Mobile radiographic apparatus/methods with tomosynthesis capability
OwnerDavid H. Foos, John Yorkston +1inventors
InventorsDavid H. Foos, John Yorkston, Xiaohui Wang
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Abstract
A mobile radiography apparatus has a moveable (e.g., wheeled) transport frame and an adjustable column mounted at the frame. A boom apparatus supported by the adjustable column can support an x-ray source assembly. Radiation or X-ray source assembly methods and/or apparatus embodiments can provide mobile radiography carts a capability to direct x-ray radiation towards a subject from one or a plurality of different source positions, where the X-ray source assembly includes a first x-ray power source and a second plurality of distributed x-ray sources disposed in a prescribed spatial relationship.
Claims20
A mobile x-ray radiography apparatus, comprising:
- a moveable transport frame;
- an adjustable support structure coupled to the moveable transport frame;
- an x-ray source assembly mounted to the adjustable support structure configured to direct x-ray radiation towards a subject from one or a plurality of different source positions, where the X-ray source assembly includes a first x-ray power source and a second plurality of distributed x-ray sources disposed in a prescribed spatial relationship;
- and
- control circuitry at the mobile x-ray radiography apparatus and coupled to the X-ray source assembly, the control circuitry configured to receive projection image data sets for reconstruction of tomosynthesis images.
A method for use in a mobile x-ray radiography apparatus comprising one or more processors performing:
- operating in a first mode, where operating in the first mode comprises,
- obtaining at least one general radiography projection image of an object using a first type central x-ray source, and
- generating a reconstruction of the object using the at least one general radiography projection image;
- and
- operating in a second mode, where operating in the second mode comprises,
- obtaining a plurality of x-ray tomosynthesis projection images of an object using a plurality of second type distributed x-ray sources disposed in a prescribed spatial relationship, and
- generating a three-dimensional reconstruction of the object using the x-ray projection images.
A mobile x-ray radiography apparatus, comprising:
- a moveable transport frame;
- adjustable support means for supporting structures coupled to the moveable transport frame;
- a plurality of distributed x-ray producing means for producing directed radiation mounted to the adjustable support means, where the plurality of distributed x-ray producing means comprises a prescribed spatial relationship, the plurality of distributed x-ray producing means comprising at least four lower power x-ray producing means and at least one higher power central x-ray producing means;
- and
- control means for controlling the mobile x-ray radiography apparatus and coupled to the plurality of distributed x-ray producing means, the control means to receive projection image data sets for reconstruction of tomosynthesis images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.