Abstract: A method for obtaining a 3-D image. An initial volume image is obtained of a subject wherein the subject is stationary and in a first pose. One or more 2-D images of the subject are obtained as the subject is moving between the first pose and a second pose. An endpoint volume image of the subject with the subject stationary and in the second pose is obtained. At least the initial volume image is modified according to the one or more obtained 2-D images to form at least one intermediate volume image that is representative of the subject's position between the first and second pose. The at least one intermediate volume image can be displayed.

Abstract: A method for processing a radiographic image of a patient, executed at least in part on a host processor, initiates exposure in response to an instruction entered from an operator console and obtains radiographic image data from a digital detector that is subjected to the exposure. The obtained radiographic image data is analyzed according to a set of predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability of the image. One or more results of the diagnostic suitability analysis at the operator console is indicated and a listing of one or more corrective actions at the operator console according to the indicated results is provided.

Abstract: A method for providing a diagnostic image as a combination of two or more images executed, at least in part, on a control logic processor. The method includes obtaining at least first and second image data of a subject and analyzing both the first and second image data to identify at least grid orientation and spacing. Grid suppression is applied to the first and second image data and the grid suppressed first and second image data is pre-processed. The method then combines the grid suppressed first and second image data and decomposes the combined data to obtain one or more diagnostic images for display. The one or more diagnostic images are displayed on a display that is associated with the control logic processor.

Abstract: An apparatus for cone beam computed tomography of an extremity has a digital radiation detector and a first device to move the detector along a circular detector path extending so that the detector moves both at least partially around a first extremity of the patient and between the first extremity and a second, adjacent extremity. The detector path has radius R1 sufficient to position the extremity approximately centered in the detector path. There is a radiation source with a second device to move the source along a concentric circular source path having a radius R2 greater than radius R1, radius R2 sufficiently long to allow adequate radiation exposure of the first extremity for an image capture by the detector. A first circumferential gap in the source path allows the second extremity to be positioned in the first circumferential gap during image capture.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning a radiation source with an image receiver has a first light source coupled to the radiation source and actuable to direct a first beam of light toward the image receiver and a second light source coupled to the radiation source and actuable to direct a second beam of light toward the image receiver. A reflector element is coupled to the image receiver and is disposed to form, when placed in the path of both first and second light beams, reflected light that indicates the relative alignment of the image receiver to the radiation source. The reflected light may form a pattern indicative of alignment.

Abstract: A networked system for rendering diagnostic image data for display has at least one diagnostic imaging apparatus that obtains digital image data for a patient and is in communication with a computer network. At least one consistency control module executes at a networked processor and is operatively responsive to a set of programmed instructions for accessing and detecting the type of image, for identifying one or more control points in the obtained digital image data, for mapping the input code values of the one or more control points to corresponding predetermined code values, for mapping additional input code values to output values according to the mapping of the one or more control points, and for providing rendered image data as output. A DICOM destination in networked communication with the at least one consistency control module stores or displays the rendered image data.

Abstract: A mobile digital radiography system of a type including a mobile x-ray source; a mobile computer, the computer having a display for radiographic images and related information; a digital radiography detector, the detector and x-ray source in communication with and under control of the computer, means operatively associated with the computer for sending and receiving data concerning a patient, such data including diagnostic results, diagnostic images and requests for additional services, to and from separate image archiving and information systems; means operatively associated with the computer for comparing data from separate hospital image archiving and radiology information systems from a prior examination of a patient with data from a current examination of a patient using the mobile digital radiography system; and means operatively associated with the computer for aiding bedside interpretation of a patient's condition in view of the comparing of data from prior and current examinations.

Abstract: A method for determining image quality of a digital radiographic image. The method is executed at least in part by a computer system. The method obtains image data for the digital radiographic image, identifies one or more regions of interest in the digital radiographic image, derives an image quality score that indicates the image quality of the digital radiographic image by computing at least a contrast-to-noise value for image data content within the one or more regions of interest, and reports the derived image quality score for the image.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for acquiring a high speed dual-energy image pair using a pixilated digital detector. A single pixilated digital detector acquires and encodes two separate images in effectively one image, eliminating the need to read out a first image prior to acquiring a second image. The encoded information is then utilized to obtain two distinct dual-energy images which may be decomposed to form bone and soft-tissue only images.

