Abstract: A method for scattered radiation correction acquires radiographic projection image data for a first portion of a subject that lies within a field of view of an imaging apparatus and characterizes the surface contour of the subject that includes at least a second portion of the subject that lies outside the field of view of the imaging apparatus. The surface contour of the subject is characterized according to the reflectance images. The surface contour characterization is registered to the field of view. Scattered radiation is estimated according to the projection image data and the surface contour characterization. The acquired radiographic projection image data is updated according to the estimated scattered radiation. An image of the field of view is displayed according to the conditioned acquired radiographic projection image data.

Abstract: A mobile radiography apparatus has radio-opaque markers, each marker coupled to a portion of an x-ray head of the mobile radiography apparatus, wherein each of the markers is in a radiation path that extends from an x-ray source. A detector is mechanically uncoupled from the x-ray source for positioning behind a patient. Processing logic is configured to calculate detector position with relation to the x-ray source according to identified marker positions in acquired projection images, remove marker indications in the acquired projection images, reconstruct a volume image according to the acquired projection images, and display one or more portions of the reconstructed volume image.

Abstract: A calibration phantom has a surface having a reflectance calibration target with a pattern that is indicative of one or more spatial reference positions. Radio-opaque markers are disposed in the calibration phantom and are positionally correlated to the one or more spatial reference positions of the reflectance calibration target.

Abstract: A method for processing a radiographic image of a patient, executed at least in part on a host processor, initiates exposure in response to an instruction entered from an operator console and obtains radiographic image data from a digital detector that is subjected to the exposure. The obtained radiographic image data is analyzed according to a set of predefined criteria for diagnostic suitability of the image. One or more results of the diagnostic suitability analysis at the operator console is indicated and a listing of one or more corrective actions at the operator console according to the indicated results is provided.

Abstract: A method rotates a radiation source and a detector over a sequence of acquisition angles about a subject and acquires, at each acquisition angle, a 2D projection image. A simulation subset is formed that contains some, but not all, of the acquired 2D projection images, wherein subset membership is determined according to relative signal change between successive 2D projection images. Scatter is characterized for the acquired sequence of projection images according to the formed simulation subset. One or more of the acquired sequence of projection images is corrected using the scatter characterization. An image volume is reconstructed and stored according to the sequence of scatter corrected projection images. One or more images of the reconstructed image volume are rendered to a display or transmitting the stored image volume data.

Abstract: A method rotates a radiation source and a detector over a sequence of acquisition angles about a subject and acquires, at each acquisition angle, a 2D projection image. A simulation subset is formed that contains some, but not all, of the acquired 2D projection images, wherein subset membership is determined according to relative signal change between successive 2D projection images. Scatter is characterized for the acquired sequence of projection images according to the formed simulation subset. One or more of the acquired sequence of projection images is corrected using the scatter characterization. An image volume is reconstructed and stored according to the sequence of scatter corrected projection images. One or more images of the reconstructed image volume are rendered to a display or transmitting the stored image volume data.

Abstract: A method for generating a modulation tube current waveform acquires reflectance images of a subject and generates a surface contour characterization of the subject according to the reflectance images. The surface contour is registered to the imaged field of view. A volume image is formed according to the generated surface contour. A modulation factor for the radiographic volume imaging apparatus is determined at a plurality of modulation points. A modulation tube current waveform is generated using the modulation factor.

Abstract: A quality control phantom comprises a container and a frame to secure quality control accessories in position within the container during radiologic exposure testing.

Abstract: A method for acquiring a sequence of fluoroscopic images of a subject acquires and displays a basis image from a fluoroscopic imaging system. A region of interest is defined within the displayed basis image in response to one or more viewer instructions entered on the displayed basis image. One or more signals are generated that adjust the position of one or more components of the fluoroscopic imaging system according to the one or more viewer instructions.

