Picker International, Inc.

Other

Andrew J Ivan, Jr

Pieter Gerhard Roos

Rodney Arnold Mattson

Leonard F Plut

Frank C Valentino

Gerhard P Roos

Michael A Lopez

A diagnostic imaging system includes a rotating gantry ( ) which defines a subject receiving aperture ( ). A rotatable source of high energy penetrating radiation ( ) and a corresponding two-dimensional flat panel x-ray detector ( ) are disposed across the subject receiving aperture ( ). A plurality of nuclear detector heads ( ) are movably attached to the rotating gantry ( ) in order to detect radiation emitted by a radiopharmaceutical injected into the subject ( ). Each of the nuclear detector heads ( ) within the system includes a variable radiation shield ( ) disposed adjacent a radiation receiving face on the detector head. The diagnostic imaging system may be operated in a fluoroscopic/radiographic mode in which an isocentric x-ray beam strikes the center of the detector surface or in a volume imaging mode.

Volume cone beam acquisition on a nuclear spect system using a digital flat panel

A gantry (10) includes a large diameter bearing having an outer race (12) and an inner race (16) which surrounds an examination region. An x-ray tube (18) and collimator (52) are mounted to the inner race, as is a flat panel detector (20) and a mechanical mechanism (50) for moving the flat panel detector closer to and further from the examination region. A timing and control circuit (30) controls a motor (22) which indexes the inner race around the examination region, an x-ray power supply (32) which pulses the x-ray tube in a fluoroscopic mode at discrete positions around the examination region, and a read out circuit (34) which reads out a frame of data after each pulse of the x-ray tube. The read out frames of data are stored in a frame memory (36) and reconstructed by a reconstruction processor (38) into a volumetric image representation for storage in a volume image memory (40). A video processor (42) reformats individual frames from frame memory (36) or selected portions of volume image representation from the volume image memory (40) into appropriate format for display on a video monitor (44). A magnification control (54) coordinates adjustment of the collimator (52) and movement of the flat plate detector toward and away from the examination region.

Method and apparatus for acquiring volumetric image data using flat

A medical diagnostic imaging device (A) compensates for non-uniform line correlated noise generated in an image receptor (26). The image receptor receives x-rays transmitted from an x-ray source (12) and generates a raster line of image data. The image receptor includes an active area (30), a first reference zone (32) bounded on a first side of the active area, and a second reference zone (34) bounded on a second side of the active area opposite to the first side. The reference zones prevent image information from being received by corresponding pixels of the raster line. The outputs of a first plurality of raster line pixels corresponding to the first reference zone (32) are averaged, and the outputs of a second plurality of raster line pixels corresponding to the second reference zone (34) are averaged. An interpolated offset value for each raster line pixel is determined based on i) the average output values of the first plurality and second plurality of raster line pixels, and ii) the location of the pixel within the raster line. The output value of the raster line pixel is modified based on the interpolated offset value calculated.

Dual reference blacklevel clamping device and method for video line

A detector assembly for x-ray image acquisition includes a flat panel detector array. The detector assembly also includes a rechargeable battery, an analog to digital converter, and an image memory. The battery provides electrical power to the detector assembly so that image data may be acquired without using a power source external to the assembly. The image data is stored in a memory. The detector is subsequently be connected to a docking station which includes a battery charger. The image data is downloaded, and the battery is recharged.

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Aurora, OH, United States of America

Andrew J Ivan, Jr