Analogic Corporation

Sorin Marcovici

Olivier Tousignant

Sergey Simanovsky

Ram Naidu

Wei Zhao

Zhengrong Ying

Enrico Dolazza

Simon George Harootian

Ben Tuval

Alexander T Botka

Luc Laperriere

Jonathan Greenspan

John P O'Connor

David A Schafer

Charles H Shaughnessy

Boris Valski

A CT scanning system may include a multi-pixel x-ray source, and a detector array. The multi-pixel x-ray source may have a plurality of pixels that are disposed along a z-axis, and that are sequentially activated so as to controllably emit x-rays in response to incident electrons. The detector array may have one or more rows of x-ray detectors that detect the x-rays that are emitted from the pixels and have traversed an object, and generate data for CT image reconstruction system. In third generation CT scanning systems, the number of detector rows may be reduced. Multi-pixel x-ray source implementation of saddle curve geometry may render a single rotation single organ scan feasible. Using a multi-pixel x-ray source in stationary CT scanning systems may allow x-ray beam design with a minimal coverage to satisfy mathematical requirements for reconstruction.

CT scanning systems and methods using multi-pixel x-ray sources

One or more techniques and/or systems described herein provide for generating a radiographic image and ultrasound image depicting parallel planes of an object under examination and may be used in conjunction with radiographic or ultrasound techniques known to those in the field (e.g., x-ray tomosynthesis, computed tomography ultrasound imaging, etc.). An ultrasound frontend component is configured to transmit ultrasound waves in a direction substantially parallel to a trajectory of radiation. In one example, one or more radiographic images of an object are spatially coincident to one or more ultrasound images of the object in the same position and/or geometric shape/volume, and the images may be combined to generate a combined image depicting features of the ultrasound image (e.g., the sensitivity of the ultrasound image) and features of the radiographic image (e.g., the morphological details of the radiographic image).

Multi-modality image acquisition

Tomosynthesis data may be acquired from an ionizing radiation source that substantially continuously emits radiation while its position is varied relative to a photon counting detector. The detector detects photons comprised within the radiation and photon data indicative of the detected photons is generated. The photon data may comprise data related to a detected photon's detection time, detection location on the detector, energy level, and/or trajectory from the radiation source, for example. The photon data of various photons may be compiled into a plurality of bins and, through reconstruction and tomosynthesis techniques, produce synthesized images of various tomography planes of an object under examination. In this way, the tomosynthesis techniques rely on counting photons rather than measuring their energy to create synthesized images.

Method of and apparatus for continuous wave tomosynthesis using photon counting

One or more techniques and/or systems described herein provide for creating detector elements that are configured to be overlaid, such that at least a portion of gap between two detector elements is situated in a plane that is not parallel to a plane through which primary radiation travels. That is, a first detector element comprises a portion that is configured to overlap a portion of a second detector element. The detector element(s) may be direct conversion or indirect conversion detector elements. Moreover, one or more electrodes may be placed within the gap and/or along an edge of the detector element to assist in the movement of charge generated by a charge producing portion of the detector element.

Overlapping detector elements of a detector array for a radiation system

One or more techniques and/or systems described herein implement, among other things, a flat panel detector component for detecting actinic and non-actinic radiation, or the formation thereof. The flat panel detector component comprises a plurality of layers, where at least one of the layers comprises silk. Further, a silk layer may be in direct physical contact with a radiation detection layer.

Flat panel detector incorporating silk layer(s)

One or more techniques and/or systems are described herein for cleaning a portion of a radiographic examination apparatus whereon debris may accumulate. Typically, the portion being cleaned is within a scanning field of the radiographic examination device (e.g., within a portion of the radiographic examination device through which radiation traverses). Activation of a cleaning mechanism, or a portion thereof, may be timed to miss radiation emitted during a scan, and thus not interfere with a scan. Also, the cleaning mechanism, or a portion thereof, may be located so as to not attenuate radiation. If radiation is attenuated by the cleaning mechanism corrective techniques can be implemented to account for such attenuation.

