Abstract:
The present invention proposes a high speed radiographic system for use with megavolt linear-accelerator pulsed x-ray sources to produce video images of large-area fields. A linear accelerator is positioned above a field of view. X-ray photons are directed through an object of interest traveling and/or colliding within the field of view. A large area scintillator system, either truly continuous or in large continuous adjacent pieces, converts the x-ray photons that pass through the object into visible light, and an arrangement of cameras, focused at that plane, where each camera sees a sub-area of the entire scintillator, and these sub-areas overlap somewhat to cover the entire scintillator. The resulting images generated in each camera are synchronized to produce one contiguous, synchronized stream of images.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Radiography is the use of ionizing radiation (such as x-rays) to create internal images of an object or body. By using the physical properties of the irradiating particles, an image can be developed of the target that displays areas of various densities and compositions. Applications of radiography include medical radiography and industrial radiography. 
     Industrial radiography is a technique used to inspect materials for hidden flaws by using the ability of energetic x-rays and gamma rays to penetrate various materials. A typical configuration for a radiographic device includes a radiation source for emitting the radiation (e.g., x-rays) used for imaging and one or more radiation detectors corresponding to the radiation source for collecting incoming radiation after passing through the target volume. The particles collected by the detectors are subsequently used to generate a display (i.e., one or more images) of the targeted volume. 
     Generally, the detectors used for x-rays are usually of the scale of the size of the object being imaged. These detectors often comprise electronic circuits in the form of amorphous-silicon (a-Si) thin film transistor (TFT)/photodiode arrays (converters) coupled to radiation scintillators. Scintillators are used as detectors of radiation due to their inherent capability of converting incident radiation into lower-energy photons, e.g., visible light. 
     A natural extension of industrial radiography techniques for generating discrete images is using the same configuration in the generation of multiple images rapidly in a sequence, which when combined chronologically, can be viewed as a video. Conventionally, flat panel x-ray detectors are popular in industrial radiography applications due to their lower space requirements and generally adequate capabilities. However, flat panel detectors are often limited in frame rate and maximum area. Moreover, due to electrical connections along borders of the rectangular active area, they cannot be configured together to tesselate a plane without gaps between rectangular areas for larger fields of view (e.g., one or more square meters). For these reasons, flat panel detectors are unsuited for high speed radiography of large fields of view. 
     Another possible solution replaces flat panel x-ray detectors in favor of discrete-channel x-ray detectors. Discrete channel x-ray detectors are commercially available that operate at very high frame rates but are impractically expensive for large areas. Discrete channel detectors can be extremely fast, and can have very good x-ray detection efficiency, but with electronics required for each pixel the cost becomes prohibitively high for square meters of coverage 
     Yet another x-ray imaging system uses vacuum tube image intensifiers to improve light yield from x-ray input to optical output, but like discrete-channel x-ray detectors, they are not practical for larger fields of view. Single video camera systems are limited in the number of pixels per frame, and therefore the detector is essentially limited by the number of pixels in the camera system. One camera can image a large area detector, but the pixels will be larger, dividing the large area into the same number of pixels in the camera sensor. Commercially available image intensifiers are inherently fast enough for high speed video applications, but are inefficient detectors at megavolt energies and cannot be made large enough to cover larger areas either. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     An embodiment of the present invention proposes a high speed radiographic system for use with megavolt linear-accelerator pulsed x-ray sources to provide video images of large-area fields. A linear accelerator is positioned above a field of view. X-ray photons are directed through an object or objects of interest traveling and/or colliding within the field of view. A large area scintillator system, either truly continuous or in large continuous adjacent pieces, converts the x-ray photons that pass through the object into visible light, and an arrangement of cameras are focused at that plane so that each camera sees a sub-area of the entire scintillator, and these sub-areas overlap somewhat to cover the entire scintillator. The frame rate of the produced video images is coherent with the pulse rate of the linear accelerator, and the field-of-view and spatial sampling of the generated images are determined by the number of cameras used and the magnification of the lens system that couples each camera to a portion of the field. In a further embodiment, the light output from the scintillator system is reflected by a mirror at an angle to the cameras, and the cameras record the reflection, thereby minimizing any radiation damage to the cameras due to incident radiation. In still further embodiments, the cameras are arranged in a two-dimensional array with fields of view that overlap each other. The resulting images generated in each camera are synchronized to produce one contiguous, synchronized stream of images. 
