Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090041201 | ALIGNMENT APPARATUS FOR IMAGING SYSTEM - An apparatus for aligning a radiation source with an image receiver. The apparatus includes first and second light sources. The first light source is coupled to the image receiver and actuable to direct a first pattern of light toward the radiation source. The second light source is coupled to the image receiver and actuable to direct a second pattern of light toward the radiation source. The spatial relationship of the two patterns on or near the radiation source indicates a predetermined alignment position for the radiation source. | 02-12-2009 |
20090086924 | RADIOGRAPHIC MARKER FOR INCLINATION ANGLE - A radiography marker for indicating the inclination angle of a radiography receiver has a plate portion defining at least one area transparent to radiation and an angle indicator element attached to the plate portion at a pivot point and adjustable along the plate portion to any of a plurality of angular positions over at least a portion of the at least one area transparent to radiation. At least a portion of the indicator element is radio-opaque. | 04-02-2009 |
20090086926 | EXPOSURE CENTERING APPARATUS FOR IMAGING SYSTEM - A radiation imaging system has a radiation source having an adjustable angular orientation and an emitter that provides an alignment signal and is coupled to the radiation source. A two dimensional radiation image detection device has a receiver that records an image according to radiation emitted from the radiation source, a first sensor coupled in a fixed position relative to the receiver that detects the alignment signal from the emitter and provides a first response signal and a second sensor coupled in a fixed position relative to the receiver that detects the alignment signal from the emitter and provides a second response signal. A control logic processor is in communication with the first and second sensors for receiving the first and second response signals and further in communication with at least one indicator for indicating the alignment of the image detection device relative to the radiation source. | 04-02-2009 |
20090086927 | ALIGNMENT APPARATUS FOR IMAGING SYSTEM USING REFLECTIVE ELEMENT - An apparatus for aligning a radiation source with an image receiver has a first light source coupled to the radiation source and actuable to direct a first beam of light toward the image receiver and a second light source coupled to the radiation source and actuable to direct a second beam of light toward the image receiver. A reflector element is coupled to the image receiver and is disposed to form, when placed in the path of both first and second light beams, a pattern of reflected light that indicates the relative alignment of the image receiver to the radiation source. | 04-02-2009 |
20090108218 | MANAGEMENT OF ERASURE INTERVALS FOR STORAGE MEDIUM OF A RADIOGRAPHY CASSETTE - An apparatus for obtaining a radiographic image has a cassette with an erasable photostimulable storage medium, housed in the cassette, that can store a radiographic image when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation at an exposure wavelength and that can be erased for subsequent use when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation at an erasure wavelength. A memory that is associated with the cassette stores a signal that is indicative of elapsed time since the most recent erasure of the photostimulable medium. | 04-30-2009 |
20090161980 | SPECKLE REPORTING IN DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING - A method for reporting image quality obtains a digital radiological image and processes the image to detect at least one speckle. Noise signal magnitude in the digital radiological image is estimated. At least one speckle is identified according to its signal magnitude relative to the noise signal estimate. The at least one speckle detected in the image is reported. | 06-25-2009 |
20100080355 | ACQUISITION OF HIGH SPEED DUAL-ENERGY IMAGES USING A SINGLE PIXILATED DIGITAL DETECTOR - A method is disclosed for acquiring a high speed dual-energy image pair using a pixilated digital detector. A single pixilated digital detector acquires and encodes two separate images in effectively one image, eliminating the need to read out a first image prior to acquiring a second image. The encoded information is then utilized to obtain two distinct dual-energy images which may be decomposed to form bone and soft-tissue only images. | 04-01-2010 |
20100086182 | DIAGNOSTIC IMAGE PROCESSING WITH AUTOMATIC SELF IMAGE QUALITY VALIDATION - A method for medical diagnostic image processing obtains digital image data for a diagnostic image and extracts one or more image features from the image data, obtaining one or more image properties from the one or more extracted features. An image quality aim is obtained for rendered image appearance according to one or more stored viewer preferences. Rendering parameters are generated according to the obtained image quality aim and the one or more obtained image properties. The image is rendered according to the generated rendering parameters and the rendering validated against the selected image quality aim. | 04-08-2010 |
20100086189 | AUTOMATED QUANTIFICATION OF DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGE QUALITY - A method for determining image quality of a digital radiographic image. The method is executed at least in part by a computer system. The method obtains image data for the digital radiographic image, identifies one or more regions of interest in the digital radiographic image, derives an image quality score that indicates the image quality of the digital radiographic image by computing at least a contrast-to-noise value for image data content within the one or more regions of interest, and reports the derived image quality score for the image. | 04-08-2010 |