Abstract: A system for obtaining information related to diagnostic imaging performance at a site has a user instruction interface for obtaining an operator request for information related to image quality for stored diagnostic images. A data processor is in communication with at least one database of stored patient diagnostic images and is programmed with instructions for retrieving one or more patient diagnostic images from the database of patient diagnostic images according to the operator request from the user instruction interface, for analyzing the image quality of the one or more patient diagnostic images as specified in the operator request, and for providing at least output information about the image quality analysis to a data mining engine. The data mining engine is programmed with instructions to process the output information that is obtained from the data processor and to provide information related to image quality according to the output information.

Abstract: A radiography marker for indicating the inclination angle of a radiography imaging receiver has a portion defining at least one area transparent to x-radiation and an angle indicator element attached to the portion defining at least one area at a pivot point and manually adjustable along the portion defining at least one area to set any of a plurality of angular positions over at least a portion of the at least one area transparent to x-radiation. At least a portion of the indicator element is opaque to x-radiation.

Abstract: A method for displaying a radiographic image identifies a region of interest in a portion of the radiographic image, suppresses background image content within the identified region of interest, and enhances contrast of the image within the region of interest to form an enhanced region of interest. The enhanced region of interest is displayed within the remaining portion of the radiographic image.

Abstract: A radiography marker for indicating the inclination angle of a radiography receiver has a plate portion defining at least one area transparent to radiation and an angle indicator element attached to the plate portion at a pivot point and adjustable along the plate portion to any of a plurality of angular positions over at least a portion of the at least one area transparent to radiation. At least a portion of the indicator element is radio-opaque.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning a radiation source with an image receiver has a first light source coupled to the radiation source and actuable to direct a first beam of light toward the image receiver and a second light source coupled to the radiation source and actuable to direct a second beam of light toward the image receiver. A reflector element is coupled to the image receiver and is disposed to form, when placed in the path of both first and second light beams, a pattern of reflected light that indicates the relative alignment of the image receiver to the radiation source.

Abstract: A radiation imaging system has a radiation source having an adjustable angular orientation and an emitter that provides an alignment signal and is coupled to the radiation source. A two dimensional radiation image detection device has a receiver that records an image according to radiation emitted from the radiation source, a first sensor coupled in a fixed position relative to the receiver that detects the alignment signal from the emitter and provides a first response signal and a second sensor coupled in a fixed position relative to the receiver that detects the alignment signal from the emitter and provides a second response signal. A control logic processor is in communication with the first and second sensors for receiving the first and second response signals and further in communication with at least one indicator for indicating the alignment of the image detection device relative to the radiation source.

Abstract: A method of processing a digital radiographic medical image. The digital radiographic medical image is accessed and a plurality of regions of interest is determined. For each of the plurality of regions of interest, steps are performed: determining at least one candidate region of interest (ROI) disease; identifying one ROI disease from the at least one candidate region of interest; determining a processing method appropriate to the identified one ROI disease; and applying the determined processing method to the region of interest to generate a disease enhanced region of interest. The digital radiographic medical image and one or more of the disease enhanced regions of interest can then be displayed.

Abstract: A method for transforming visual preference terminology into a set of fundamental image-quality attributes, and using these attributes to produce a display ready radiographic image that meets the desired appearance. The visual preference terminology can be specified in a hierarchical structure providing a flexible and configurable interface to a radiographic system.

Abstract: A method for longitudinal tracking of a patient in a critical care facility. A first diagnostic image at a time t1 is obtained, taken using a first set of imaging parameters. At least a portion of the first set of imaging parameters is stored. A second diagnostic image is obtained at a time t2, later than time t1, using a second set of imaging parameters. At least a portion of the second set of imaging parameters is stored. First and second diagnostic images are of substantially the same body tissue. A region of interest is identified from either the first or second diagnostic image. A computer aided diagnostic process executes for a portion of the region of interest on each of the first and second diagnostic images. Results of the computer aided diagnostic process are compared.

Abstract: Apparatus for acquiring an elongated radiographic image. The apparatus includes a flat panel electronic detector of radiographic images, the detector having a known length; and a transport mechanism for mounting the detector for movement in a direction parallel to the known length so that the detector can be positioned in sequential contiguous partially-overlapping positions to acquire a radiation image greater in length than the detector length. At least one marker is disposed in a region corresponding with each partially-overlapping position of the detector.

Abstract: A method for automatically segmenting lung regions in a chest radiographic image comprising; providing an input digital chest radiograph image; preprocessing the input digital radiographic image; extracting the chest body midline and lung centerlines from the preprocessed image. Locating one-by-one, the chest body model, the spine model and the two lung models in the image based on the extracted chest body midline and two lung centerlines; and detecting the lung contours by deforming the lung shape models to converge to the true lung boundaries as a function of the extracting and locating image processing.