Patent EP0176314A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0176314A2
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EP
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Radiography system
Assignee: Philips Nuclear Medicine Inc
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Filing: 1985-09-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A radiography system including a radiation source (X) and a detector array (D) spaced sufficiently from the source to accommodate the placement of a body between the source and detector array. A mechanism (L, M) is provided for scanning the detector array relative to the body while aligned with the radiation source. Power means actuates the source to direct radiation through the body towards the detector array during scanning. The detector array comprises a number of detector elements responsive to incident radiation to produce electrical signals indicative of the radiation. Circuitry (TD1, C, T) coupled to the detector array responds to the detector signals to generate an image representing internal structure of the body, as represented by the radiation emergent from the body. The detector array (D) comprises a plurality of individual detector elements arranged in a pattern of staggered columns, the array being scanned in a direction perpendicular to the columns. This geometry improves the resolving capability of the detector array in a direction parallel to the columns. Resolution in the direction perpendicular to the columns is improved by employment of time delay and integrate circuitry (TDl) which samples detector element outputs at successive increments of detector motion less than the width of a single detector element in the scanning direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Sones
- 👤 Mike M. Tesic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/161; G01T1/164; G01T1/166; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A radiography system comprising: a radiation source (X); a detector array (D) spaced sufficiently from the source (X) to accommodate the interposition of a body in a space between the source (X) and the detector array (D), said detector array (D) comprising a pattern, of more than two columns (14) of detector elements (E); scanning means (L, M) for effecting relative scanning motion between the detector array (D), and a body when said body is located in said space, said scanning being in a direction substantially perpendicular to said columns of detector elements (E): means for actuating the source (X) to direct radiation through said space and toward the detector array (D), and circuitry (TDI, C, T) coupled to the detector array (D) for producing an image of internal structure of said body as evidenced by radiation emergent from the body and incident on the detector array (D), characterised in that said columns (14) are arranged in a staggered pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A radiography system comprising: a radiation source (X); a detector array (D) spaced sufficiently from the source (X) to accommodate the interposition of a body in a space between the source (X) and the detector array (D), said detector array (D) comprising a pattern, of more than two columns (14) of detector elements (E); scanning means (L, M) for effecting relative scanning motion between the detector array (D), and a body when said body is located in said space, said scanning being in a direction substantially perpendicular to said columns of detector elements (E): means for actuating the source (X) to direct radiation through said space and toward the detector array (D), and circuitry (TDI, C, T) coupled to the detector array (D) for producing an image of internal structure of said body as evidenced by radiation emergent from the body and incident on the detector array (D), characterised in that said columns (14) are arranged in a staggered pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to Claim 1 wherein said detector elements (E) each comprise a substantially square radiation-sensitive receiving face disposed toward said source (X).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each said column (14) of detector elements (E) is displaced from an adjacent column (14) by an offset parallel to said column (14) and equal to about one half the dimension of an element (E) extending in a direction parallel to said column (14).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
87 words
A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said circuitry includes time delay and integrate circuitry (TDI) coupled to said detector elements (E) for producing an image of internal body structure in response to said electrical signals produced by said detector elements (E), said circuitry (TDI) comprising sampling circuitry for sampling said detector element electrical signals at successive increments of detector array scanning motion less than a distance equal to a dimension of one of said detector elements (E) extending in said scanning direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
212 words
A radiography system comprising: a radiation source (X); a detector array (D) comprising at least one row (12) of uniform detector elements (E), each detector element (E) being responsive to radiation incident thereon for producing an electrical output signal indicative of said incident radiation; means (L, M) for mounting said source (X) and said detector array (D) spaced sufficiently from one another to accommodate a body in a space therebetween; mechanism (L, M) for scanning said detector array (D) relative to a body when located in said space, in a direction substantially parallel to said row (12); means for actuating said radiation source (X) to propagate radiation from the source (X) and toward said detector array (D), said radiation passing through a portion of a body located in said space, and time delay and integrate circuitry (TDI) coupled to said detector elements (E) for producing an image of internal body structure in response to said electrical signals produced by said detector elements (E), said circuitry (TDI) comprising sampling circuitry for sampling said detector element electrical signals at successive increments of detector array scanning motion characterised in that said successive increments are less than a distance equal to a dimension of one of said uniform detector elements (E) extending in said scanning direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
