Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are described for processing images yielded from an examination via radiation to reduce visible noise in the images. After an image is reconstructed, a noise contribution to the image (e.g., an amount of noise in the image) is estimated to determine a target noise contribution for the image. The target noise contribution for the image may vary based upon, among other things, dose of radiation, aspects or properties of an object being imaged, etc. The image is subsequently filtered using one or more filtering techniques to generate a filtered image, and a noise contribution to the filtered image is determined. When the noise contribution to the filtered image satisfies the target noise contribution (e.g., a sufficient amount of noise has been filtered out of the image), the filtered image is combined with the reconstructed image to generate a blended image.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems for calibration of a radiation system to compute a gain correction(s) are provided. A calibration procedure is performed during which a portion of the detector array is shadowed by an object, causing the detector array to be non-uniformly exposed to radiation. A portion of a projection generated from the calibration procedure and indicative of radiation that did not traverse the object is separated from a portion of the projection indicative of radiation that did traverse the object, and a gain correction(s) is computed from the portion of the projection indicative of radiation that did not traverse the object (e.g., and is thus indicative of radiation that merely traversed air).

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are described for inspecting an object, such as a tire. The system comprises a radiation imaging system configured to examine the object via radiation to generate a radiation image depicting an interior aspect of the object and a machine vision system configured to measure visible light and/or infrared wavelengths to generate a vision image depicting an exterior aspect of the object. The radiation image and the vision image may be correlated to facilitate an inspection of the object which includes an inspection of the exterior aspect as well as the interior aspect.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are described for processing images yielded from an examination via radiation to reduce visible noise in the images. After an image is reconstructed, a noise contribution to the image (e.g., an amount of noise in the image) is estimated to determine a target noise contribution for the image. The target noise contribution for the image may vary based upon, among other things, dose of radiation, aspects or properties of an object being imaged, etc. The image is subsequently filtered using one or more filtering techniques to generate a filtered image, and a noise contribution to the filtered image is determined. When the noise contribution to the filtered image satisfies the target noise contribution (e.g., a sufficient amount of noise has been filtered out of the image), the filtered image is combined with the reconstructed image to generate a blended image.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are described for measuring the attenuation of a line integral through an object via a photon counting cell (302) and via an energy integrating cell (304). That is, an imaging apparatus is provided that comprises a radiation source (208) and a detector array (210). The detector array is comprised of both photon counting cells (302) and energy integrating cells (304) arranged such that, during an examination of the object, attenuation of a line integral through the object is measured by at least one photon counting cell and at least one energy integrating cell. In this way, at least two substantially complete views of an object may be acquired, one from measurements yielded from the photon counting cell (and other photon counting cells) and one from measurements yielded from the energy integrating cell (and other energy integrating cells).

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are described for inspecting an object, such as a tire. The system comprises a radiation imaging system configured to examine the object via radiation to generate a radiation image depicting an interior aspect of the object and a machine vision system configured to measure visible light and/or infrared wavelengths to generate a vision image depicting an exterior aspect of the object. The radiation image and the vision image may be correlated to facilitate an inspection of the object which includes an inspection of the exterior aspect as well as the interior aspect.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems for calibration of a radiation system to compute a gain correction(s) are provided. A calibration procedure is performed during which a portion of the detector array is shadowed by an object, causing the detector array to be non-uniformly exposed to radiation. A portion of a projection generated from the calibration procedure and indicative of radiation that did not traverse the object is separated from a portion of the projection indicative of radiation that did traverse the object, and a gain correction(s) is computed from the portion of the projection indicative of radiation that did not traverse the object (e.g., and is thus indicative of radiation that merely traversed air).

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are described for measuring the attenuation of a line integral through an object via a photon counting cell (302) and via an energy integrating cell (304). That is, an imaging apparatus is provided that comprises a radiation source (208) and a detector array (210). The detector array is comprised of both photon counting cells (302) and energy integrating cells (304) arranged such that, during an examination of the object, attenuation of a line integral through the object is measured by at least one photon counting cell and at least one energy integrating cell. In this way, at least two substantially complete views of an object may be acquired, one from measurements yielded from the photon counting cell (and other photon counting cells) and one from measurements yielded from the energy integrating cell (and other energy integrating cells).

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are described herein for cleaning a portion of a radiographic examination apparatus whereon debris may accumulate. Typically, the portion being cleaned is within a scanning field of the radiographic examination device (e.g., within a portion of the radiographic examination device through which radiation traverses). Activation of a cleaning mechanism, or a portion thereof, may be timed to miss radiation emitted during a scan, and thus not interfere with a scan. Also, the cleaning mechanism, or a portion thereof, may be located so as to not attenuate radiation. If radiation is attenuated by the cleaning mechanism corrective techniques can be implemented to account for such attenuation.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques for integrating electrical charge yielded from an indirect conversion detector array of a pulsating radiation system are provided. The integration begins during a resting period between a first and second pulse and ends before the second pulse is emitted. Electrical charge that is measured during a resting period is integrated, while electrical charge measured during a pulse is not integrated. In this way, parasitic contributions caused by the direct interaction of radiation photons with a photodiode are reduced and a quantum efficiency of the indirect conversion detector array is increased, for example. Moreover, the period of integration can be adjusted such that a voltage gain related to the indirect conversion detector array can be varied to a predetermined level.