Cleaning apparatus and/or cleaning techniques for use with a radiation system

An item tracking apparatus includes a tag interrogator that transmits an interrogation signal and receives a signal emitted by a tag affixed to an item in response to the tag receiving the interrogation signal, wherein the tag and item are part of a bio-compatible consumable dosage delivery unit and a controller that determines a state of the item based on the received signal. A consumable dosage delivery unit includes a dosage form and a bio-compatible wireless communications tag.

Item dispenser and tracker

Tomosynthesis data may be acquired from a radiation source that substantially continuously emits radiation while its position is varied relative to a photon counting x-ray detector. The detector detects photons comprised within the radiation and photon data indicative of the detected photons is generated. The photon data may comprise data related to a detected photon's detection time, detection location on the detector, energy level, and/or trajectory from the radiation source, for example. The photon data of various photons may be compiled into a plurality of bins and, through reconstruction and tomosynthesis techniques, produce synthesized images of various tomography planes of an object under examination. In this way, the tomosynthesis techniques rely on counting photons rather than measuring their energy to create synthesized images.

An X-ray detector used in CT scanner systems includes a 2-D array of scintillator elements coupled to an improved 2-D array of photo-detectors. When coupled together, each scintillator element aligns with a detection side of a corresponding photo-detector. The photo-detector array includes an insulating substrate which houses and secures the photodiodes in a predetermined alignment with the scintillator elements. The insulating substrate is comprised of a bottom piece and a top piece, wherein the bottom piece has circuit paths formed in a mounting surface thereof. The top piece has a top and a bottom surface, includes photo-detector holes for insertion of the photo-detectors, and has a thickness which is greater than the height of the photo-detectors. Additionally, the top piece includes plated conductive holes which extend from the top surface to conductive pads on the bottom surface and conductive paths formed at the top surface which electrically couple the conductive holes to the photo-detector. The top and bottom pieces are coupled together and then the photo-detectors are countersunk within the photo-detector holes, leaving a detection side of each photo-detector exposed. The detection side of each photo-detector is electrically coupled to a corresponding pair of conductive holes, which creates an electrical path from the detection side of the photo-detector to the circuit path of the bottom piece. The array of scintillator elements, including an alignment grid, is then coupled to the photo-detector array to form a 2-D X-ray detector.

Two-dimensional X-ray detector array for CT applications

A two-dimensional area detector array for a CT scanning system includes a set of alignment grids for aligning individual scintillator crystals with corresponding photodiodes and for preventing optical and electrical interference between adjacent photodiodes. The alignment grids thus facilitate efficient transfer of information from the scintillation crystals to the photodiodes and also permit the detector array to be constructed with many very small, very closely spaced individual detector elements. The alignment grids are preferably made of a substantially opaque material having a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion. They provide a highly beneficial dimensional stability to the detector array under the typical operating conditions of the CT scanner.

Area detector array for computer tomography scanning system

An integrated radiation detecting and collimating assembly for an x-ray tomography scanning system. The assembly includes a housing which mounts to a spine of the system and aligns corresponding arrays of photodiodes, scintillator crystals and anti-scatter plates with one another and with x-ray beams arriving directly at the detectors from the focal spot. The arrays of photodiodes, crystals and anti-scatter plates are thus all fixed relative to one another within the housing, which is itself securely fixed to the frame of the scanner system.

Integrated radiation detecting and collimating assembly for X-ray

Variable-response photodetectors adapted to compensate for nonuniformity along an axis of a scintillating crystal by means of multi-element photodiodes and systems for selectively activating different photodiode sub-elements are disclosed, together with arrays of such photodetectors and X-ray detection systems utilizing such photodetectors.

Variable-response x-ray detection assemblies and methods of using same

A coplanar photodiode construction is disclosed having particular utility in X-ray detection applications in which alternating P-doped and N-doped regions, separated by undoped material, are located in relatively shallow depth under and along the surface between the photodiode and an associated X-ray scintillating crystal.

Coplanar X-ray photodiode assemblies

A multichannel predictive gain amplifier system including a device for receiving input from a first channel and from a second channel, a variable gain amplifier, and a gain setting circuit for setting the gain of the variable gain amplifier. A switching device responsive to the input from the first and second channels sequentially connects each channel first to the gain setting circuit for determining the desired gain for that channel and then to the variable gain amplifier set to that desired gain.

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, MA, United States of America

Sorin Marcovici