Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet giving a high sensitivity and a high sharpness in a radiation image recording and reproducing method is composed of a partition containing a phosphor that emits a light in a UV or visible region upon absorbing the applied radiation which divides the phosphor sheet on its plane into small sections, and stimulable phosphor-incorporated area which is divided with the partition and which has a reflectivity to stimulating rays differing from a reflectivity to the stimulating rays of the partition.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing multiple image slice data responsive to incident radiation passing through an object. The apparatus includes a detector array having a plurality (p) of parallel rows of detector elements which receive such incident radiation and generate signals therefrom, each of which rows is characterized by a width measured prior to collimation in the direction perpendicular to a long dimension thereof; and signal processing circuitry which receives signals from the detector elements and which combines the signals in a first combination mode and in at least m additional combination modes. In the first combination mode, the circuitry forms a set of n groups of rows, each such group of rows having an effective group width substantially equal to the effective group width of each of the other groups in the set. In each of the m additional combination modes, the circuitry forms different sets of n groups of rows, each such set having a different effective group width common to all groups in the set.

Abstract: Complete helical cone-beam scanning and non-redundant data acquisition are obtained for three-dimensional tomographic imaging of arbitrary long objects. The minimum sized two-dimensional detector window is bounded by two consecutive turns of the helix. The ray source exposes all object points during a rotation of exactly 180 degrees when seen from the points themselves. Only one-dimensional filtering is employed in the reconstruction. Rebinning to parallel beams, as seen along the axis of rotation, allows for especially simple procedures without any need for pre-weighting or magnification factors. As a special case, the invention is applicable to helical fan-beam scanning with one-dimensional detector arrays.

Abstract: The continuous, high speed, tomographic imaging system moves a closed package containing concealed objects continuously along a conveyor belt past three spaced sensing stations. At each sensing station a plurality of X-ray sources each emit a fan beam in the same scan plane which passes through the package to a plurality of detectors opposite to the X-ray sources. One scan is a vertical perpendicular scan plane relative to the direction of travel of the package along the conveyor belt and the remaining two scan planes are horizontal scan planes at right angles and transverse to the direction of travel. One horizontal scan plane is a left to right scan plane while the remaining scan plane is a right to left scan plane. Each detector provides multiple energy outputs (5) for the same data point in a scan slice, and the detector outputs are stored until all three sensing stations have scanned the same cross sectional view of the package in three directions.

Abstract: Mini C-arm apparatus for x-ray fluoroscopic imaging having a base or cabinet, an articulated arm assembly connected thereto, a support arm assembly carried by the articulated arm assembly, a C-arm slidably mounted in the support arm assembly, and an x-ray source assembly including an x-ray source and an image receptor assembly including an image receptor respectively mounted at opposed locations on the C-arm such that x-rays emitted by the x-ray source impinge on the image receptor, wherein one of the source and image receptor assemblies includes a control panel that permits activation of predefined functions of the x-ray fluoroscopic imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A method of producing complex motion or spiral tomography images in tomographic imaging, comprising the steps of positioning an object to be imaged in a fixed position, arranging a radiation source on one side of the object to be imaged, arranging a detector on a second diametrically opposed side of the object to be imaged from the radiation source, the detector receiving radiation from the radiation source, while the radiation is being received, rotating the radiation source and the detector substantially around a vertical axis passing through the object to be imaged in a controlled manner whereby a tomographic effect is produced, while the radiation is being received, moving the radiation source in a first vertical direction, while the radiation is being received and simultaneously with the step of moving the radiation source, moving the detector in a second vertical direction opposite from the first vertical direction, and wherein the radiation source and the detector are moved independently from one anoth

Abstract: A radiation source, which produces radiation, is located on one side of an object, two-dimensional image read-out device is located on the other side of the object, the two-dimensional image read-out device comprising stripe-shaped electrodes for reading latent image charges, which carry image information, and an operation for recording and reading out a radiation image of the object is performed. A grid plate is located between the object and the two-dimensional image read-out device, the grid plate guiding only the radiation, which comes from a specific direction, to the two-dimensional image read-out device. The operation for recording and reading out the radiation image of the object is performed in this state, and deterioration in image quality due to scattered radiation is prevented.

