Digital tomosynthesis systems, methods, and computer readable media for intraoral dental tomosynthesis imaging
First Claim
1. An intraoral tomosynthesis imaging system comprising:
- an x-ray source array for positioning outside a mouth of a patient, wherein the x-ray source array contains multiple x-ray focal spots that are spatially distributed on one or multiple anode(s);
an area digital x-ray detector for positioning inside the mouth of the patient;
an x-ray collimator for confining x-ray beams to a region of interest (ROI);
a controller for regulating x-ray radiation and synchronizing the x-ray exposure with the x-ray detector, such that multiple two-dimensional (2D) projection images of the ROI are acquired without moving the x-ray source array, the area digital x-ray detector, or the mouth of the patient; and
a computer processor for three-dimensional (3D) tomosynthesis image reconstruction and display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Digital tomosynthesis systems, methods, and computer readable media for intraoral dental tomosynthesis imaging are disclosed. In some aspects, an intraoral tomosynthesis imaging system includes an x-ray source array for positioning outside a mouth of a patient, wherein the x-ray source array contains multiple x-ray focal spots that are spatially distributed on an anode, an area digital x-ray detector for positioning inside the mouth of the patient, a geometry calibration mechanism for connecting the x-ray detector to the x-ray source array, an x-ray collimator for confining x-ray beams to a region of interest, a controller for regulating x-ray radiation and synchronization of the x-ray radiation with the x-ray detector, such that multiple 2D projection images of the ROI are acquired without mechanical motion of the x-ray source array, the x-ray detector, or the mouth of the patient, and a computer program and workstation for 3D tomosynthesis image reconstruction and display.
103 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An intraoral tomosynthesis imaging system comprising:
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an x-ray source array for positioning outside a mouth of a patient, wherein the x-ray source array contains multiple x-ray focal spots that are spatially distributed on one or multiple anode(s); an area digital x-ray detector for positioning inside the mouth of the patient; an x-ray collimator for confining x-ray beams to a region of interest (ROI); a controller for regulating x-ray radiation and synchronizing the x-ray exposure with the x-ray detector, such that multiple two-dimensional (2D) projection images of the ROI are acquired without moving the x-ray source array, the area digital x-ray detector, or the mouth of the patient; and a computer processor for three-dimensional (3D) tomosynthesis image reconstruction and display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8)
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5. An intraoral three-dimensional (3D) imaging system comprising:
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an x-ray source array for positioning outside a mouth of a patient, wherein the x-ray source array contains 3 to 100 x-ray focal spots that are spatially distributed on an anode and spanning an angular range approximately between 3 and 25 degrees, each of the x-ray focal spots being approximately between 0.05 and 2 mm in size; an area digital x-ray detector for positioning inside the mouth of the patient; a geometry calibration mechanism connectable to the area digital x-ray detector; an x-ray collimator for confining x-ray beams to a region of interest (ROI); an electronic controller for regulating x-ray radiation and synchronization of the x-ray radiation with the area digital x-ray detector, such that multiple two-dimensional (2D) projection images of the ROI are acquired without mechanical motion of the x-ray source array, the area digital x-ray detector, or the mouth of the patient; and a computer processor with executable programs for geometry calibration, tomosynthesis reconstruction, and image display.
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6. A method for dual energy intraoral three-dimensional (3D) tomographic imaging, the method comprising:
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positioning an area digital x-ray detector at a first position inside the mouth of the patient; positioning an x-ray source array outside a mouth of a patient, wherein the x-ray source array comprises multiple x-ray focal spots that are spatially distributed on an anode; acquiring two sets of two-dimensional (2D) projection images of a same region of interest at two different x-ray energies; and processing the two sets of 2D projection images to obtain a reconstructed 3D tomography image with high contrast.
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Specification