Imaging internal structures
First Claim
1. Apparatus for imaging the internal structure of a volume exhibiting an internal variation, comprising:
- a source of penetrating radiation and a two dimensional detector for that radiation, the source and the detector being arranged to produce a series of projected images of the volume;
a reconstruction means for deriving information as to the three dimensional structure in the volume from selected images of the series;
a selection means for selecting images with similar phase from the series for use by the reconstruction means;
wherein the selection means is arranged to;
collapse the images derived from the series from two dimensions to one dimension by summing the intensities of pixels along a dimension transverse to the one dimension, produce a further image from a composite of the one-dimensional images obtained from images in the series, analyse the further image for patterns, and select from the series images having like phase in that pattern.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, method and software module for selecting phase-correlated images from the output of a scanner such as a cone beam CT scanner operates by collapsing the images derived from the series from two dimensions to one dimension by summing the intensities of pixels along a dimension transverse to the one dimension, producing a further image from a composite of the one-dimensional images obtained from images in the series, analysing the further image for periodic patterns, and selecting from the series images having like phase in that periodic pattern. If desired, a plurality of reconstructions can be derived at different phases. The analysis of the further image for periodic patterns can include comparing the one-dimensional images therein, to identify a movement of features in that dimension. This allows (inter alia) the accurate determination of the breathing cycle in a patient and a concomitant improvement in the quality of CT scans by using phase-correlated images.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. Apparatus for imaging the internal structure of a volume exhibiting an internal variation, comprising:
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a source of penetrating radiation and a two dimensional detector for that radiation, the source and the detector being arranged to produce a series of projected images of the volume;
a reconstruction means for deriving information as to the three dimensional structure in the volume from selected images of the series;
a selection means for selecting images with similar phase from the series for use by the reconstruction means;
wherein the selection means is arranged to;
collapse the images derived from the series from two dimensions to one dimension by summing the intensities of pixels along a dimension transverse to the one dimension, produce a further image from a composite of the one-dimensional images obtained from images in the series, analyse the further image for patterns, and select from the series images having like phase in that pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of selecting phase correlated images from the output of a scanner, comprising the steps of, for each of a plurality of images in a series thereof produced by the scanner:
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collapsing the images from two dimensions to one dimension by summing the intensities of pixels along a dimension transverse to the one dimension, producing a further image from a composite of the one-dimensional images obtained from images in the series, analysing the further image for periodic patterns, and selecting from the series images having like phase in that periodic pattern. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A software module for selecting phase correlated images from the output of a scanner, arranged to execute the steps of, for each of a plurality of images in a series thereof produced by the scanner:
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collapsing the images from two dimensions to one dimension by summing the intensities of pixels along a dimension transverse to the one dimension, producing a further image from a composite of the one-dimensional images obtained from images in the series, analysing the further image for periodic patterns, and selecting from the series images having like phase in that periodic pattern. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification