Abstract: A digitized tomosynthesis method, system and apparatus is provided for obtaining 3D volumetric imaging of an object wherein a ray of energy from a source travels through the object to impinge on an energy sensor defining an image plane and the object is rotated about an axis whereby an image is acquired by the energy sensor at successive rotational positions of the object, and wherein the object is rotated about an axis of rotation at a canted angle with respect to the image plane.

Abstract: A ray tracing kernel calibration procedure for the film simulation mode of digitized tomosynthesis in which the coordinate of the source position with respect to an energy source, e.g., x-ray radiation, is determined. Shadow images of registration markers are used to aid in computing the azimuth; computing the elevation angle; and using the elevation angle and azimuth to compute the coordinate of source position with respect to the sensor.

Abstract: A digitized tomosynthesis method for projecting a 3D volumetric image of an object onto a virtual projection plane that comprises an alpha blend plane subdivided into a rectangular array of pixel cells. A ray of energy defines a trace representing a virtual sight path ray passing from a view point through one pixel cell of the alpha blend plane to define a view level image, wherein a 3D volumetric image of the object is projected by computing the coordinate of an object voxel referenced to the image plane, computing the image plane intercept of the ray of energy from the source through the object voxel, and forming a plurality of successively selected view level image planes at the alpha blend plane.

Abstract: A ray tracing kernel calibration procedure for the film simulation mode of digitized tomosynthesis in which the coordinate of the source position with respect to an energy source, e.g., x-ray radiation, is determined. Shadow images of registration markers are used to aid in computing the azimuth; computing the elevation angle; and using the elevation angle and azimuth to compute the coordinate of source position with respect to the sensor.

Abstract: A digitized tomosynthesis method, system and apparatus is provided for obtaining 3D volumetric imaging of an object wherein a ray of energy from a source travels through the object to impinge on an energy sensor defining an image plane and the object is rotated about an axis whereby an image is acquired by the energy sensor at successive rotational positions of the object, and wherein the object is rotated about an axis of rotation at a canted angle with respect to the image plane. In specific embodiments, the energy is in the form of electromagnetic radiation, particularly x-ray radiation, and the energy sensor is a flat panel digital detector. A ray of energy from the source is mathematically traced through a voxel of the object space to the image plane, the coordinate of the shadow of the voxel on the image plane is computed for each object rotation, and the image data is extracted and combined to form the object space voxel.

Abstract: A digitized tomosynthesis method for projecting a 3D volumetric image of an object onto a virtual projection plane that comprises an alpha blend plane subdivided into a rectangular array of pixel cells.

Abstract: An apparatus for representing an internal structure of an object includes an energy source, an energy sensor for sensing energy from the energy source and generating image data pertaining to an object disposed proximate the energy sensor and exposed to energy from the energy source, and a processor programmed to manipulate image data obtained from the energy source as a function of an actual orientation between the radiation source and the energy sensor from which an image of the object can be generated. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The center of a reference mark is located by decreasing the range of pixel values defining an image defect. The pixel values defining the digital image are then enhanced to amplify the pixel values representing the reference mark and decrease the pixel values representing the background. The center of the digital image of the reference mark is determined from the altered image.

Abstract: An object is exposed to penetrating radiation at each of a plurality of partial rotations of the object. Radiation transmitted through the object strikes a separate sheet of radiographic film for each exposure to record an entire radiographic image of the object for each angular orientation. At least two reference markers for providing a reference relative to the object are positioned between a rotating device and the sheet of radiographic film. They are positioned so that their centers constitute the base points of an equilateral triangle, the apex point thereof being the center of the rotating device.

Abstract: An object is exposed to penetrating radiation at each of a plurality of partial rotations of the object. Radiation transmitted through the object strikes a separate sheet of radiographic film for each exposure to record an entire radiographic image of the object for each angular orientation. The radiographic images are digitized and stored in the memory of a computer. Each digitized image is registered by determining the error of rotation and center of rotation for each digitized image and correcting for the error of rotation by rotation and translation of pixel values. One or more displacement values are selected in correspondence with one or more desired levels of view and the digitized images are displaced according to the selected displacement values. The displaced images are then combined to produce images representative of the selected levels of view. Image planes non-parallel to the film image plane may be selected and interactive image enhancement and manipulation are provided.