University of Michigan

Xoran Technologies, Inc.

Neal H Clinthorne

Predrag Sukovic

W Leslie Rogers

Joseph Webster Stayman

Miodrag Rakic

Nathaniel C Bair

Kenneth F Koral

James A Bertolina

Xiaohan Wang

William L Rogers

David Phillipe Sarment

David K Wehe

Jeffrey M Slosar

Ling Jian Meng

Gary D Hutchins

An imaging system includes a source and a detector that can be quickly and easily moved out of the way after scanning. During scanning, the actual paths that the source and detector travel are tracked, such as by an associated surgical navigation system tracking system. The actual locations of the source and detector during each x-ray image are used in the image reconstruction algorithm. Since the actual locations are used in the algorithm, the locations do not have to be as precisely controlled. In one embodiment, the source and detector are mounted proximate outer ends of first and second c-arm sections. The first and second c-arm sections are extendable to form a complete c-arm and retractable to a collapsed position when not in use. In the disclosed embodiment, the c-arm sections are mounted to a base or carriage under the patient support surface (such as the surgical table).

Intraoperative collapsable CT imaging system

A CT scanner includes a pair of shields to protect an operator from x-rays from the CT scanner. The CT scanner has a gantry that provides structural support and housing for the components including an x-ray source and a detector arranged on the gantry to face one another. Lead shields are located on opposing sides of the x-ray source and extend between the x-ray source and the detector. The CT scanner further includes a computer located on an opposing side of the gantry from the x-ray source and the detector. The lead shields rotate with the gantry and prevent the x-ray from reaching the operator while the CT scanner is in operation.

Self-shielded CT scanner

A CT scanner includes a gantry that supports and houses components of the CT scanner. A camera is mounted to the gantry. As the gantry rotates about an axis of rotation, the camera captures a photographic external image of the patient at a plurality of rotational positions. A computer generates a three dimensional external image from the plurality of external images. The three dimensional external image is registered relative to a three dimensional CT image generated from a plurality of x-ray images.

CT scanner including a camera to obtain external images of a patient

A high spatial resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) system is provided. The system includes a support structure including a gantry mounted to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation. The system further includes a first assembly including an X-ray source mounted on the gantry to rotate therewith for generating a cone X-ray beam and a second assembly including a planar X-ray detector mounted on the gantry to rotate therewith. The detector is spaced from the source on the gantry for enabling a human or other animal body part to be interposed therebetween so as to be scanned by the X-ray beam to obtain a complete CT scan and generating output data representative thereof. The output data is a two-dimensional electronic representation of an area of the detector on which an X-ray beam impinges. A data processor processes the output data to obtain an image of the body part.

High spatial resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) method and system

A CT scanner system provides projection-like images of a patient volume. After a CT scan is obtained and a three-dimensional model of the patient is created, any synthetic view can be generated by choosing any array of projection lines, e.g. between a point and a surface (a flat plane, curved plane, spherical, etc) or between two surfaces (parallel or not) and summing across the projection lines. The synthetic projections can mimic certain traditional views, such as a ceph scan, Water's view, Caldwell's projection, etc or can provide a new view that is impossible or impractical with traditional x-ray equipment, such as a perfect parallel projection, or a projection that does not pass all the way through the patient.

CT system with synthetic view generation

A CT scanning system provides the ability to scan a patient's lower extremities while the patent is upright, i.e. either standing on the foot, or at least putting some load on the foot, or with the ankle at a given angle. The CT scanning system provides a generally horizontal upper support surface on which the patient's foot is supported. A gantry supporting an x-ray source and x-ray detector are rotated about a z-axis through the support surface. With the CT scanning system, the patient's lower extremities can be scanned while under load.

CT scanner for lower extremities

A CT scanner according to the present invention is particularly adapted for scanning the extremities of a patient. The CT scanner includes an x-ray source and x-ray detector mounted for rotation and translation along an axis parallel to a table for supporting the patient's extremity. The source and detector are mounted opposite one another on an inner circumference of an inner ring. The inner ring is rotatable about the axis within an outer ring mounted on at least one carriage. The carriage is movable parallel to the axis. During scanning, the inner ring rotates within the outer ring while the rings and carriage move along the axis, thereby producing a helical scan of the extremity.

