# US 10,307,127 B2 · Correcting X-ray image data relating to a decay process of a radioactive material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,127 B2 - Document ID: US10307127B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/258,296 - Filed: 2016-09-07 - Published: 2017-03-16 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-15 - Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH - Applicants: Philipp Bernhardt; Dirk Ertel; Michael Stark - Inventors: Philipp Bernhardt; Dirk Ertel; Michael Stark - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307127B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/5205: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data} - A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]} - A61B 6/4241: {using energy resolving detectors, e.g. photon counting} - A61B 6/4258: {for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation (A61B6/037 takes precedence)} - A61B 6/4441: {the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm} - A61B 6/486: {involving generating temporal series of image data} - A61B 6/5217: {extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data} - A61B 6/545: {involving automatic set-up of acquisition parameters} - A61N 5/10: X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy (A61N5/01 takes precedence) - A61N 5/1049: {for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam} - G16H 50/30: for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment - A61N 5/1001: {using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy} - A61N 2005/1061: {using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract X-ray image data of an examination subject is acquired for an acquisition period by an X-ray detector of an X-ray system simultaneously with a decay process of a radioactive material taking place in or on the examination subject. The X-ray image data includes information relating to an X-ray attenuation distribution of the examination subject and information relating to the decay process. Correction image data representing the information relating to the decay process in the X-ray image data for the acquisition period is determined. Corrected X-ray image data for the acquisition period is generated using the X-ray image data and the correction image data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for correcting X-ray image data of an examination subject, the X-ray image data acquired for an acquisition period by an X-ray detector of an X-ray system simultaneously with a decay process of a radioactive material taking place in or on the examination subject, wherein the X-ray image data comprises information relating to an X-ray attenuation distribution of the examination subject and information relating to the decay process, said method comprising: determining correction image data representing the information relating to the decay process in the X-ray image data for the acquisition period, and generating corrected X-ray image data for the acquisition period using the X-ray image data and the correction image data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the correction image data is determined for a time window that precedes, is concurrent with, or precedes and is concurrent with the acquisition period. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the time window precedes the acquisition period and has a multiple of the length of the acquisition period. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in one of claim 3, wherein the time window lies between two succeeding acquisition periods. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in one of claim 2, wherein the time window lies between two succeeding acquisition periods. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein determining of the correction image data comprises determining an acquisition of decay image data by the X-ray detector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein determining of the correction image data comprises determining an acquisition of decay image data by the X-ray detector over an entire duration of the time window. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in order to determine the correction image data, the decay image data is normalized to a duration of the acquisition period. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in order to determine the correction image data, the decay image data is normalized to a duration of the acquisition period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the correction image data is determined taking into account a characteristic course of the decay process for the radioactive material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining of the correction image data comprises determining an acquisition of decay image data by the X-ray detector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in order to determine the correction image data, the decay image data is normalized to a duration of the acquisition period. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the characteristic energy spectrum of the decay process of the radioactive material is taken into account during the acquisition of the decay image data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein determining of the correction image data comprises determining an acquisition of decay image data by the X-ray detector over an entire duration of the time window. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the correction image data is determined taking into account a characteristic course of the decay process for the radioactive material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, which also comprises determining a distribution of the radioactive material on or in the examination subject on the basis of the decay image data or the correction image data. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory machine-readable data medium on which a computer program is stored, the computer program executable by a processor, the machine-readable data medium comprising the computer program for: determining correction image data representing a decay process of radioactive material as an artifact in X-ray image data for an acquisition period, and generating corrected X-ray image intensities for the acquisition period using the X-ray image data and the correction image data. ### Claim 18 A data processing device comprising: a memory configured to store instructions; a processor configured, by the instructions, to determine correction image data representing information relating to a decay process of radioactive material in X-ray image data for an acquisition period, and generate corrected X-ray image data for the acquisition period using the X-ray image data and the correction image data. ### Claim 19 An X-ray system comprising: an X-ray detector configured for acquiring X-ray image data and decay image data, and a data processing device configured to determine correction image data representing information relating to a decay process of radioactive material in X-ray image data for an acquisition period, and generate corrected X-ray image data for the acquisition period using the X-ray image data and the correction image data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The X-ray system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the X-ray detector is an energy-selective X-ray detector.