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 compensation filter and a first collimator configured with a first opening;
- a second combined filter-collimator assembly that includes a second compensation filter and a second collimator configured with a second opening;
- and
- a positioning mechanism that is configured to position the second combined filter-collimator assembly out of the X-ray path and 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 a first combined filter-collimator assembly in the X-ray path and a second combined filter-collimator assembly out of the X-ray path, wherein the first combined filter-collimator assembly includes a first compensating filter and a first collimator configured with a first opening and the second combined filter-collimator assembly includes a second compensating filter and a second collimator configured with a second opening;
- while the imager is positioned at a fixed imaging distance along the X-ray path from the X-ray source and the first combined filter-collimator assembly is positioned in the X-ray path, 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.