Method for displaying digital X-ray image data at high resolution

• US 20040202281A1
• Filed: 04/10/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Colbeth, Richard E., Mollov, Ivan P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,123,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/98.8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/443 by reading pixels from selected 2D regions of the array, e.g. for windowing or digital zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/7795 Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/78 Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/15 for picture signal generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/32 Transforming X-rays cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from X-rays H04N23/30; circuitry of SSIS for transforming X-rays into image signals H04N25/30

Abstract

A method for providing X-ray image data signals corresponding to a selected portion of a two-dimensional image at an enhanced image resolution. During selective exposure of an X-ray receptor to X-ray radiation corresponding to the subject image, image pixel data corresponding to the region of interest (used pixels) are read out with normal pixel data pixel discharge times and at the normal pixel data rate, while image pixel data corresponding to the region not of interest (unused pixels) are read out also with normal pixel data pixel discharge times and at either the normal pixel data rate or an increased pixel data rate. During such pixel data readout intervals, the X-ray radiation exposure can be continuous or selectively pulsed.

Claims

1. A method for providing X-ray image data signals corresponding to a selected portion of a two-dimensional image at an enhanced image resolution, comprising:

exposing an X-ray receptor to a first amount of X-ray radiation during a first time interval;

reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a first data rate during said first time interval, a first plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a first portion of a two-dimensional image and having a first pixel discharge time associated therewith;

exposing said X-ray receptor to a second amount of X-ray radiation corresponding to said two-dimensional image during at least a portion of a second time interval;

reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a second data rate during at least another portion of said second time interval, a second plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a second portion of said two-dimensional image and having a second pixel discharge time associated therewith, wherein said first and second pixel discharge times are substantially equal; and

converting said first plurality of pixel data signals to a plurality of video image signals suitable for displaying via an image display device at least a subordinate portion of said first portion of said two-dimensional image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a first data rate during said first time interval, a first plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a first portion of a two-dimensional image and having a first pixel discharge time associated therewith comprises simultaneously reading out first and second portions of said first plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to first and second substantially contiguous subordinate portions of said first portion of said two-dimensional image.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a second data rate during at least another portion of said second time interval, a second plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a second portion of said two-dimensional image and having a second pixel discharge time associated therewith comprises simultaneously reading out first and second portions of said second plurality of pixel data signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first plurality of pixel data signals corresponds to a matrix of image pixels including a plurality of rows of image pixels; and

said converting said first plurality of pixel data signals to a plurality of video image signals suitable for displaying via an image display device at least a subordinate portion of said first portion of said two-dimensional image comprises converting a portion of said first plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to a selected portion of selected ones of said plurality of rows of image pixels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first and second pluralities of pixel data signals correspond to a matrix of image pixels including first, second and third successive pluralities of rows of image pixels;

said reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a first data rate during said first time interval, a first plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a first portion of a two-dimensional image and having a first pixel discharge time associated therewith comprises reading out a plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to said second plurality of rows of image pixels; and

said reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a second data rate during at least another portion of said second time interval, a second plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a second portion of said two-dimensional image and having a second pixel discharge time associated therewith comprises reading out a plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to said first and third pluralities of rows of image pixels.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said converting said first plurality of pixel data signals to a plurality of video image signals suitable for displaying via an image display device at least a subordinate portion of said first portion of said two-dimensional image comprises converting a portion of said first plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to a selected portion of selected ones of said second plurality of rows of image pixels.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first and second pluralities of pixel data signals correspond to a matrix of image pixels including first, second, third and fourth successive pluralities of rows of image pixels;

said reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a first data rate during said first time interval, a first plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a first portion of a two-dimensional image and having a first pixel discharge time associated therewith comprises simultaneously reading out a plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to said second and third pluralities of rows of image pixels; and

said reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a second data rate during at least another portion of said second time interval, a second plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a second portion of said two-dimensional image and having a second pixel discharge time associated therewith comprises simultaneously reading out a plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to said first and fourth pluralities of rows of image pixels.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said converting said first plurality of pixel data signals to a plurality of video image signals suitable for displaying via an image display device at least a subordinate portion of said first portion of said two-dimensional image comprises converting a portion of said first plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to a selected portion of selected ones of said second and third pluralities of rows of image pixels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first amount of X-ray radiation is less than said second amount of X-ray radiation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first amount of X-ray radiation is substantially zero.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second data rates are substantially equal.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said second data rate is greater than said first data rate.

