The present invention relates to X-ray imaging. In order to improve the throughout of an X-ray imaging system, an apparatus is provided for managing an imaging workflow of an X-ray imaging system for an upcoming imaging sequence. The apparatus comprises an input unit, a processing unit, and an output unit. The input unit is configured to receive data including (i) a current temperature profile of an X-ray anode inside a tube housing of the X-ray imaging system, (ii) information about a heat capability and a cooling rate of the X-ray anode, (iii) information about a heat capability and a cooling rate of the tube housing, (iv) information about a current operation condition of the X-ray imaging system, and (v) information about a planned operation condition of the X-ray imaging system for the upcoming imaging sequence, wherein the planned operation condition comprises a sequence of planned scans, each planned scan being associated with a respective set of planned scan parameters. The processing unit is configured to determine, based on the received data, an estimated temperature profile of the X-ray anode under the planned operation condition for the upcoming imaging sequence. The processing unit is configured to compare the estimated temperature profile of the X-ray anode with a maximum allowable hardware temperature of the X-ray anode. In response to the determination that the estimated temperature profile is greater than or equal to the maximum allowable hardware temperature of the X-ray anode, the processing unit is configured to modify the planned operation condition such that the estimated temperature profile of the X-ray anode under the modified planned operation condition is less than the maximum allowable hardware temperature of the X-ray anode. The modified planned operation condition comprises a change of the sequence of planned scans and/or a change of the set of planned scan parameters for one or more planned scans. The output unit is configured to provide the modified planned operation condition for the upcoming imaging sequence.

The present invention relates to X-ray imaging. In order to improve the throughout of an X-ray imaging system, an apparatus is provided for managing an imaging workflow of an X-ray imaging system for an upcoming imaging sequence. The apparatus comprises an input unit, a processing unit, and an output unit. The input unit is configured to receive data including (i) a current temperature profile of an X-ray anode inside a tube housing of the X-ray imaging system, (ii) information about a heat capability and a cooling rate of the X-ray anode, (iii) information about a heat capability and a cooling rate of the tube housing, (iv) information about a current operation condition of the X-ray imaging system, and (v) information about a planned operation condition of the X-ray imaging system for the upcoming imaging sequence, wherein the planned operation condition comprises a sequence of planned scans, each planned scan being associated with a respective set of planned scan parameters. The processing unit is configured to determine, based on the received data, an estimated temperature profile of the X-ray anode under the planned operation condition for the upcoming imaging sequence. The processing unit is configured to compare the estimated temperature profile of the X-ray anode with a maximum allowable hardware temperature of the X-ray anode. In response to the determination that the estimated temperature profile is greater than or equal to the maximum allowable hardware temperature of the X-ray anode, the processing unit is configured to modify the planned operation condition such that the estimated temperature profile of the X-ray anode under the modified planned operation condition is less than the maximum allowable hardware temperature of the X-ray anode. The modified planned operation condition comprises a change of the sequence of planned scans and/or a change of the set of planned scan parameters for one or more planned scans. The output unit is configured to provide the modified planned operation condition for the upcoming imaging sequence.

A method is provided for compensating the settings of a pulsed X-ray system. A current, voltage and intended pulse width settings are selected for the X-ray pulses to be provided. Then, the selected pulse width setting for the set voltage and tube current is compensated, in accordance with stored normalized value or values at a predetermined temperature, taking into account the environmental temperature of the electric circuitry of the X-ray tank. The normalized values are obtained in a calibration step from the actual or effective pulse width and the difference thereof with the intended width, normalizing said value with the temperature of the circuitry providing pulsed voltage and current to the source.

A method is provided for compensating the settings of a pulsed X-ray system. A current, voltage and intended pulse width settings are selected for the X-ray pulses to be provided. Then, the selected pulse width setting for the set voltage and tube current is compensated, in accordance with stored normalized value or values at a predetermined temperature, taking into account the environmental temperature of the electric circuitry of the X-ray tank. The normalized values are obtained in a calibration step from the actual or effective pulse width and the difference thereof with the intended width, normalizing said value with the temperature of the circuitry providing pulsed voltage and current to the source.

A method and apparatus for preheating a bulb tube of medical equipment is provided. The method includes: selecting a scanning condition which satisfies an equipment calibration condition, as a preheating condition for the bulb tube, from scanning conditions used by the medical equipment; selecting a new preheating condition if an accumulated thermal capacity according to selected preheating conditions is smaller than a target thermal capacity, until the accumulated thermal capacity reaches the target thermal capacity, wherein the accumulated thermal capacity indicates a sum of a thermal capacity estimated to be generated when the bulb tube is preheated according to the selected preheating conditions, and the target thermal capacity indicates a thermal capacity required to complete the preheating of the bulb tube; preheating the bulb tube according to selected preheating conditions and executing an equipment calibration corresponding to each of the preheating conditions during the bulb tube preheating.

