Energy subtraction imaging system, x-ray imaging apparatus, and computer readable recording medium

A radiation imaging apparatus for providing subtraction images of an object comprising:

• a first imaging device, a second imaging device and an attenuating element disposed between said first imaging device and said second imaging device, said first and second imaging device configured to receive X-rays at various energy levels including higher energy levels and lower energy levels, the attenuating element configured to substantially absorb the X-rays at the lower energy levels and substantially allowing transmission of the X-rays at the higher energy levels so that said second imaging device receives the X-rays at the higher energy levels, said first imaging device configured to include a first pixel array capable of generating first electric signals by receiving the X-rays transmitted through the object and include a first circuitry capable of acquiring and outputting said first electric signals, said second imaging device configured to include a second pixel array capable of generating second electric signals by receiving the X-rays transmitted through the attenuating element and include a second circuitry capable of acquiring and outputting said second electric signals;
• and
• an image processing device configured to acquire said first and second electric signals output from said first and second imaging devices for processing said first and second electric signals for providing subtraction radiographic images;
• wherein said first and second imaging devices operate in association with one another for processing characteristics of the X-rays.

A computer readable recording medium having instructions executable by a computer to execute an energy subtraction radiographic imaging method, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving X-rays at various energy levels including higher energy levels and lower energy levels using a first imaging device capable of converting signals caused by the X-rays into a first digital image dataset;
• receiving the X-rays using an attenuating element capable of substantially absorbing the X-rays at lower energy levels and substantially transmitting the X-rays at higher energy levels;
• receiving the X-rays at higher levels using a second imaging device capable of converting signals caused by the X-rays at higher energy levels into a second digital image dataset;
• and
• forming an energy subtraction image dataset using said first digital image dataset and second image dataset.