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US 7,760,849 B2Granted
Tetrahedron beam computed tomography
AssigneeWilliam Beaumont Hospital
InventorTiezhi Zhang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of imaging an object that includes directing a plurality of x-ray beams in a fan-shaped form towards an object, detecting x-rays that pass through the object due to the directing a plurality of x-ray beams and generating a plurality of imaging data regarding the object from the detected x-rays. The method further includes forming either a three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography, digital tomosynthesis or Megavoltage image from the plurality of imaging data and displaying the image.
Claims49
A cone-beam computed tomography system comprising:
- an x-ray source that emits an x-ray beam;
- a slot that intercepts said x-ray beam so that a plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams emanate from said slot towards an object, wherein said slot moves relative to said x-ray source;
- a detector receiving fan-shaped x-rays after said fan-shaped x-rays pass through said object, said detector generating an imaging signal for each of said received fan-shaped x-rays;
- and
- a computer connected to said detector so as to receive said imaging signals for each of said received fan-shaped x-rays, wherein said x-ray source, said slot and said detector rotate about said object so that multiple imaging signals are reconstructed by said computer to generate a three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image therefrom;
- and
- a display connected to said computer and displaying said three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image.
4 more elements
A method of imaging an object, comprising:
- i) emitting from an x-ray source a plurality of x-ray beams in fan-shaped form towards the object and imaging data is generated that is a two-dimensional image of said object generated from detecting said plurality of x-ray beams and wherein said emitting comprises collimating a single x-ray beam with a moving collimator that moves relative to said single x-ray beam so as to generate said plurality of x-ray beams;
- ii) detecting x-rays that pass through said object due to said emitting an x-ray beam with a detector;
- iii) generating image data regarding said object from said detected x-rays;
- and
- iv) rotating said x-ray source and said detector relative to said object and continuously repeating steps i)-iv) until a sufficient number of imaging data regarding said object is generated so as to form a three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image therefrom;
- forming a three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image from said sufficient number of imaging data;
- and
- displaying said three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image.
5 more elements
A method of imaging an object, comprising:
- directing a plurality of x-ray beams in a fan-shaped form towards an object, wherein said directing comprises collimating a single x-ray beam with a moving collimator that moves relative to said single x-ray beam so as to generate said plurality of x- ray beams;
- detecting x-rays that pass through said object due to said directing said plurality of x-ray beams;
- generating a plurality of imaging data regarding said object from said detected x-rays;
- forming a three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image from said plurality of imaging data;
- and
- displaying said three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography image.
3 more elements
A digital tomosynthesis system comprising:
- an x-ray source that emits an x-ray beam;
- a slot that intercepts said x-ray beam so that a plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams emanate from said slot towards an object, wherein said slot moves relative to said x-ray source;
- a detector receiving fan-shaped x-rays after they pass through said object, said detector generating an imaging signal for each of said received fan-shaped x-rays;
- and
- a computer connected to said detector so as to receive said imaging signals for each of said received fan-shaped x-rays, wherein said x-ray source, said slot and said detector rotate about said object so that multiple imaging signals are reconstructed by said computer to generate a digital tomosynthesis image therefrom;
- and
- a display connected to said computer and displaying said digital tomosynthesis image.
4 more elements
A method of imaging an object, comprising:
- i) emitting from an x-ray source an x-ray beam in a fan-shaped form towards an object, wherein said emitting comprises moving a slot relative to said x-ray source;
- ii) detecting x-rays that pass through said object due to said emitting an x-ray beam with a detector;
- iii) generating image data regarding said object from said detected x-rays;
- and
- iv) rotating said x-ray source and said detector relative to said object and continuously repeating steps i)-iv) until a sufficient number of imaging data regarding said object is generated so as to form a digital tomosynthesis image therefrom;
- forming a digital tomosynthesis image from said sufficient number of imaging data;
- and
- displaying said digital tomosynthesis image.
5 more elements
A tetrahedron beam computed tomography system comprising:
- an x-ray source that sequentially emits a plurality of x-ray beams at different positions along a scanning direction;
- a collimator that intercepts said plurality of x-ray beams so that a plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams emanate from said collimator towards an object, wherein said plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams form a tetrahedron volume;
- a detector receiving fan-shaped x-rays after said fan-shaped x-rays pass through said object, said detector generating an imaging signal for each of said received fan-shaped x-rays;
- and
- a computer connected to said detector so as to receive said imaging signals for each of said received fan-shaped x-rays, wherein said x-ray source, said collimator and said detector rotate about said object so that multiple imaging signals are reconstructed by said computer to generate a three-dimensional tetrahedron beam computed tomography image therefrom;
- and
- a display connected to said computer and displaying said three-dimensional quasi-cone-beam computed tomography image.
4 more elements
A quasi-cone-beam computed tomography system comprising:
- an x-ray source that sequentially emits a plurality of x-ray beams at different positions along a scanning direction;
- a collimator that intercepts said plurality of x-ray beams so that a plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams emanate from said collimator towards an object;
- a detector receiving fan-shaped x-rays after said fan-shaped x-rays pass through said object, said detector generating an imaging signal for each of said received fan- shaped x-rays wherein said detector is a one-dimensional array of individual detector elements;
- and
- a computer connected to said detector so as to receive said imaging signals for each of said received fan-shaped x-rays, wherein said x-ray source, said collimator and said detector rotate about said object so that multiple imaging signals are reconstructed by said computer to generate a three-dimensional quasi-cone-beam computed tomography image therefrom;
- and
- a display connected to said computer and displaying said three-dimensional quasi-cone-beam computed tomography image;
- and
- wherein said collimator focuses said fan-shaped x-ray beams onto said detector.
6 more elements
A quasi-cone-beam computed tomography system comprising:
- an x-ray source that sequentially emits a plurality of x-ray beams at different positions along a scanning direction;
- a collimator that intercepts said plurality of x-ray beams so that a plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams emanate from said collimator towards an object;
- a detector receiving fan-shaped x-rays after said fan-shaped x-rays pass through said object, said detector generating an imaging signal for each of said received fan- shaped x-rays and said detector is linear that extends along a direction perpendicular to said scanning direction;
- and
- a computer connected to said detector so as to receive said imaging signals for each of said received fan-shaped x-rays, wherein said x-ray source, said collimator and said detector rotate about said object so that multiple imaging signals are reconstructed by said computer to generate a three-dimensional quasi-cone-beam computed tomography image therefrom;
- and
- a display connected to said computer and displaying said three-dimensional quasi-cone-beam computed tomography image.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.