Abstract: With the aid of discriminators on a picture element of an X-ray detector, digital outputs are generated that indicate energy intervals to which X-ray quanta are allocated. If this occurs for adjacent picture elements, a distinction may be made between true coincidences, in which k-fluorescence photons play a part, and random coincidences in which two primary quanta randomly strike adjacent picture elements. The energy of the primary quantum may also be at least roughly reconstructed in the case of true coincidences. An energy-triggering measurement may thereby be provided to the extent that different materials of a picture object should be distinguished.

Abstract: A medical user interface and workflow management system for use in X-ray imaging related procedures includes at least one repository. The at least one repository stores data indicating X-ray imaging related characteristics of a current medical procedure being performed including data identifying a type of procedure, comprising at least one of, (a) a current medical procedure is a cardiac related procedure and (b) a current medical procedure is an Angiography procedure. A workflow processor manages and tracks tasks being performed in a current medical procedure and adaptively selects a next task for performance following completion of a current task by selecting the next task based on the current task and in response to the X-ray imaging related characteristics. A user interface generates data representing at least one display image for presentation to a user. The at least one display image includes image elements associated with the selected next task enabling performance of the selected next task.

Abstract: A buffer on detector elements of an X-ray radiation detector can be used, when acquiring a number of 2D X-ray image data records with the aid of an X-ray angiography system, to acquire 2D image data records at a relatively short interval one after the other with the aid of different X-ray spectra, to allow dual-energy imaging, which may be of particularly good quality.

Abstract: An image processing system and method to resize image data from two sources of image data. The method includes receiving a first matrix of image data from a first detector and a second matrix of image data from a second detector. Detector-specific image correction is performed on the first matrix data and the second matrix data independently. The first matrix and the second matrix are re-mapped into virtual matrices of a common size, which are processed through a common image pipeline. The virtual matrices are remapped into different matrix sizes for further processing or display.

Abstract: A radiation detector, in particular an X-ray radiation detector, in the form of a flat-panel detector, may comprise a scintillator layer applied to a substrate and comprising elongated needles made from a scintillator material forming the scintillator layer, and an actively readable pixel array composed of photodiodes, wherein the thickness of the scintillator layer may be in the range of 900 ?m-2500 ?m, and wherein the angle at which the needles stand relative to the pixel array, starting from 90° in the center of the detector, may decrease with increasing distance from the center of the detector.

Abstract: A system and method enhance the visibility of medical devices shown in internal images. A medical device may be inserted into a patient. Internal images of the patient may then be acquired via various medical imaging techniques. However, the medical device may only be partially visible in the images, if at all. For instance, the images may be acquired with minimal radiation exposure to the patient and/or the medical device may be thin or made of translucent material. Model data may be associated with the geometry or other characteristics of the medical device. The model data may be adapted, such as rotated, resized, bent, or otherwise modified, to form a “best fit” with the medical device as actually shown in the internal images. The adapted model data may be superimposed onto a display of the medical device as shown in the internal images to enhance visibility of the medical device.

Abstract: In a flat image detector and method for the generation of medical digital images, the flat image detector is in particular suitable for a medical X-ray device and equipped with at least one active matrix (MX, MX2) made up of pixel-readout units, wherein the light generated in the scintillator (SZ) can be read out on both sides in the direction of the incoming X-ray radiation (R) in front of and behind the scintillator, with the aid of such an active matrix in each case arranged on each side of the scintillator.

Abstract: A system and method provide local image enhancement. Internal native images of a patient may be acquired during an interventional procedure. A portion of the native images may show an interventional device or material. Subtracted images may be created by subtracting mask images from the native images, such as via either digital subtraction angiography to display vessel structures, or “roadmapping” during interventional procedures to deploy various medical devices and materials. The local level of absorption associated with the portion of the images showing a vessel structure or in which the interventional object resides may be determined from either the native images or the mask images. Subsequently, the subtracted images may be locally altered to compensate for the local level of absorption such that the visibility of a vessel structure or interventional object is enhanced. The subtracted images may be enhanced by altering the local contrast, brightness, or sharpness, or noise.

Abstract: To improve the image quality of X-ray images recorded by way of flat detectors, a method for non-linear image processing is provided. An X-ray raw image which is read from a pixel matrix is converted to an X-ray image, wherein the pixel matrix contains pixel elements of a bit depth which is considerably less than the number of pixel elements. A final value is determined for each raw value and can be calculated by use of a non-linear image processing algorithm. Table values are called up and used at least in some cases for the determination of the final values. The table values are associated in a table with corresponding bit values, the maximum number of which is defined by the bit depth.

Abstract: For a simplified and particularly flexible control of an x-ray system having an x-ray source, an x-ray detector and a control and monitoring unit, the control and monitoring unit is designed to be mobile and portable and has means for controlling and monitoring the x-ray system. In particular, the portable control and monitoring unit has a computing unit, a data storage device, means for image processing, means for outputting and displaying imaging and/or system data and means for inputting data and/or instructions.

