Method and Apparatus for Producing Tomosynthesis Exposures Employing a Reference Object Composed of a Number of Sub-Objects

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to an X-ray diagnostic apparatus for a tomosynthesis, and in particular to an apparatus of the type employing a reference object in the radiation beam proceeding from the radiation emitter.

2. Description of the Prior Art

PCT application WO 93/22 893 discloses a method with which it is possible to reconstruct an exposure of an examination subject without the projection angle .alpha. and the geometrical arrangement of the radiation emitter and radiation receiver and the focal plane being known. According to this method, a reference object of radiation-absorbing material having a known size and a known spacing from the radiation receiver is provided in the region of the radiation receiver, this reference object being projected onto the radiation receiver in every individual projection. The geometrical arrangement and the two-dimensional projection angle .alpha. for each individual projection can be determined on the basis of the two-dimensional spatial imaging of the reference on the radiation receiver.

A holder for positioning a radiation emitter of an X-ray diagnostic apparatus for tomosynthesis is disclosed in German OS 44 14 689, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,454. A bracket is coupled to the holder, at which --as viewed in the radiation propagation direction --a spherical reference object is arranged in front of the examination subject and a radiation receiver is arranged behind the examination subject. The spacing of the radiation from the reference object and from the radiation receiver, as well as the angle .alpha. of a ray beam emitted by the radiation emitter relative to a reference axis of the holder mechanism, are prescribed by the holder. It is also known to arrange the radiation source so as to be adjustable in a housing to which a positioning means for the reference object and the radiation receiver can be coupled.

In such known tomosynthesis systems, because the reference object is disposed in front of the examination subject and is mounted on a bracket connected to the holder for the radiation receiver, the reference object can constitute a nuisance or an impediment in setting up the apparatus and conducting the examination.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for producing tomosynthesis exposures which allow a precise acquisition of the geometrical arrangement of the radiation emitter, the radiation receiver and the examination subject, and which create more flexible and efficient possibilities of fashioning the apparatus, positioning the examination subject and generating tomosynthesis exposures from the signals of the radiation receiver.

The above objects are achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a method and an apparatus for producing a tomosynthesis exposure of an examination subject having a radiation emitter and a radiation receiver, with a reference object disposed therebetween in the path of a radiation beam emanating from the radiation emitter, wherein the reference object is composed of at least two sub-objects.

An advantage of the invention is that a reference object that is composed of at least two sub-objects is employed. Not only the spacing of the radiation emitter from the radiation receiver, but also the incident angle (projection angle) and the irradiation direction can be very exactly determined. Rotation of the radiation receiver relative to the reference object can also be exactly acquired. The reference object can also be directly connected to the radiation emitter and need not be coupled to the radiation receiver.

In the inventive apparatus, the sub-objects are fashioned beam-like and are arranged cruciatly or apparatus alternatively, at least three sub-objects whose arrangement relative to one another deviates from a straight line are provided. The sub-objects can then be fashioned sphere-like or disk-like and form a geometrical (polygonal) body. In an embodiment wherein the sub-objects differ in terms of their radiation absorption, then the irradiation direction can be determined in an especially exact way.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an X-ray diagnostics apparatus for tomosynthesis, constructed and operating in accordance with the present invention, wherein a reference object has a fixed reference relationship to the radiation emitter, to which it is directly connected.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an X-ray diagnostics apparatus for tomosynthesis, constructed and operating in accordance with the present invention, wherein the reference object has a fixed reference relationship to the radiation receiver, to which it is directly connected.

FIG. 3 shows a first exemplary embodiment of an inventive reference object of the X-ray diagnostics apparatus according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a second exemplary embodiment of an inventive reference object of the X-ray diagnostics apparatus according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a third exemplary embodiment of an inventive reference object of the X-ray diagnostics apparatus according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of an inventive reference object of the X-ray diagnostics apparatus according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.

