Thomson-csf Broadcast, Inc.

University of Utah Research Foundation

Innovative Imaging Sciences, Inc.

Digivision, Inc.

Robert A Kruger

James A Sorenson

Stanley N Baron

Sherman E DeForest

James A Nelson

Richard G Hier

Gregory W Schmidt

Ping Y Liu

Robert L Power

Wayne Bateman

Saied Benyamin

William A Schmidt

An X-ray imaging system for obtaining a photographic image of the X-ray transmissivity of a body is disclosed. A source of X-rays is directable at the body, and an X-ray imaging subsystem is provided for receiving a pattern of X-rays transmitted through the body, including, in combination: a first X-ray-sensitive screen for converting the pattern of X-rays to a first pattern of light; a light-sensitive film adjacent the first X-ray sensitive screen for receiving the first pattern of light; a second X-ray sensitive screen for also converting the pattern of X-rays to the first pattern of light; an array of light detecting devices positioned to receive the first pattern of light from the second X-ray sensitive screen; means for storing electronic representations of the outputs of the array of light detecting devices; and light generating means responsive to the stored electronic representations for generating a second pattern of light which is directed at and received by the light-sensitive film. An image is formed on the light-sensitive film as a result of being exposed to said first and second patterns of light. The disclosed invention permits use of a standard type of film cassette and provides improvement on the standard radiographic technique in the following ways: (1) The recorded film contrast in low X-ray exposure regions that ordinarily would have been recorded in under-exposed regions of a film's characteristic curve will be increased significantly. (2) The overall range of light transmission that must be viewed by the radiologist will be decreased without sacrificing diagnostic information.

Enhancement system for X-ray imaging

A method and system are disclosed for producing a photographic image of an X-ray pattern, including the following steps: converting the X-ray pattern to a first pattern of light; exposing a photographic film to said first pattern of light; detecting the light at elemental regions of the first pattern; generating a second pattern of light in a pattern which depends on the detected light; and exposing the photographic film to the second pattern of light. The generating of the second pattern of light includes generating light from a one-dimensional array of light emitters, and moving the array with respect to the photographic film. The disclosed invention provides improvement on the standard radiographic method in the following ways: (1) The recorded film contrast in low X-ray exposure regions that ordinarily would have been recorded in under-exposed regions on a film's characteristic curve will be increased significantly. (2) The overall range of light transmission that must be viewed by the radiologist will be decreased without sacrificing diagnostic information.

Enhancement system and method for X-ray imaging

The human-eye viewing of an image on a transparency is enhanced by adaptively modulating illumination of the transparency with an unsharp, complementary representation of the image.

Apparatus and method for enhancement of image viewing by modulated

A method and system are disclosed for producing a photographic image of an X-ray pattern, including the following steps: converting the X-ray pattern to a first pattern of light; exposing a photographic film to said first pattern of light; detecting the light at elemental regions of the first pattern; generating a second pattern of light in a pattern which depends on the detected light; and exposing the photographic film to the second pattern of light. The disclosed invention provides improvement on the standard radiographic method in the following ways: (1) The recorded film contrast in low X-ray exposure regions that ordinarily would have been recorded in under-exposed regions of the film's characteristic curve will be increased significantly. (2) The overall range of light transmission that must be viewed by the radiologist will be decreased without sacrificing diagnostic information.

Enhancement method and system for X-ray imaging

Method and apparatus for producing an enhanced radiographic image from a developed radiograph. The apparatus includes a support structure for supporting the radiograph in a stacked relationship with the radiographic film, a light source positioned in close proximity to the radiograph for directing a beam of light at the radiograph to sweep generally in a line from one side to the other, and an elongate light sensor aligned with the line of travel of the light beam to sense and signal the intensity of the light passing through the radiograph and film. A controller responds to the signals produced by the light sensor by producing light control signals which are applied to the light source to vary the intensity and/or the scanning speed of the light beam. As the scanning takes place, the support structure moves transversely of the line of travel of the light beam so that the radiograph is scanned by light substantially over its length and width. As a result, an enhanced radiographic image is created by reducing the density of the high density portions of the radiograph, and increasing the density of the low density portions. Also, the light beam width or spot size may be varied to further improve the detail enhancement of the radiograph.

Apparatus and method for enhancing radiographs and the like

The disclosure is directed to an improved method and apparatus for obtaining a processed image of a body. In accordance with the disclosed method, a bolus of contrast medium is injected into the body, and the body is irradiated. Radiation which passes through the body is detected and converted into an electronic video signal. The generated video signal is then filtered with a filter function having a temporal frequency response that has a single bandpass peak at a temporal frequency substantially corresponding to the temporal frequency of the movement of the bolus of contrast material through a region of the body. The filtered signal can then be displayed and/or recorded.