212 words
A radiography system comprising: a radiation source (X); a detector array (D) comprising at least one row (12) of uniform detector elements (E), each detector element (E) being responsive to radiation incident thereon for producing an electrical output signal indicative of said incident radiation; means (L, M) for mounting said source (X) and said detector array (D) spaced sufficiently from one another to accommodate a body in a space therebetween; mechanism (L, M) for scanning said detector array (D) relative to a body when located in said space, in a direction substantially parallel to said row (12); means for actuating said radiation source (X) to propagate radiation from the source (X) and toward said detector array (D), said radiation passing through a portion of a body located in said space, and time delay and integrate circuitry (TDI) coupled to said detector elements (E) for producing an image of internal body structure in response to said electrical signals produced by said detector elements (E), said circuitry (TDI) comprising sampling circuitry for sampling said detector element electrical signals at successive increments of detector array scanning motion characterised in that said successive increments are less than a distance equal to a dimension of one of said uniform detector elements (E) extending in said scanning direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to Claim 5 wherein: said detector array (D) comprises a plurality of rows (12) of elements (E) interspersed so as to define a plurality of columns (14) perpendicular to said rows (12) and arranged in a staggered pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to Claim 6 wherein said detector array (D) comprises at least three said columns (14) of said detector elements (E).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
31 words
A system according to any one of Claims 5 to 7 wherein the centre-to-centre spacing between successive elements (E) along the or each said row (12) is approximately twice said dimension.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to Claim 8 wherein said successive increments are increments of scan motion of about one half of said dimension.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A system according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein said time delay and integrate circuitry (TDI) implements a time delay and integrate function defined by the following relationship: where: P (i,j) = the total accumulated charge of the j-th pixel of the i-th row of said image; d(m,n,k) = the charge accumulated in the n-th detector element of the m-th row in the k-th sampling period, and N = the number of elements per row.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
65 words
A system according to any one of Claims 5 to 10 wherein said time delay and integrate circuitry (TDI) operates in a mode wherein the output signal of a given element (E) as to a given image pixel is sampled only at successive increments of detector motion equal to detector motion over a distance equal to twice the width of a single detector element (E).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system according to Claim 11 when dependent on Claim 9 wherein said time delay and integrate circuitry (TDI) comprises circuitry for interposing delay on the output signal of each said element (E), with respect to the output of the immediately preceding element (E), equal to the time required for the detector array (D) . to move a distance equal to twice the width of a single detector element (E).
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
A system according to any one of Claims 5 to 12 wherein said time delay and integrate circuitry (TDI) comprises means for sampling said detector element output signals at successive increments of detector motion equal to approximately one half the width dimension of an individual detector element taken parallel to one of said rows; means for delaying respective output signals from detector elements of one of said rows in different amounts in order to present said output signals of said elements of said row pertaining to a single image pixel simultaneously at an output; means summing said simultaneously presented output signals, and means for.processing said summed signals to obtain representation of an image of internal subject structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
A system according to Claim 13 wherein said detector array comprises a row of uniform square detector elements having centres spaced by 2p, where p is the dimension of an element side; and said time delay and integrate circuitry (TDI) means for sampling detector element outputs with each p/2 of successive scanning motion increment; means for accumulating, as a representation for a given image portion, a set of only each fourth sampling of each detector output, and means for accumulating as a representation for another given image portion, a different set of fourth samplings offset in time from said set.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
41 words
A system according to any preceding claim wherein said scanning means (L, M) comprises means for effecting pivotal motion of said source in synchronism with detector motion to maintain constant alignment between the detector and the radiation emanating from said source.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
25 words
A system according to any preceding claim wherein said scanning means (L, M) further comprises means for moving said detector array along an arcuate path.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
15 words
A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said radiation is x-radiation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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