Reference marker orientation system for a radiographic film-based computerized tomography system

• US 5,070,454 A
• Filed: 04/30/1990
• Issued: 12/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olganix Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olganix Corporation
• Inventors: Griffith, Lionell K.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/516,649
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 378/167, 364/413.13
• US Class Current: 378/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10072 Tomographic images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10116 X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30208 Marker matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/33 using feature-based methods

Abstract

An object is exposed to penetrating radiation at each of a plurality of partial rotations of the object. Radiation transmitted through the object strikes a separate sheet of radiographic film for each exposure to record an entire radiographic image of the object for each angular orientation. At least two reference markers for providing a reference relative to the object are positioned between a rotating device and the sheet of radiographic film. They are positioned so that their centers constitute the base points of an equilateral triangle, the apex point thereof being the center of the rotating device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for representing the internal structure of an object, comprising:

means for exposing said object to penetrating radiation;

means for rotating said object, said rotating means being disposed within a housing in angular relationship to said exposing means;

film cassette means for storing radiographic film, said film cassette means being positioned within said housing beneath said rotating means; and

at least two reference markers for providing a reference relative to said object, said reference markers being positioned between said rotating means and a sheet of radiographic film in said film cassette means and positioned so that their centers constitute the base points of an equilateral triangle, the apex point thereof being the center of the rotation means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said film cassette means is positioned in acute angular relationship to said exposing means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reference means is positioned in fixed relationship to said exposing means.