Abstract: A method for collecting three-dimensional data of an object from a series of projection images recorded by a biplane C-arm system is provided. A cardiac activity is recorded. The cardiac frequency and a start cardiac phase are determined for calculating parameters of the C-arm planes. The C-arm planes are set with the parameters and data is acquired in the start cardiac phase. The C-arm planes are uniformly rotated at a same speed in a forward motion over an angular area and record data at different angular areas at different cardiac phases. Data is acquired in the start cardiac phase after termination of the forward motion. The C-arm planes are uniformly rotated at a same speed in a backward motion over an angular area and records data at different angular areas at different cardiac phases. The captured data are reconstructed after termination of the backward motion upon completed acquisition.

Abstract: A method and system of processing medical images such as projection images of large volume structures obtained by two-pass scanning for generating three-dimensional images. Measured values of each image frame is calculated as an image line. Over-exposed portions of the image line are detected to at one end of the image line and then at the other end of the image line. A determination is made of the approximate center of the image line. A line integral of the image line is generated and then using an assumed shape the over-exposed portions are extrapolated. The processed image frames may then be combined to generate the three-dimensional image.

Abstract: The invention relates to an angiographic x-ray diagnostic device for rotation angiography with an x-ray emitter which can be moved on a circular path about a patient located on a patient support table, with an image detector unit which can moved on the circular path facing the x-ray emitter, with a digital image system for recording a plurality of projection images by means of rotation angiography, with a device for image processing, by means of which the projection images are reconstructed into a 3D volume image, and with a device for correcting physical effects and/or inadequacies in the recording system such as truncation correction, scatter correction, ring artifact correction, correction of the beam hardening and/or of the low frequency drop for the soft tissue display of projection images and the 3D volume images resulting therefrom.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for combining information obtained from CT and Coherent Scatter Computed Tomography to better determine whether there are dangerous materials in the baggage or not. Hence, the attenuation coefficient and the diffraction pattern of the item of baggage are used to determine whether the baggage should be cleared.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for evaluating an image dataset obtained by a radiation-based image acquisition device. A scatter background dataset is determined as a function of the image data. The image dataset is corrected pixel by pixel by multiplying the image dataset with the inverse of a function dependent on the quotient of the scatter background data and the image data at a respective pixel. The function is a nonlinear, smooth function determined by a coefficient and having positive derivatives. The absolute value of the function is one for the value zero. The image acquisition parameter dependent coefficient is determined by an optimization process.

Abstract: In a method for reconstructing a 3D CT image from a number of 2D projection images each 2D projection image is divided at an arbitrarily selectable position by a substantially vertical image line and the projection image is automatically electronically analyzed to detect whether clipping occurs on the left side or on the right side, or on both sides, of the image line. For each side of the image line at which clipping is detected, a horizontal coordinate at which the clipping ends is identified. The grayscale values at the side of the horizontal coordinate opposite to the side at which the image line is located are extrapolated so that the clipping is removed. The corrected 2D projection images are then used to reconstruct a 3D image, in which capping artifacts, that would otherwise be present, or avoided or substantially minimized due to the corrections made in the 2D projections.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for combining information obtained from CT and Coherent Scatter Computed Tomography to better determine whether there are dangerous materials in the baggage or not. Hence, the attenuation coefficient and the diffraction pattern of the item of baggage are used to determine whether the baggage should be cleared.

Abstract: In a method for reconstructing a 3D CT image from a number of 2D projection images each 2D projection image is divided at an arbitrarily selectable position by a substantially vertical image line and the projection image is automatically electronically analyzed to detect whether clipping occurs on the left side or on the right side, or on both sides, of the image line. For each side of the image line at which clipping is detected, a horizontal coordinate at which the clipping ends is identified. The grayscale values at the side of the horizontal coordinate opposite to the side at which the image line is located are extrapolated so that the clipping is removed. The corrected 2D projection images are then used to reconstruct a 3D image, in which capping artifacts, that would otherwise be present, or avoided or substantially minimized due to the corrections made in the 2D projections.

Abstract: The invention relates to an angiographic x-ray diagnostic device for rotation angiography with an x-ray emitter which can be moved on a circular path about a patient located on a patient support table, with an image detector unit which can moved on the circular path facing the x-ray emitter, with a digital image system for recording a plurality of projection images by means of rotation angiography, with a device for image processing, by means of which the projection images are reconstructed into a 3D volume image, and with a device for correcting physical effects and/or inadequacies in the recording system such as truncation correction, scatter correction, ring artifact correction, correction of the beam hardening and/or of the low frequency drop for the soft tissue display of projection images and the 3D volume images resulting therefrom.

Abstract: In conventional material discrimination, for example in baggage inspection, the attenuation coefficient of an item of baggage is used to identify the material in the baggage. However, the result can be ambiguous since there are often dangerous and non-dangerous materials having the same attenuation coefficient. According to the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided combining the information obtained from CT and Coherent Scatter Computed Tomography to better determine whether there are dangerous materials in the baggage or not. Hence, according to the present invention the attenuation coefficient and the diffraction pattern of the item of baggage are used to determine whether the baggage can be cleared or not.

Abstract: Two analysis methods for a portal image are disclosed, one to check apparatus setup and the other to check patient positioning. The first involves preparing a reference radiation field image and a sample radiation field image from a reference image and a sample image respectively by, in order, (i) defining a threshold value and (ii) setting pixels within the respective images to a dark or a bright state if darker or brighter than the threshold value, (optionally) comparing the reference radiation field image and the sample radiation field image to determine at least one of their relative rotation, translation and scaling, subtracting one of the radiation field images from the other thereby to obtain a difference image, and inspecting the difference image to ascertain changes in the radiation field between preparation of the reference image and the sample image.

Abstract: A variable-delivery external gear pump comprising a casing, at least one rotatively driven pair of gears comprising two intermeshing spur gears, which form with shell surface areas of the casing and axial sealing surface areas a delivery space comprising a low-pressure side connected to a pump inlet port and a high-pressure side connected to a pump outlet port, and a piston, serving to rotatively mount one spur gear of the pair of gears, said piston being shifted relative to the other spur gear of the pair of gears so as to vary the delivery of the pump together with the one spur gear by charging the high-pressure side with fluid against the force of a return element, wherein formed in at least one axial sealing surface area adjoining a sealing land of the sealing surface area is at least one pocket connecting a zone of deepest tooth engagement of the spur gears to either the pump outlet port or the pump inlet port.

Abstract: A gear pump with internal rotors for pumping fluids includes one or more internal gear rotors, a cover, at least one infeed reniform suction chamber in a pump housing, at least one discharge reniform pressure chamber in the pump housing, and a reniform pressure chamber extension. Each gear rotor has teeth, is located in the pump housing, and is driven by a central shaft. The cover seals the pump housing and is adjacent to the one or more internal gear rotors. Each infeed reniform suction chamber has a first end and a second end, and at least partially covers end areas of the teeth. Each discharge reniform pressure chamber has a first end and a second end, and at least partially covers the end areas of the teeth. The reniform pressure chamber extension has a first end and a second end and is located in the cover opposite the discharge reniform pressure chamber. The first end of the discharge reniform pressure chamber is substantially adjacent to the first end of the reniform pressure chamber extension.