Beam detection and filtering noise

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019310382-A1
Application number	US-201716309509-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2017
Priority date	Jun 27, 2016
Publication date	Oct 10, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A digital radiographic detector outputs positive read out signals that may oscillate. The presence of negative going portions of the read out signals may be used to determine that the detected positive signals are a result of noise, while an absence of the negative going portions may be used to determine that x-rays are impacting the detector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of operating a digital radiographic detector that includes a plurality of imaging pixels, the method comprising:
monitoring output signals of the detector; detecting positive signals in the output signals; not detecting negative signals in the output signals; and determining that the detected positive signals are a result of x-rays impacting the imaging pixels based on said not detecting the negative signals.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting positive signals further comprises:
measuring a magnitude of the detected positive signals; and determining that the magnitude of the detected positive signals exceeds a preset positive threshold.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining a number of the detected positive signals whose magnitude exceeds the preset positive threshold; and determining that the number of the detected positive signals whose magnitude exceeds the preset positive threshold exceeds a preset number threshold.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining a mean magnitude of the detected positive signals for each of a preset number of vertically consecutive strips of pixels; and determining that the mean magnitude of the detected positive signals for each of the preset number of vertically consecutive strips of pixels all exceed the preset positive threshold.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of measuring further comprises determining a statistical measure of the magnitude of the detected positive signals.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
capturing radiographic image data in the detector; and storing the captured radiographic image data for diagnostic purposes based upon the step of determining that the detected positive signals are the result of x-rays impacting the imaging pixels.

7 . A method of operating a digital radiographic detector that includes a plurality of imaging pixels, the method comprising:
monitoring output signals of the detector; detecting positive signals in the output signals; detecting negative signals in the output signals; and determining that the detected positive signals are not caused by x-rays impacting the imaging pixels in the detector based on said detecting the negative signals.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of detecting negative signals further comprises:
measuring a magnitude of the detected negative signals; and determining that the magnitude of the detected negative signals are less than a preset negative threshold.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining a number of the detected negative signals whose magnitude are less than the preset negative threshold; and determining that the number of the detected negative signals whose magnitude are less than the preset negative threshold exceeds a preset number threshold.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining a mean magnitude of the detected negative signals for each of a preset number of vertically consecutive strips of pixels; and determining that the mean magnitude of the detected negative signals for each of the preset number of vertically consecutive strips of pixels all are less than the preset negative threshold.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of measuring further comprises determining a statistical measure of the magnitude of the detected negative signals.

12 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
capturing a frame of radiographic image data in the detector; and discarding the frame of radiographic image data based upon the step of determining that the detected positive signals are not caused by x-rays impacting the imaging pixels.

Assignees

• Carestream Health Inc

Inventors

• Scott Richard T
• Welch Eric M
• Toepfer Karin

Classifications

• G01T1/1663 Primary

  Processing methods of scan data, e.g. involving contrast enhancement, background reduction, smoothing, motion correction, dual radio-isotope scanning, computer processing (for measuring spatial distribution of radiation G01T1/2992; general purpose image data processing G06T1/00; computerized tomography G06T12/00); Ancillary equipment · CPC title

• A61B6/42

  Arrangements for detecting radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis · CPC title

• A61B6/54

  Control of apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis · CPC title

• A61B6/50

  specially adapted for specific body parts; specially adapted for specific clinical applications · CPC title

• G01T1/17

  Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular type of detector {(pulse-selection circuits H03K, G01R)} · CPC title