Arrangement and method for image combination

• US 9,532,764 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2012
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Graumann, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, HOON K
• Application Number:
  US14/348,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20140247925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 378/207
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/364 Correlation of different images or relation of image positions in respect to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3966 Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4266 characterised by using a plurality of detector units A61B6/4014 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4423 related to hygiene or sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5235 combining images from the same or different ionising radiation imaging techniques, e.g. PET and CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/583 using calibration phantoms

Abstract

It is possible, by use of a calibration scale shown in partial X-ray images, for non-overlapping partial X-ray images to be combined and assigned to one another. Therefore the individual x-ray images which are not overlapping can be related spatially. In this manner x-ray images only have to be made of surgically significant regions and therefore the x-ray exposure of a patient is reduced.

Claims

1. An apparatus for aligning x-ray images, the apparatus comprising:

a linear calibration device having at least one type of spherically shaped X-ray markers being included in the X-ray images to be associated with each other, said spherically shaped X-ray markers including at least a first type of x-ray markers and a second type of x-ray markers having a different diameter than said first type of x-ray markers, wherein said first and second type x-ray markers are disposed according to a coding; and

a correspondence module for establishing a locality of selected ones of said spherically shaped x-ray markers, wherein the locality is established by correspondence of respective partial sections on a basis of an electronically recallable characteristic of said linear calibration device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said linear calibration device has a linear design.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein distances between said first and/or second type x-ray markers are identical.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said spherically shaped x-ray markers have different x-ray absorptions.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each individual one of said spherically shaped x-ray markers correspond to one bit of a binary sequence.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit for selecting said spherically shaped x-ray markers.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a center-point establishment unit for determining center points of selected ones of said spherically shaped x-ray markers.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a straight-line formation unit, wherein a partial straight line is formed in each x-ray image using at least two center points of selected ones of said spherically shaped x-ray markers.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an alignment unit, wherein the partial straight line is aligned on a basis of an alignment axis.

10. A method for aligning x-ray images, which comprises steps of:

placing at least one calibration scale on or next to a part of a patient being imaged; and

imaging the calibration scale in conjunction with the part of the patient, the calibration scale having spherically shaped X-ray markers including a first type of x-ray markers and a second type of x-ray markers having a different diameter than the first type of x-ray markers, the calibration scale being imaged with the spherically shaped X-ray markers in each of the X-ray images, the first and second type x-ray markers are disposed according to a coding;

taking a plurality of the x-ray images of the part of the user resulting in the x-ray images pertaining to different regions of the part of the user; and

aligning the plurality of the x-ray images into a larger x-ray image, an alignment of the x-ray images with each other being dependent on a calibration scale portion imaged in each x-ray image.

11. The method according to claim 10, which further comprises establishing a locality of selected ones of the spherically shaped x-ray markers in the x-ray images on a basis of an electronically stored characteristic of the calibration scale.