U.S. Philips Corporation

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Ulrich Neitzel

Geoffrey Harding

Hanns-Ingo Maack

Jens Von Berg

Josef-Maria Kosanetzky

Daniel Bystrov

Stewart Young

Pallavi Vajinepalli

Nataly Wieberneit

Biswaroop Chakrabarti

Thomas Pralow

Soubhik Paul

Ingo Schafer

Josef M Kosanetzky

Susanne Guenther-Kohfahl

Hanss-Ingo Maack

Peter Ypma

The quality of thoracic X-rays is depends on the inspiration state of an imaged patient. If the lungs of a patient are not significantly inflated during a thoracic X-ray, tissue from surrounding organs can cause the image to become cloudier, and the lung parenchyma is not effectively shown. Thus, there is a reliance on a medical professional to ensure that the patient is in an appropriate posture and inspiration state at the point of image exposure. This can be difficult with patients suffering from chronic conditions, though. Therefore, this application discusses a means to assess the inspiration state using the position of rib bones, and the diaphragm line in the X-ray image. Thus, an accurate estimate of inspiration state can automatically be reported to a medical professional, before a patient leaves the examination room, allowing an X-ray to be retaken, if necessary.

X-ray image inhalation quality monitoring

The invention relates to a system () for extracting an object (Ob) from a source image, said object being delineated by a contour (C), the system () comprising a gradient unit () for computing the source image gradient field, based on the source image, a smoothing unit () for smoothing the source image gradient field, and an integration unit () for calculating an object image by integrating the smoothed source image gradient field, thereby extracting the object (Ob) from the source image. At each point of the source image, the smoothing is defined by a 2-dimensional convolution kernel which is a product of a first 1-dimensional convolution kernel in the first direction substantially parallel to the contour (C), and a second 1-dimensional convolution kernel in the second direction substantially normal to the contour (C). The first 1-dimensional convolution kernel defines smoothing within each region separated by the contour, while the second 1-dimensional convolution kernel defines smoothing across the contour separating two regions, independently of the orientation of the object and the contour curvature.

Bone suppression in x-ray radiograms

The invention relates to an X-ray device in which a set of exposure parameters is fetched from among a number of such sets stored in a first storage arrangement for APR X-ray exposures. The exposure parameters which result therefrom during the subsequent X-ray exposure and have possibly been modified by the user are stored in a second storage arrangement. The X-ray device includes means for evaluating the second sets of exposure parameters which are associated with the same first set of exposure parameters and for deriving therefrom a new set of exposure parameters which is stored in the first storage arrangement instead of the first set of exposure parameters and forms the basis for APR X-ray exposures from then on.

X-ray device with a storage for X-ray exposure parameters

The invention relates to a method of displaying a spatial distribution of notably an X-ray image whose pixels are associated with digital input image values, a filtering operation being performed on the input image values so as to obtain either low-pass or high-pass image values which are superposed on the input image values, and also relates to a device for carrying out the method. The invention enables the user to preset the contrast and the density of the visible image in conformity with his requirements and independently from one another.

Method of displaying notably a digital X-ray image as a visible image,

The dynamic range of density or intensity values of pixels in an X-ray image is compressed in a manner preserving the range which is of primary interest for diagnosis, while still allowing recognition of detailed structure in the further ranges. This is accomplished by forming low-pass picture values (L) from input-picture values (E), determining equalizing values as a function (C) of the low-pass picture values (L) and forming output picture values by superposition of the input-picture values (E) and the equalizing values (C) . The equalizing values are chosen such that the output picture values are greater than the input-picture values (E) at relatively small low-pass picture values (L), below the range of primary interest, and the output picture values are less than the input-picture values at relatively large low-pass picture values (L), above the range of primary interest. Further, the output picture values substantially equal the input picture values for low-mass picture values (L) within the range of primary interest for diagnosis.

Method of dynamic range compression of an X-ray image and apparatus

The invention relates to an arrangement for producing X-ray images, which arrangement comprises an X-ray source (1) for the generation of an X-ray beam (10), a layer (41) sensitive to X-rays and situated on a cylindrical drum (4), and a read unit (5) for converting the X-ray image detected in the layer into electrical image values. In order to improve the X-ray images which can be produced by the arrangement an image processor (21) includes a module (212) for transforming the X-ray image (I) situated on the layer into an X-ray image (I.sub.v) situated in a virtual plane (12), and a module (211) for improving the uniformity of the modulation transfer function (MTF) over the X-ray image produced.

Arrangement for producing X-ray images

The invention relates to a method of determining the Compton profile of an object to be examined which is situated in an examination zone. The examination zone is irradiated by a monochromatic primary beam whose energy is chosen so that the attenuation of the primary radiation is due essentially only to the Compton Scattering. The scattered radiation is measured in an energy resolving manner and therefrom, as well as from the attenuation in the primary beam, the Compton profiles for the individual pixels in the examination zone are determined.

Two-dimensional compton profile imaging method

The invention relates to a method for determination of the cross-sections for elastic scattered radiation in which a polychromatic radiation source is used but in which good differentiation between various substances is still possible.

Method for the determination of the spatial distribution of the

The invention relates to an X-ray apparatus which allows for the determination of the elastically scattered X-rays and the evaluation of the information contained therein. Because the scattered radiation exhibits a pronounced maximum value as a function of the scatter angle and because the scatter angle at which this maximum value occurs depends on the material in which the scattered radiation is produced, X-ray images thus formed contain essential information concerning the chemical composition of the body examined.

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Hamburg, Germany

Ulrich Neitzel