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US 6,285,739 B1Granted
Radiographic imaging apparatus and method for vascular interventions
AssigneeThe Research Foundation of State University of New York
InventorsStephen Rudin, Daniel R. Bednarek, Baruch B. Lieber, Ajay Kumar Wakhloo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radiographic imaging apparatus and method for vascular interventions for acquiring very high resolution radiographic images over a small region of interest (ROI). The apparatus and associated method employs digital solid state x-ray image detectors for the medical imaging application of angiography. A mechanical arrangement, for example an arm attached to an existing large area x-ray detector, allows the small area ROI digital detector to be temporarily positioned over a region located by the standard large area imager so that additional very high resolution digital images may be obtained over the ROI.
Claims47
A radiographic imaging apparatus, comprising:
- an x-ray source irradiating an object to be inspected with x-rays;
- a fluoroscopic x-ray image detector capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object and converting the received x-rays into a first output;
- a display capable of picking up the first output;
- and,
- an x-ray detector element having an undivided converter material capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object to produce signals corresponding to the x-rays, the x-ray detector element converting the signals into a second digital output;
- wherein the x-ray detector element is capable of providing higher spatial resolution images of a region of interest detected by the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector.
3 more elements
A radiographic imaging apparatus, comprising:
- an x-ray source irradiating an object to be inspected with x-rays;
- a fluoroscopic x-ray image detector capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object and converting the received x-rays into a first output;
- a display capable of picking up the first output;
- and,
- an x-ray detector element capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object and converting the x-ray radiation into a second digital output;
- wherein the spatial resolution of the x-ray detector element is approximately 3 to 10 lp/mm and the x-ray detector element is capable of providing higher spatial resolution images of a region of interest detected by the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector.
3 more elements
A radiographic imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- an x-ray source mounted on the frame and capable of irradiating an object placed in the apparatus;
- a fluoroscopic x-ray image detector capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object and converting the received x-rays into a first output;
- a display capable of picking up the first output;
- and,
- an x-ray detector element capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object and converting the x-ray radiation into a second digital output, the x-ray detector element retractably mounted to the frame such that it is capable of receiving the x-rays in a deployed position and such that it does not interfere with the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector in a stored position;
- wherein the x-ray detector element is capable of providing higher spatial resolution images of a region of interest detected by the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector.
4 more elements
A radiographic imaging method, comprising the steps of:
- providing an x-ray source capable of irradiating an object;
- providing a fluoroscopic x-ray image detector capable of receiving the x-rays that pass through the object and converting the x-rays into a first output;
- placing an object between the x-ray source and the x-ray image detector;
- performing a procedure on the object with aid of radiographic imaging guidance from the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector;
- determining a region of interest within a field of view of the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector;
- providing an x-ray detector element having an undivided converter material capable of receiving the x-rays that pass through the object in the region of interest to produce signals corresponding to the x-rays, the x-ray detector element capable of converting the signals into a second digital output, the x-ray detector element having a higher spatial resolution than the x-ray image detector;
- and,
- viewing an image picked up from the second output.
5 more elements
A method for radiographic imaging, comprising the steps of;
- providing a flat panel x-ray image detector having an array of pixels with a size of 25-50 μm;
- electronically dividing the flat panel x-ray image detector into zones to establish a high resolution mode for region of interest viewing;
- binning the pixels to provide a large area mode for the x-ray image detector having an effective pixel size of at least 100 μm;
- and
- viewing an irradiated object in the large area mode of x-ray detection to detect a region of interest;
- switching the x-ray image detector to the high resolution mode in one of the zones;
- and,
- viewing the object in the region of interest in the high resolution mode.
5 more elements
A radiographic imaging method, comprising the steps of:
- providing an x-ray source mounted on a frame and capable of irradiating an object;
- providing a fluoroscopic x-ray image detector capable of receiving the x-rays that pass through the object and converting the x-rays into a first output;
- placing an object between the x-ray source and the x-ray image detector;
- performing a procedure on the object with aid of radiographic imaging guidance from the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector;
- determining a region of interest within a field of view of the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector;
- providing an x-ray detector element capable of receiving the x-rays that pass through the object in the region of interest and capable of converting the x-rays into a second digital output, the x-ray detector element having a higher spatial resolution than the x-ray image detector, the x-ray detector element retractably mounted to the frame such that it is capable of receiving the x-rays in a deployed position and such that it does not interfere with the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector in a stored position;
- and,
- viewing an image picked up from the second output.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.