Patent ID: 6041097
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A diagnostic imaging apparatus comprising:a gantry which supports an x-ray tube and a flat plate x-ray detector for rotation about an examination region with the x-ray tube and the flat plate detector disposed across the examination region from each other;a motor assembly for selectively rotating the x-ray tube and the flat plate detector around the examination region;a read out device for reading out a two dimensional array of data values from the flat plate detector, each data value being indicative of radiation attenuation along one of a plurality of diverging rays extending between the x-ray source and a sub-region of the flat plate detector;a reconstruction processor for reconstructing the data values read out during rotation of the x-ray tube and the flat plate detector around the examination region into a volumetric image representation;a video processor for (i) formatting the read out data values into appropriate format for display on a video monitor as a projection image and (ii) reformatting selective portions of volumetric image data into appropriate format for display on the monitor; andan optical reset device for saturating the flat plate x-ray detector after data values have been read out of the flat plate x-ray detector by the read out device.