Abstract: A method and device for calibrating images acquired by radiography comprising an X-ray source, an image acquisition, a support placed between the source and the image acquisition, on which support an object to be X-rayed is intended to be positioned. A region of interest, in which the object is likely to be found, is determined between the support and the image acquisition, the center of gravity of this region is determined and at least one calibration factor of the image or images is determined as a function of the position thus determined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a magnification factor in a radiography device of the type comprising an X-ray source and means for acquiring images placed facing the source, the source and the means for acquiring images being mounted so as to rotate about at least one axis with respect to a support on which an object to be X-rayed is intended to be positioned. The method and the apparatus implementing the method comprises: acquiring at least two images corresponding to two different angular positions of the source and of the recording means with respect to the support; identifying on these images projections of at least one point of the X-rayed object; and determining the magnification factor of at least one of the images, first, as a function of the angular displacement of the source and of the recording means between the acquisitions of the images in question and, secondly, as a function of the positions on these images of the identified projections.

Abstract: Method and system for compensating for the thickness of an organ in a radiology instrument, in which an image of the radiological thicknesses of the organ through which the X-ray beam has passed is calculated on the basis of a digitized image, the thickness image is filtered using a low-pass filter in order to obtain a low-frequency image, the low-frequency image is subtracted from the radiological thickness image in order to obtain a contrast image, the low-frequency image is processed using a pre-recorded table taking into account a contract &khgr; selected by a user in order to obtain an image with reduced dynamic range, and the image with reduced dynamic range is added to the contrast image in order to obtain a compensated thickness image, the pixels having a level below or above a predetermined threshold being returned at least to the value of the threshold, while preserving the differences and real ratios between the anatomical structures.

Abstract: Method of reconstruction of a three-dimensional image of an element of interest comprises a phase of acquisition of digital radiographic images by rotation of an camera around the organ, a phase of marking the position of the element of interest from image to image, and a phase of reconstruction of the three-dimensional image of the element of interest from acquired images and positions of the element of interest successively located in the successive images.

Abstract: A method and system for automatic positioning of a radiology apparatus the type comprising an X-ray emission means capable of emitting an X-ray beam in a so-called viewing direction, and an X-ray reception means, the positioning being carried out in relation to an object to be X-rayed, in which a first direction is determined, a first cone angle of displacement relative to the first direction that is less than the first angle is determined, the viewing direction being calculated so that the image quality will be superior to what would be obtained with a viewing direction parallel to the first direction.

Abstract: Method of acquisition of images of an object in an imaging system equipped with a rotating assembly comprising an energy beam emitter and an energy beam receiver, the energy beam being centered on an axis, in which a continuous path of the moving assembly is defined along at least two axes of a three-dimensional reference, the axis of the energy beam describing a left curve on the path; and, in the course of the path, the energy beam is emitted and images are acquired.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the management of the dynamics of a digitized radiological image of the type comprising a radiation source and a means of detection of the radiation source after it has crossed an object of interest, the means of detection capable of converting the radiation source into a digital electronic signal, including means for defining an intensity threshold from a so-called digitized input image, means for deducing therefrom an algebraic compensation image to raise the pixels of level below the threshold, and means for adding the input image and the compensation image, in order to obtain a compensated image which preserves the differences and the real relations between internal structures of the object of interest. The method and apparatus is useful in X-ray radiological imaging of internal organs of the human body.

Abstract: Method and system for compensating for the thickness of an organ in a radiology instrument, in which an image of the radiological thicknesses of the organ through which the X-ray beam has passed is calculated on the basis of a digitized image, the thickness image is filtered using a low-pass filter in order to obtain a low-frequency image, the low-frequency image is subtracted from the radiological thickness image in order to obtain a contrast image, the lowfrequency image is processed using a pre-recorded table taking into account a contract &khgr; selected by a user in order to obtain an image with reduced dynamic range, and the image with reduced dynamic range is added to the contrast image in order to obtain a compensated thickness image, the pixels having a level below or above a predetermined threshold being returned at least to the value of the said threshold, while preserving the differences and real ratios between the anatomical structures.

