Digital x-ray tomosynthesis system
US7177390B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 2005 |
| Grant date | Feb 13, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2223/419
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Method and device for digital x-ray tomosynthesis. Tomographic and/or three-dimensional images of an object are obtained with an x-ray source and a digital x-ray image sensor. The source, object and sensor are positioned relative to each other and attenuation data is obtained for a large number of rays of x-radiation through the object. A special algorithm is provided to convert the data into images. To calculate the images the algorithm uses iterative processes with a least squares type technique but with generalized (as opposed to specific) functions. The algorithm solves for the functions which are the images. Preferred embodiments include a system having an x-ray point source with a cone of diverging x-rays, a two-dimensional digital x-ray image sensor, two linear translation stages to independently move both the x-ray source and the digital x-ray image sensor, two rotation mechanisms to rotate the two linear translation stages, a microprocessor to control the data acquisition, and a computer programmed with a special algorithm to calculate the tomographic images. A plurality of sets of digital data (representing x-ray algorithm images of an object) are acquired by the digital …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.