Method and apparatus for generation of a digital x-ray image of an examination subject
First Claim
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1. A method for generating a digital x-ray image of an examination subject, comprising the steps of:
- determining a preliminary total x-ray radiation dose that is estimated, based on knowledge of the examination subject, to be necessary for obtaining a diagnostic image of an examination subject;
irradiating the examination subject with a partial dose of x-rays from an x-ray tube, that is less than said preliminary total dose, and detecting said x-rays attenuated by the examination subject with a digital x-ray detector to obtain a pre-image of the examination subject;
evaluating said pre-image to determine a remaining radiation dose, that has no fixed relation to said preliminary total dose, needed to produce the diagnostic image of the subject;
irradiating the examination subject with x-rays from said x-ray tube at said remaining radiation dose and detecting said x-rays attenuated by the examination subject with said digital x-ray detector to obtain a following image; and
combining said pre-image and said following image to obtain a final x-ray image, as the diagnostic image of the subject.
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Abstract
In a method and apparatus for generation of a digital x-ray image of an examination subject with an x-ray tube and a digital x-ray detector, a preliminary total dose required for correct exposure is determined using prior knowledge and a complete pre-image of the examination subject is acquired with a partial dose that is smaller than the preliminary total dose. A remaining dose is determined from the pre-image by image evaluation. A complete following image is acquired with this remaining dose, and the final x-ray image is assembled from the pre-image and the following image.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A method for generating a digital x-ray image of an examination subject, comprising the steps of:
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determining a preliminary total x-ray radiation dose that is estimated, based on knowledge of the examination subject, to be necessary for obtaining a diagnostic image of an examination subject; irradiating the examination subject with a partial dose of x-rays from an x-ray tube, that is less than said preliminary total dose, and detecting said x-rays attenuated by the examination subject with a digital x-ray detector to obtain a pre-image of the examination subject; evaluating said pre-image to determine a remaining radiation dose, that has no fixed relation to said preliminary total dose, needed to produce the diagnostic image of the subject; irradiating the examination subject with x-rays from said x-ray tube at said remaining radiation dose and detecting said x-rays attenuated by the examination subject with said digital x-ray detector to obtain a following image; and combining said pre-image and said following image to obtain a final x-ray image, as the diagnostic image of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for generating a digital x-ray image of an examination subject comprising:
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an x-ray tube that emits x-ray radiation that irradiates an examination subject; a digital x-ray detector that detects said x-ray radiation attenuated by the examination subject; and a control unit connected to said x-ray tube and to said digital x-ray a detector and having access to prior information about the examination subject, that determines a preliminary total x-ray radiation dose, using said prior information, that is an estimate of a dose necessary to obtain a diagnostic image of the examination subject, and that operates said x-ray tube at a partial dose, that is smaller than said preliminary total dose, to irradiate the examination subject with x-rays that are detected with said digital x-ray detector as a pre-image, and that evaluates said pre-image to determine a remaining x-ray radiation dose, having no fixed relation to said preliminary total dose, needed to produce the diagnostic image of the subject, and that operates said x-ray tube at said remaining dose to irradiate the examination subject with x-rays that are detected by said digital x-ray detector as a following image, and that combines said pre-image and said following image to obtain a final x-ray image, as the diagnostic image of the subject.
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Specification