Method for determining density distributions and atomic number distributions during radiographic examination methods
First Claim
1. A method for determining distributions of density and atomic number in an object to be examined, comprising:
- recording a first distribution of X-ray absorption values of the object to be examined using a first X-ray spectrum;
recording at least a further distribution of X-ray absorption values of the object to be examined using a further X-ray spectrum;
selecting, from the recorded first distribution of X-ray absorption values, a first X-ray absorption value;
selecting from the recorded further distribution of X-ray absorption values, a further X-ray absorption value assigned to said first X-ray absorption value or selecting, from each of said recorded further distribution of X-ray absorption values, a further X-ray absorption value assigned to said first X-ray absorption value;
specifying a first function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to said first X-ray absorption value selected from said recorded first distribution of X-ray absorption values;
specifying a further function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to said further X-ray absorption value selected from said recorded further distribution of X-ray absorption values of specifying a further function representing paired values of density and atomic number for each X-ray absorption value assigned to said first X-ray absorption value in the recorded further distributions of X-ray absorption values; and
determining a value for the density and determining a value for the atomic number from a comparison of said first function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to said first X-ray absorption value with one or more of said further functions representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to said respective further X-ray absorption values, and which are assigned to said first X-ray absorption value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The functional dependency of a first X-ray absorption value of density and atomic number is determined in the instance of a first X-ray spectrum, and at least the functional dependency of a second X-ray absorption value of density and atomic number is determined in the instance of a second X-ray spectrum. Based on a recording of a first distribution of X-ray absorption values of the object to be examined in the instance of a first X-ray spectrum, and on a recording of at least one second distribution of X-ray absorption values of the object to be examined in the instance of a second X-ray spectrum, the values for density and atomic number are determined by comparing the functional dependency of a first X-ray absorption value of the first distribution of X-ray absorption values with the functional dependency(ies) of the X-ray absorption values, which are assigned to the first X-ray absorption value, of the second and/or other distributions of X-ray absorption values.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for determining distributions of density and atomic number in an object to be examined, comprising:
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recording a first distribution of X-ray absorption values of the object to be examined using a first X-ray spectrum; recording at least a further distribution of X-ray absorption values of the object to be examined using a further X-ray spectrum; selecting, from the recorded first distribution of X-ray absorption values, a first X-ray absorption value; selecting from the recorded further distribution of X-ray absorption values, a further X-ray absorption value assigned to said first X-ray absorption value or selecting, from each of said recorded further distribution of X-ray absorption values, a further X-ray absorption value assigned to said first X-ray absorption value; specifying a first function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to said first X-ray absorption value selected from said recorded first distribution of X-ray absorption values; specifying a further function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to said further X-ray absorption value selected from said recorded further distribution of X-ray absorption values of specifying a further function representing paired values of density and atomic number for each X-ray absorption value assigned to said first X-ray absorption value in the recorded further distributions of X-ray absorption values; and determining a value for the density and determining a value for the atomic number from a comparison of said first function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to said first X-ray absorption value with one or more of said further functions representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to said respective further X-ray absorption values, and which are assigned to said first X-ray absorption value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An X-ray apparatus for determining distributions of density and atomic number in an object to be examined, comprising:
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an X-ray source adapted to emit X-radiation; an X-ray detector adapted to detect the X-radiation emitted by the X-ray source and to convert the X-radiation into electrical signals for further processing; and a signal processing device, adapted to process the electrical signals of the X-ray detector, wherein the signal processing device is adapted to determine distributions of density and atomic number in an object to be examined on the basis of a first and at least one further distribution of X-ray absorption values of the object to be examined recorded on the X-ray apparatus with different X-ray spectra such that, a value for the density and a value for the atomic number are determined for each absorption value of a first distribution of X-ray absorption values recorded with a first X-ray spectrum by specifying a first function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to an X-ray absorption value from said recorded first distribution of X-ray absorption values and specifying an at least second function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to a further X-ray absorption value of the at least one further distribution of X-ray absorption values and that is further assigned to said absorption value of the first distribution of X-ray absorption values; and
bycomparing the first function with the at least second function to obtain a paired value for density and atomic number common to the first and the at least second function. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An X-ray apparatus for determining distributions of density and atomic number in an object to be examined, comprising:
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means for emitting X-radiation; means for detecting the emitted X-radiation and for converting the X-radiation into electrical signals for further processing; and means for processing the electrical signals and for determining distributions of density and atomic number in an object to be examined, on the basis of a first and at least one further distribution of X-ray absorption values of the object to be examined, recorded on the X-ray apparatus with different X-ray spectra such that, a value for the density and a value for the atomic number are determined for each absorption value of a first distribution of X-ray absorption values recorded with a first X-ray spectrum by specifying a first function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to an X-ray absorption value from said recorded first distribution of X-ray absorption values and specifying an at least second function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to a further X-ray absorption value of the at least one further distribution of X-ray absorption values and that is further assigned to said absorption value of the first distribution of X-ray absorption values; and
bycomparing the first function with the at least second function to obtain a paired value for density and atomic number common to the first and the at least second function. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for determining distributions of density and atomic number in an object to be examined, comprising:
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detecting emitted X-radiation; converting the X-radiation into electrical signals; and determining distributions of density and atomic number in an object to be examined on the basis of a first and at least one other distribution of X-ray absorption values of the object to be examined, recorded with different X-ray spectra such that, a value for the density and a value for the atomic number are determined for each absorption value of a first distribution of X-ray absorption values recorded with a first X-ray spectrum by specifying a first function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to an X-ray absorption value from said recorded first distribution of X-ray absorption values and specifying an at least second function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to a further X-ray absorption value of the at least one further distribution of X-ray absorption values and that is further assigned to said absorption value of the first distribution of X-ray absorption values; and
bycomparing the first function with the at least second function to obtain a paired value for density and atomic number common to the first and the at least second function. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A computer-readable medium having code portions embodied thereon that, when read by a computer device, cause the computer device to determine the distributions of density and atomic number in an object to be examined, on the basis of a first and at least one other image data record recorded for different distributions of X-ray absorption values in the object to be examined using at least a first and at least one other X-ray spectrum such that, a value for the density and a value for the atomic number are determined for each absorption value of a first distribution of X-ray absorption values by
specifying a first function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to an X-ray absorption value from said recorded first distribution of X-ray absorption values and specifying a further function representing paired values of density and atomic number that correspond to a further X-ray absorption value of the at least one further distribution of X-ray absorption values and that is further assigned to said absorption value of the first distribution of X-ray absorption values; - and by
comparing the first function with the further function to obtain a paired value for density and atomic number common to the first and the further function; whereby a further function may be specified for each absorption value assigned to said absorption value of the first distribution of X-ray absorption values in each further distribution of X-ray absorption values of the object to be examined, and the corresponding density and atomic number be determined as the paired value for density and atomic number common to the first function and the further function or functions.
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Specification