Radiographic data interpretation
AssigneeKromek Limited
InventorMax Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for the collection and interpretation of radiographic data from an object scanned by a suitable radiation source. A radiation detector system is provided that is detecting and collecting spectroscopically resolved information. An object is scanned from a plurality of perspectives, and the resultant data from each perspective resolved into at least three spectroscopic energy bands. For each such resolved spectroscopic energy band an image analysis is performed to derive depth slicing to produce a series of output datasets each comprising a 2-D dataset of intensity information resolved to a single energy band and depth slice.
Claims18
A method for the collection and interpretation of radiographic data from an object comprising the steps of:
- providing a radiation source and a radiation detector system spaced therefrom to define a scanning zone there between in such manner as to define at least first and second laterally spaced scanning positions, the detector system being capable of detecting and collecting spectroscopically resolvable information about radiation incident thereon;
- causing an object to move relative to and through the scanning zone across the laterally spaced scanning positions;
- and thereby generating at least a first perspective dataset of intensity information from the detector output at the first scanning position;
- generating at least a second perspective dataset of intensity information from the detector output at the second scanning position;
- resolving each perspective dataset into at least three spectroscopic energy bands;
- for each such resolved spectroscopic energy band:
- performing a numerical image analysis of data from each perspective dataset to identify corresponding points in the different perspective datasets;
- thereby obtaining numerical data concerning disparity between each perspective dataset;
- thereby obtaining z-coordinate information using triangulation and using the z-coordinate information to divide each perspective dataset at each energy band into a plurality of depth slices;
- and
- thereby producing a series of output datasets each comprising a 2-D dataset of intensity information resolved to a single energy band and depth slice;
- wherein a depth resolution step is carried out for each energy band using data from plural perspective views separated at equivalent energy bands to produce an output dataset that includes separate maps of 2-D intensity information for each energy band at each notional depth slice.
An apparatus for the collection and processing of radiographic data from an object comprising:
- a radiation source and a radiation detector system spaced therefrom to define a scanning zone there between configured in such manner as to define at least first and second laterally spaced scanning positions, the detector system being capable of detecting and collecting spectroscopically resolvable information about radiation incident thereon;
- a data collection module to collect in use at least a first perspective dataset of intensity information from the detector output at the first scanning position and at least a second perspective dataset of intensity information from the detector output at the second scanning position;
- an energy resolution module to process and resolve each perspective dataset into at least three spectroscopic energy bands within the spectrum of the source;
- a spatial resolution means including:
- an image analyzer module to numerically analyse, for each such resolved spectroscopic energy band, data from each perspective dataset to identify corresponding points therein;
- a disparity module to obtain therefrom numerical data concerning disparity between each perspective dataset;
- and a depth slicing module to resolve z-coordinate information therefrom using to divide each perspective dataset at each energy band into a plurality of depth slices;
- an output data register to store output data generated by the spatial resolution module as a series of output datasets each comprising a 2-D dataset of intensity information resolved to a single energy band and depth slice;
- wherein the depth slicing module is adapted, for each energy band, to process data from plural perspective views separated at equivalent energy bands to produce an output dataset that includes separate maps of 2-D intensity information for each energy band at each notional depth slice and optionally to combine the maps of 2-D intensity information to produce an output dataset having 3-D intensity information for each energy band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.