Non-rotational computerized tomography system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9179878-B2
Application number	US-201214000259-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2012
Priority date	Dec 9, 2011
Publication date	Nov 10, 2015
Grant date	Nov 10, 2015

Abstract

A non-rotational CT system according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of X-ray generation units which are radially arranged by being spaced at certain intervals around an inspected object, and in which position correcting sensors are equipped on one side thereof; a plurality of X-ray detection units which are arranged in separated spaces between the X-ray generation units, are provided alternately with the X-ray generation units, and in which position correcting sensors are equipped on one side thereof; a control unit which receives signals from the position correcting sensors equipped in the X-ray generation units and the X-ray detection units, and adjusts the positions of each of the X-ray generation units and the X-ray detection units which face each other to precisely correspond with each other; a data processing unit which stores two-dimensional X-ray images obtained from the X-ray detection units, and applies an image interpolation technique to calculate two-dimensional X-ray images between two directions; and an image processing unit which converts data of the data processing unit into CT image data.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A non-rotational Computerized Tomography (CT) system, comprising:
a plurality of X-ray generation units spaced apart from an examination target by a regular distance and radially arranged around the examination target, the X-ray generation units having position correction sensors arranged in portions thereof;
a plurality of X-ray detection units arranged in separated spaces between the X-ray generation units and installed to alternate with the X-ray generation units, the X-ray detection units having position correction sensors arranged in portions thereof; and
a control unit configured to receive signals from the position correction sensors arranged on the X-ray generation units and the X-ray detection units, and adjust positions of corresponding X-ray generation units and X-ray detection units so that the corresponding X-ray generation units and X-ray detection units exactly face each other,
wherein
each of the X-ray detection units includes an X-ray guide provided on a first side thereof towards the examination target, and is configured to allow X-rays generated by an X-ray generation unit exactly facing the corresponding X-ray detection unit to pass through the examination target and to be then transferred only to a designated X-ray detection unit; and
each of the X-ray detection units includes an elastic scattering prevention filter arranged at an end of the X-ray guide of the X-ray detection unit.

2. The non-rotational CT system of claim 1 , wherein each of the X-ray generation units includes an X-ray guide provided on a first side thereof towards the examination target.

3. The non-rotational CT system of claim 2 , wherein the X-ray guides of the X-ray generation units and the X-ray detection units are made of an X-ray absorbing material.

4. The non-rotational CT system of claim 2 , wherein each of the X-ray generation units includes a Kα X-ray filter disposed at an end of the X-ray guide of the X-ray generation unit and configured to function to prevent mutual interference between X-rays having Kα and Kβ characteristics.

5. The non-rotational CT system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit receives signals from the position correction sensors, and adjusts positions and directions of the X-ray generation units and the X-ray detection units so that X-rays generated by one X-ray generation unit pass through the examination target and can then be transferred only to an X-ray detection unit designated to face the corresponding X-ray generation unit.

6. A non-rotational Computerized Tomography (CT) system, comprising:
a plurality of X-ray generation units spaced apart from an examination target by a regular distance and radially arranged around the examination target, the X-ray generation units having position correction sensors arranged in portions thereof;
a plurality of X-ray detection units arranged in separated spaces between the X-ray generation units and installed to alternate with the X-ray generation units, the X-ray detection units having position correction sensors arranged in portions thereof;
a control unit configured to receive signals from the position correction sensors arranged on the X-ray generation units and the X-ray detection units, and adjust positions of corresponding X-ray generation units and X-ray detection units so that the corresponding X-ray generation units and X-ray detection units exactly face each other;
a data processing unit configured to store 2D X-ray images acquired by the X-ray detection units and calculate 2D X-ray images between two directions using an image interpolation technique; and
an image processing unit configured to convert data of the data processing unit into CT image data,
wherein
each of the X-ray detection units includes an X-ray guide provided on a first side thereof towards the examination target, and is configured to allow X-rays generated by an X-ray generation unit exactly facing the corresponding X-ray detection unit to pass through the examination target and to be then transferred only to a designated X-ray detection unit; and
each of the X-ray detection units includes an elastic scattering prevention filter arranged at an end of the X-ray guide of the X-ray detection unit.

7. The non-rotational CT system of claim 6 , wherein each of the X-ray generation units includes an X-ray guide provided on a first side thereof towards the examination target.

8. The non-rotational CT system of claim 7 , wherein the X-ray guides of the X-ray generation units and the X-ray detection units are made of an X-ray absorbing material.

9. The non-rotational CT system of claim 7 , wherein each of the X-ray generation units includes a Kα X-ray filter disposed at an end of the X-ray guide of the X-ray generation unit and configured to function to prevent mutual interference between X-rays having Kα and Kβ characteristics.

10. The non-rotational CT system of claim 6 , wherein the control unit receives signals from the position correction sensors, and adjusts positions and directions of the X-ray generation units and the X-ray detection units so that X-rays generated by one X-ray generation unit pass through the examination target and is then transferred only to an X-ray detection unit designated to face the corresponding X-ray generation unit.

11. The non-rotational CT system of claim 6 , wherein the 2D X-ray data acquired using the image interpolation technique is obtained by converting images into CT image data using an Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization (OSEM) technique.

Assignees

• Jeon In Su
• Univ Nat Chonnam Ind Found

Inventors

• Jeon In Su

Classifications

• A61B6/4014

  arranged in multiple source-detector units · CPC title

• A61B6/032 Primary

  Transmission computed tomography [CT] · CPC title

• A61B6/035 Primary

  Mechanical aspects of CT · CPC title

• A61B6/03 Primary

  Computed tomography [CT] · CPC title