X-Ray Imaging Apparatus
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Abstract
According to this invention, subtraction images obtained by an energy subtraction unit 15 serve as the basis for a 3D reconstruction process for acquiring a 3D X-ray image selectively showing a site of interest in a patient M. In addition, an image subtraction process carried out by the energy subtraction unit 15 according to weights set by a weight setter 14 selects only the site of interest in the patient M, and eliminates soft tissue forming a background around the site of interest. As a result, even if body motion occurs with the soft tissue forming the background around the site of interest of the patient M while subtraction images are acquired one after another by the energy subtraction unit 15, the body motion in the soft tissue of the patient M never appears as artifacts on the subtraction images, or on a 3D X-ray image acquired on the basis of the subtraction images.
32 Citations
9 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. An X-ray imaging apparatus characterized by comprising (A) an X-ray beam emitting device for emitting X-ray beams to an object under examination to be radiographed;
- (B) a two-dimensional X-ray detecting device for detecting transmitted X-ray images of the object under examination produced by emission of the X-ray beams to the object under examination, and outputting X-ray detection signals in real time;
(C) a revolution device for revolving the X-ray beam emitting device and the two-dimensional X-ray detecting device about the object under examination as opposed to each other with the object under examination in between;
(D) an X-ray energy switching control device for performing X-ray energy switching control to switch the X-ray beams emitted from the X-ray beam emitting device alternately to high energy X-ray beams of high energy and to low energy X-ray beams of low energy;
(E) a high energy image acquiring device for acquiring high energy X-ray photo images based on X-ray detection signals outputted from the two-dimensional X-ray detecting device as a result of emission of the high energy X-ray beams;
(F) a low energy image acquiring device for acquiring low energy X-ray photo images based on X-ray detection signals outputted from the two-dimensional X-ray detecting device as a result of emission of the low energy X-ray beams;
(I) a 3D reconstruction device for carrying out a 3D reconstruction process based on the high energy X-ray photo images to acquire a 3D X-ray image of high energy X-ray radiography, and a 3D reconstruction process based on the low energy X-ray photo images to acquire a 3D X-ray image of low energy X-ray radiography;
(K) a weight setting device for setting weights suitable for selecting a site of interest in the object under examination with respect to the 3D X-ray image of high energy X-ray radiography and 3D X-ray image of low energy X-ray radiography; and
(L) an energy difference using subtraction device for acquiring a 3D subtraction image through an image subtraction process carried out, according to the weights set by the weight setting device, on the 3D X-ray image of high energy X-ray radiography and 3D X-ray image of low energy X-ray radiography. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- (B) a two-dimensional X-ray detecting device for detecting transmitted X-ray images of the object under examination produced by emission of the X-ray beams to the object under examination, and outputting X-ray detection signals in real time;
Specification