20100104066 | INTEGRATED PORTABLE DIGITAL X-RAY IMAGING SYSTEM - A mobile digital radiography system of a type including a mobile x-ray source; a mobile computer, the computer having a display for radiographic images and related information; a digital radiography detector, the detector and x-ray source in communication with and under control of the computer, means operatively associated with the computer for sending and receiving data concerning a patient, such data including diagnostic results, diagnostic images and requests for additional services, to and from separate image archiving and information systems; means operatively associated with the computer for comparing data from separate hospital image archiving and radiology information systems from a prior examination of a patient with data from a current examination of a patient using the mobile digital radiography system; and means operatively associated with the computer for aiding bedside interpretation of a patient's condition in view of the comparing of data from prior and current examinations. | 04-29-2010 |
20110038454 | RETROFITABLE LONG-LENGTH DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus for obtaining a long-length x-ray image of a subject, has an x-ray source and a first sensor that generates a first signal that indicates termination of x-ray emission from the x-ray source. A digital radiography detector is energizable to generate image data after receiving x-ray emission from the x-ray source. A detector transport apparatus is actuable in accordance with the first signal to translate the digital radiography detector from at least a first detector position to a second detector position for generating image data at each detector position. A processor in communication with the digital radiography detector obtains the image data of the subject that is generated from the detector. | 02-17-2011 |
20110110496 | INTEGRATED PORTABLE DIGITAL X-RAY IMAGING SYSTEM - 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. | 05-12-2011 |
20110126149 | SYSTEM PROVIDING COMPANION IMAGES - A method for presenting radiographic images of a subject obtains, from the same radiographic image capture, at least a first image and a second image, wherein the at least first and second images differ in presentation. The method associates the at least first and second images as companion images according to one or more entered instructions. There is displayed at least a first executable data link that relates to a first storage location of the first image and a second executable data link that relates to a second storage location of the second image. In response to an operator selection of either of or both of the first and second executable data links, the method displays either the corresponding first or second image, or both companion images. | 05-26-2011 |
20110249791 | EXPOSURE CONTROL USING DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY DETECTOR - A method for sensing a level of ionizing radiation directed from a radiation source through a subject and toward a digital radiography detector, executed at least in part by a logic processor, obtains image data that relates the position of the subject to the digital radiography detector and assigns one or more radiant-energy sensing elements of the digital radiography detector as one or more exposure control sensing elements. The one or more exposure control sensing elements are sampled one or more times during exposure to measure the exposure directed to the subject. A signal is provided to terminate exposure according to exposure measurements obtained from the one or more exposure control sensing elements within the digital radiography detector. | 10-13-2011 |
20110249792 | CONFIGURABLE AEC SENSOR FOR AN X-RAY SYSTEM - A method for sensing a level of ionizing radiation directed from a radiation source through a subject and toward an imaging detector, the method executed at least in part by a logic processor, obtains positional coordinate data that is indicative of at least a portion of the subject to be exposed to radiation and that defines a radiation measurement area relative to the subject. The method assigns one or more sensing elements to sense radiation within the radiation measurement area. A measurement signal is acquired from each of one or more assigned sensing elements. | 10-13-2011 |
20110249799 | DISPLAY OF AEC SENSOR LOCATION - A method for indicating a position of a radiation energy sensor element in a radiographic imaging system, the method executed at least in part by a computer, identifies the position of the radiation energy sensor element relative to a subject to be imaged and displays the identified position relative to the subject. | 10-13-2011 |
20120039447 | PROJECTOR AS COLLIMATOR LIGHT - A radiography system for obtaining a radiographic image of a subject, has a radiation source within an enclosure, the radiation source energizable to direct radiant energy along a radiation path toward an imaging receiver, wherein the radiation path is defined according to a collimator. A digital projector is coupled to the enclosure and is energizable to provide an illumination beam that outlines the defined radiation path. | 02-16-2012 |
20120087474 | LOW-DOSE AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR DIGITAL PORTABLE X-RAY IMAGING - A method for obtaining a radiographic image, the method executed at least in part on a computer, generates a first exposure and acquires image data from the first exposure as a first component image. A second exposure is generated using one or more parameters that are adjusted according to an image quality characteristic of the acquired image data from the first exposure. Image data is acquired from the second exposure as a second component image. One or more additional exposures are generated and an additional component image acquired with each additional exposure. A composite image is formed by combining image data content from the first and second component images and the one or more additional component images. | 04-12-2012 |
20120230473 | ALIGNMENT APPARATUS FOR X-RAY IMAGING SYSTEM - A method for aligning a radiation source with a portable image receiver in a radiographic imaging system generates a magnetic field with a predetermined field pattern and with a time-varying vector direction at a predetermined frequency from an emitter apparatus that is coupled to the radiation source, wherein the generated magnetic field further comprises a synchronization signal. Sensed signals from the magnetic field are obtained from a sensing apparatus that is coupled to the image receiver, wherein the sensing apparatus comprises three or more sensor elements, wherein at least two of the sensor elements are arranged at different angles relative to each other and are disposed outside the imaging area of the image receiver. An output signal is indicative of an alignment adjustment according to the amplitude and phase of the obtained sensed signals relative to the synchronization signal. | 09-13-2012 |