CT extremity scanner

A CT scanner according to the present invention is particularly useful for scanning the spine and extremities, such as knees, and ankles, especially while the patient is in an upright position. The CT scanner generally includes a source and detector that are rotatable about a generally upright axis. The source and detector are also moved along the upright axis during rotation to perform a helical scan. The source and detector are mounted to an inner ring, which is rotatably mounted within an outer ring. The outer ring is fixedly mounted to a carriage that is movable along an upright rail.

Stand-up CT scanner

A surgical imaging system includes spaced-apart first and second x-ray sources mounted above a patient support surface. An x-ray detector mounted below the patient support surface generates first x-ray images based upon x-rays from the first x-ray source and second x-ray images based upon x-rays from the second x-ray source. These first and second x-ray images are used to generate a stereofluoroscopic image via a stereo display for a surgeon performing image-guided surgery. The stereofluoroscopic imaging system may be used in conjunction with robotic surgery. A surgical robot operatively controls a surgical tool in an area between the first x-ray source and the x-ray detector, and between the second x-ray source and the x-ray detector. The system may optionally include a first video camera mounted proximate the first x-ray source and a second video camera mounted proximate the second x-ray source. The stereo display selectively displays the first and second video images or the first and second x-ray image, and dissolves between the sources to correlate an outer view with the fluoroscopic view.

Intraoperative stereo imaging system

High spatial resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) system

Method and system for generating an image of the radiation density of a source of photons located in an object wherein Compton scattering and non-Compton scattering events are detected and contained within data used for image reconstruction. The system includes a multiple pinhole collimator, a position sensitive scintillation detector as used in standard Gamma cameras, and a silicon pad detector array inserted between the collimator and the scintillation detector. The problem of multiplexing, normally associated with multiple pinhole systems, is reduced by using the extra information from the detected Compton scattering events. For properly selected pinhole spacing, this leads to a significantly improved image quality. A valuable enhancement can be achieved when adding only a small fraction of gamma rays with reduced angular ambiguity. The system does not require a highly optimized Compton camera behind the collimator.

Method and system for generating an image of the radiation density of a source of photons located in an object

A method, processor and computed tomography (CT) machine for generating images utilizing high and low sensitivity data collected from a flat panel detector having an extended dynamic range. Hardware modifications for extending the dynamic range include grouping pixel rows and pixel columns into clusters of two. The sensitivity of the rows/columns is modified by positioning optical masks that have different transparencies for different rows/columns. Software modifications for extending the dynamic range include taking two correlated exposure scan measurements at each angle and combining the two data sets into one scan prior to image reconstruction. This method uses a spatially varying pixel exposure method where several adjacent pixels are clustered and each cluster has a different sensitivity. The signals of these clusters are combined to form one image effectively producing an increased dynamic range. The flat panel imager may be an a-Si:H based flat panel detector for use in X-ray imaging, including cone beam computer tomography (CBCT).

Method, processor and computed tomography (CT) machine for generating images utilizing high and low sensitivity data collected from a flat panel detector having an extended dynamic range

An apparatus for identifying the location of a photon source within an imaging area and which generates photons having energies within a known energy range, the apparatus including two oppositely facing cameras disposed on opposite sides of the imaging area, each camera including a first detector unit which causes scattering when a photon enters the unit and generates signals indicative of the scattering event location, energy and time and a second detector unit which absorbs the scattered photon and generates signals indicative of the absorption event energy and time, the generated signals are then mathematically combined to determine the location of the source. Also a Compton camera including a first detector unit which is anatomically configured to generally mirror the external surface of a portion of a patient including an object to be imaged, a second detector unit positioned outside an imaging area to receive scattered photons from the first unit.

High resolution photon detector

A Compton camera has two detectors which each sense the location, energy and time of photon collisions. Compton events are detected in which a photon emanating from the subject collides with one detector at energy (E,) and then the second detector at (E,), both energies E,and E,are measured and used in conjunction with an initial photon energy E,to increase the resolution of the camera.

Method for improving the spatial resolution of a compton camera

Spatial resolution in imaging-type scintillation detectors, such as gamma ray cameras used in nuclear medicine, is improved by providing an array of multi-faceted corner-cube reflectors on the back surface of the scintillator crystal. The reflectors modify the light spread function of the scintillator in accordance with any number of different applications, by appropriate adjustment of the orientation angle between facets.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Neal H Clinthorne