Method for tube spit correction based on high voltage output
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsFang F. Dong, Jiang Hsieh, Bruce M. Dunham, Clarence L. Gordon, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method to detect tube spits and to reduce spit related artifacts in a computed tomography imaging system. A way of detecting tube spit is to monitor the generator kilovolt or milliamp waveforms. Changes in kV waveform follow closely with those in offset-corrected projection data. If a tube-spit event is not detected, processing proceeds without tube spit correction. If a tube-spit event is detected, a tube spit correction is performed. The objective of tube-spit correction is to remove image artifacts due to the occurrence of a tube-spit event.
Claims23
A method for detecting and correcting tube spit comprising the steps of:
- providing a CT system generator having a generator output voltage
- providing a computer, the computer being in electronic communication with the generator and being capable of detecting fluctuations in generator output voltage;
- monitoring the generator output voltage;
- detecting any drops in generator output voltage;
- determining whether a tube-spit event occurred;
- and
- if a tube spit occurred, performing tube spit correction.
A processor programmed to:
- monitor the generator output from a CT system generator;
- monitor the generator output voltage;
- detect any drops in generator output voltage
- determine whether a tube-spit event occurred;
- and
- if a tube spit occurred, perform tube spit correction.
A method for detecting and correcting tube spit in a CT system comprising the steps of:
- providing an x-ray controller for monitoring the output of a CT system generator;
- providing a computer to monitor the generator output from a CT system generator, the computer being in electronic communication with the x-ray controller and the CT system generator;
- setting a voltage threshold that, if the computer determines that the voltage to the x-ray controller is below the threshold, a tube-spit event is declared;
- determining a number of corrupted views;
- warning an operator if a maximum number of corrupted views has been exceeded;
- and
- if a tube spit occurred, performing tube spit correction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.