientation regardless of orientation of the target anatomy relative to the detector, and regardless of rotation of the detector.