US 12,599,348 B2Granted

Speed variable TDS operation in x-ray imaging systems

AssigneeGE Precision Healthcare LLC

InventorsAdam Manders, Michael R. Buchholz, James Wear

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Abstract

TDS (Time-Delayed Summation) acquisition systems and methods may be used within various imaging device and systems, such as a densitometry system with highly pixelated 2-D detectors and compact x-ray fan beam that scans patients in a rastering pattern across the patient axis. An improved system and method is described for extending the usability of TDS data on each transverse sweep of the scan, by acquiring data when the scan speed is variable. In this method, the TDS shift strobe signal is no longer a constant periodic function. Instead the time between strobes is dependent on the scan velocity and the strobe sequence is generated to provide constant sampling distance between strobes. Thus, the TDS shift sequence insures a constant image pixel size, enabling undistorted images despite the variable speed occurring during the signal summation.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for performing a time delayed summation (TDS) in an imaging procedure for an object, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an imaging device comprising:
an X-ray source operative to transmit X-rays through an object, wherein the X-ray source is collimated to produce a diverging beam of radiation;
a detector operative to receive the X-ray energy of the X-rays after having passed through the object;
a processing system operably connected to the X-ray source and the detector, the processing system programmed to control movement of the X-ray source and the detector relative to the object, and to perform a time delayed summation (TDS) process to generate images from the X-ray energy received by the detector;
and
an electronic memory operably connected to the processing system and storing instructions for the operation of the processing system in performing imaging procedures;
determining a time delayed summation (TDS) shift frequency that varies with speed of the X-ray source and detector;
performing a scan of the object based on the speed-variable TDS shift frequency;
and
generating an image of the object based on detected X-ray energy signals at the detector based on the scan.

7 more elements

An imaging device comprising:

an X-ray source operative to transmit X-rays through an object, wherein the X-ray source is collimated to produce a diverging beam of radiation;
a detector operative to receive the X-ray energy of the X-rays after having passed through the object;
a processing system operably connected to the X-ray source and the detector, the processing system programmed to control movement of the X-ray source and the detector relative to the object, and to perform a time delayed summation (TDS) process to generate images from the X-ray energy received by the detector;
and
an electronic memory operably connected to the processing system and storing instructions for the operation of the processing system in performing imaging procedures;
wherein the processing system is configured to determine a time delayed summation (TDS) shift frequency that varies with speed of the X-ray source and detector and to perform a scan of the object based on the speed-variable TDS shift frequency, and
wherein the electronic memory includes parameters for scan speed in relation to an intensity of the detected X-ray energy signals, and wherein the processing system is configured to adjust the speed of the scan and the speed-variable TDS shift frequency.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.