Abstract: A method for enhanced visualization of objects in interventional angiographic examinations is proposed. An empty image, a fill image with contrast-agent-filled vascular tree, and a native image and/or one further image with introduced object are acquired by a detector having a matrix-shaped array of pixels. The empty image is subtracted from the fill image to generate a subtraction image. The subtraction image is displaced by at least one pixel in the x- and/or y-direction and subsequently summed to generate a modified vessel image as a mask which has a substantially improved signal-to-noise ratio. The vascular tree in the modified vessel image is segmented to generate a segmentation image. The modified vessel image, the segmentation image with vascular tree, and the native image and/or further image are processed to generate a composite image. The composite image is played back.

Abstract: For the purposes of particularly high image quality, provision is made for a counting X-ray detector for recording a digital X-ray image from X-ray radiation, with pixel readout units (14) arranged in a matrix for detecting and counting X-ray quanta (17) of the X-ray radiation, comprising a scintillator (10) for converting the X-ray radiation into photons (19) and a photocathode (11) for converting photons (19) into electrons (18), wherein each pixel readout unit (14), which has an anode (13), a discriminator (25), a counter (24) and a switching element (20), is assigned at least one gas electron multiplier (GEM) (12) for electron amplification.

Abstract: A method for superimposed representation of images is provided. A first original image is detected in a system dose regulation phase and a second original image is detected during a filling phase in which the vessels are filled with contrast agent by a detector for generating images having pixels arranged in a matrix. Two roadmap images are generated by processing the original images. The roadmap images are alternately represented. A temporal “superimposition” is achieved with the alternate representation of a diagnostic image, for instance a vessel tree and of live images of the interventional phase, for instance those of a moving guide wire so that no complicated connections are needed. No contrast of the individual images gets lost.

Abstract: A method for enhanced visualization of objects in interventional angiographic examinations is provided. X-ray images are recorded during the system dose regulation phase with pure anatomy and during the filling phase with the vessels filled with contrast agent. A mask image is produced from both of the images. Native X-ray images are produced during a working or intervention phase with an object, for example a wire, a catheter or a “coil”, moved in the vessel. The images have a matrix-shaped array of pixels. The pure anatomy images are subtracted from the filling images and from the native images for generating a first subtraction image and a second subtraction image respectively. The first and the second subtraction image are processed for generating a vessel image and an object image respectively. The vessel image and the object image are processed for generating a roadmap image which is played back on a monitor.

Abstract: A system and method to reduce bright burn in images, such as x-ray images. The reduction of bright burn may be accomplished by processing a received raw image to obtain a grey-value histogram. The raw image may be divided into a plurality of regions of interest, and an average signal of each region of interest is calculated. Regions of interest are identified as bright burn candidates based on a predetermined function of the average signal of each region of interest and the grey-value histogram of the entire raw image. The regions of interest may be analyzed for local connectivity to estimate bright burn areas. An image with reduced bright burn is generated by either automatically adjusting a physical wedge filter position based on the bright burn areas, or by adaptively reducing a signal level of the bright burn areas.

Abstract: An X-ray detector (10) for recording digital X-ray images, has a mobile design, with an energy supply unit (14) that has at least one chargeable high-power capacitor (15).

Abstract: An interventional roadmap method with optimization of the mask face is proposed. At least two empty images and at least two fill images are recorded in a mask phase A with a matrix-type array of pixels and stored. The empty and fill images are processed such that the gray values of each pixel of the x-ray images from mask phase A are arranged in ascending order. A mask image is computed from the processed empty and fill images such that the smallest gray values are averaged and from which the mask image will be formed. At least one current x-ray image is recorded and subtracted from the mask image to create roadmap images.

Abstract: A method and a device for optimizing the image display on imaging apparatuses register whether an operator is looking at the imaging apparatus. The image display of the imaging apparatus is optimized, when it is registered that the operator is looking at the imaging apparatus and namely by dimming the room lighting and/or by increasing the contrast of the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the X-ray dosage administered to a patient by a radiation source when using an X-ray device is proposed. The X-ray device is in particular a C-arm X-ray device. A location-dependent dosage value on the surface of the patient is determined with reference to parameters which describe the recording geometry and the radiation that is administered. The surface is described by a patient model in particular. A representation of the dosage value and/or of a value derived therefrom is displayed.

Abstract: An image processing system and method to resize image data from two sources of image data. The method includes receiving a first matrix of image data from a first detector and a second matrix of image data from a second detector. Detector-specific image correction is performed on the first matrix data and the second matrix data independently. The first matrix and the second matrix are re-mapped into virtual matrices of a common size, which are processed through a common image pipeline. The virtual matrices are remapped into different matrix sizes for further processing or display.