X-ray imaging system with a combined filter and collimator positioning mechanism
AssigneeSiemens Healthineers International AG
InventorReto Filiberti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radiation therapy system includes an X-ray imaging system that is configured with a combined and simplified filter and collimator positioning mechanism. In addition, an X-ray imager of the RT system is only positioned at a few discrete locations within a plane that is a fixed distance from the imaging X-ray source when generating X-ray images. As a result, for each of these discrete imaging positions, the simplified filter and collimator positioning mechanism positions a specific collimator-filter combination in a specific location between the X-ray source and the imager.
Claims20
An imaging system configured to rotate about a center point of rotation, the imaging system comprising:
- an X-ray source configured to direct X-rays along an X-ray path that passes through the center point of rotation to an X-ray imager;
- the X-ray imager, which is positioned at a fixed imaging distance along the X-ray path from the X-ray source and is configured to generate an X-ray image from the X-rays;
- a first combined filter-collimator assembly that includes a first collimator configured with a first opening and a first compensating filter, wherein the first collimator and the first compensating filter are fixed in position relative to each other and the first opening is formed by two blades that oppose each other;
- and
- a positioning mechanism that is configured to position the first combined filter-collimator assembly in the X-ray path so that:
- the first collimator is in the X-ray path at a first fixed distance along the X-ray path from the X-ray source and the first opening defines a width of a first imaging field;
- and
- the first compensating filter is in the first imaging field at a second fixed distance along the X-ray path from the first collimator.
A method of generating an X-ray image in a system that includes an X-ray source and an X-ray imager, wherein the X-ray source is configured to direct X-rays along an X-ray path that passes through a center point of rotation of the system to the X-ray imager and the X-ray imager is configured to generate an X-ray image from the X-rays, the method comprising:
- positioning in the X-ray path a combined filter-collimator assembly that includes a first collimator configured with a first opening that is formed by two blades that oppose each and a first compensating filter, so that the first collimator is at a first fixed distance along the X-ray path from the X-ray source and defines a width of a first imaging field and the first compensating filter is at a second fixed distance along the X-ray path from the first collimator;
- while the imager is positioned at a fixed imaging distance along the X-ray path from the X-ray source, the first collimator is positioned in the X-ray path at the first fixed distance along the X-ray path from the X-ray source, and the first compensating filter is positioned in the X-ray path at the second fixed distance along the X-ray path from the first collimator, rotating the X-ray source and the X-ray imager about the center point of rotation;
- and
- while rotating the X-ray source and the X-ray imager about the center point of rotation, receiving the X-rays with the X-ray imager.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.