Signal profiling for medical imaging systems

An apparatus for use in imaging an area of interest of a patient's body, comprising:

• a source for transmitting a photonic imaging signal relative to said area of interest of said patient's body during an exposure period of a radiographic procedure;
• a sensor system for measuring, with said patient in an imaging position for said radiographic procedure, at least a first imaging parameter value and a second imaging parameter value and providing an imaging parameter output indicative thereof;
• a detector for detecting portions of said photonic imaging signal from said area of interest of said patient's body and providing imaging information based thereon;
• and
• a processor for using said imaging parameter output to process said imaging information.

A method for use in imaging an area of interest of a patient's body, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a photonic imaging signal relative to said area of interest of said patient's body during an exposure period of a radiographic procedure;
• measuring a patient dependent variable for said radiographic procedure and providing a geometric variable output indicative thereof;
• detecting portions of said photonic imaging signal from said area of interest of said patient's body and providing imaging information based thereon;
• and
• using said geometric variable output to process said imaging information.

An apparatus for use in imaging an area of interest of a patient's body, comprising:

• a source for transmitting a photonic imaging signal relative to said area of interest of said patient's body during an exposure period of a radiographic procedure;
• a sensor system for measuring a patient dependent variable for said radiographic procedure and providing a patient dependent variable output indicative thereof;
• a detector for detecting portions of said photonic imaging signal from said area of interest of said patient?s body and providing imaging information based thereon;
• and
• a processor for using said geometric variable output to process said imaging information.

An apparatus for use in imaging a selected tissue region of a patient's body, comprising:

• source means for transmitting radiation through a selected tissue region of a patient's body;
• receiving means disposed in opposing relation to said source means such that said selected tissue region of said patient's body is positionable therebetween, said receiving means comprising an array of detector elements for accumulating electrical charge in relation to said radiation;
• scanning means for scanning said receiving means by moving said array across said selected tissue region of said patient's body as radiation is transmitted through said selected region of said patient's body;
• profiling means for providing intensity information regarding radiation transmitted from said source means;
• and
• processing means for processing an output signal relating to said electrical charge and for composing a composite image indicative of said selected tissue region of said patient's body.

A method of using a medical imaging system for imaging a tissue region of interest of a patient's body, comprising the steps of:

• emitting radiation from a radiation source toward an active array of detector elements;
• moving said active array of detector elements along a scan path substantially aligned with a support surface for placement of a portion of a patient's body including a selected tissue region to be imaged, said support surface being located between said radiation source and said array of detector elements;
• passing said radiation from said radiation source to a first intensity profiling structure during said emitting step;
• receiving said radiation from said radiation source using said array of detector elements and generated imaging information based thereon;
• generating radiation intensity profile data indicative of said radiation transmitted to said profiling structure;
• and
• using said profile data to process said imaging information.

A method for use in imaging a selected tissue region of a patient, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting photonic energy relative to the selected tissue region of the patient during an exposure period;
• first operating at least a first detector portion of a detector to receive at least a first energy portion of said photonic energy during at least a first time portion of said exposure period, said first energy portion corresponding to a primary ray transmitted to said first detector portion free from scattering occurrences;
• and
• second operating at least a second detector portion of the detector to receive at least a second energy portion of said photonic energy during a second time portion of said exposure period, said second energy portion corresponding to scatter incident on said second detector portion after one or more scattering occurrences.

An apparatus for use in imaging an area of interest of a patient's body, comprising:

• a source system for transmitting an imaging beam relative to said area of interest of said patient's body during an exposure period, said imaging beam having a first beam dimension measured relative to a first axis;
• a detector for detecting portions of said transmitted imaging signal that have interacted with said area of interest of said patient's body and providing a detector output indicative thereof, said detector including an active detector area having a first detector dimension relative to said first axis, wherein said detector output includes imaging information for different portions of said area of interest obtained at corresponding different times of said exposure period;
• and
• a processor for processing said detector output to provide composite imaging information of said area of interest of said patient's body;
• said source system and detector being configured such that said first beam dimension at a location of incidence of said imaging beam on said detector is substantially no greater than said first detector dimension.

A method for use in imaging an area of interest of a patient's body, comprising the steps of:

• first transmitting an imaging signal, having a first beam dimension measured relative to a first axis, through a first portion of said area of interest within said patient's body;
• first operating a detector including an active detector area to detect substantially an entirety of said first beam dimension and provide first imaging information indicative thereof;
• first moving said imaging signal relative to said first axis so as to transmit said imaging signal through a second portion of said area of interest within said patient's body;
• second moving said active detector area relative to said first axis;
• after said step of second moving, second operating said detector including said active area to detect substantially said entirety of said first beam dimension and provide second imaging information indicative thereof;
• and
• using said first imaging information and said second imaging information to provide a composite image of said area of interest.