Radiographic imaging apparatus and method for vascular interventions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A radiographic imaging apparatus, comprising:
- an x-ray source irradiating an object to be inspected with x-rays;
a fluoroscopic x-ray image detector capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object and converting the received x-rays into a first output;
a display capable of picking up the first output; and
, an x-ray detector element having an undivided converter material capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object to produce signals corresponding to the x-rays, the x-ray detector element converting the signals into a second digital output;
wherein the x-ray detector element is capable of providing higher spatial resolution images of a region of interest detected by the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector.
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Abstract
A radiographic imaging apparatus and method for vascular interventions for acquiring very high resolution radiographic images over a small region of interest (ROI). The apparatus and associated method employs digital solid state x-ray image detectors for the medical imaging application of angiography. A mechanical arrangement, for example an arm attached to an existing large area x-ray detector, allows the small area ROI digital detector to be temporarily positioned over a region located by the standard large area imager so that additional very high resolution digital images may be obtained over the ROI.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A radiographic imaging apparatus, comprising:
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an x-ray source irradiating an object to be inspected with x-rays;
a fluoroscopic x-ray image detector capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object and converting the received x-rays into a first output;
a display capable of picking up the first output; and
,an x-ray detector element having an undivided converter material capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object to produce signals corresponding to the x-rays, the x-ray detector element converting the signals into a second digital output;
wherein the x-ray detector element is capable of providing higher spatial resolution images of a region of interest detected by the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A radiographic imaging apparatus, comprising:
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an x-ray source irradiating an object to be inspected with x-rays;
a fluoroscopic x-ray image detector capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object and converting the received x-rays into a first output;
a display capable of picking up the first output; and
,an x-ray detector element capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object and converting the x-ray radiation into a second digital output;
wherein the spatial resolution of the x-ray detector element is approximately 3 to 10 lp/mm and the x-ray detector element is capable of providing higher spatial resolution images of a region of interest detected by the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector.
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13. A radiographic imaging apparatus, comprising:
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a frame;
an x-ray source mounted on the frame and capable of irradiating an object placed in the apparatus;
a fluoroscopic x-ray image detector capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object and converting the received x-rays into a first output;
a display capable of picking up the first output; and
,an x-ray detector element capable of receiving the x-rays which pass through the object and converting the x-ray radiation into a second digital output, the x-ray detector element retractably mounted to the frame such that it is capable of receiving the x-rays in a deployed position and such that it does not interfere with the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector in a stored position;
wherein the x-ray detector element is capable of providing higher spatial resolution images of a region of interest detected by the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A radiographic imaging method, comprising the steps of:
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providing an x-ray source capable of irradiating an object;
providing a fluoroscopic x-ray image detector capable of receiving the x-rays that pass through the object and converting the x-rays into a first output;
placing an object between the x-ray source and the x-ray image detector;
performing a procedure on the object with aid of radiographic imaging guidance from the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector;
determining a region of interest within a field of view of the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector;
providing an x-ray detector element having an undivided converter material capable of receiving the x-rays that pass through the object in the region of interest to produce signals corresponding to the x-rays, the x-ray detector element capable of converting the signals into a second digital output, the x-ray detector element having a higher spatial resolution than the x-ray image detector; and
,viewing an image picked up from the second output. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for radiographic imaging, comprising the steps of;
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providing a flat panel x-ray image detector having an array of pixels with a size of 25-50 μ
m;
electronically dividing the flat panel x-ray image detector into zones to establish a high resolution mode for region of interest viewing;
binning the pixels to provide a large area mode for the x-ray image detector having an effective pixel size of at least 100 μ
m; and
viewing an irradiated object in the large area mode of x-ray detection to detect a region of interest;
switching the x-ray image detector to the high resolution mode in one of the zones; and
,viewing the object in the region of interest in the high resolution mode. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A radiographic imaging method, comprising the steps of:
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providing an x-ray source mounted on a frame and capable of irradiating an object;
providing a fluoroscopic x-ray image detector capable of receiving the x-rays that pass through the object and converting the x-rays into a first output;
placing an object between the x-ray source and the x-ray image detector;
performing a procedure on the object with aid of radiographic imaging guidance from the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector;
determining a region of interest within a field of view of the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector;
providing an x-ray detector element capable of receiving the x-rays that pass through the object in the region of interest and capable of converting the x-rays into a second digital output, the x-ray detector element having a higher spatial resolution than the x-ray image detector, the x-ray detector element retractably mounted to the frame such that it is capable of receiving the x-rays in a deployed position and such that it does not interfere with the fluoroscopic x-ray image detector in a stored position; and
,viewing an image picked up from the second output. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification