Abstract: The presently described technology provides a tomosynthesis imaging system that comprises an x-ray tube and an anti-scatter grid. The x-ray tube is configured to emit x-rays from a plurality of positions during movement of the x-ray tube along a long axis of a mobile patient surface. The anti-scatter grid is configured to filter out scattered x-rays and includes a grid line parallel to the long axis of the mobile patient surface. The x-rays emitted from the plurality of positions are reconstructed into at least one image of at least one plane of a patient anatomy. The described technology is useful in emergency or trauma applications where a patient may be quickly and easily moved on a mobile patient surface to a position near an x-ray detector used in combination with the x-ray tube and anti-scatter grid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing independent exposure detection, X-ray spectrum and timing compensation, and providing an exposure termination signal to an X-ray system. The system incorporates an interface for receiving exposure characteristic data such as kVp, spectral filter, and focal spot. The system through a programmed controller determines one or more control parameters based on the received exposure characteristic data and generates a control signal for controlling an X-ray source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing independent exposure detection, X-ray spectrum and timing compensation, and providing an exposure termination signal to an X-ray system. The system incorporates an interface for receiving exposure characteristic data such as kVp, spectral filter, and focal spot. The system through a programmed controller determines one or more control parameters based on the received exposure characteristic data and generates a control signal for controlling an X-ray source.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which, in some embodiments, an electronic sensor is positioned in the field of projection of an X-ray source, and the electronic sensor measures the deviation between a visible light field and an X-ray field. In some embodiments, the deviation is scaled in reference to the position of the electronic sensor between an X-ray receptor and the X-ray source.

Abstract: A method is provided for maximizing substrate usage in the fabrication of flat panel displays or detectors, while also maximizing electrostatic protection for the displays or detectors. Initially, at least two detectors are positioned on the substrate, with each of the detectors having a guard ring of a certain width. At least a section of the guard ring width of one detector is approximately adjacent to a section of the guard ring width of another detector. The approximately adjacent guard ring width sections are then positioned such that a maximum overlap of the adjacent guard ring width sections is achieved, while still providing each display or detector with electrostatic discharge protection. Each of the detectors is separated from the other detectors and the remainder of the substrate by the process of scribing partially through the substrate and breaking at the scribe mark or by sawing.

Abstract: Automatic exposure control for an x-ray system using a large area solid state x-ray detector includes an array of photodiodes located behind the x-ray image detector to measure photons passing therethrough. The resulting currents from selective ones of these photodiodes are combined to provide a signal used to control the x-ray exposure.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system is provided with a vector compounder and a vector splicer for respectively compounding and splicing vector data from multiple firings along a scan line to improve image quality. The compounder consists of an accumulator which sums the vector data of at least two vector data sets and then scales the summed vector data by a scaling factor. Preferably, the scaling factor equals 1/n, where n is the number of vector data sets being summed. The splicer splices compounded vector data to form a single output vector data set in accordance with a weighting function that splices vector data from a first compounded vector data set for a firing having a first range of maximum focus and vector data from a second compounded vector data set for a firing having a second range of maximum focus with a transition region therebetween. The vector data from the first and second compounded vector data sets are combined in the transition region using a piecewise linear weighting function.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for increasing the apparent acoustic frame rate of ultrasound images. Frames of acoustic data are acquired at the acoustic frame rate, stored in double-buffered acoustic frame buffers and scan converted one after the other. For each pair of successive frames, the first acoustic frame is stored in a frame delay buffer while the other acoustic frame is being scan converted. In accordance with this scheme, the scan converter is always reading from an acoustic frame buffer that contains a single complete frame of acoustic data, thereby eliminating the swirl artifact. To increase the apparent acoustic frame rate, the scan-converted acoustic data is input to a scan-converted frame interpolator, which incorporates the frame delay buffer, a frame interpolator programmable read only memory (PROM) and a software-programmable inter-polator bank select look-up table.

Abstract: In a method for maximizing frame rate of an ultrasound imaging apparatus, ultrasound B and color mode vector density are reduced. Initially, an actual displayed image size is determined. A minimum vector density requirement is then determined for B which will provide a useful image based on the actual displayed image size. The number of vectors in the image is then adjusted to meet the minimum vector density requirement.

Abstract: A dynamic firing sequence for ultrasound imaging apparatus can be achieved in accordance with the present invention. Initially, operator selected parameters are provided and predetermined system constants are stored. The operator selected parameters in B mode include imaging depth. The operator selected parameters in Doppler mode include velocity scale, doppler range gate position and Doppler range gate size. The operator selected parameters in color mode include velocity scale and region of interest depth. PRI and minimum vector time are calculated using the operator selected parameters and the predetermined system constants. These calculations are used to maximize interleaving, thereby maximizing frame rate.

Abstract: A color adaptive frame averaging method for an ultrasound imaging system adds persistence to images. The color adaptive frame averaging is achieved by computing filter weighting coefficients and using the filter weighting coefficients to compensate for aliased color data. Frame rate compensation is achieved by adjusting the filter weighting coefficients. In accordance with the present invention, the color adaptive frame averaging method comprises a filter, such as an infinite impulse response filter.

Abstract: A doppler dead zone avoidance method is used in an ultrasound imaging apparatus to avoid the situation where time of flight equals PRI, or the time between doppler firings. Initially, range gate size and transmit parameters are optimized. This optimization of range gate size and transmit parameters is used to minimally adjust an operator selected velocity scale, as needed. Higher velocity scales can be achieved, based on optimization and minimization.

Abstract: A method for reducing speckle artifact in an ultrasound image using a two-dimensional median filter having a diamond-shaped five-point kernel. The entire pixel image data is passed through the filter in a manner such that the center point of the kernel is effectively stepped down each range vector in sequence. The magnitudes of the pixel data at each of the five points in the kernel are compared and the value which has the middle magnitude is adopted as a new pixel value, which is substituted for the old pixel value at the center point. After a new filtered vector has been formed from the new pixel values produced at successive center points by stepping down one acoustic vector, the kernel is shifted by one vector and stepped down range again. This process continues through the entire set of vectors until a new set of filtered vectors is formed. This filter will remove speckle holes on the order of one pixel in size while preserving good edge definition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in a medical x-ray imaging system of the type including an x-ray source, an image intensifier tube for providing a momentary x-ray image of a patient exposed to x-rays and a video camera having video processing circuits for providing signals representative of a video image of the x-ray image on the intensifier tube to a video monitor provides a flickerless image presentation on the video monitor when the x-ray exposure repetition rate is different from the field scan rate of the video camera. The apparatus enables this result by sensing initiation of a first x-ray exposure and setting the amplification of the video processing circuits to a first value for obtaining a suitable presentation of the image. The apparatus then scans the image on the video camera to provide a first field of image presentation to the video monitor with the amplification set at the first value.