13. A method for providing X-ray image data signals corresponding to a selected portion of a two-dimensional image at an enhanced image resolution, comprising:

exposing an X-ray receptor to a first amount of X-ray radiation corresponding to a two-dimensional image during at least a portion of a first time interval and a second amount of X-ray radiation during a second time interval;

reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a first data rate during at least another portion of said first time interval, a first plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a first portion of said two-dimensional image and having a first pixel discharge time associated therewith;

reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a second data rate during said second time interval, a second plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a second portion of said two-dimensional image and having a second pixel discharge time associated therewith, wherein said first and second pixel discharge times are substantially equal; and

converting said second plurality of pixel data signals to a plurality of video image signals suitable for displaying via an image display device at least a subordinate portion of said second portion of said two-dimensional image.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a second data rate during said second time interval, a second plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a second portion of said two-dimensional image and having a second pixel discharge time associated therewith comprises simultaneously reading out first and second portions of said second plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to first and second substantially contiguous subordinate portions of said second portion of said two-dimensional image.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a first data rate during at least another portion of said first time interval, a first plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a first portion of said two-dimensional image and having a first pixel discharge time associated therewith comprises simultaneously reading out first and second portions of said first plurality of pixel data signals.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said second plurality of pixel data signals corresponds to a matrix of image pixels including a plurality of rows of image pixels; and

said converting said second plurality of pixel data signals to a plurality of video image signals suitable for displaying via an image display device at least a subordinate portion of said second portion of said two-dimensional image comprises converting a portion of said second plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to a selected portion of selected ones of said plurality of rows of image pixels.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said first and second pluralities of pixel data signals correspond to a matrix of image pixels including first, second and third successive pluralities of rows of image pixels;

said reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a first data rate during at least another portion of said first time interval, a first plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a first portion of said two-dimensional image and having a first pixel discharge time associated therewith comprises reading out a plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to said first and third pluralities of rows of image pixels; and

said reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a second data rate during said second time interval, a second plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a second portion of said two-dimensional image and having a second pixel discharge time associated therewith comprises reading out a plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to said second plurality of rows of image pixels.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said converting said second plurality of pixel data signals to a plurality of video image signals suitable for displaying via an image display device at least a subordinate portion of said second portion of said two-dimensional image comprises converting a portion of said second plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to a selected portion of selected ones of said second plurality of rows of image pixels.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said first and second pluralities of pixel data signals correspond to a matrix of image pixels including first, second, third and fourth successive pluralities of rows of image pixels;

said reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a first data rate during at least another portion of said first time interval, a first plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a first portion of said two-dimensional image and having a first pixel discharge time associated therewith comprises simultaneously reading out a plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to said first and fourth pluralities of rows of image pixels; and

said reading out, from said X-ray receptor at a second data rate during said second time interval, a second plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to at least a second portion of said two-dimensional image and having a second pixel discharge time associated therewith comprises simultaneously reading out a plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to said second and third pluralities of rows of image pixels.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said converting said second plurality of pixel data signals to a plurality of video image signals suitable for displaying via an image display device at least a subordinate portion of said second portion of said two-dimensional image comprises converting a portion of said second plurality of pixel data signals corresponding to a selected portion of selected ones of said second and third pluralities of rows of image pixels.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein said first amount of X-ray radiation is greater than said second amount of X-ray radiation.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein said second amount of X-ray radiation is substantially zero.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein said first and second data rates are substantially equal.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein said first data rate is greater than said second data rate.