Abstract: A medical imaging system has a radiation source, a radiation sensor, a data-collection unit, and an imaging system. The radiation source has an opening to direct a collimated radiation beam in a direction towards a patient. The radiation sensor is disposed proximate the opening and within the collimated radiation beam to measure a fluence of the collimated radiation beam. The data-collection unit is disposed to collect radiation from the collimated beam after interaction with the patient. The imaging system is in communication with the data-collection unit and configured to generate an image of a portion of the patient from the collected radiation.

Abstract: A medical imaging system has a radiation source, a radiation sensor, a data-collection unit, and an imaging system. The radiation source has an opening to direct a collimated radiation beam in a direction towards a patient. The radiation sensor is disposed proximate the opening and within the collimated radiation beam to measure a fluence of the collimated radiation beam. The data-collection unit is disposed to collect radiation from the collimated beam after interaction with the patient. The imaging system is in communication with the data-collection unit and configured to generate an image of a portion of the patient from the collected radiation.

Abstract: A medical imaging system has a radiation source, a radiation sensor, a data-collection unit, and an imaging system. The radiation source has an opening to direct a collimated radiation beam in a direction towards a patient. The radiation sensor is disposed proximate the opening and within the collimated radiation beam to measure a fluence of the collimated radiation beam. The data-collection unit is disposed to collect radiation from the collimated beam after interaction with the patient. The imaging system is in communication with the data-collection unit and configured to generate an image of a portion of the patient from the collected radiation.

Abstract: A medical imaging system has a radiation source, a radiation sensor, a data-collection unit, and an imaging system. The radiation source has an opening to direct a collimated radiation beam in a direction towards a patient. The radiation sensor is disposed proximate the opening and within the collimated radiation beam to measure a fluence of the collimated radiation beam. The data-collection unit is disposed to collect radiation from the collimated beam after interaction with the patient. The imaging system is in communication with the data-collection unit and configured to generate an image of a portion of the patient from the collected radiation.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for the testing and reconfiguration of x-ray devices. In one embodiment, a test bed effectuates testing of an acquired x-ray device to determine a cause of the inoperability of the device. The x-ray device test bed may be provided to test a plurality of x-ray devices and, therefore, readily adaptable to such devices. The x-ray device test bed may include a mount for an x-ray tube. A variable power supply may be coupled to the x-ray tube to provide the requisite high-voltage electrical energy thereto. The x-ray device test bed may also include a mount for an imaging module (e.g., a “flat-panel sensor”). A processor may be coupled to the imaging module to determine the operational characteristics thereof. If certain x-ray components are deemed inoperable, the x-ray components may be replaced such that the x-ray device may be reintroduced to a medical industry segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for the testing and reconfiguration of x-ray devices. In one embodiment, a test bed effectuates testing of an acquired x-ray device to determine a cause of the inoperability of the device. The x-ray device test bed may be provided to test a plurality of x-ray devices and, therefore, readily adaptable to such devices. The x-ray device test bed may include a mount for an x-ray tube. A variable power supply may be coupled to the x-ray tube to provide the requisite high-voltage electrical energy thereto. The x-ray device test bed may also include a mount for an imaging module (e.g., a “flat-panel sensor”). A processor may be coupled to the imaging module to determine the operational characteristics thereof. If certain x-ray components are deemed inoperable, the x-ray components may be replaced such that the x-ray device may be reintroduced to a medical industry segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for the testing and reconfiguration of x-ray devices. In one embodiment, a test bed effectuates testing of an acquired x-ray device to determine a cause of the inoperability of the device. The x-ray device test bed may be provided to test a plurality of x-ray devices and, therefore, readily adaptable to such devices. The x-ray device test bed may include a mount for an x-ray tube. A variable power supply may be coupled to the x-ray tube to provide the requisite high-voltage electrical energy thereto. The x-ray device test bed may also include a mount for an imaging module (e.g., a “flat-panel sensor”). A processor may be coupled to the imaging module to determine the operational characteristics thereof. If certain x-ray components are deemed inoperable, the x-ray components may be replaced such that the x-ray device may be reintroduced to a medical industry segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for the testing and reconfiguration of x-ray devices. In one embodiment, a test bed effectuates testing of an acquired x-ray device to determine a cause of the inoperability of the device. The x-ray device test bed may be provided to test a plurality of x-ray devices and, therefore, readily adaptable to such devices. The x-ray device test bed may include a mount for an x-ray tube. A variable power supply may be coupled to the x-ray tube to provide the requisite high-voltage electrical energy thereto. The x-ray device test bed may also include a mount for an imaging module (e.g., a “flat-panel sensor”). A processor may be coupled to the imaging module to determine the operational characteristics thereof. If certain x-ray components are deemed inoperable, the x-ray components may be replaced such that the x-ray device may be reintroduced to a medical industry segment.

