X-ray imaging apparatus
First Claim
1. An X-ray imaging apparatus characterized by comprising (A) an X-ray beam emitting device for emitting X-ray beams to an object under examination to be radiographed;
- (B) a two-dimensional X-ray detecting device for detecting transmitted X-ray images of the object under examination produced by emission of the X-ray beams to the object under examination, and outputting X-ray detection signals in real time;
(C) a revolution device for revolving the X-ray beam emitting device and the two-dimensional X-ray detecting device about the object under examination as opposed to each other with the object under examination in between;
(D) an X-ray energy switching control device for performing X-ray energy switching control to switch the X-ray beams emitted from the X-ray beam emitting device alternately to high energy X-ray beams of high energy and to low energy X-ray beams of low energy;
(E) a high energy image acquiring device for acquiring high energy X-ray photo images based on X-ray detection signals outputted from the two-dimensional X-ray detecting device as a result of emission of the high energy X-ray beams;
(F) a low energy image acquiring device for acquiring low energy X-ray photo images based on X-ray detection signals outputted from the two-dimensional X-ray detecting device as a result of emission of the low energy X-ray beams;
(J) a 3D reconstruction device for carrying out a 3D reconstruction process based on the high energy X-ray photo images to acquire a 3D X-ray image of high energy X-ray radiography, and a 3D reconstruction process based on the low energy X-ray photo images to acquire a 3D X-ray image of low energy X-ray radiography;
(K) a weight setting device for setting weights suitable for selecting a site of interest in the object under examination with respect to the 3D X-ray image of high energy X-ray radiography and 3D X-ray image of low energy X-ray radiography; and
(L) an energy difference using subtraction device for acquiring a 3D subtraction image through an image subtraction process carried out, according to the weights set by the weight setting device, on the 3D X-ray image of high energy X-ray radiography and 3D X-ray image of low energy X-ray radiography.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an X-ray imaging apparatus using a technique for preventing artifacts appearing in 3D X-ray images. The technique involves subtraction images obtained by an energy subtraction unit serving as the basis for a 3D reconstruction process for acquiring a 3D X-ray image selectively showing a site of interest in a patient. The technique also involves an image subtraction process carried out by the energy subtraction unit according to weights set by a weight setter which selects only the site of interest in the patient, and eliminates soft tissue forming a background around the site of interest. As a result, even if body motion occurs with the soft tissue forming the background around the site of interest of the patient while subtraction images are acquired one after another by the energy subtraction unit, the body motion in the soft tissue of the patient never appears as artifacts on the subtraction images, or on a 3D X-ray image acquired on the basis of the subtraction images.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. An X-ray imaging apparatus characterized by comprising (A) an X-ray beam emitting device for emitting X-ray beams to an object under examination to be radiographed;
- (B) a two-dimensional X-ray detecting device for detecting transmitted X-ray images of the object under examination produced by emission of the X-ray beams to the object under examination, and outputting X-ray detection signals in real time;
(C) a revolution device for revolving the X-ray beam emitting device and the two-dimensional X-ray detecting device about the object under examination as opposed to each other with the object under examination in between;
(D) an X-ray energy switching control device for performing X-ray energy switching control to switch the X-ray beams emitted from the X-ray beam emitting device alternately to high energy X-ray beams of high energy and to low energy X-ray beams of low energy;
(E) a high energy image acquiring device for acquiring high energy X-ray photo images based on X-ray detection signals outputted from the two-dimensional X-ray detecting device as a result of emission of the high energy X-ray beams;
(F) a low energy image acquiring device for acquiring low energy X-ray photo images based on X-ray detection signals outputted from the two-dimensional X-ray detecting device as a result of emission of the low energy X-ray beams;
(J) a 3D reconstruction device for carrying out a 3D reconstruction process based on the high energy X-ray photo images to acquire a 3D X-ray image of high energy X-ray radiography, and a 3D reconstruction process based on the low energy X-ray photo images to acquire a 3D X-ray image of low energy X-ray radiography;
(K) a weight setting device for setting weights suitable for selecting a site of interest in the object under examination with respect to the 3D X-ray image of high energy X-ray radiography and 3D X-ray image of low energy X-ray radiography; and
(L) an energy difference using subtraction device for acquiring a 3D subtraction image through an image subtraction process carried out, according to the weights set by the weight setting device, on the 3D X-ray image of high energy X-ray radiography and 3D X-ray image of low energy X-ray radiography. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- (B) a two-dimensional X-ray detecting device for detecting transmitted X-ray images of the object under examination produced by emission of the X-ray beams to the object under examination, and outputting X-ray detection signals in real time;
Specification