Abstract: A digitized secondary image which promotes predetermined elements of interest of the object is created from each primary image, digital processing for two-dimensional mutual resetting of the secondary images is carried out per pair of consecutive images, for each current reset secondary image a region common to the said current image and to the following reset secondary image is defined which is bounded by the two respective median horizontal lines of the two reset secondary images, and the digitized overall radiographic picture is created from the upper region of the first reset secondary image of the succession, lying above the common region of this first image, from the lower region of the last reset secondary image of the succession, lying below the common region of this last image, and from the common regions of each pair of reset secondary images.

Abstract: To acquire the images around an elongated object, the direction of this object is identified. To this end, in a first image, a point constituting an image of a locus of the object is designated and localized. The image of the epipolar straight line that connects the focal spot of the X-ray tube to the localized point is plotted in the second image. In this image of the epipolar straight line, a point homologous to the point in the first image is designated and localized. From the localizations of these points, the position in space of the characteristic point is deduced. This operation is reiterated for a second characteristic locus. The orientation of the object is deduced from these two characteristic loci. The position of the imaging device is then set accordingly.

Abstract: The bogie has two side-frames. Each side-frame has an opening in which a respective end of a bolster bar rests upon the side-frame by way of suspension springs. Two wedges, themselves supported by springs and having an oblique face which is thereby pressed against an oblique face of the bolster, consequently assume a friction bearing against a frictional face of the side-frame so as to damp the suspension oscillations. The oblique faces are not only oblique with respect to the vertical, but also with respect to the longitudinal midline of the bogie. The horizontal force to which the wedge is subjected consequently comprises a transverse component which is used to clamp the side-frame between the wedge and a reference face of the bolster.

Abstract: Images representing one and the same scene, but acquired under conditions such taht the subject has moved, are automatically reset by making an automatic selection of a homogenous population of landmarks and by computing the shift vectors associated with these landmarks. It is shown that, in order to select the landmarks, it is worthwhile to characterize the image by a certain number of characteristic mangitudes representing the solidity of these landmarks. The solidity of the landmarks is the ability of a landmark to be the site of an exact measurement of shift for a required precision.

Abstract: An intermodal road/rail transportation system wherein the freight containers or road trailers are adapted for transportation on detachable rail trucks or bogies. The system includes various bogie constructions, locking devices and trailer constructions which obviate the disadvantages of the prior art by, among other things, absorbing and/or minimizing the various stresses applied to the system. In the rail mode, the system allows the sequential starting of rail cars, thereby reducing the force necessary to start a string of trailers. The system also includes a variety of compatibility components to allow use of the system with other dissimilar intermodal or bimodal systems and/or conventional locomotives and freight containers.

Abstract: An intermodal road/rail transportation system wherein the freight containers or road trailers are adapted for transportation on detachable rail trucks or bogies. The system includes various bogie constructions, locking devices and trailer constructions which obviate the disadvantages of the prior art by, among other things, absorbing and/or minimizing the various stresses applied to the system. In the rail mode, the system allows the sequential starting of rail cars, thereby reducing the force necessary to start a string of trailers.

Abstract: To compress the values of the pixels of a digitalized image, the values of the pixels neighboring the pixel to be processed are memorized and, according to their respective values, a code number is produced leading to the encoding process according to a composed code or to the encoding of the pixel itself, with a prefix. The successive codes are formatted and concatenated to be memorized.

Abstract: The formatting/unformatting device of the invention especially comprises a formatting device made up of a justifier linked to an input register, the output of which is linked, through a multiplexer, to the residue input of the justifier as well as to a first intermediate register through another multiplexer and to another multiplexer. The latter multiplexer is linked to a second intermediate register and an output multiplexer, the output of which is linked to an output register which acts as a buffer for the bulk memory.

Abstract: The invention is related to the compression of digitized data to load a buffer memory with a view to the transfer of data towards a mass storage.The invention consists especially in transmitting the difference D.sub.n between two consecutive pixels X.sub.n-1 and X.sub.n instead of these latter, this difference being the most often codable on a small number of bits and in suppressing the sign bit whenever possible, i.e. each time that the indetermination on the sign is raised by the comparison between D.sub.n and X.sub.n-1. The process and device according to the invention are adapted to be applied, in particular, to the storage of images.