Abstract: An operation room may comprise both an object scanning apparatus for examining an object using x-ray radiation and an irradiation component for treating an object using particle radiation. A support article upon which the object may reside during (both) the examination and treatment may be configured to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to a plane through which x-ray radiation travels, may be configured to tilt with respect to the axis, and/or may be configured to yaw with respect to the axis. In this way, the relative orientation of the support article and the object remain substantially constant during the examination and treatment to facilitate treating a desired area of the object.

Abstract: One or more systems and/or techniques are disclosed herein for determining the orientation of a focal spot of a radiation source based upon shadows that are imposed on channels of a detector array from an anti-scatter grid. The anti-scatter grid is comprised of one or more anti-scatter plates that are focused on a point other than an intended focal spot of the radiation source. Such anti-scatters plates cast shadows on the detector array (even when the focal spot is located at the intended focal spot). By measuring changes in the signals generated by channels of the detector array that detect the shadows, it may be determined how the orientation of the focal spot has changed throughout an examination or between a calibration scan and an examination scan, for example.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are described herein for cleaning a portion of a radiographic examination apparatus whereon debris may accumulate. Typically, the portion being cleaned is within a scanning field of the radiographic examination device (e.g., within a portion of the radiographic examination device through which radiation traverses). Activation of a cleaning mechanism, or a portion thereof, may be timed to miss radiation emitted during a scan, and thus not interfere with a scan. Also, the cleaning mechanism, or a portion thereof, may be located so as to not attenuate radiation. If radiation is attenuated by the cleaning mechanism corrective techniques can be implemented to account for such attenuation.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques for integrating electrical charge yielded from an indirect conversion detector array of a pulsating radiation system are provided. The integration begins during a resting period between a first and second pulse and ends before the second pulse is emitted. Electrical charge that is measured during a resting period is integrated, while electrical charge measured during a pulse is not integrated. In this way, parasitic contributions caused by the direct interaction of radiation photons with a photodiode are reduced and a quantum efficiency of the indirect conversion detector array is increased, for example. Moreover, the period of integration can be adjusted such that a voltage gain related to the indirect conversion detector array can be varied to a predetermined level.

Abstract: One or more systems and/or techniques are disclosed herein for determining the orientation of a focal spot of a radiation source based upon shadows that are imposed on channels of a detector array from an anti-scatter grid. The anti-scatter grid is comprised of one or more anti-scatter plates that are focused on a point other than an intended focal spot of the radiation source. Such anti-scatters plates cast shadows on the detector array (even when the focal spot is located at the intended focal spot). By measuring changes in the signals generated by channels of the detector array that detect the shadows, it may be determined how the orientation of the focal spot has changed throughout an examination or between a calibration scan and an examination scan, for example.

Abstract: An operation room may comprise both an object scanning apparatus for examining an object using x-ray radiation and an irradiation component for treating an object using particle radiation. A support article upon which the object may reside during (both) the examination and treatment may be configured to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to a plane through which x-ray radiation travels, may be configured to tilt with respect to the axis, and/or may be configured to yaw with respect to the axis. In this way, the relative orientation of the support article and the object remain substantially constant during the examination and treatment to facilitate treating a desired area of the object.

Abstract: A CT detector cell is constructed to have diagonally oriented perimeter walls. With such a construction, the resulting CT detector comprised of such detector cells has improved spatial coverage (spatial density). The number of detector channels is also not increased despite the increase in spatial coverage. Moreover, the detector cells can be constructed without much variance from conventional fabrication techniques.

Abstract: Methods and systems for scanning a patient by using a medical imaging device are provided. The methods include determining a defective cell in a row n of a detector of the medical imaging device, determining a mode of operation of the medical imaging device, estimating the output of the defective cell using the determined mode of operation and at least one of a conjugate sample of the defective cell, an adjusted conjugate sample of the defective cell, and an estimate of the output of the defective cell using an output of a corresponding cell in an adjacent row and reconstructing an image of the patient using the estimated value of the defective cell.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating at least one report from a plurality of data sources. The system and method include a data source specification to indicate the data to be retrieved from the data sources so that the report may be generated based upon the extracted data. A view specification indicates how the data is to be visually represented within the report. A report rendering engine causes the data to be retrieved from the data sources in accordance with the data source specification, and creates in accordance with the view specification a visual representation of the report based upon the retrieved data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for generating at least one report from a plurality of data sources. The system and method include a data source specification to indicate the data to be retrieved from the data sources so that the report may be generated based upon the extracted data. A view specification indicates how the data is to be visually represented within the report. A report rendering engine causes the data to be retrieved from the data sources in accordance with the data source specification, and creates in accordance with the view specification a visual representation of the report based upon the retrieved data.