METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR X-RAY IMAGING WITH MULTIPLE SOURCE-DETECTOR PAIRS

• US 20150196261A1
• Filed: 03/26/2015
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Triple Ring Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: FUNK, TOBIAS
• Application Number:
  US14/670,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20150196261A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/022 Stereoscopic imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/035 Mechanical aspects of CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4014 arranged in multiple source-detector units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4028 resulting in acquisition of views from substantially different positions, e.g. EBCT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/487 involving fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5205 involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data

Abstract

The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for medical imaging comprising rotating two X-ray source-detector pairs around an axis of rotation simultaneously to quickly acquire image data and form a computed tomography (CT) dataset. The sources can be configured to emit radiation from a plurality of discrete locations. The CT dataset can be utilized as a prior to reconstruct a three-dimensional image from subsequent bi-planar imaging with these source-detector pairs.

Claims

1. A method of x-ray imaging comprising:

rotating a first X-ray source-detector pair through a first set of angles around an axis of rotation;

rotating a second X-ray source-detector pair through a second set of angles around said axis of rotation, wherein said first set of angles and said second set of angles do not overlap;

acquiring image data from said first X-ray source-detector pair and said second X-ray source-detector pair during rotation; and

storing said image data to form a computed imaging dataset.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first set of angles and said second set of angles each comprise at least 90 degrees.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

completing rotation of the first X-ray source-detector pair through the first set of angles and the second X-ray source-detector pair through the second set of angles in less than 3 seconds.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

fixing positions of said first X-ray source-detector pair and said second X-ray source-detector pair at a predetermined angle of separation; and

acquiring images from said first X-ray source-detector pairs and said second X-ray source-detector pair while stationary.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said predetermined angle of separation is a minimum angle.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

utilizing said computed imaging dataset for registration of said images.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein source of said first X-ray source-detector pair is configured to emit radiation from a plurality of discrete locations on its face.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein source of said first X-ray source-detector pair is a point source.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein source of said second X-ray source-detector pair is configured to emit radiation from a plurality of discrete locations on its face.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

rotating said first X-ray source-detector pair and said second-source detector pair around a common axis of rotation through a shared isocenter.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

rotating said first X-ray source-detector pair and said second-source detector pair around a common axis of rotation through a shared isocenter.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

imaging with a computed tomography modality.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

imaging with an extended field of view fluoroscopy modality.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

imaging with a bi-planar modality.

15. A method of x-ray imaging comprising:

rotating two X-ray source-detector pairs around an imaging volume, wherein at least one source of said X-ray source-detector pairs are configured to emit radiation from pluralities of discrete locations;

acquiring a computed tomography dataset during rotation of said two X-ray source-detector pairs;

fixing said two X-ray source-detector pairs at a predetermined angle relative to one another;

acquiring image data from said two X-ray source-detector pairs while stationary at said predetermined angle relative to one another;

reconstructing a three-dimensional image from said image data; and

utilizing said computed tomography dataset as a prior for reconstruction of said three-dimensional image.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said predetermined angle is between 80 and 100 degrees, inclusive.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

reconstructing said three-dimensional image using a maximum-likelihood expectation maximization in voxel space.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

reconstructing said three-dimensional image using an ordered-subset expectation maximization framework.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

reconstructing said three-dimensional image using a maximum likelihood algorithm for transmission tomography.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

correcting artifacts in said three-dimensional image using said computed tomography dataset.