THREE-DIMENSIONAL X-RAY IMAGING TECHNIQUES AND DEVICES

• US 20130294666A1
• Filed: 05/02/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jonathan D. Bultema
• Original Assignee: Jonathan D. Bultema
• Inventors: Bultema, Jonathan D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,855,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4007 characterised by using a plurality of source units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/466 adapted to display 3D data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/506 for diagnosis of nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/51 for dentistry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/512 Intraoral means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices

Abstract

Embodiments of a system, device, and method used in connection with the capture, processing, and display of radiographic images for use in a three-dimensional radiographic image representation are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a digital x-ray unit is arranged to provide transmission of x-ray energy at a series of determined angles and perspectives. The transmission of x-ray energy may be captured as series of two-dimensional digital x-ray images, and provided to a processing environment. A three-dimensional radiographic image representation may be created from the series of two-dimensional digital x-ray images, and provide for display in various three-dimensional display environments. Suitable three-dimensional display environments include a stereoscopic display provided on a three-dimensional electronic display unit, and a virtual three-dimensional environment simulated with a software user interface provided on a two-dimensional electronic display unit.

Claims

1. A method for providing a three-dimensional radiographic representation, comprising:

processing a set of x-ray images obtained at a same x-ray sensor from multiple x-ray transmissions, the multiple x-ray transmissions being provided by one or more x-ray sources, and the multiple x-ray transmissions arranged at a set of converging angles relative to a convergence point in the path of the multiple x-ray transmissions;

processing positioning information for the set of x-ray images, the positioning information indicating the set of converging angles; and

creating a three-dimensional radiographic representation from the set of x-ray images based on the set of converging angles indicated from the positioning information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling a capture of the set of x-ray images by controlling the multiple x-ray transmissions being provided by the one or more x-ray sources to the same x-ray sensor, wherein the one or more x-ray sources include three x-ray sources arranged in a triangulated configuration.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

positioning the three x-ray sources to emit x-ray energy at the set of converging angles, wherein the converging angles are provided to cause the multiple x-ray transmissions to converge at the convergence point.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining the positioning for the three x-ray sources to emit x-ray energy at the set of converging angles, wherein positioning the three x-ray sources includes using the determined positioning.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the same x-ray sensor is positioned in the path of the multiple x-ray transmissions at or before the convergence point.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the set of x-ray images obtained at the same x-ray sensor from the multiple x-ray transmissions includes:

capturing digital data received at the same x-ray sensor from the multiple x-ray transmissions, wherein the same x-ray sensor is a digital x-ray sensor; and

processing the digital data to create the set of x-ray images.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining the set of x-ray images from an image data store.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the three-dimensional radiographic representation as a three-dimensional virtual model for display in a software user interface, wherein the software user interface enables rendering and navigation of the three-dimensional virtual model in a virtual environment displayed on a two-dimensional display unit.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating voxel data for the three-dimensional virtual model for display in the virtual environment enabled by the software user interface.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the three-dimensional radiographic representation for display on a stereoscopic display unit, and generating two offset channels for display on the stereoscopic display unit, wherein the stereoscopic display unit is configured to display the two offset channels from the three-dimensional radiographic representation for three-dimensional perception by a human.

11. An x-ray device, comprising:

three or more x-ray sources positioned to emit x-ray energy towards a convergence point, the three or more x-ray sources being angled at a set of one or more determined angles relative to the convergence point to emit the x-ray energy at the set of determined angles, wherein the convergence point is located at a convergence of a path of the x-ray energy emitted from the three or more x-ray sources; and

wherein the x-ray device is operable at a fixed location to emit x-ray energy from the three or more x-ray sources at respective times for receiving at a digital x-ray sensor.

12. The x-ray device of claim 11, wherein the three or more x-ray sources comprise three x-ray tube units arranged in a triangular configuration including a first x-ray tube unit and a second x-ray tube unit positioned along a first axis, and a third x-ray tube unit positioned along a second axis, the second axis parallel to the first axis and intersecting the first axis at a point located between the first x-ray tube unit and the second-ray tube unit.

13. The x-ray device of claim 11, wherein the three or more x-ray sources comprise three x-ray tube units arranged in a parallel configuration, including a first x-ray tube unit, a second x-ray tube unit, and a third x-ray tube unit positioned parallel to an axis.

14. The x-ray device of claim 11, wherein the three or more x-ray sources comprise three x-ray collimators housed in a same x-ray tube unit, the three x-ray collimators being arranged in a triangular configuration including a first x-ray collimator and a second x-ray collimator positioned along a first axis, and a third x-ray collimator positioned along a second axis, the second axis parallel to the first axis and intersecting the first axis at a point located between the first x-ray collimator and the second x-ray collimator.

15. The x-ray device of claim 11, wherein the x-ray device is further configured to change an orientation of the three or more x-ray sources relative to the set of determined angles, and to rotate a positioning of the three or more x-ray sources relative to the digital x-ray sensor.

16. A three-dimensional radiographic imaging system, comprising:

multiple x-ray sources configured to emit x-ray energy towards a convergence point with respective x-ray beams, wherein the x-ray sources are arranged at a set of determined angles relative to the convergence point to transmit the respective x-ray beams at the set of determined angles;

an x-ray sensor arranged to receive the x-ray energy from the respective x-ray beams, the x-ray sensor configured to produce one or more digital signals providing data for radiographic images from the respective x-ray beams, wherein the radiographic images provide varying perspectives based on the set of determined angles; and

an image processing system configured to combine the radiographic images into a three-dimensional representation based on the varying perspectives provided by the radiographic images.

17. The three-dimensional radiographic imaging system of claim 16,

wherein the multiple x-ray sources include three x-ray sources, including a first x-ray source and a second x-ray source located substantially perpendicular to a first axis, and a third x-ray source located substantially parallel to the first axis;

and

wherein each of the first x-ray source, the second x-ray source, and the third x-ray source are arranged to emit the x-ray energy to the convergence point at the set of determined angles.

18. The three-dimensional radiographic imaging system of claim 16, further comprising:

a positioning sensor, the positioning sensor configured to determine an indication of positioning of the multiple x-ray sources relative to the x-ray sensor.

19. The three-dimensional radiographic imaging system of claim 18, wherein the determined angles of one or more of the multiple x-ray sources relative to the convergence point are automatically changed based on a changed proximity of the one or more of the multiple x-ray sources relative to the x-ray sensor, the proximity determined at least in part by the positioning sensor.

20. The three-dimensional radiographic imaging system of claim 18,

wherein the multiple x-ray sources include three x-ray sources, including a first x-ray source and a second x-ray source located substantially perpendicular to a first axis, and a third x-ray source located substantially parallel to the first axis;

and

wherein the first x-ray source, the second x-ray source, and the third x-ray source converge as the multiple x-ray sources are positioned closer to the x-ray sensor, and separate as the multiple x-ray sources are positioned further away from the x-ray sensor, wherein positioning relative to the x-ray sensor is determined at least in part by the positioning sensor.

21. The three-dimensional radiographic imaging system of claim 16, further comprising:

a display configured to render the three-dimensional representation based on the set of determined angles.