Collimation device and method for acquiring a radiation image of a long body part using direct digital X-ray detectors

• US 6,807,250 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Wang, Xiaohui, Foos, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US09/845,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20020191750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 378/62, 378/63, 378/64, 378/65, 378/204, 378/205, 378/206, 378/207, 378/54-56
• US Class Current: 378/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/06 Diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5241 combining overlapping images of the same imaging modality, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/30 for generating image signals from X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/32 Transforming X-rays cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from X-rays H04N23/30; circuitry of SSIS for transforming X-rays into image signals H04N25/30

Abstract

A method for acquiring a radiographic image of an elongated object, comprising: positioning an elongated object between a source of x-rays and a digital image capture device having an imaging dimension which is less than a like dimension of said elongated object; wherein said image source is stationary and said source projects an x-ray pattern which encompasses said elongated object; moving said digital image capture device in a direction parallel to said known imaging dimension to sequential contiguous stationary positions to acquire a sequence of radiographic images of said elongated object; and moving an assembly of x-ray opaque material which is positioned between said source of x-rays and said elongated object, and which has an opening for allowing passage of x-rays, such that said opening is synchronized with the movement of said digital image capture device to facilitate acquisition of said sequence of radiographic images at said stationary positions.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring a radiographic image of an elongated object, comprising:

positioning an elongated object between a source of x-rays and a digital image capture device having an imaging dimension which is less than a like dimension of said elongated object;

wherein said image source is stationary and said source projects an x-ray pattern which encompasses said elongated object;

moving said digital image capture device in a direction parallel to said known imaging dimension to sequential contiguous stationary positions to acquire a sequence of radiographic images of said elongated object; and

moving an assembly of x-ray opaque material which is positioned between said source of x-rays and said elongated object, and which has an opening for allowing passage of x-rays, such that said opening is synchronized with the movement of said digital image capture device to facilitate acquisition of said sequence of radiographic images at said stationary positions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said digital image capture device includes a flat panel solid state digital image detector which is moved in said parallel direction.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said assembly has blades which are adjustable along said parallel direction to form said opening.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said assembly includes a member of x-ray opaque material which has a fixed opening;

and

wherein said member is movable in a vertical direction in synchronism with said movement of said digital image capture device so that said opening is aligned with said device at said sequential positions of said device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said assembly includes a member of x-ray opaque material which has a plurality of fixed openings which are arrayed diagonally;

and

wherein said member is movable in a horizontal direction in synchronism with the movement of said digital image capture device so that at each of said sequential positions of said device one of said fixed openings in aligned with said device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said assembly includes a member of x-ray opaque material which has a plurality of fixed openings which are arrayed circumferentially;

and

wherein said member is rotatable in synchronism with the movement of said digital image capture device so that at each of said sequential positions of said device, one of said fixed openings as aligned with said device.

7. A method for acquiring a radiographic image of an elongated body part, comprising:

positioning an elongated human body part between a source of x-rays and a digital image capture device having an imaging dimension which is less than a like dimension of said elongated body part;

wherein said image source is stationary and said source projects an x-ray pattern which encompasses said elongated body part;

moving said digital image capture device in a direction parallel to said known imaging dimension to sequential contiguous stationary positions to acquire a sequence of radiographic images of said elongated body part; and

moving an assembly of x-ray opaque material which is positioned between said source of x-rays and said elongated body part, and which has an opening for allowing passage of x-rays, such that said opening is synchronized with the movement of said digital image capture device to facilitate acquisition of said sequence of radiographic images at said stationary positions.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said digital image capture device includes a flat panel solid state digital image detector which is moved in said parallel direction.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said assembly has blades which are adjustable along said parallel direction to form said opening.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said assembly includes a member of x-ray opaque material which as a fixed opening;

and

wherein said member is movable in a vertical direction in synchronism with said movement of said digital image capture device so that said opening is aligned with said device at said sequential positions of said device.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said assembly includes a member of x-ray opaque material which has a plurality of fixed openings which are arrayed diagonally;

and

wherein said member is movable in a horizontal direction in synchronism with the movement of said digital image capture device so that each of said sequential positions of said device one of said fixed openings is aligned with said device.

12. The method of claim 7 where said assembly includes a member of x-ray opaque material which has a plurality of fixed openings which are arrayed circumferentially;

and

wherein said member is rotatable in synchronism with the movement of said digital image capture device so that at each of said sequential positions of said device, one of said fixed openings is aligned with said device.

13. In a radiographic imaging system including a source of x-rays and an adjustable collimator associated with said source of x-rays for limiting the size of the x-ray beam projected to an object to be x-rayed, a shutter comprising;

a blade of x-ray opaque material having a fixed opening, said blade positioned contiguous to said collimator; and

a blade drive for moving said blade in a vertical direction to position said opening in sequential, contiguous, stationary positions to control exposure of said object along said vertical direction.

14. In a radiographic imaging system including a source of x-rays and an adjustable collimator associated with said source of x-rays for limiting the size of the x-ray beam projected to an object to be x-rayed, a shutter comprising;

a blade of x-ray opaque material having a plurality of fixed openings which are arrayed diagonally, said blade being positioned contiguous to said collimator; and

a blade drive for moving said blade in a horizontal direction to position said diagonal array of openings in sequential, contiguous, stationary positions to control exposure of said object along a vertical direction.

15. In a radiographic imaging system including a source of x-rays and an adjustable collimator associated with said source of x-rays for limiting the size of the x-ray beam projected to an object to be x-rayed, a shutter comprising;

a blade of x-ray opaque material having a plurality of fixed openings which are arrayed circumferentially, said blade being positioned contiguous to said collimator; and

a blade drive for moving said blade in a rotational direction to position said circumferential, said blade being positioned contiguous to said collimator; and

a blade drive for moving said blade in a rotational direction to position said circumferential array of openings in sequential, contiguous, stationary positions to control exposure of said object along a vertical direction.