Abstract: A mobile radiography apparatus has radio-opaque markers, each marker coupled to a portion of an x-ray head of the mobile radiography apparatus, wherein each of the markers is in a radiation path that extends from an x-ray source. A detector is mechanically uncoupled from the x-ray source for positioning behind a patient. Processing logic is configured to calculate detector position with relation to the x-ray source according to identified marker positions in acquired projection images, remove marker indications in the acquired projection images, reconstruct a volume image according to the acquired projection images, and display one or more portions of the reconstructed volume image.

Abstract: A method for reducing metal artifacts in a volume radiographic image acquires a first set of projection images of an object on a radiographic detector at different acquisition angles. An initial estimate of the volume that includes the object using the acquired projection images is generated. The estimated volume is updated by one or more iterations of generating a second set of scatter-corrected projection images using the acquired first set of projection images and the estimated volume; generating a third set of estimated projection images using forward ray-tracing through the estimated volume; and reconstructing the estimated volume according to a signal quality factor obtained from analysis of the detector signal and used in a comparison of the second set of scatter-corrected projection images with the third set of estimated projection images. One or more images rendered from the updated estimated volume are displayed.

Abstract: A method acquires reflectance image content from patient anatomy that is within a volume of an imaging apparatus defined between a radiation source and a detector and generates a surface contour image from the acquired reflectance image content. The generated surface contour image is compared with surface contour image metrics stored for the imaging apparatus and a recommended adjustment to the position of the patient anatomy is reported according to the comparison.

Abstract: A quality control phantom comprises a container and a frame to secure quality control accessories in position within the container during radiologic exposure testing.

Abstract: A method for defining the shape of a radiation beam that is directed toward a subject and to a free-standing imaging detector detects the position and orientation of the imaging detector relative to a radiation source, then adjusts an aperture that lies in the path of the radiation beam to shape the beam for incidence on a predetermined area of the detector according to the detected imaging detector position. The radiation source is energized to emit the shaped radiation beam and the image data about the subject is acquired from the imaging detector.

Abstract: A system for reconstructing a 3D volume has a surface acquisition system with a light source and an image sensor for characterizing the surface contour of a patient and an X-ray imaging system for acquiring X-ray projection data of the patient from a number of angular positions. A controller is programmed with instructions to synchronize the 3D surface contour characterization from the surface acquisition system with the acquired X-ray projection data. A processor executes a motion reduction method that uses the acquired X-ray projection data and the generated 3D surface contour characterization to reconstruct a 3D volume.

Abstract: A quality control phantom comprises a container and a frame to secure quality control accessories in position within the container during radiologic exposure testing.

Abstract: A method for X-ray spectral calibration acquires X-ray projections of a calibration phantom formed of known materials. The X-ray spectrum of an X-ray source is calculated according to the acquired X-ray projections. The calculated X-ray spectrum can be stored, transmitted, or displayed.

Abstract: A system for reconstructing a 4D image has a surface acquisition system for generating a 3D surface model of an object and an X-ray imaging system for acquiring at least one 2D X-ray projection image of the object. A controller controls the surface acquisition system and the X-ray imaging system. A processor applies a 4D reconstruction algorithm/method to the 3D surface model and the at least one 2D X-ray projection to reconstruct a 4D X-ray volume of the imaged body part in motion.

Abstract: A position sensor has one or more fiducials formed of radio-opaque material and mounted along a surface of a radio-translucent body. A sensor element is coupled to the radio-translucent body and is spaced apart from the one or more fiducials and is energizable to acquire image content during receipt of exposure energy from an X-ray source to the position sensor. The sensor element is in signal communication with a processor and is energizable to generate data that is indicative of a relative position of the X-ray source. A radio-opaque covering is coupled against an outer surface of the radio-translucent body.

Abstract: A method for generating a modulation tube current waveform acquires reflectance images of a subject and generates a surface contour characterization of the subject according to the reflectance images. The surface contour is registered to the imaged field of view. A volume image is formed according to the generated surface contour. A modulation factor for the radiographic volume imaging apparatus is determined at a plurality of modulation points. A modulation tube current waveform is generated using the modulation factor.