For the implementation of the inventive method for producing a tomosynthesis exposure of an examination subject, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus has a radiation emitter, especially a radiation source 1, a reference object 2 and a radiation receiver 3. According to FIG. 1, the reference object 2 and the radiation source I have a fixed reference relationship to one another, for example via a holder 11. The signals generated by the radiation receiver 3 upon transirradiation of the reference object 2 and the examination subject are supplied to an image-generating computer 4 that calculates the distance from the radiation receiver 3 and from the examination subject as well as the irradiation angle (projection angle) and the irradiation direction from the signals of the reference object 2 and, in combination with the signals of the examination subject produces image signals of a tomosynthesis exposure. According to the inventive method for producing a tomosynthesis exposure, a reference object 2 is employed that is composed of at least two sub-objects 5 and 6 that are fashioned beam-like and cross one another according to a first version (FIG. 3). According to a second version (FIG. 4), a reference object 2 is employed that is formed at least three sub-objects 7, 8, 9 and 10 whose arrangement relative to one another deviates from a straight line. For example, these sub-objects 7, 8, 9 and 10 can be fashioned spherically, disk-like, beam-like, rod-like or cylindrically. Preferably, at least one sub-object 6 or 10 differs at least in a sub-region from the other sub-objects 5, 7, 8 and 9 in terms of radiation absorption, so that the projection directions can be exactly determined when the dimensions of the reference object or of the sub-objects 5,6,7,8,9 and 10 are known. The difference in terms of radiation absorption can be achieved by cut-outs or incisions at the sub-objects 6 or 10, or by making their thickness, length, spacing from one another, material or shape different from the other sub-objects.

The X-ray diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 2 differs from the X-ray diagnostic apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in that the reference object 2 has a fixed reference relationship to the radiation receiver 3, to which it is connected, for example via a holder 11.

In an embodiment of the method and apparatus, at least three sub-objects 12,13 and 14 that differ in view of the radiation absorption are provided, their arrangement relative to one another deviating from a straight line. For example, spheres can be provided for this purpose, their radiation absorption differing at least in sub-regions, for example due to marking members applied to the spheres, and/or by their projection onto the radiation receiver 3 at least approximately known with respect to the location. As shown in FIG. 5, a first sub-object 12 is fashioned, for example, as a solid sphere. Second and third sub-objects 13 and 14 fashioned, for example as spheres each having an edge that noticeably differs from the core in view of the radiation absorption. The second and third sub-objects 13 and 14 differ in terms of their size or thickness at the edge. A particular advantage is thereby achieved that, given employment of such a reference object that has a fixed reference relationship to the examination subject, the position and attitude of the examination subject as well as of the radiation source 1 relative to the radiation receiver 3, the geometrical arrangement and the two-dimensional projection angle can be determined, so that a tomosynthesis exposure of the examination subject can be reconstructed without the examination subject having to be coupled to the radiation receiver 3 or the radiation source 1, the radiation source 1 and the radiation receiver 3 or without having to be coupled to one another. A further advantage is that the sub-objects 12,13 and 14 of the reference object can be arranged in arbitrary relative positions at the examination subject independently of one another.

The position of the radiation source 1 can be defined first in the coordinate system of the radiation receiver 3 on the basis of the interpretation of the imaging locations of the sub-objects on the radiation receiver 3, and the distortion in terms of degrees, and the direction of its radiation shadow which occur given an oblique projection. When the position of the radiation source 1 is known, then, given a known size of the sub-objects, conclusions about their position can be made from the imaging scale. An initial position of the examination subject is thus defined with a first exposure with an arbitrary irradiation direction, and later changes in position can be unambiguously identified.

In a modification of the method, a reference object, formed of only two sub-objects, for example spheres, differing in terms of their radiation absorption and a third sub-object that is fashioned beam-shaped or rod-shaped, can be employed. An exemplary embodiment of such a reference object is shown in FIG. 6, which shows a sub-object 15 fashioned as a sphere, a beam or rod shaped sub-object 17, and another, sub-object 16 fashioned as a sphere. The position of the radiation source 1 can thus already be determined using only two differing sub-objects 16 and 17. A rotation of the examination subject around the connecting line of these sub-objects 15 and 16 can be determined by evaluation of the projection distortion of the two sub-sections of the beam or rod shaped sub-object 17.

When more than three sub-objects are employed in the evaluation, then the precision of the position and angle determination can be improved and redundancy can be achieved when, for example, the images of individual sub-objects cannot be evaluated because for example, they are superimposed with highly absorbent structures of the examination subject.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, those of skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.