Self-calibrated tomosynthetic, radiographic-imaging system, method, and device

A device for recording radiographic images of a selected object irradiated by a source of radiation comprising:

• (a) a support;
• (b) a first radiolucent radiographic recording medium supported relative to the support for recording a first projected radiographic image of the selected object;
• (c) a second radiographic recording medium supported relative to the support in fixed position relative to the first radiographic recording medium and at a selected orientation relative to the first radiographic recording medium to permit radiation from the source of radiation to pass through the first radiographic recording medium and impinge upon the second radiographic recording medium for recording a second projected radiographic image of the selected object;
• and
• (d) a radiopaque fiducial reference supported relative to the support at a fixed position generally between the first and second radiographic recording mediums to permit a projected radiographic image of the radiopaque fiducial reference to be recorded on the second radiographic recording medium, the radiopaque fiducial reference having a selected size and a selected position so that the projected image of the fiducial reference recorded on the second recording medium can exhibit a different size relative to the selected size of the reference and a displacement to a different position relative to the selected position of the fiducial reference.

An apparatus for tomosynthesis of multiple projected object images of a selected object comprising:

• (a) an image detector positionable at a fixed position relative to the selected object for detecting said multiple protected object images, wherein said image detector includes a first image detecting medium for recording said multiple projected object images and a second image detecting medium supported in a fixed position at a selected angle of orientation relative to said first image detecting medium;
• (b) a fiducial reference locatable at a fixed position relative to the selected object for producing multiple projected reference images on said image detector to yield composite images of said reference and object images detected upon said image detector, said second image detecting medium recording said composite images;
• and
• (c) an image synthesizer for comparing parameters related to positions and sizes of reference images of said composite images detected upon said image detector to produce image translation data, and for reconstructing a tomographic slice from said composite images and said image translation data.

A method for synthesizing an image of a selected object at a selected slice position through the selected object from a plurality of projected radiographic images of the selected object comprising:

• (a) providing at least one radiographic recording means for recording radiographic images of the selected object;
• (b) providing at least one fiducial reference in fixed position relative to the recording means;
• (c) maintaining the selected object in fixed position relative to the recording means and the fiducial reference;
• (d) providing at least one source of radiation for irradiating the selected object to enable projected radiographic images of the object and the fiducial reference to be recorded on the recording means;
• (e) varying the relative positions between (1) the source of radiation and (2) the object, the fiducial reference and the recording means;
• (f) recording projected radiographic images of the object and the fiducial reference on the recording means at different arbitrary relative positions between (1) the source of radiation and (2) the object, the fiducial reference and the recording means;
• and
• (g) synthesizing an image of the selected object at a selected slice position through the object from selected recorded radiographic images of the object and the fiducial reference recorded on the recording means.

A method for synthesizing an image of a selected object at a selected slice position through the selected object from a plurality of projected radiographic images of the selected object comprising:

• (a) providing at least one radiographic recording means for recording radiographic images of the selected object, the radiographic recording means including:
• (i) a first radiographic recording medium for recording a projected radiographic image of the selected object;
• and
• (ii) a second radiographic recording medium held in fixed position relative to the first radiographic recording medium and at a selected orientation relative to the first radiographic recording medium for recording a projected radiographic image;
• (b) providing at least one fiducial reference in fixed position relative to the recording means, including providing said fiducial reference in fixed position relative to the first and second radiographic recording mediums to permit a projected image of the fiducial reference to be recorded on the second radiographic recording medium;
• (c) maintaining the selected object in fixed position relative to the recording means and the fiducial reference;
• (d) providing at least one source of radiation for irradiating the selected object to enable projected radiographic images of the object and the fiducial reference to be recorded on the recording means;
• (e). varying the relative positions between (1) the source of radiation and (2) the object, the fiducial reference and the recording means;
• (f) recording projected radiographic images of the object and the fiducial reference on the recording means at different arbitrary relative positions between (1) the source of radiation and (2) the object, the fiducial reference and the recording means;
• and
• (g) synthesizing an image of the selected object at a selected slice position through the object from selected projected radiographic images of the object and the fiducial reference recorded on the recording means.

A device for recording radiographic images of a selected object irradiated by a source of radiation comprising:

• (a) a support;
• (b) a first radiolucent radiographic recording medium supported on the support for recording a projected radiographic image of the selected object;
• (c) a second radiographic recording medium supported relative to the support in fixed position relative to the first radiographic recording medium to permit radiation from the source of radiation to pass through the first radiographic recording medium and impinge upon the second radiographic recording medium;
• and
• (d) a radiopaque fiducial reference supported relative to the support at a fixed position intermediate the first and second radiographic recording mediums to permit a projected radiographic image of the radiopaque fiducial reference to be recorded on the second radiographic recording medium.

A system for synthesizing an image of a selected object at a selected slice position through the selected object from a plurality of projected radiographic images of the selected object comprising:

• (a) at least one radiographic recording means for recording radiographic images of the selected object, wherein the radiographic recording means includes:
• (i) a first radiographic recording medium for recording a projected radiographic image of the selected object;
• and
• (ii) a second radiographic recording medium held in fixed position relative to the first radiographic recording medium and at a selected orientation relative to the first radiographic recording medium for recording a projected radiographic image;
• (b) at least one fiducial reference held in fixed position relative to the recording means, wherein said fiducial reference is held in fixed position relative to the first and second radiographic recording mediums to permit a projected image of the fiducial reference to be recorded on the second radiographic recording medium;
• (c) positioning means for holding the recording means and the fiducial reference in fixed position relative to the selected object;
• (d) at least one source of radiation for irradiating the selected object to enable projected radiographic images of the object and the fiducial reference to be recorded on the recording means;
• (e) position varying means for varying the relative positions between (1) the source of radiation and (2) the object, the fiducial reference and the recording means so that projected radiographic images of the object and the fiducial reference are recorded on the recording means at different arbitrary relative positions between (1) the source of radiation and the object, the fiducial reference and the recording means;
• and
• (f) an image synthesizer for synthesizing an image of the selected object at a selected slice position through the object from selected projections of the projected radiographic images of the object and the fiducial reference recorded on the recording means.