X-ray image subtracting system
US4355331A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 1981 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05G1/60
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An x-ray source projects successive high and low energy x-ray beam pulses through a body and the resultant x-ray images are converted to optical images. Two image pick-up devices such as TV cameras that have synchronously operated shutters receive the alternate images and convert them to corresponding analog video signals. In some embodiments, the analog signals are converted to a matrix of digital pixel signals that are variously processed and subtracted and converted to signals for driving a TV monitor display and analog storage devices. In other embodiments the signals are processed and subtracted in analog form for display. The high and low energy pulses can follow each other immediately so good registration between subtracted images is obtainable even though the anatomy is in motion. The energy levels of the x-ray pulses are chosen to maximize the difference in attenuation between the anatomical structure which is to be subtracted out and that which remains.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.