Abstract: A desitometer gantry may translate in two directions for scanning and may swivel about a vertical axis to allow the radiation angle and the detector-to-patient distance to be altered during a scan so as to provide constant magnification of the image and to align the patient's spine with the radiation beam for more accurate edge measurements. A method of reducing the effects of osteophytes on density measurements applies an iterative threshold based on the density difference between hard and soft tissue.

Abstract: A digital scan projection radiography system is disclosed which is particularly adapted for the rigors of portable deployment. The system scans by gravity. A cam mechanism is employed which raises the pivot of a pivotally suspended scanner assembly including source, detector and other components to render gravitational potential energy of the scanner assembly approximately linear with respect to angular scanning displacement. This feature enables limiting scanning angular velocity to an approximately constant value with the aid of only a friction brake. The feature also causes the detector scanning path to more closely approximate a linear path than an arcuate path which would result from simple pivotal pendulum scanning.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for utilizing image pixel value information generated by a digital radiographic system for quantifying the amount of calcium in a particular object of interest within a subject, wherein the subject also contains additional quantities of calcium located at positions such that the additional calcium interfers with the acquisition of data describing the object of interest. A cursor configured as a parallelogram is described and pixel values are summed along lines parallel to the sides of the parallelogram. A profile is generated from these summations. A portion of the profile corresponding to pixel lines not intersecting the object of interest is used to estimate the contribution of background and other calcium to the profile as a whole, and this estimated value is subtracted from the total profile. Integration of the remainder of the profile provides a scalar value corresponding to the amount of calcium in the object of interest.

Abstract: A digital radiographic system and method is disclosed having improved detector resolution. The system includes an X-ray source and a spaced detector assembly having several staggered columns of uniform square detector elements. The detector elements are thus arranged in interspersed rows with the center-to-center spacing between successive members of each row being about twice the lateral dimension of each square element. In response to incident X-radiation, each detector element produces an electrical charge signal indicative of the radiation. Power means actuates the source to propagate X-ray energy in a beam along a path toward the detector assembly, in which path a subject may be interposed for examination. Mechanism is provided for scanning the detector assembly, synchronously and in alignment with the X-ray beam, relative to a subject. The relative scanning motion is perpendicular to the columns of detector elements.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic apparatus (A) generates medical diagnostic data which is reconstructed by an imager (B) into an electronic image representation. The electronic image representation includes an array of digital pixel values which represent a gray scale intensity of a man-readable image displayed on a video monitor (62). An image improving circuit (C) replaces each pixel value I(i,j) with an improved pixel value I'(i,j) defined as follows:I'(i,j)=G(i,j)[I(i,j)-I(i,j)]+I(i,j),where G(i,j) is a transfer function uniquely defined for each pixel and I is the mean of pixel values of neighboring pixels. The transfer function is based on a self-similarity value which is derived by comparing (i) a variation between the pixel value I(i,j) and pixel values in a first surrounding ring with (ii) a variation between the pixel value I(i,j) and pixel values in a second, larger surrounding ring. A zoom circuit (D) enlarges a selected portion of an improved image.