A method and apparatus for preheating a bulb tube of medical equipment is provided. The method includes: selecting a scanning condition which satisfies an equipment calibration condition, as a preheating condition for the bulb tube, from scanning conditions used by the medical equipment; selecting a new preheating condition if an accumulated thermal capacity according to selected preheating conditions is smaller than a target thermal capacity, until the accumulated thermal capacity reaches the target thermal capacity, wherein the accumulated thermal capacity indicates a sum of a thermal capacity estimated to be generated when the bulb tube is preheated according to the selected preheating conditions, and the target thermal capacity indicates a thermal capacity required to complete the preheating of the bulb tube; preheating the bulb tube according to selected preheating conditions and executing an equipment calibration corresponding to each of the preheating conditions during the bulb tube preheating.

An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray tube including an electron emitter including a filament, a storage to store current information acquired in advance, in which a total supply time of a current to be supplied to the filament is associated with an appropriate current value to be supplied to the filament, and a controller configured or programmed to perform a control to adjust the current to be supplied to the filament based on the current information after a first total supply time as a predetermined total supply time.

An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray tube including an electron emitter including a filament, a storage to store current information acquired in advance, in which a total supply time of a current to be supplied to the filament is associated with an appropriate current value to be supplied to the filament, and a controller configured or programmed to perform a control to adjust the current to be supplied to the filament based on the current information after a first total supply time as a predetermined total supply time.

The present invention relates to X-ray imaging. In order to improve the throughout of an X-ray imaging system, an apparatus is provided for managing an imaging workflow of an X-ray imaging system for an upcoming imaging sequence. The apparatus comprises an input unit, a processing unit, and an output unit. The input unit is configured to receive data including (i) a current temperature profile of an X-ray anode inside a tube housing of the X-ray imaging system, (ii) information about a heat capability and a cooling rate of the X-ray anode, (iii) information about a heat capability and a cooling rate of the tube housing, (iv) information about a current operation condition of the X-ray imaging system, and (v) information about a planned operation condition of the X-ray imaging system for the upcoming imaging sequence, wherein the planned operation condition comprises a sequence of planned scans, each planned scan being associated with a respective set of planned scan parameters. The processing unit is configured to determine, based on the received data, an estimated temperature profile of the X-ray anode under the planned operation condition for the upcoming imaging sequence. The processing unit is configured to compare the estimated temperature profile of the X-ray anode with a maximum allowable hardware temperature of the X-ray anode. In response to the determination that the estimated temperature profile is greater than or equal to the maximum allowable hardware temperature of the X-ray anode, the processing unit is configured to modify the planned operation condition such that the estimated temperature profile of the X-ray anode under the modified planned operation condition is less than the maximum allowable hardware temperature of the X-ray anode. The modified planned operation condition comprises a change of the sequence of planned scans and/or a change of the set of planned scan parameters for one or more planned scans. The output unit is configured to provide the modified planned operation condition for the upcoming imaging sequence.

The present invention relates to X-ray imaging. In order to improve the throughout of an X-ray imaging system, an apparatus is provided for managing an imaging workflow of an X-ray imaging system for an upcoming imaging sequence. The apparatus comprises an input unit, a processing unit, and an output unit. The input unit is configured to receive data including (i) a current temperature profile of an X-ray anode inside a tube housing of the X-ray imaging system, (ii) information about a heat capability and a cooling rate of the X-ray anode, (iii) information about a heat capability and a cooling rate of the tube housing, (iv) information about a current operation condition of the X-ray imaging system, and (v) information about a planned operation condition of the X-ray imaging system for the upcoming imaging sequence, wherein the planned operation condition comprises a sequence of planned scans, each planned scan being associated with a respective set of planned scan parameters. The processing unit is configured to determine, based on the received data, an estimated temperature profile of the X-ray anode under the planned operation condition for the upcoming imaging sequence. The processing unit is configured to compare the estimated temperature profile of the X-ray anode with a maximum allowable hardware temperature of the X-ray anode. In response to the determination that the estimated temperature profile is greater than or equal to the maximum allowable hardware temperature of the X-ray anode, the processing unit is configured to modify the planned operation condition such that the estimated temperature profile of the X-ray anode under the modified planned operation condition is less than the maximum allowable hardware temperature of the X-ray anode. The modified planned operation condition comprises a change of the sequence of planned scans and/or a change of the set of planned scan parameters for one or more planned scans. The output unit is configured to provide the modified planned operation condition for the upcoming imaging sequence.