Abstract: Abstract: An X-ray system (1, 10) for imaging and a gain calibration method are disclosed. An assembly (4, 14) of the system is moveable to different scan coordinates to acquire X-ray projection images at a plurality of said scan coordinates in a dynamic mode while the assembly is moving. The assembly is also moveable to a predetermined reference coordinate to acquire an X-ray projection image at said reference coordinate in a static mode while the assembly is resting. At least one processing unit (5), comprised by the X-ray system, is configured for receiving a plurality of dynamic gain calibration parameters as first inputs, for obtaining a static gain calibration parameter as a second input and for determining a plurality of adjusted dynamic gain calibration parameters. Each dynamic gain calibration parameter is obtained from an X-ray projection image acquired in the dynamic mode at one of the scan coordinates.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for determining a control protocol for controlling a C-arm system comprising a radiation source. The control protocol comprises a sequence of roll angles and a sequence of propeller angles. The apparatus comprises a tilt plane providing unit for providing a tilt plane tilted with respect to a vertical plane, and a control protocol determining unit for determining a control protocol by determining the sequence of roll angles and the sequence of propeller angles such that the radiation source follows a trajectory that comprises a circular component in the tilt plane and that allows the C-arm system to acquire projection data for image reconstruction. The apparatus allows to acquire computed images, for instance tomographic images, with an improved quality and to reduce radiation in radiation-sensitive areas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for controlling a position of an anti-scatter grid in an X-ray image acquisition system, the device (10) comprising: a measurement unit (12); a control unit (14); and a shifting unit (16); wherein the measurement unit (12) is configured to determine an X-ray beam focus position (37) of an X-ray radiation source of the X-ray image acquisition system with respect to an X-ray detector of the X-ray image acquisition system; wherein the control unit (14) is configured to generate a shifting signal based on a displacement (18) between the X-ray beam focus position (37) and a grid focus position (35) of the anti-scatter grid; and wherein, based on the shifting signal, the shifting unit (16) is configured to shift an anti-scatter grid of the X-ray image acquisition system in at least one direction to align the anti-scatter grid with the X-ray beam focus position (37), provides an improved anti-scatter grid for X-ray acquisition systems.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a beam shaping filter (1) for use in a cone beam computed tomography system. The filter comprises a radiation attenuating element for positioning between an x-ray source of the cone beam computed tomography system and an object to be imaged. The radiation attenuation as function of position in at least a part (2) of the radiation attenuating element is rotationally symmetric with respect to a point of rotational symmetry (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for controlling a position of an anti-scatter grid in an X-ray image acquisition system, the device (10) comprising: a measurement unit (12); a control unit (14); and a shifting unit (16); wherein the measurement unit (12) is configured to determine an X-ray beam focus position (37) of an X-ray radiation source of the X-ray image acquisition system with respect to an X-ray detector of the X-ray image acquisition system; wherein the control unit (14) is configured to generate a shifting signal based on a displacement (18) between the X-ray beam focus position (37) and a grid focus position (35) of the anti-scatter grid; and wherein, based on the shifting signal, the shifting unit (16) is configured to shift an anti-scatter grid of the X-ray image acquisition system in at least one direction to align the anti-scatter grid with the X-ray beam focus position (37), provides an improved anti-scatter grid for X-ray acquisition systems.

Abstract: An X-ray emitting device (200) with an attenuating element (1) for an X-ray imaging device (100) is proposed. The attenuating element comprises a perforated sheet (3) of strongly X-ray absorbing material such as e.g. tungsten or molybdenum with a sheet thickness of e.g. less than 1 mm. The sheet (3) comprises multiple pinhole openings (5). Therein, a density of pinhole openings is higher at a center region of the sheet than at border regions of the sheet. Accordingly, a transparency to X-rays is higher at the center region than at the border regions. The pinhole openings (5) have geometries such that most parts of contours of the pinhole openings are non-parallel to edges of a focal spot (15) of an X-ray source (101) comprised in the X-ray emitting device. For example, the pinhole openings may have a circular, oval or any other cross-sectional geometry with non-linear edges.

Abstract: An X-ray emitting device (200) with an attenuating element (1) for an X-ray imaging device (100) is proposed. The attenuating element comprises a perforated sheet (3) of strongly X-ray absorbing material such as e.g. tungsten or molybdenum with a sheet thickness of e.g. less than 1 mm. The sheet (3) comprises multiple pinhole openings (5). Therein, a density of pinhole openings is higher at a center region of the sheet than at border regions of the sheet. Accordingly, a transparency to X-rays is higher at the center region than at the border regions. The pinhole openings (5) have geometries such that most parts of contours of the pinhole openings are non-parallel to edges of a focal spot (15) of an X-ray source (101) comprised in the X-ray emitting device. For example, the pinhole openings may have a circular, oval or any other cross-sectional geometry with non- linear edges.

Abstract: An apparatus aids operation of an interventional x-ray imager during image acquisition, where the X-ray imager is configured to vary X-ray dosages depending on differences in X-ray attenuation levels across an object of interest to be imaged. The X-ray imager is further configured to assume any one of a plurality of imaging geometry positions when acquiring an image. An indication, visual, acoustic or haptic, to the operator of the X-ray imager is provided on the incurred change in X-ray dosage when changing from a current projection view to an updated projection view, while a given constant image quality is maintained throughout the different views.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for aiding operation of an interventional x-ray imager during image acquisition, to a method of aiding operation of an x-ray imager, to an interventional x-ray imager, to a computer program element and to a computer readable medium. The X-ray imager is capable of varying X-ray dosages depending on differences in X-ray attenuation levels across an object of interest to be imaged and is capable of assuming any one of a plurality of imaging geometry positions when acquiring an image. An indication, visual, acoustic or haptic, to the operator of an X-ray imager is provided on the incurred change in X-ray dosage when changing from a current projection view to an updated projection view, provided that a given constant image quality is to be maintained throughout the different views.