General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

Varex Imaging Corporation

Other

Richard Aufrichtig

Kenneth Scott Kump

Paul Richard Granfors

Jeffrey Alan Kautzer

Ping Xue

John Robert Lamberty

John French

Douglas Albagli

Manat Maolinbay

Richard Gordon Cronce

Jason Robert Ertel

Farshid Farrokhnia

Alexander Y Tokman

Minghui Lu

Joachim Steiger

Robert F Kwasnick

George E Possin

Brian David Yanoff

Peter Traneus Anderson

Clarence Lavere Gordon, Iii

John Moore Boudry

Dun Alex Li

Gary F Relihan

Michael A Juhl

Lonnie B Weston

Donald G Webster

John Edward Dwyer, Jr

Gerhard H Brunst

Baoming Ma

John E Bechthold

Mylene Roussel

Gerhard Brunst

Harrie Netel

Dale T Duemer

Some embodiments include a system, comprising a hybrid imaging device comprising: a first scintillator; a first detector sensors configured to generate a signal based on photons emitted from the first scintillator; a second scintillator; a second detector sensors configured to generate a signal based on photons emitted from the second scintillator; and a control logic coupled to the first detector layer and the second detector layer; wherein: a material of the first scintillator is different from a material of the second scintillator; the first detector overlaps the second detector; and the control logic is configured to generate dose data in response to the first detector and image data in response to the second detector.

Hybrid dosimetry and imaging system

An imaging apparatus includes a first X-ray detector that includes: a low energy scintillator operable to convert an incident X-ray spectrum into a first set of light photons; a first light imaging sensor operable to generate a set of low energy image signals from the first set of light photons, wherein a first exit radiation is a remainder portion of the first incident radiation after the X-ray spectrum passes through the low energy scintillator and the first light imaging sensor; an energy-separation filter operable to absorb or reflect at least a portion of the energy of the first exit X-ray spectrum and convert the first exit X-ray spectrum into a second exit X-ray spectrum; a second X-ray detector that includes: a high energy scintillator operable to convert the second exit X-ray spectrum into a second set of light photons; a second light imaging sensor operable to generate a set of high energy image signals from the second set of light photons; and a processor configured to: generate a high-energy image that is based on the set of high energy image signals and a low-energy image that is based on the set of low energy image signals; and perform a comparison of the high-energy image from the low-energy image to generate a soft tissue image.

Dual-layer detector for soft tissue motion tracking

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for an electromagnetic shield assembly for use with C-arms. In an embodiment, the system may include a ring shield configured to encompass an x-ray detector. The ring shield may have a first window opening to receive x-rays. The system may also include a window shield configured to shield the first window opening of the ring shield. Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide a system for a universal navigation target. In an embodiment, the system may include a radiolucent calibration target and an electromagnetic shield. The electromagnetic shield may include a ring shield having a first window opening to receive x-rays and a window shield configured to shield the first window opening of the ring shield.

Apparatus for universal electromagnetic navigation target for fluoroscopic systems

The present invention generally relates to a method for forming a flat panel for an X-ray detector device. The method comprises forming an active area of a first size on a substrate of a second size and extending at least one contact of the active area. The method further comprises trimming the substrate to the first size forming the flat panel.

Manufacturing process for smaller active areas in flat panel X-ray detectors

A method and system for detecting the potential of an x-ray imaging system to create images with scintillator hysteresis artifacts includes examining an x-ray image to measure two signal levels for two areas of interest, then determining a difference between the two signal levels and comparing the difference to a threshold. The signal levels can be measured by determining an amount of electrical charge discharged in photodiodes of the detector. If the difference in signals is greater than the threshold amount, then the possibility exists that scintillator hysteresis artifacts may be produced in images. In addition, the present invention also provides for the elimination or reduction in magnitude of scintillator hysteresis artifacts in images produced by an x-ray imaging system. After the possibility of scintillator hysteresis artifacts is detected, the detector can be irradiated with an x-ray flux to eliminate or reduce the magnitude of the artifacts in images produced by the x-ray imaging system.

