A method for controlling an FFS X-ray system comprises: simulating a beam geometry of the X-ray beam at a specified FFS deflection onto the detector during recording of a projection image; determining whether cross-radiation is present in a region around the detector by the simulated beam geometry of the X-ray beam; generating FFS control data for the recording of the projection image, wherein the FFS control data either (i) causes FFS deflection that is reduced relative to the specified FFS deflection for the recording of the projection image in the event of the cross-radiation being present for the recording of the projection image or (ii) causes the specified FFS deflection otherwise; repeating the simulating, the determining and the generating FFS control data for at least one further recording of a projection image; and generating a control data set including the FFS control data, for controlling an FFS X-ray system.

System and method of more efficiently identifying and segmenting anatomical structures from 2-D cone beam CT images, rather than from reconstructed 3-D volume data, is disclosed. An image processing system receives, from a cone beam CT device, at least one 2-D x-ray image, which is part of a set of x-ray images taken from a 360 degree scan of a patient with a cone beam CT imaging device. The x-ray image contains at least one anatomical structure such as vertebral bodies to be segmented. The received x-ray is then analyzed in order to identify and segment the anatomical structure contained in the x-ray image based on a stored model of anatomical structures. Once the 360 degree spin is completed, a 3-D image volume from the x-ray image set is created. The identification and segmentation information derived from the x-ray image is then added to the created 3-D image volume.

A method of determining the imaging arm's optimal 3-dimensional position and orientation for taking images of a body implant or body structure such as vertebral body is provided. Test images of vertebral body of interest are initially taken by the user and are received by the imaging device. The test images typically include AP and lateral x-ray images of the vertebral body. From the test images, the vertebral body is segmented. A 3-dimensional model of the vertebral body is then aligned against the corresponding vertebral body in the test images. Based on the alignment, a 3-dimensional position and orientation of the imaging arm for taking optimal A-P and lateral x-ray images are determined based on the aligned 3-dimensional model. The present method eliminates the need to repeatedly take fluoro shots manually to find the optimum images to thereby reduce procedural time, x-ray exposure and procedure costs.

This X-ray imaging apparatus (100) is equipped with an imaging control unit (6) that controls an X-ray source (1) so that X-ray irradiation is performed by a subset of electron emission units (12) selected from a plurality of electron emission units (12), for each imaging angle (40) when acquiring a plurality of projection image data (50), and also control a selection of a second electron emission unit (42) different from a first electron emission unit (41) used in immediately preceding X-ray irradiation when performing X-ray irradiation.

Provided are an X-ray CT apparatus and a control method of the same capable of reducing focal blur even in a case where an X-ray focal spot is moved. There is provided an X-ray CT apparatus including: an X-ray tube including a cathode that generates an electron beam and an anode that collides with the electron beam to radiate an X-ray; an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-ray; a rotating plate configured to rotate the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector around a subject; and an image processing unit configured to generate a tomographic image of the subject based on projection data acquired by the X-ray detector during rotation of the rotating plate, in which the cathode, which has a plurality of electron sources that are arranged within a plane facing the anode and emit the electron beam, is configured such that a position of an electron source, from which an electron beam is to be emitted, is selectively controlled based on a target position of an X-ray focal spot in the anode.

In some embodiments, an apparatus for generating a radiation, such as X-rays, includes an emitter, such as an electron gun, of a beam of charged particles; a target, such as an anode, extending a length along a target trajectory that includes at least a curved segment and including a material adapted to emit a radiation, such as X-rays, upon the charged particles impinging on the target; and a scan tube attached to the emitter and enclosing the target. The target has multiple portions, some of which being disposed closer to the emitter than other portions. The apparatus may further include two control components. The first component includes one or more magnets for guiding the charged particle along the target without impinging on it; the second component includes one or more magnets for deflecting the guided charged particles to impinge upon the target at different locations over time.

A method of determining the imaging arm's optimal 3-dimensional position and orientation for taking images of a body implant or body structure such as vertebral body is provided. Test images of vertebral body of interest are initially taken by the user and are received by the imaging device. The test images typically include AP and lateral x-ray images of the vertebral body. From the test images, the vertebral body is segmented. A 3-dimensional model of the vertebral body is then aligned against the corresponding vertebral body in the test images. Based on the alignment, a 3-dimensional position and orientation of the imaging arm for taking optimal A-P and lateral x-ray images are determined based on the aligned 3-dimensional model. The present method eliminates the need to repeatedly take fluoro shots manually to find the optimum images to thereby reduce procedural time, x-ray exposure and procedure costs.

In some embodiments, an apparatus for generating a radiation, such as X-rays, includes an emitter, such as an electron gun, of a beam of charged particles; a target, such as an anode, extending a length along a target trajectory that includes at least a curved segment and including a material adapted to emit a radiation, such as X-rays, upon the charged particles impinging on the target; and a scan tube attached to the emitter and enclosing the target. The target has multiple portions, some of which being disposed closer to the emitter than other portions. The apparatus may further include two control components. The first component includes one or more magnets for guiding the charged particle along the target without impinging on it; the second component includes one or more magnets for deflecting the guided charged particles to impinge upon the target at different locations over time.