Systems and methods for tissue discrimination are disclosed. The systems and the methods utilize coded x-ray beams. Transmission signals and scatter signals are utilized to determine tissue properties.

The present approach relates to generating one or both of a failure prediction indication for an X-ray tube or a remaining useful life estimate for the X-ray tube. In one implementation, a complexity of a regression model is selected based on the operating points utilized by an imaging system for the X-ray tube, where the regression model estimates coefficients utilized by a static tube model in estimating health (e.g., thickness) of the electron emitter of the X-ray tube, which in turn may be used in predicting remaining useful life of an electron emitter of the X-ray tube. In another implementation, replacement of an X-ray tube or a component of a filament drive circuit coupled to the X-ray tube may be detected.

An X-ray CT apparatus enables accurate determination of a scan end position and includes a rotating plate that rotates an X-ray source and an X-ray detector, oppositely provided to the X-ray source, to detect the X-ray transmitted through and around the subject. A bed for the subject moves with respect to the rotating plate, to change a scan position; and a tomographic image is generated in the scan position based on output from the X-ray detector. A storage holds a region ratio threshold value previously determined in a scan end position. A region extraction unit extracts a predetermined region from the tomographic image generated during scanning; and a comparison determination unit determines whether or not the scan position has arrived at the scan end position based on comparison between a region ratio calculated by using the region and the threshold value.

An X-ray fluoroscopic imaging apparatus includes first slide mechanism is disposed at a lower end of a support column, and a second slide mechanism is disposed at an upper end of the support column. When an operation unit has received an instruction, a controller performs a first mode in which the X-ray generator is moved in the predetermined direction by operating the second slide mechanism to move an X-ray support arm in the predetermined direction with respect to the upper end of the support column. Thereafter, the controller performs a second mode of operating the first slide mechanism to move the lower end of the support column at a predetermined first speed in the predetermined direction with respect to a support column support arm, while operating the second slide mechanism to move the X-ray support arm at a second speed smaller than the first speed in an opposite direction.

Phase contrast and dark-field X-ray imaging enable imaging of objects that absorb or reflect very little X-ray light. Disclosed is a method and systems for performing coded-mask-based multi-contrast imaging (CMMI). The method includes providing radiation to a coded mask that has a known phase and absorption profile according to a pre-determined pattern. The radiation is then impingent upon a sample, and the radiation is detected to perform phase-reconstruction and image processing. The method and associated systems allow for the use of maximum-likelihood and machine learning methods for reconstruction images of the sample from the detected radiation.

A method for determining a lesion location in a patient for biopsy along X, Y, and Z axes. The method includes positioning the patient in an examination device to collect examination images showing the lesion. The method includes positioning the patient in a biopsy device configured for holding the patient during the biopsy and collecting a biopsy image of the patient using the biopsy device. The method includes analyzing the biopsy image to determine a measured x-coordinate and a measured y-coordinate of the lesion along the X and Y axes, respectively, analyzing the examination images to determine a calculated z-coordinate along the Z axis of the lesion, and determining the location of the lesion based on the measured x-coordinate and the measured y-coordinate from the biopsy image and the calculated z-coordinate determined from the one or more examination images.

At least two first offset images having different accumulation times are acquired in a state in which radiation is not emitted. A pixel signal is read in an accumulation time shorter than that of a plurality of first offset images or using binning reading in a state in which the radiation is not emitted to acquire a second offset image. A reference image is acquired by reading the pixel signal using the same reading method as that used for the second offset image and in a state in which gates of the pixels are turned off. A difference between the two first offset images having different accumulation times is calculated to acquire a first dark current distribution image. A difference between the second offset image and the reference image is calculated to acquire a second dark current distribution image. It is determined whether or not reacquisition is needed on the basis of a correction error of a corrected image obtained by correcting the first dark current distribution image on the basis of the second dark current distribution image.

Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed closely to the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader (HDR-brachytherapy) or manually (LDR- and PDR-brachytherapy). For HDR-brachytherapy, the accuracy of this placement is calibrated using an external reference system that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured at locations around the source. At each of these locations, a scintillator produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals.

A cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) method uses a continuous beam and an area detector to carry out fast acquisition of projection data. The acquired projection data are then reconstructed to generate tomographic images. In acquisition of the projection data, a radiation source continuously irradiates a subject with a cone beam of radiation from a plurality of angles and an area detector continuously reads out data. A CBCT system including a source operable to produce a cone beam of radiation and an area detector movable in synchrony with the source to rapidly acquire projection data for CBCT construction is also disclosed.

An imaging system includes a gantry and a compression system coupled to the gantry and rotatable relative to the gantry. The compression system includes a compression paddle, a support platform, and an x-ray receptor disposed below the support platform. An x-ray tube head is coupled to the gantry and includes an x-ray source and a light source. The x-ray tube head is independently rotatable relative to the gantry and the compression system. The light source is configured to generate at least a first light type and a different second light type directed towards the support platform. The second light type being mapped to an x-ray field of the x-ray source, and the generated second light type is based on a tilt angle of the x-ray tube head relative to the support platform and a compression force of the compression paddle.