# US 11,298,089 B2 · X-ray examination arrangement and method for operating an x-ray examination arrangement

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- Number: US 11,298,089 B2
- Document ID: US11298089B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/798,348
- Filed: 2020-02-22
- Published: 2020-08-27
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2019-02-22
- Assignees: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
- Applicants: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
- Inventors: Marco Erler; Daniel Weiss; Martin Krenkel; Wolfgang Kimmig
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298089B2

## CPC

- A61B 6/035: {Mechanical aspects of CT}
- A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]}
- A61B 6/4028: {resulting in acquisition of views from substantially different positions, e.g. EBCT}
- A61B 6/4266: {characterised by using a plurality of detector units (A61B6/4014 takes precedence)}
- A61B 6/52: {Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for radiation diagnosis}
- A61B 6/5205: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data}
- A61B 6/5241: {combining overlapping images of the same imaging modality, e.g. by stitching}
- A61B 6/582: {Calibration}
- G01B 15/045: {by measuring absorption}
- G01N 23/04: and forming images of the material
- G01N 2223/419: computed tomograph
- G01N 2223/501: array
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

An x-ray examination arrangement includes an x-ray radiation source arranged at a source position, at least two x-ray detectors having active detector areas and being arranged such that the active detector areas capture different solid angle ranges with respect to x-ray radiation produced by the x-ray radiation source and emanating from the source position, and a control device configured to calculate a projection onto a virtual detector plane based on radiographs respectively captured by the at least two x-ray detectors and spatial poses of the at least two x-ray detectors relative to the source position, and provide a combined radiograph for the virtual detector plane based on the projection. In addition, a method for operating the x-ray examination arrangement and a computed tomography device are provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An x-ray examination arrangement comprising:
an x-ray radiation source arranged at a source position;
at least two x-ray detectors having active detector areas and being arranged such that the active detector areas capture different solid angle ranges with respect to x-ray radiation produced by the x-ray radiation source and emanating from the source position; and
a control device configured to:
calculate a projection onto a virtual detector plane based on radiographs respectively captured by the at least two x-ray detectors and spatial poses of the at least two x-ray detectors relative to the source position, and
provide a combined radiograph for the virtual detector plane based on the projection,
wherein the projection is a perspective projection onto the virtual detector plane,
wherein the perspective projection onto the virtual detector plane is implemented with reference to a projection straight line emanating from the source position by virtue of an image value at a point of an intersection of the projection straight line with the at least two x-ray detectors being determined, and
wherein the determined image value is subsequently projected onto the virtual detector plane along the projection straight line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The x-ray examination arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least two x-ray detectors at least partly overlap in relation to a propagation direction of the x-ray radiation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The x-ray examination arrangement according to claim 2, wherein:
the at least two x-ray detectors include actuation electronics, and
the at least two x-ray detectors are arranged relative to one another such that the actuation electronics are arranged outside of an overlap region of the at least two x-ray detectors.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The x-ray examination arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least two x-ray detectors are arranged such that planes of the at least two x-ray detectors have an angle with respect to one another, said planes corresponding to the active detector areas, and/or such that the x-ray radiation emanating from the x-ray radiation source is incident on the planes or the active detector areas in perpendicular fashion, at least in relation to a center point of the active detector areas.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The x-ray examination arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to correct a disturbance, caused by at least one of the at least two x-ray detectors, in the radiographs and/or in the combined radiograph.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The x-ray examination arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control device is further configured to synchronize the at least two x-ray detectors in relation to respective capture times of the radiographs and/or to adapt capture times of pixels in the radiographs.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The x-ray examination arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to take a capture time of pixels of radiographs of the at least two x-ray detectors into account during the projection.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The x-ray examination arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control device is further configured to set a pixel size in the combined radiograph.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A computed tomography device comprising at least one x-ray examination arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the computed tomography device is configured to carry out a reconstruction, at least in part based on the combined radiograph.

### Claim 10

Method for operating an x-ray examination arrangement, the x-ray examination arrangement including an x-ray radiation source arranged at a source position, at least two x-ray detectors, and a control device, the method comprising:
arranging the at least two x-ray detectors such that active detector areas of the at least two x-ray detectors capture different solid angle ranges with respect to x-ray radiation produced by the x-ray radiation source and emanating from the source position;
calculating, by the control device, a projection onto a virtual detector plane based on radiographs respectively captured by the at least two x-ray detectors and spatial poses of the at least two x-ray detectors relative to the source position; and
providing a combined radiograph for the virtual detector plane based on the projection,
wherein the projection is a perspective projection onto the virtual detector plane,
wherein the perspective projection onto the virtual detector plane is implemented with reference to a projection straight line emanating from the source position by virtue of an image value at a point of an intersection of the projection straight line with the at least two x-ray detectors being determined, and
wherein the determined image value is subsequently projected onto the virtual detector plane along the projection straight line.