Apparatus and method for imaging a body

A slit collimation system includes a signal absorptive plate assembly having a narrow slit located between a source of x-ray radiation and an object such as a patient undergoing a diagnostic imaging procedure. An image intensifier tube is located on the other side of the object and is optically coupled to an imaging device such as a television camera. The camera generates an image of the slit as well as x-ray scatter in succeeding TV frames as the slit is scanned, i.e. moved linearly over the object. Each TV frame is digitized and fed into a recursive loop including a digital memory adapted to store a complete TV frame which is comprised of an array of pixels. Pixel intensity values of successive frames are logically combined so that the video information in the shadow of the slit is accepted while the remainder of the video information which includes scatter and noise is rejected resulting in an x-ray image which is free of scatter.

Electronic slit collimation

The disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for generating a processed image of a cross-section through a body. Fluoroscopic tomography is achieved wherein a series of video frames of a cross-section of a body can be viewed in real time. In this manner, for example, one can monitor the progress of a bolus of contrast material moving through a blood vessel in the cross-section being viewed. In a form of the disclosure, a recorded series of frames of a principal plane of a body being imaged can be processed to obtain a corresponding series of frames that represent a plane of interest that is spaced from the principal plane, thereby avoiding the necessity of re-exposure for each new plane to be viewed. In accordance with the disclosed method, a body is disposed between a combination of a source of radiation and an associated detector, such that a beam of radiation from the source impinges angularly on the body and passes through to the detector. Relative rotational motion is effected between the beam and the body, such that a principal plane of interest in the body remains substantially in focus during the relative rotational motion. A series of frames of electronic video signals are derived from the detector, at different rotational positions, the frames representing images of the radiation transmission characteristics of the body at a series of successive times. The series of frames are temporally filtered and then displayed. In a preferred embodiment, the temporal filtering step comprises filtering the series of frames of video signals with a filter function having a temporal frequency response that corresponds substantially the temporal frequency of the movement of a bolus of contrast material through the region being imaged.

Apparatus and method for cross sectional imaging of a body

The disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for generating a processed video image of a fluid-carrying vessel in a body, and can also be used to obtain information concerning the flow rate of blood in the vessel. In the disclosed method, a contrast medium is injected into the body, typically into the vessel to be imaged or leading into the vessel to be imaged. A source of X-radiation is directed at the body, and radiation which passes through the body is detected and converted into a series of frames of electronic video signals, preferably in digital form. The frames represent images of the radiation transmission characteristics of the body at a series of successive times. Each frame includes an array of pixels, the video level at each pixel of a frame being determined by the radiation transmissivity of the body through an elemental region thereof. A processed video image can then be displayed which has a video parameter, such as luminance, that depends, at each pixel, on a time-representative value for the pixel. This processed image shows the progress of the contrast material, as a function of time, through the vessel of interest.

Apparatus and method for fluoroscopic imaging of a body

An apparatus and method is disclosed for generating a processed video signal representative of an x-ray image. A filter function is employed that is retrospectively matched to the temporal response of a bolus of contrast material passing through a body region of interest.

Enhancement of fluroscopically generated images

An improved method and apparatus for generating video images of the internal structure of a body is disclosed. A contrast medium is injected into the vessel to be imaged. Radiation is directed at the body, and radiation which passes through the body is detected and converted into a series of frames of electronic video signals, preferably in digital form. The frames represent images of the radiation transmission characteristics of the body at a series of successive times. Each frame includes an array of pixels, the video level at each pixel of a frame being determined by the radiation transmissivity of the body through an elemental region thereof. An initial video frame, i.e., the first video frame generated after the initiation of video processing, is stored in a digital video frame store. The video signal level at each pixel of the next frame is compared to the video signal level of the corresponding pixel of the stored frame. The lower of the two video signal levels being compared is selected and said selected video signal level is re-stored (in place of the previously stored value) at the particular pixel in the video frame store. This is done for each pixel of the frame. The process is then repeated for subsequent frames. In this manner, the stored video frame is dynamically processed to retain, at each pixel, a video signal level that represents the highest opacity to radiation during the video processing period through the elemental region of the body that corresponds geometrically to the particular pixel.

Method and apparatus for imaging a body

A scanning radiographic system employing a multi-linear array. The system includes a source of electronic radiation, which is focused upon the multi-linear array. The multi-linear array includes radiation sensors each of which is adapted to generate an intensity signal as a function of the amount of radiation sensed thereby. Each sensor has associated therewith a means for holding or storing its respective intensity signals. The intensity signals thus held may be continually up-dated to reflect subsequent intensity signals resulting from additional radiation sensed by the respective sensors. An opaque object to be scanned by the radiographic system passes through the beam of radiation in a controlled fashion. This controlled motion is synchronized and coordinated with the shifting of the up-dated intensity signals so that the speed and course of travel of a particular up-dated intensity signal through the holding means of a given group of said sensors is optically aligned with the speed and course of travel of the radiation passing through a given area of the opaque specimen. In this fashion, there is generated one up-dated intensity signal corresponding to a given area of the opaque specimen. These up-dated intensity signals are then collected and processed by a suitable visual system.

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Robert A Kruger