Correction methods and apparatus for digital x-ray imaging
US6542575B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 31, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 1, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 31, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N5/32
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In recent years, x-ray imaging, which has been used to diagnose millions of illnesses and injuries, has evolved to use digital imaging instead of photographic film as a recording medium. Digital x-ray systems typically include an x-ray source, an x-ray focusing grid, and an array of light or x-ray detectors. Because of detector imperfections and other system factors, such as x-ray field non-uniformity and grid artifacts, digital x-ray images are often corrected, or compensated, before use. To this end, many digital x-ray systems include numerous application-specific correction maps, which unfortunately require regular maintenance that is not only time-consuming but expensive in terms of system downtime. Accordingly, the inventors devised new methods and systems for correcting application images that require maintenance of fewer correction maps. One exemplary implementation determines grid-only and non-grid correction maps and corrects application images based on a combination of these correction maps. Other aspects of the invention include automatic detection and correction of grid images in application images and computer-readable mediums which store software for computing and app…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.