     In another embodiment, if radiation damage to the cameras is irrelevant, the camera array can be mounted directly under the detector at a closer working distance, which can improve the optical efficiency and reduce the overall size of the system. Depending on required field size and pixel spacing in the field, the camera array can be changed. Rectangular sensors in the cameras will work best with a rectangular array, rather than a hexagonal array for circular sensors. 
     In still further embodiments, a small-diameter optical image intensifier, such as are used in night-vision systems, may be added between each lens and its camera to increase the light hitting the camera sensor. Since the spacing between cameras is larger than the size of the lens and camera, this allows the night-vision apparatus to be fit on the camera without interference with neighboring cameras. So long as the number of photons or electrons at each interface in the chain (foil, scintillator, intensifier, sensor) is greater than the original number of x-ray photons stopped at the beginning of the chain, there will not be any degradation in the statistical signal to noise ratio. However, increasing the optical power into the camera sensor may be needed if the electronic noise in the sensor is too high compared with the signal produced by the relatively weak light hitting it. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and form a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the embodiments: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of the bottom view of an exemplary digital imaging system, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the side view of an exemplary digital imaging system, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a synchronizing system for an exemplary digital imaging system, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of an exemplary particle sequence, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of a process for generating an X-ray video, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary image acquisition device, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary computing environment, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the claimed subject matter, a method and system for the use of a radiographic system, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the claimed subject matter will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit these embodiments. On the contrary, the claimed subject matter is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. 
     Furthermore, in the following detailed descriptions of embodiments of the claimed subject matter, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. However, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to obscure unnecessarily aspects of the claimed subject matter. 
     Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits that can be performed on computer memory. These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A procedure, computer generated step, logic block, process, etc., is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. 
     It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present claimed subject matter, discussions utilizing terms such as “storing,” “creating,” “protecting,” “receiving,” “encrypting,” “decrypting,” “destroying,” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system or integrated circuit, or similar electronic computing device, including an embedded system, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system&#39;s registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide a method and system for cost-effective, high speed radiography for use with megavolt linear-accelerator pulsed x-ray sources to produce video images of large-area fields. 
     Digital Imaging System 
       FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of the side view of an exemplary digital imaging system  100 , in accordance with various embodiments of the claimed subject matter. Digital imaging systems such as those depicted in  FIG. 1  may include one or more radiation sources  101 . While embodiments are described herein to include a megavolt (MV) radiation source, it is to be understood that embodiments are well suited to alternate radiation sources, such as kilovolt (kV) radiation sources. In alternate embodiments, one or more of the radiation sources may be operable to generate both kV and MV radiation. According to some embodiments, the radiation source  101  may be implemented as a linear accelerator capable of generating a beam of x-ray particles at a given frequency (i.e., pulse rate). Other radiation sources may include alternate pulsed MV sources such as betatrons, and even non-pulsed (DC) x-ray sources. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , digital imaging system  100  includes a detector  103  positioned for the reception of the x-ray beams generated by the radiation source  101 . According to some embodiments, the detector  103  may include a converter  105  capable of converting a substantial fraction of the x-ray energy into energetic electrons. The detector  103  may also include a scintillating screen  107  in proximate contact with the converter  105 , and which emits light photons from the converted electron kinetic energy, usually in the visible light region of wavelength, that can be imaged by a plurality of image acquisition devices  111  (still or video). 
     In some embodiments, the detector  103 , image acquisition devices  111  and reflective surface  115  may be housed in a contained volume  117 , such as a shelter or pit with a upper surface  119 . According to such embodiments, the imaging subject  109  may be configured to travel over the surface  119  of the contained area  117 , passing through an x-ray beam from a linear-accelerator source  101  above the subject  109  to a rectangular area detector  103  housed in the contained area  117  below the vehicle. The ensemble of cameras  111  (which may consist of a single camera, according to various embodiments) produces image data from the light emitted from the detector side away from the vehicle  109 . In still further embodiments, a second object—such as a stationary target or movement-controlled target—may be positioned either over a portion of the projected beam or at some pre-defined distance out of the projected beam so as to facilitate or simulate a collision with the imaging subject  109 . The resultant impact and damage to the imaging subject  109  within the projected beam can therefore be imaged, either as a sequence of discrete images or a video sequence. 
