Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

U.S. Philips Corporation

Johannes Albert Luijendijk

Kai Eck

Hendrik Jan Meulenbrugge

Peter Lex Alving

Norbert Jung

Johannes J Stouten

Antonius J Bruijns

Antonius Johannes Cornelius Bruijns

A method and an apparatus for correlating two image sequences of a periodically moving object with respect to the periodicity is described. A first frame sequence of the object moving with the first periodicity is acquired. Therein the first frame sequence comprises at least one cycle of motion. A second frame sequence of the object moving with the second periodicity is acquired. Therein the second frame sequence comprises at least one cycle of motion. The first and the second frame sequences are synchronized with respect to the respective periodicity such that same phases of motion of the periodically moving object are correlated to be presented simultaneously. The present invention allows to compare sequences representing a periodical motion with a different number of frames in each of the sequences for the same cycle of motion. Thereby, e.g. image sequences of a beating heart acquired before and after a therapy may be presented in a synchronized way and therefore may be easily compared.

Synchronization of two image sequences of a periodically moving object

The invention relates to a method of and a device for forming an image which is composed of a plurality of sub-areas, a read-out unit being associated with each sub-area and image data of adjoining image areas of neighboring sub-areas being evaluated in order to mitigate differences in amplification, which device includes a detector with a plurality of sensor elements for forming image data, read-out units which are associated with the sub-areas of the image, an analysis unit which is arranged to evaluate image data from adjoining image areas of neighboring sub-areas and to generate correction data, a correction unit which is arranged to correct incorrect image data by means of correction data, thus enabling a regular and accurate recalibration or correction of non-linear amplifier behavior to be performed without necessitating an additional X-ray dose or interventions by the user.

Device and method for forming an image composed of a plurality of sub-areas

An X-ray examination apparatus utilizes an image sensor matrix for picking up an X-ray image, i.e. for converting incident X-rays into electric charges. The X-ray examination apparatus includes a control circuit for controlling the image sensor matrix so as to form a dark signal. The X-ray examination apparatus also includes a correction unit which is arranged to derive the electronic image signal from the primary image and the dark signal. The electronic image signal represents image information in the X-ray image and has not been disturbed by electric charges which have been read with a delay.

X-ray examination apparatus including an image sensor matrix with a correction unit

X-ray examination apparatus including an image sensor matrix with a

An image pick-up apparatus (1) for picking up a plurality of sub-images and combining them so as to form a composite image, including a correction unit (5) for correcting brightness values of the composite image. The correction unit (5) includes a selection unit (6) for selecting bright and dark parts from the sub-images. There is also provided an arithmetic unit (10) for deriving a gain correction factor from the bright parts and an offset correction term from the dark parts. The correction unit (5) also includes a multiplier unit (8) and an adder unit (9) for multiplying signal levels of a sub-image signal by the gain correction factor and for adding the offset correction term thereto. The image pick-up apparatus is used in an X-ray examination apparatus (20) for picking up an optical image on the exit window (32) of an X-ray image intensifier (24) and for supplying an electronic image signal for a high-resolution composite image so that image information in a medical X-ray image with small details can be suitably reproduced.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Johannes Albert Luijendijk