Multi-plane x-ray imaging system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9526461-B2
Application number	US-201313926441-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2013
Priority date	Jun 26, 2012
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

Imaging systems having multiple radiation sources, such as x-ray sources, and multiple radiation detectors, such as flat-panel x-ray detectors and/or diagnostic-quality CT detectors, housed within an imaging gantry, for obtaining simultaneous images of an object positioned within a bore of the gantry in multiple imaging planes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of imaging an object, comprising:
positioning an object with an imaging bore of an O-shaped imaging gantry having at least one x-ray radiation source and at least two x-ray radiation detectors secured to a rotor that is rotatable within the gantry; and
obtaining simultaneous images of the object in multiple imaging planes, wherein obtaining the simultaneous images comprises:
directing x-ray radiation beams from the at least one x-ray radiation source through a common isocenter within the bore; and
detecting the x-ray radiation beams attenuated by an object within the bore at the at least two x-ray radiation detectors such that during a first time period, a first x-ray radiation detector is exposed to attenuated x-ray radiation from the object while a second x-ray radiation detector is not exposed to x-ray radiation and reads out imaging data collected during a previous exposure to attenuated x-ray radiation from the object, and during a second time period, the first x-ray radiation detector is not exposed to x-ray radiation and reads out imaging data collected during the first time period while the second x-ray radiation detector is exposed to attenuated x-ray radiation from the object, and the first time period and the second time period are each 0.1-100 milliseconds in duration.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a human or animal patient.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying bi-planar imaging data from the at least two detectors in real time.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
reconstructing image data collected by at least one detector to provide a 3D tomographic image.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein directing x-ray radiation comprises directing x-ray radiation from at least two x-ray radiation sources, wherein each source is positioned opposite an x-ray radiation detector on the gantry.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing high-voltage power to the at least one source using a high-voltage generator within the gantry.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein providing high-voltage power comprises providing pulses of high-voltage power to a plurality of x-ray radiation sources in succession.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein providing high-voltage power comprises providing pulses of high-voltage power to at least one x-ray radiation source during fluoroscopy and continuous high-voltage power to at least one x-ray radiation source during CT scanning.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
rotating the at least one source and the at least two detectors around the gantry while obtaining images of the object.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one source and the at least two detectors are rotated around the gantry while at least one detector obtains images to provide a 3D CT scan.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the 3D CT scan comprises single plane and/or bi-plane “cone beam” circular or helical scanning using one or more flat panel detectors.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
translating the gantry relative to the object being imaged to provide a helical CT scan.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting imaging data wirelessly from the gantry to an entity off the gantry.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is a patient and the method further comprises:
translating the gantry relative to the patient to provide an arterial roadmap image of the patient.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the arterial roadmap image is either single plane or bi-plane fluoroscopy roadmap image of a patient.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
determining a velocity of translation of the gantry along a patient axis based on an image analysis of flow of contrast agent in an artery of the patient; and
translating the gantry at the determined velocity.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first period and the second period together form a cycle, and the cycle is continuously repeated during the imaging.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one x-ray radiation source comprises an x-ray tube and the at least two x-ray radiation detectors comprise at least one of a flat panel detector and a diagnostic-quality x-ray CT detector.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least two detectors comprise flat panel detectors that are spaced 90° apart on the rotor.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the imaging gantry is secured to a mobile base, the method further comprising:
translating the gantry with respect to the base in an imaging mode; and
translating the base and gantry together in a transport mode.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first time period and the second time period are each 5-30 milliseconds in duration.

Assignees

• Mobius Imaging Llc

Inventors

• Gregerson Eugene A
• Stanton Russell
• Connor Michael
• Allen Michael
• Sebring Paul
• Powell Robert
• Coppen Scott

Classifications

• A61B6/485

  involving fluorescence X-ray imaging · CPC title

• A61B6/4476

  related to motor-assisted motion of the source unit · CPC title

• A61B6/504

  for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography · CPC title

• A61B6/56

  Details of data transmission or power supply, e.g. use of slip rings · CPC title

• A61B6/4435

  the source unit and the detector unit being coupled by a rigid structure · CPC title