Planmed Oy

Pekka Strömmer

Arto Virta

Timo Sulin-Saaristo

A digital imaging apparatus and method which includes a radiation source and a sensor arrangement for detecting radiation. The sensor arrangement contains one or more sensors formed of one or more preferably elongated sensor modules, which sensor module contains one or more pixel columns which receive image data. The digital imaging apparatus includes means for positioning the object to be Imaged which is situated within the area between the radiation source and the sensor arrangement, and means for limiting the beam from the radiation source essentially according to the active sensor surface of the said sensor arrangement. Also included is means to move the beam across the object being positioned to be imaged and means to move the at least one sensor belonging to the sensor arrangement in synch with the scanning movement of the beam in order to keep the active sensor surface essentially at right angles to the beam on the plane formed by the scanning movement.

Digital imaging method and apparatus for mammography

The invention relates to digital scanning imaging by electromagnetic radiation. To reduce the difference between the resolutions in, the scanning direction and the direction perpendicular thereto, pixels (P, P, P, P, P, P) in the scanning direction are connected to counters (C, C, C) through switching means (Sm, Sm, Sm) which allow pulses to be directed to the counter of a neighboring pixel, in addition to its own pixel, for counting, whereby the reading area can be divided into a plurality of 'partial pixels' and by suitably changing the switch positions, it is possible to follow the imaging scan as reading areas formed by the 'partial pixels'.

Sensor arrangement and method for digital scanning imaging

The imaging apparatus used in mammography generally having a cassette tunnel () or a similar space for the placement of an image data receiving device (') in the imaging area of the apparatus. In such a space or in its immediate vicinity, device () for moving the cassette in the space can be provided, thus making the imaging process in many ways faster and easier to carry out. Such device for moving the cassette can also be utilized in various ways to achieve a more versatile and more accurate use of the imaging apparatus.

Arrangement and method for means for receiving image data in mammography

A sensor arrangement and method for digital X-ray imaging. The sensor arrangement in digital X-ray imaging includes at least one sensor element which absorbs X-radiation and contains a medium, which has a relatively thin semi-conductor material structure, that converts X-ray quanta into electron-hole pairs. The surface of the element opposite to the surface receiving the X-radiation is provided with electrodes for dividing the sensor element into at least two pixel columns. Each pixel electrode is provided with detection electronics and a counter for counting the voltage or current pulses generated by the electron-hole pairs. The counters for adjacent pixel columns are connected to each other so that the counters for the pixels can be loaded from the counter for the corresponding pixel on the same row in the preceding pixel column. The counter may be provided with a circuit for preventing counting after the counter has reached its maximum value, ensuring that overexposure will not produce any other error in the image.

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Espoo, Finland

Pekka Strömmer