DIGITAL TOMOSYNTHESIS SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR INTRAORAL DENTAL TOMOSYNTHESIS IMAGING

• US 20160317107A1
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina System), XinVivo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina System), Xintek, Inc.
• Inventors: LU, Jianping, SHAN, Jing, TUCKER, Andrew, CHTCHEPROV, Pavel, PLATIN, Enrique, MOL, Andr, GAALAAS, Laurence Rossman, WU, Gongting, ZHOU, Otto Z.
• Granted Patent: US 9,907,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/06 Diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4007 characterised by using a plurality of source units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4035 the source being combined with a filter or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/425 using detectors specially adapted to be used in the interior of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/512 Intraoral means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5205 involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5217 extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/547 involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/582 Calibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/587 Alignment of source unit to detector unit

Abstract

Digital tomosynthesis systems, methods, and computer readable media for intraoral dental tomosynthesis imaging are disclosed. In some aspects, an intraoral tomosynthesis imaging system includes an x-ray source array for positioning outside a mouth of a patient, wherein the x-ray source array contains multiple x-ray focal spots that are spatially distributed on an anode, an area digital x-ray detector for positioning inside the mouth of the patient, a geometry calibration mechanism for connecting the x-ray detector to the x-ray source array, an x-ray collimator for confining x-ray beams to a region of interest, a controller for regulating x-ray radiation and synchronization of the x-ray radiation with the x-ray detector, such that multiple 2D projection images of the ROI are acquired without mechanical motion of the x-ray source array, the x-ray detector, or the mouth of the patient, and a computer program and workstation for 3D tomosynthesis image reconstruction and display.

Claims

1. An intraoral tomosynthesis imaging system comprising:

an x-ray source array for positioning outside a mouth of a patient, wherein the x-ray source array contains multiple x-ray focal spots that are spatially distributed on an anode;

an area digital x-ray detector for positioning inside the mouth of the patient;

a geometry calibration mechanism for connecting the area digital x-ray detector to the x-ray source array;

an x-ray collimator for confining x-ray beams to a region of interest (ROI);

a controller for regulating x-ray radiation and synchronization of the x-ray radiation with the area digital x-ray detector, such that multiple two-dimensional (2D) projection images of the ROI are acquired without mechanical motion of the x-ray source array, the area digital x-ray detector, or the mouth of the patient; and

a computer program and workstation for three-dimensional (3D) tomosynthesis image reconstruction and display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the geometry calibration mechanism comprises a screen configured to display at least one light pattern for geometry calibration.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the geometry calibration mechanism comprises a magnetic attachment attachable to the area digital x-ray detector while inside the mouth of the patient in order to connect the x-ray source array to the area digital x-ray detector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that the multiple 2D projection images of the ROI are acquired rapidly at a fast frame rate in an order of 1-100 frames-per-second without mechanical motion of the x-ray source array, the area digital x-ray detector, or the mouth of the patient.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the x-ray source array is a field emission x-ray source array.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the x-ray source array is a thermionic x-ray source array.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the x-ray source array is a carbon nanotube based field emission x-ray source array.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple x-ray focal spots are distributed along a straight line.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer program and workstation for 3D tomosynthesis image reconstruction utilizes an adapted fan beam volume reconstruction technique.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein an orientation of the x-ray collimator is interchangeable relative to an x and a y direction, and wherein the x-ray collimator is configured to collimate the x-ray beams to a respective orientation of the area digital x-ray detector.

11. An intraoral three-dimensional (3D) imaging system comprising:

an x-ray source array for positioning outside a mouth of a patient, wherein the x-ray source array contains 3 to 25 x-ray focal spots that are spatially distributed on an anode and spanning an angular range approximately between 3 and 25 degrees, each of the x-ray focal spots being approximately between 0.2 and 2 mm in size;

an area digital x-ray detector for positioning inside the mouth of the patient;

a geometry calibration mechanism connectable to the area digital x-ray detector;

an x-ray collimator for confining x-ray beams to a region of interest (ROI);

an electronic controller for regulating x-ray radiation and synchronization of the x-ray radiation with the area digital x-ray detector, such that multiple two-dimensional (2D) projection images of the ROI are acquired without mechanical motion of the x-ray source array, the area digital x-ray detector, or the mouth of the patient; and

a computer workstation with executable programs for geometry calibration, tomosynthesis reconstruction, and image display.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the x-ray source array comprises an x-ray tube that is configured to operate with x-ray photon energy between 60 and 100 kVp, a tube current between 1 and 10 mA, and exposure time per projection between 10 and 500 milliseconds.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the geometry calibration mechanism comprises a magnetic attachment attachable to the area digital x-ray detector while inside the mouth of the patient to connect the x-ray source array to the area digital x-ray detector.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the magnetic attachment comprises an angled channel disposed along a side surface of the magnetic attachment and that is configured to be releasable from a connecting arm of the area digital x-ray detector.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer workstation is configured for analysis and image display, and wherein the computer workstation with executable programs is configured to automatically detect dental caries and fractures.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer workstation with executable programs for tomosynthesis reconstruction comprises 3D image reconstruction.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the x-ray source array is a carbon nanotube based field emission x-ray source array.

18. A method for intraoral three-dimensional (3D) tomographic imaging, the method comprising:

connecting a geometry calibration mechanism to the area digital x-ray detector;

positioning an area digital x-ray detector at a first position inside the mouth of the patient;

positioning an x-ray source array outside a mouth of a patient, wherein the x-ray source array comprises multiple x-ray focal spots that are spatially distributed on an anode;

connecting a geometry calibration mechanism to a collimator of the x-ray source;

acquiring a first set of two-dimensional (2D) projection images of the mouth of the patient at the first position; and

processing the first set of 2D projection images to obtain a reconstructed 3D tomography image.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

positioning the area digital x-ray detector at a second position inside the mouth of the patient;

acquiring a second set of 2D projection images of the mouth of the patient at the second position; and

processing the first set of 2D projection images acquired at the first position and at the second set of 2D projection images acquired at the second position to obtain two sets of reconstructed 3D tomography images of the ROI for display and analysis.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein reconstruction of the two sets of 2D projection images comprises employing limited angle tomography techniques.