System for quantitative radiographic imaging

Abstract

A system for spectroscopic imaging of bodily tissue in which a scintillation screen and a charged coupled device (CCD) are used to accurately image selected tissue. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the scintillation screen. The scintillation screen reradiates a apatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a CCD sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. Each image is directed onto an associated respective CCD or amorphous silicon detector to generate individual electronic representations of the separate images.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 212,300 filed Aug. 5, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 389,760 filed Sep. 2, 1999 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 469,895 filed Jun. 6, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,892 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 438,800 filed May 11, 1995. The entire contents of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference in entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In recent years the use of radiological examining equipment to make measurements of bone density in patients has continually increased. In particular, the use of such equipment in diagnosing and analyzing osteoporosis has become prevalent in the medical community. Osteoporosis is characterized by the gradual loss of bone mineral content or atrophy of skeletal tissue, resulting in a corresponding overall decrea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a stationary bone densitometry apparatus for examining a subject's body. The apparatus uses a dual energy x-ray source to direct a beam of x-ray radiation towards the subject's body. A scintillation screen receives the x-ray radiation and emits visible light with a spatial intensity pattern proportional to the x-ray radiation. A charge coupled device (CCD) receives the light and generates an electronic representation of the spatial intensity pattern. A focusing element between the scintillation screen and the CCD can focus the x-ray radiation onto the CCD. The CCD converts the x-ray radiation to an electronic representation, which is processed and outputted as image data. The apparatus can use a detector made of amorphous silicon or two scintillation screens with associated CCD detectors. The system can also use pulse height analysis to filter and discriminate between signals. The technical effects of the invention include accurate bone density information and the ability to examine bodily tissue in real-time."

Problems solved by technology

Such a condition is common in elderly women and greatly increases the risk of fracture or similar bone related injury.

The current rectilinear scanning approach is generally limited by its long scanning time and its lack of good spatial resolution.

The poor spatial resolution results in an inability to provide an image displaying high anatomical detail and which will permit accurate determination of the area in the scan occupied by bone.

Images