System and method for compensation of scintillator hysteresis in x-ray detectors

The present invention is a directed to a cover assembly for an x-ray detector that incorporates impact-absorbing material designed to absorb the shock, vibration, stress, and strain placed on the detector when dropped or subjected to a load. The cover assembly may include a layer or inserts of impact-absorbing material. Bumpers of impact-absorbing material may also be secured to the x-ray detector cover. Viscoelastic foam or other plastics may be used as the impact-absorbing material.

X-ray detector with impact absorbing cover

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments the line time of an X-Ray detector is dynamically selected so as to nullify an aliased interference signal. The frequency of a noise signal generated by a source external to the digital X-ray detector is determined and, based on the determined frequency, the line time of the digital X-ray is adjusted so as to compensate for the interfering noise. The frequency of the noise can be directly determined from an electromagnetic interference (EMI) sensor or derived through analysis of the power spectrum of the noise signal.

Systems, methods and apparatus for adaptive cancellation of induced row noise in X-ray detector

Systems, processes and apparatus are described through which non-destructive imaging is achieved, including a process for variable binning of detector elements. The process includes accepting input data indicative of image quality goals and descriptors of an imaging task, as well as parameters characterizing a test subject, relative to non-destructive imaging of an internal portion of the test subject and determining when the non-destructive imaging system is capable of achieving the image quality goals using binning of more than four pixels.

Processes and apparatus for variable binning of data in non-destructive imaging

The present invention relates to a method for forming an active area or flat panel in an X-ray detector device. The method comprises forming at least one flat form factor panel in a first size on a substrate of a second size and extending at least one contact of the at least one flat form factor panel. The method further comprises trimming the substrate to the first size forming the at least one flat panel.

Spatially patterned light-blocking layers for radiation imaging detectors are described. Embodiments comprise spatially patterned light-blocking layers for an amorphous silicon flat panel x-ray detector, wherein the spatially patterned light-blocking layer blocks light from a predetermined number of switching elements in the detector, wherein the predetermined number comprises less than all of the switching elements in the detector. These light-blocking layers may block light from each switching element in a predetermined arrangement of switching elements that are read out last, or in any other suitable pattern.

Spatially patterned light-blocking layers for radiation imaging detectors

A detector imaging system having an apparatus and method for correcting defective pixels in an acquired image is disclosed herein. The system includes a correction scheme including temporarily replacing a defective pixel with a linear interpolation of the defective pixel's surrounding neighboring pixel values, determining a local gradient based in part on the acquired image and a gradient kernel, and providing a correction value based on the local gradient to correct the defective pixel. The correction scheme is repeated a plurality of times as desired to correct all the defective pixels in the acquired image.

Correction of defective pixels in a detector

Sampling methods and systems that shorten readout time and reduce lag in amorphous silicon flat panel x-ray detectors are described. Embodiments comprise: (a) activating a reset switch to discharge any residual signal being held in a feedback capacitor; (b) deactivating the reset switch; (c) activating a field effect transistor; (d) sampling an electrical signal from the amorphous silicon flat panel x-ray detector, while the field effect transistor is activated; (e) activating a reset switch, after the electrical signal has been sampled and while the field effect transistor is still activated, to discharge any residual signal being held in the feedback capacitor; (f) deactivating the field effect transistor, while the reset switch is still activated; (g) deactivating the reset switch; and (h) repeating steps (c)&#x2013;(g) as necessary to obtain a predetermined radiographic image.

Sampling methods and systems that shorten readout time and reduce lag in amorphous silicon flat panel x-ray detectors

A method for processing a fluoroscopic image includes generating a lag prediction model, scanning an object at a first radiation dosage with an imaging system including at least one radiation source and at least one detector array, and periodically updating the lag prediction model during the scan to generate at least one fluoroscopic image of the object.

Methods and apparatus for processing a fluoroscopic image

A detector imaging system having an apparatus and method for correcting defective pixels in a current acquired image is disclosed herein. The system performs the correction of defective pixels using image feature information and temporal information. The system includes a correction scheme which includes determining a temporal matrix based on the current acquired image, at least one prior acquired image, and a filter weight; determining a local gradient based in part on the temporal matrix and a gradient kernel; and providing a correction value based on the local gradient to correct the defective pixel. The correction scheme is repeated a plurality of times as desired to correct all the defective pixels in the current acquired image.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Richard Aufrichtig