20130259352 | CHEST RADIOGRAPHY IMAGE CONTRAST AND EXPOSURE DOSE OPTIMIZATION - A method for obtaining a digital chest x-ray image of a patient. The method includes providing a default set of technique settings for the chest x-ray, wherein the default set is selectable by an operator command and includes using a peak kilovoltage exposure setting that is below 90 kVp with beam filtration of the x-ray, and applying a rib contrast suppression algorithm to the digital chest x-ray image data acquired from the exposure. | 10-03-2013 |
20130336445 | ROI SELECTION FOR IMAGING APPARATUS - 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. | 12-19-2013 |
20130342577 | IMAGE SYNTHESIS FOR DIAGNOSTIC REVIEW - Embodiments of methods and/or apparatus can allow a viewing practitioner to adjust how image content can combined from multiple radiographic images of the same subject or different image processing of one image of a subject to control additional information gained by the combination and/or for improved diagnosis. In one embodiment, a method for displaying radiographic image content is executed at least in part by a computer and can include obtaining image data for a first radiographic image of a patient; obtaining image data for a second radiographic image of a patient; combining the image data from the first and second images and displaying the result as a combined radiographic image; recombining the image data from the first and second images according to a viewer instruction that conditions how the first and second images are recombined and re-displaying the result as the combined radiographic image. | 12-26-2013 |
20140105359 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE IMAGING - A system and method for digital x-ray imaging. The method includes emitting a first and second collimated x-ray beam from an x-ray source disposed in a first and second position, respectively. The first and second collimated x-ray beam is directed onto an identified region of interest (ROI) wherein a first and second ROI image is captured, respectively, when the x-ray source is disposed in the first and second position, respectively. The first and second ROI images are processed to extract features from each of the first and second ROI images. The extracted features are analyzed, and an indicator of a disease is generated responsive to the extracted features. The indicator can be stored, displayed, or transmitted. The first and second x-ray sources can be the same or different x-ray sources. | 04-17-2014 |
20140140479 | HYBRID DUAL ENERGY IMAGING AND BONE SUPPRESSION PROCESSING - A method for obtaining a digital chest x-ray image of a patient, executed at least in part by a computer system, acquires a standard dose radiographic image and a reduced dose radiographic image, wherein the standard dose radiographic image and reduced dose radiographic images are obtained at peak kilovoltage values that differ by at least 10 kVp. A bone-enhanced image is formed by combining data from the standard dose radiographic image and reduced dose radiographic images and bone structure is segmented from the bone-enhanced image. A processed image is formed by suppressing bone contrast from the standard dose radiographic image according to the segmented bone structure. The processed image is displayed, stored, or transmitted. | 05-22-2014 |
20140369459 | MOBILE RADIOGRAPHIC APPARATUS/METHODS WITH TOMOSYNTHESIS CAPABILITY - A mobile radiography apparatus has a moveable (e.g., wheeled) transport frame and an adjustable column mounted at the frame. A boom apparatus supported by the adjustable column can support an x-ray source assembly. Radiation or X-ray source assembly methods and/or apparatus embodiments can provide mobile radiography carts a capability to direct x-ray radiation towards a subject from one or a plurality of different source positions, where the X-ray source assembly includes a first x-ray power source and a second plurality of distributed x-ray sources disposed in a prescribed spatial relationship. | 12-18-2014 |
20150043712 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PORTABLE STEREOSCOPIC TOMOGRAPHY - A portable imaging apparatus for obtaining stereoscopic radiography images has a transport frame that has a support structure and an x-ray source array that is coupled to the support structure and that has three or more x-ray sources, each x-ray source separately energizable to emit radiation toward a subject. There is at least one x-ray detector adapted to acquire digital image data according to radiation received from the x-ray sources of the x-ray source array. An image processor is in signal communication with the at least one x-ray detector and adapted to generate, from the acquired digital image data, a right-eye digital image and a left-eye digital image of the subject. A display apparatus is in signal communication with the image processor and is adapted to display the right-eye and left-eye digital images of the subject to a viewer. | 02-12-2015 |
20150049863 | ALIGNMENT APPARATUS FOR X-RAY IMAGING SYSTEM - A method for aligning a radiation source with a portable image receiver in a radiographic imaging system generates a magnetic field with a predetermined field pattern and with a time-varying vector direction at a predetermined frequency from an emitter apparatus that is coupled to the radiation source, wherein the generated magnetic field further comprises a synchronization signal. Sensed signals from the magnetic field are obtained from a sensing apparatus that is coupled to the image receiver, wherein the sensing apparatus comprises three or more sensor elements, wherein at least two of the sensor elements are arranged at different angles relative to each other and are disposed outside the imaging area of the image receiver. An output signal is indicative of an alignment adjustment according to the amplitude and phase of the obtained sensed signals relative to the synchronization signal. | 02-19-2015 |