X-ray system and method for producing X-ray image data

• US 8,396,188 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Liu, James Zhengshe, Granfors, Paul Richard, Kump, Kenneth Scott, Xue, Ping, Langler, Donald Fayette, Kost, Brian John
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun, Jurie
• Application Number:
  US13/011,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20120189099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 378/62, 378/98.8, 378/98.12, 378/204, 378/210, 382/132
• US Class Current: 378/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4283 characterised by a detector unit being housed in a cassette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4411 the apparatus being modular A61B6/4283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4464 the source unit or the detector unit being mounted to ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5205 involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/56 Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/566 involving communication between diagnostic systems

Abstract

An X-ray imaging method includes performing an X-ray exposure via an X-ray radiation source responsive to a source controller. The method also includes sampling X-ray image data via a digital detector without communication of timing signals from the source controller. The method further includes combining the sampled X-ray image data of at least one imaging frame or two or more imaging frames with at least one of the frames spanning a duration in which the exposure occurred, to produce X-ray image data capable of being reconstructed into a user-viewable image.

Claims

1. An X-ray imaging method, comprising:

performing an X-ray exposure via an X-ray radiation source responsive to a source controller;

sampling X-ray image data via a digital detector without communication of timing signals from the source controller;

combining the sampled X-ray image data of at least one imaging frame or two or more imaging frames with at least one of the frames spanning a duration in which the exposure occurred, to produce X-ray image data capable of being reconstructed into a user-viewable image.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising generating an image frame where the X-ray exposure occurs between image reading of two consecutive frames.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising determining beginning and ending frames that span at least the duration in which the exposure occurred.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each of the beginning and ending frames contain data sampled during the duration in which the exposure occurred and data sampled outside of the duration in which the exposure occurred.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the beginning and ending frames are determined by comparison of sampled data of at least the respective beginning and ending frames.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the beginning and ending frames are determined by identifying a change in sampled data values indicative of exposure to X-ray radiation.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising preparing the detector by sampling data prior to the exposure.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein preparing the detector comprises beginning sampling of detector data prior to and independently of initiation of the exposure.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising producing X-ray image data capable of being reconstructed into a user-viewable image by generating offset corrected image data based upon data sampled from the at least one imaging frame.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the offset corrected image data is generated by combining sampled data prior to a beginning image frame with data sampled from the at least one imaging frames.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein combining the sampled X-ray image data of the two or more imaging frames comprises selecting a combination method based upon a noise parameter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the noise parameter is based upon a number of imaging frames that at least span the duration in which the exposure occurred, and a number of imaging frames sampled prior to initiation of the exposure.

13. An X-ray imaging method, comprising:

performing an X-ray exposure via an X-ray radiation source;

sampling X-ray image data via a digital detector without a priori knowledge of beginning and ending times of the X-ray exposure;

determining beginning and ending frames of the X-ray image data; and

combining the sampled X-ray image data of at least one imaging frame or two or more imaging frames with at least one of the frames spanning a duration in which the exposure occurred, to produce X-ray image data capable of being reconstructed into a user-viewable image.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising sampling X-ray image data during the X-ray exposure.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the beginning and ending frames contain data sampled during the duration in which the exposure occurred and data sampled outside of the duration in which the exposure occurred.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the beginning and ending frames are determined by comparison of sampled data of at least the respective beginning and ending frames.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the beginning and ending frames are determined by identifying a change in sampled data values indicative of exposure to X-ray radiation.

18. The method of claim 13, comprising preparing the detector by sampling data prior to the exposure.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein preparing the detector comprises beginning sampling of detector data prior to and independently of initiation of the exposure.

20. The method of claim 13, comprising producing X-ray image data capable of being reconstructed into a user-viewable image by generating offset corrected image data based upon data sampled from the at least one imaging frame.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the offset corrected image data is generated by combining sampled data prior to the beginning image frame with data sampled from the at least one imaging frame.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein combining the sampled X-ray image data of the two or more imaging frames comprises selecting a combination method based upon a noise parameter.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the noise parameter is based upon a number of imaging frames that at least span the duration in which the exposure occurred, and a number of imaging frames sampled prior to initiation of the exposure.

24. An X-ray imaging system comprising:

an X-ray radiation source;

a source controller coupled to the source and configured to command X-ray emission of X-rays for image exposures;

a digital X-ray detector configured to sample X-ray image data without communication from the source controller; and

a portable detector control device configured to communicate instructions to the detector for acquisition of the X-ray image data and to receive the X-ray image data from the detector for processing, image reconstruction, and image preview;

wherein at least one of the detector, the portable detector control device, and a processing system in communication with the detector and/or the portable detector control device is configured to combine the sampled X-ray image data of at least one imaging frame or two or more imaging frames with at least one of the frames spanning a duration in which the exposure occurred, to produce X-ray image data capable of being reconstructed into a user-viewable image.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein producing X-ray image data capable of being reconstructed into a user-viewable image comprises generating offset corrected image data based upon data sampled from the at least one imaging frame.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the offset corrected image data is generated by combining sampled data prior to a beginning frame with data sampled from the at least one imaging frame.

27. A digital X-ray detector comprising:

circuitry configured to sample X-ray image data without communication from timing signals from a source controller, wherein the source controller is configured to command X-ray emissions of X-ray from an X-ray radiation source for image exposures, and to combine the sampled data of at least one imaging frame with at least one of the frames spanning a duration in which an X-ray exposure occurred to produce X-ray image data capable of being reconstructed into a user-viewable image.

28. The digital X-ray detector of claim 27, wherein the circuitry is configured to combine the sampled data of two or more imaging frames with at least one of the frames spanning the duration in which the exposure occurred to produce X-ray image data capable of being recontructed into the user-viewable image.

29. The digital X-ray detector of claim 28, wherein combining the sampled X-ray image data of the two or more imaging frames comprises selecting a combination method based upon a noise parameter.

30. The digital X-ray detector of claim 29, wherein the noise paramater is based upon a number of imaging frames that at least span the duration in which the exposure occurred, and a number of imaging frames sampled prior to initiation of the exposure.

31. The digital X-ray detector of claim 27, wherein the circuitry is configured to generate an image frame where the X-ray exposure occurs between image reading of two consecutive frames.

32. The digital X-ray detector of claim 27, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine beginning and ending frames that span at least the duration in which the exposure occurred.

33. The digital X-ray detector of claim 32, wherein each of the beginning and ending frames contain data sampled during the duration in which the exposure occurred and data sampled outside the duration in which the exposure occurred.

34. The digital X-ray detector of claim 32, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine the beginning and ending frames by comparing sampled data of at least the respective beginning and ending frames.

35. The digital X-ray detector of claim 34, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine the beginning and ending frames by indentifying a change in the sampled data values indicative of exposure to X-ray radiation.

36. The digital X-ray detector of claim 27, wherein the circuitry is configured to prepare the detector by sampling data prior to the exposure.

37. The digital X-ray detector of claim 36, wherein the circuitry is configured to begin sampling of detector data prior to and independently of initiation of the exposure.

38. The digital X-ray detector of claim 27, wherein the circuitry is configured to produce X-ray image data capable of being reconstructed into a user-viewable image by generating offset corrected image data based upon data sampled from the at last one imaging frame.

39. The digital X-ray detector of claim 38, wherein the offset corrected image data is generated by combining sampled data prior to a beginning image frame with data sampled from the at least one imaging frame.