Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Martin Spahn

Philipp Bernhardt

Boris Stowasser

Gerhard Hahm

Stefan Boehm

Rudolf Leiblein

Harry Hedler

Timothy Hughes

Mathias Hörnig

Thomas Schmitt

Stefan Wirth

Silke Reitz

Martin Hoheisel

Steffen Kappler

Hartmut Sklebitz

Stefan Böhm

Klaus Finkler

Richard Obler

Peter Soukal

Stanislav Tashenov

Markus Lendl

Oliver Baruth

Hans-Joachim Greiner

Andreas Berting

Rudolf Jakob

Florian Günzler

Juergen Kirsch

Operating a medical image recording device in the context of an image recording routine for a patient is provided. The image recording routine serves an image recording purpose. The image recording device is controlled based on operating parameters implemented by a controller of the image recording device. The operating parameters are identified completely automatically by an identification algorithm from input data describing at least the patient in the form of a patient model and/or the image recording purpose, and from a registration of the patient with a coordinates system of the image recording device. The operating parameters are used to control the image recording device. An examination region that is to be recorded for the patient and the image recording purpose are derived based on the registration.

Operating a medical image recording device

Generation of an X-ray image of an object using a counting X-ray detector is provided. The X-ray detector includes detector modules that may be aligned adjacent to one another. Each of the detector modules is subdivided into a matrix having a plurality of pixels. The detector modules are arranged adjacent to one another on a common substrate. A sensor surface formed by the detector modules has a uniform matrix structure having a constant pixel pitch. At least one missing pixel is arranged within the sensor surface. Raw image data is acquired by a portion of the detector modules of the X-ray detector, the acquired raw image data is at least partially corrected, and further raw image data is calculated for the at least one missing pixel using the corrected raw image data. The X-ray image is calculated based on the corrected raw image data and the further raw image data.

X-ray image generation

A method and system for receiving energy selective image data relating to an examination object using a counting, digital X-ray detector, together with a counting, digital X-ray detector and an X-ray system are provided. The X-ray detector includes an X-ray converter for direct or indirect conversion of X-rays into an electrical signal, and a matrix including a plurality of counting pixel elements. For each pixel element of the plurality of counting pixel elements, at least one modifiable threshold value, above which an incoming signal is counted using a memory unit, is applicable.

Method for receiving energy -selective image data, X-ray detector and X-ray system

A method for calibrating a counting digital X-ray detector includes performing a threshold value scan in at least one defined X-ray spectrum for irradiating the X-ray detector, which includes a matrix composed of pixel elements, storing count rates of the pixel elements as a function of respective applied threshold values, and from results of a measurement of count rates of the pixel elements, determining or calculating individual correction threshold values for the individual pixel elements. The individual correction threshold values correct a threshold value that is to be applied to the pixel elements for the defined X-ray spectrum such that threshold value noise is reduced.

Method for calibrating a counting digital X-ray detector, X-ray system for performing such a method and method for acquiring an X-ray image

A method is disclosed for operating a counting digital X-ray image detector. Each pixel element and/or each pixel cluster is embodied as switchable between a first counting mode and a second counting mode that is different from the first. An at least first count of the number and/or energy of the events in an at least first time interval is performed for each pixel element or each pixel cluster in the first counting mode. An evaluation of the at least first count of the number and/or energy of the events is performed in an evaluation unit of the X-ray image detector. A switchover to the second counting mode is performed as a function of the number and/or energy of the events, and a second count of the number and/or energy of events counted within an at least second time interval is performed in the chosen second counting mode.

Operation of a counting digital X-ray image detector

A counting digital x-ray detector for recording x-ray images of an object irradiated by x-ray radiation includes a direct x-ray converter for converting x-ray radiation into an electric signal and a matrix with a plurality of counting pixel elements. At least one part of the counting pixel elements has a signal input and two circuits for converting the signal into a count signal. A first circuit of the two circuits is configured to convert the signal entering the respective pixel element directly into a count signal and to count the count signal. A second circuit of the two circuits is configured to convert the signal entering directly into the respective pixel element together with coincident occurring signals of at least one neighboring pixel element into a count signal and to count the count signal. The first circuit and/or the second circuit are able to be activated individually and both together.

Counting digital X-ray detector and method for recording an X-ray image

A counting digital X-ray detector for taking X-ray images of an object penetrated by X-ray radiation may include at least one detector module having an X-ray converter for converting X-ray radiation into an electrical signal and a matrix having a large number of counting pixel elements, wherein each counting pixel element has a signal input, a conversion device for converting the electrical signal into a count signal and a first digital storage unit for storing the count signal, wherein exactly one second digital storage unit is allocated to each first storage unit, and this is designed to form a copy of the first storage unit at the moment of transfer by way of a transfer process, and wherein the X-ray detector is designed in such a way that the transfer process can be carried out simultaneously for the large number of pixel elements.

