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.

Disclosed is a ceramic shielding apparatus including at least one shield made of a ceramic material and provided inside or outside an X-ray tube to shield radiation; and supports configured to support the shield. According to such a configuration, disadvantages of conventional shielding materials such as lead can be addressed, so that a shield apparatus having excellent shielding properties while being harmless to the human body can be provided.

An X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an X-ray tube including a target configured to generate X-rays in response to emission of electrons thereto, a plurality of filaments configured to emit electrons into substantially the same position on the target, and a grid used in common among the plurality of filaments; intermediate potential setting circuitry configured to set intermediate potential in a position between the plurality of filaments and the target by using the grid; and filament potential controlling circuitry configured to change one or more filaments selected from among the plurality of filaments to emit the electrons to the target, by controlling potential levels of the plurality of filaments with respect to the intermediate potential for each filament, in conjunction with switching of X-ray tube voltage.

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.

A radiographic imaging system includes a radiographic imager, an optical imager and an optical imaging condition setter. The radiographic imager detects radiation emitted from a radiation source and passed through a subject to take a radiograph. The optical imager takes an optical image of a region including a region to which the radiation is emitted from the radiation source. The optical imaging condition setter sets an optical imaging condition of the optical imager based on a radiographic imaging condition for the radiograph.

Versatile, multimode radiographic systems and methods utilize portable energy emitters and radiation-tracking detectors. The x-ray emitter may include a digital camera and, optionally, a thermal imaging camera to provide for fluoroscopic, digital, and infrared thermal imagery of a patient for the purpose of aiding diagnostic, surgical, and non-surgical interventions. The emitter may cooperative with an inventive x-ray capture stage that automatically pivots, orients and aligns itself with the emitter to maximize exposure quality and safety. The combined system uses less power, corrects for any skew or perspective in the emission, allows the subject to remain in place, and allows the surgeon's workflow to continue uninterrupted.

Dual energy x-ray images may be generated by combining higher and lower energy images of a subject's tissue region with weighting factor values determined based on thicknesses of different tissue types corresponding to the imaged tissue region. Different weighting factor values may be applied to different pixels of the higher or lower energy images. Weighting factor values may, for example, be retrieved from memory, calculated, interpolated and/or extrapolated or the like. The higher and lower energy images and the weighting factor values may be linearly combined to generate a dual energy x-ray image. In some embodiments the weighting factor values may increase contrast of a tissue type.

A specimen radiography system may include a controller and a cabinet. The cabinet may include an x-ray source, an x-ray detector, and a specimen drawer disposed between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector. The specimen drawer may be automatically positionable along a vertical axis between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector.

A high dose output, through transmission and reflective target x-ray tube and methods of use includes, in general an x-ray tube for accelerating electrons under a high voltage potential having an evacuated high voltage housing, a hemispherical shaped through and reflective transmission target anode disposed in said housing, a cathode structure to deflect the electrons toward the hemispherical anode disposed in said housing, a filament located in the geometric center of the anode hemisphere disposed in said housing, a power supply connected to said cathode to provide accelerating voltage to the electrons.