Abstract: An X-ray examination apparatus is provided including: an X-ray image means for providing an X-ray image composed of pixels each having a grey value, and a brightness control system which is coupled to the X-ray image means in order to apply a brightness control signal of the image to the X-ray image means. The brightness control system comprises an X-ray image analyzing means for deriving the brightness control signal from a maximum in the number of times that a grey value occurs in the X-ray image. The apparatus provides optimized brightness in the visual image such that a physician is capable of properly examining changes in weakly absorbing tissues or body parts, such as lungs or the like, thus enabling optimized visual analysis.

Abstract: A short-wavelength electromagnetic-radiation generator includes a pair of concave reflectors, a laser source for emitting a laser beam so as to be incident between the concave reflectors, and an electron beam generator for emitting an electron beam so as to be incident on the laser beam, which is repeatedly reflected and converged.

Abstract: A stereo radiograph is produced in a radiography system including an anti-scatter grid (105) and sensor material (107). At least one x-ray beam (102) is emitted towards a body to be radiographed (103). The anti-scatter grid (105) is focused so as to transmit two distinct x-ray beams (106) to the sensor material (107). The transmitted beams (106) create two alternating images on the sensor material (107). A stereo radiograph is created from the two alternating images. System geometry of the radiography system is used to determine location of an object (606) within a radiographed body (103), and to determine distance (613) between a chosen point and an object (606) within a radiographed body (103).

Abstract: In a scanning electron beam CT system, a positive ion clearing electrode system is disposed within the CT system solenoid coil, and is operated from a single power source. Mounted coaxially about the electron beam, preferably the electrode system includes three sections, each having two electrode elements, one element being coupled to about −800 V to about −2 kV and the other element being grounded. Within the electrode system, the ratio between element diameter and electron beam diameter is substantially constant. Preferably elements are helically twisted about the beam axis. The electrode configuration cancels net quadrupole (focusing) and octopole (aberration-producing) fields. In the presence of electric discharge, essentially zero electron beam displacement and deflections occurs, and changes in focusing strength remain zero.

Abstract: An X-ray mammography device has an X-ray tube arrangement, a compression mechanism, a subject table, and a large-area solid-state detector made of amorphous silicon (a-Si) which is integrated in a detector cassette that can be inserted into the subject table and that has a first part of at least one transmission path for supplying the operating voltage, and/or the control signals for operating the solid-state detector and/or the readout data, this first said part engaging functionally with a corresponding second part of the transmission path which is attached at the subject table.

Abstract: A digital x-ray image (600) is divided (802) into regions (602), (604) according to a selected (800) exposure compensation profile. Each region (602),(604) includes pixel values indicative of gray-scale levels in that region. The pixel values are used to index entries in one of a plurality of spatial LUTs (312a-n) assigned (804) to that region. Entries in the selected spatial LUT (312a-n) contain new pixel values indicative of a transform (806) on the original pixel values used to index the spatial LUT (312a-n). Original pixel values are replaced (808) with corresponding pixel values from the spatial LUT (312a-n). Each region of the x-ray image (600) needing compensation is transformed (806), in turn, until the entire image (600) is processed.

Abstract: A method for adjusting radiation flux in a CT scanner, including acquiring radiation attenuation data with respect to a body being imaged by the scanner from a CT scan, in a vicinity of a first axial position along the body and determining a modulation function, depending on radial view angle, based on the data. The body is translated relative to the scanner to a second axial position along the body, and a CT scan is performed in a vicinity of the second axial position, while controlling the radiation flux impinging on the body using the modulation function.

Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic apparatus has a computed tomography device including a first X-ray tube, which is fastened to a gantry ring (10) and which emits a fan-shaped effective beam, and an opposed radiation receiver, which is formed by a row of individual detectors, each of which forms an electrical signal corresponding to the received radiation intensity. A second X-ray tube is additionally fastened to the gantry ring at a right angle to the first X-ray tube, opposite which, at the gantry ring, a matrix-like X-ray detector is arranged. The second X-ray tube is activated in specified positions in pulsed fashion, such as at the uppermost rotational point. X-ray shadowgraphs thus can be produced simultaneously with CT images and without a need for repositioning any of the apparatus components.

Abstract: A modular multistage accelerator for use in an X-ray treatment system includes a first 10 kV acceleration stage which houses an electron beam gun supplied with −50 kV of voltage. The modular multi-stage accelerator includes four additional 10 kV stages placed in series with the first stage to achieve a 50 kV accelerator overall. Each stage is shielded to prevent stray electrons from being propagated along the length of the drift tube. The triple point within each modular stage is recessed to significantly reduce the emission of stray electrons within each stage. Additionally, the beam current at the X-ray emitting probe of the X-ray source is measured by isolating the beam current to a beam current measuring circuit in electrical connection with a nulling junction node, wherein other currents within the circuit are nulled at the nulling junction node and the beam current flows to the beam current measuring circuit.

Abstract: An X-ray examination apparatus comprises an X-ray detector 1 for deriving an image signal and a measurement signal from an X-ray image. The X-ray examination apparatus also includes an exposure control 2 for adjusting the X-ray examination apparatus on the basis of the measurement signal. The X-ray detector is arranged in such a manner that the measurement signal relates mainly to relevant image information in the X-ray image. The X-ray detector is notably provided with a conversion unit 22 for deriving an optical image from the X-ray image. An image sensor with an image pick-up section derives electrical charges from the optical image. The image pick-up section notably derives a measurement component from the electrical charges wherefrom the measurement signal is derived and the image pick-up section also derives an image component from the electrical charges wherefrom the image signal is derived.

Abstract: The present invention is, in one aspect, an imaging system having a detector that has multiple detector cells extending along a z-axis, the detector being configured to collect multiple slices of data; and a scalable data acquisition system configured to convert signals from the detector to digital form, the scalable data acquisition system having a plurality of converter boards each with a plurality of channels, the channels and detector cells having an interweaved coupling to reduce susceptibility to band artifact.

Abstract: A determinate positioner assembly comprises a helical cam, such as a threaded lead screw, a follower element which continuously contacts the lead screw in a predetermined number of places for a determinate condition (neither over- nor underconstrained), an elastic member connecting the follower element to the leadscrew, and a driven element. The elastic member maintains continuous contact between the follower element and the cam, yet the combination of the elastic member and the follower element exert substantially zero net force on the cam in the x and y directions. The follower element is attached to the driven element with pivot structures which transmit axial movement from the follower element to the driven element and permit the follower element to “float” in the x and y directions while prohibiting its rotation about the x, y and z axes.

Abstract: A method and device to calibrate an automatic exposure control (AEC) device in an x-ray imaging system is disclosed. An x-ray imaging system has an x-ray generator and tube to generate x-rays, an AEC device to control exposure of the x-rays, and an image sensing system, such as a film/screen combination or a digital recording system, which convert the x-rays into a converted medium, such as light, which can be easily sensed by a sensing medium. To calibrate the AEC device, a detector is placed in the position of the sensing medium to detect the converted medium. The detector detects signals indicative of the x-rays on a sensing medium. Simultaneously, a signal is obtained from the AEC. When the signal from the detector corresponds to a predetermined desired detector output, the output signal from the AEC is stored. The stored AEC output value corresponds to the target AEC output which will produce a proper exposure in the future for the same set of predetermined conditions of the imaging system.