Counting digital X-ray detector and method for taking a series of X-ray images

An x-ray recording system is disclosed for x-ray imaging of an object under examination by way of direct measurement of an interference pattern, especially for differential, real-time capable phase-contrast imaging. In at least one embodiment, the system includes with at least one x-ray emitter for creating quasi-coherent x-ray radiation; an x-ray image detector, including a detector layer and detector pixels arranged in a matrix; and a diffraction or phase grating, disposed between the object under examination and the x-ray image detector, configured to create an interference pattern, directly detectable in the nth Talbot order by an x-ray image detector with a very high achievable local resolution, which amounts to at least half the wavelength of the interference pattern in accordance with the Nyquist theory arising in the nth Talbot order.

X-ray recording system for x-ray imaging at high image frequencies of an object under examination by way of direct measurement of the interference pattern

The embodiments relate to a counting digital x-ray detector for recording x-ray images of an object irradiated by x-ray radiation with at least one detector module, which includes a flat direct converter for converting x-ray radiation into an electrical signal and a matrix with a plurality of counting pixel elements, wherein each counting pixel element includes a charge or signal input, a conversion facility for converting the electrical signal into a count signal, a digital counter for detecting and storing the count signal and a control and readout unit, and wherein the x-ray image detector is embodied such that each pixel element of the x-ray image detector is connected to the corresponding electrodes of the detector material of the direct converter via contacts and in this way is embodied switchably.

Counting digital x-ray image detector with two switchable modes

In an embodiment of an X-ray image acquisition system, an X-ray image detector includes a detector layer having a matrix composed of x total pixels structured in such a way that in a direction standing perpendicularly with respect to the grating lines of the diffraction or phase grating, the total pixels are subdivided into y subpixels which can be driven and/or read out in groups in a readout process such that, in a first phase step, n subpixels are effectively combined into groups, with m subpixels of a total pixel between the groups not being captured, and such that, in subsequent K&#x2212;1 phase steps, n subpixels are in each case combined again into groups until all necessary combinations of subpixels have been captured, with the combined subpixels being shifted in the analysis direction by an increment of p subpixels in each case.

X-ray image acquisition system for differential phase contrast imaging of an examination object by way of phase stepping, and angiographic examination method

The invention relates to a radiation detector (), having a scintillator () for generating electromagnetic radiation () in response to the action of incident radiation (). The scintillator () has two opposing end faces () and a lateral wall () between the end faces (). The radiation detector has, in addition, a conversion system () located on the lateral wall () of the scintillator (), said system comprising a plurality of channels (). Each channel () has a photocathode section () for generating electrons () in response to the action of electromagnetic radiation () that is generated by the scintillator (), said electrons being multipliable by impact processes in the channels (). A detection system () for detecting electrons () that have been multiplied in the channels () of the conversion system () is also provided. The invention also relates to an imaging system () comprising a radiation detector of this type ().

Radiation detector and imaging system

The invention relates to a radiation detector (), having a scintillator () for generating electromagnetic radiation () in response to the action of incident radiation (). The scintillator () has two opposing end faces () and a lateral wall () between the end faces (). The radiation detector has, in addition, a photocathode section () that is located on the lateral electrons wall () of the scintillator () and that generates electrons () in response to the action of electromagnetic radiation () that is generated by the scintillator (), a microchannel plate () comprising a plurality of channels (), for multiplying the electrons () that have been generated by the photocathode section () and a detection system () for detecting the electrons () that have been multiplied by means of the microchannel plate (). The invention also relates to an imaging system () comprising a radiation detector of this type ().

With the aid of discriminators on a picture element of an X-ray detector, digital outputs are generated that indicate energy intervals to which X-ray quanta are allocated. If this occurs for adjacent picture elements, a distinction may be made between true coincidences, in which k-fluorescence photons play a part, and random coincidences in which two primary quanta randomly strike adjacent picture elements. The energy of the primary quantum may also be at least roughly reconstructed in the case of true coincidences. An energy-triggering measurement may thereby be provided to the extent that different materials of a picture object should be distinguished.

Method for detecting the true coincidence of two charge pulses on adjacent picture elements, X-ray detector and X-ray image recording apparatus

A radiation detector, in particular an X-ray radiation detector, in the form of a flat-panel detector, may comprise a scintillator layer applied to a substrate and comprising elongated needles made from a scintillator material forming the scintillator layer, and an actively readable pixel array composed of photodiodes, wherein the thickness of the scintillator layer may be in the range of 900 &#x3bc;m-2500 &#x3bc;m, and wherein the angle at which the needles stand relative to the pixel array, starting from 90&#xb0; in the center of the detector, may decrease with increasing distance from the center of the detector.

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Erlangen, Germany

Martin Spahn