     According to some embodiments, the image acquisition devices  111  may be implemented as a plurality of cameras, arranged in a two dimensional array. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the digital imaging system  100  also includes an optical system. As presented, the optical system is positioned between the scintillator  107  and image acquisition devices  111 , and may include a imaging lens  113  on each image acquisition device  111 . In some embodiments, the image acquisition devices  111  may be positioned to capture, through the imaging lens  113 , images of the light output from the scintillator  107  resulting from the reception of the irradiating particles from the radiation source  101 . In an embodiment, the image acquisition devices  111  may be positioned to to receive the light output directly (e.g., in-line with the radiation source  101  and scintillator  107 . In alternate embodiments, the image acquisition devices  111  may be positioned such that the image acquisition devices  111  are not directly within the beam of irradiating particles projected by the radiation source  101 . In such (optional) embodiments, a reflective surface  115 —such as a mirror—may be positioned so as to reflect the light photons produced by the detector  103 , with the image acquisition devices  111  capturing images of the reflection in the reflective surface  115 , thereby avoiding any potential damage to the image acquisition devices  111  resulting from incidental absorption of particles from the irradiating beam. 
     In further embodiments, imaging lens  113  may be configured to focus on the detector  103  or the reflection of the detector  103  at a pre-defined magnification. Additionally, imaging lens  113  may include optical image intensifiers, such as night-vision apparatuses (not shown) to increase the amount of light received by the image acquisition device  111 . As spacing between each image acquisition device  111  will typically be larger than the sizes of the lens and camera, image intensifying apparatuses may be fit on the camera without interference to neighboring cameras. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of the bottom view of an exemplary digital imaging system, such as the digital imaging system  100  described above and depicted in  FIG. 1 . As presented in  FIG. 2 , digital imaging system  100  includes a radiation detector  103 , image acquisition devices  111  and an optical system (presented herein as imaging lenses  113 ). According to some embodiments, the image acquisition devices  111  may be arranged in a two dimensional array. In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the image acquisition devices  111  are presented in a two-dimensional array of different values according to varying axes. For example, the image acquisition devices  111  depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are arranged in a 3×4 arrangement (3 rows, 4 columns). The image acquisition devices  111  are thus depicted as 3 image acquisition devices (cameras) in the side view of the system presented in  FIG. 1 , and 4 image acquisition devices (cameras) in the bottom view of the system presented in  FIG. 2 . 
     While the claimed subject matter is described in a 3×4 arrangement, it is to be understood that such a depiction is solely for exemplary purposes and that the claimed subject matter is in no way limited to such arrangements. Indeed, the claimed subject matter is well suited to alternate embodiments that include arrangements with a varying number of image acquisition devices along either the horizontal and/or vertical axes. In still further embodiments, the number of image acquisition devices along either the horizontal and/or vertical axes is scalable between usages to fit particular needs (e.g., larger or smaller fields of view). For example, the number and/or arrangement of the image acquisition devices may be modified by adding or removing image acquisition devices between usages. 
     Timing and Synchronization System 
     According to various aspects of the claimed subject matter, the images generated by the plurality of image acquisition devices (e.g., cameras  111 ) are combined and processed to produce synchronized, large-field images (and/or a video). Synchronization may be performed with a timing system which includes one or more processing devices.  FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary timing system  300  which, when used with the imaging systems described above with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2  (e.g., imaging system  100 ,  200 ), can be configured to perform synchronization of a plurality of generated images to produce a large field image or video. As depicted in  FIG. 3 , a plurality of image acquisition devices  303  generates images of emitted photons from an x-ray detector (not shown). The emitted photons, as described above, are generated by the reception of x-ray particles in the x-ray detector from an x-ray beam projected by an x-ray source ( 301 ) that have travelled through an imaging subject (not shown). 
     According to some embodiments, the images generated in the plurality of image acquisition devices  303  are produced by receiving emitted light photons in sensors disposed within the image acquisition devices  303 . Optical systems  307  including camera lens and/or night vision apparatuses may be used to direct, focus, and/or modify the number of photons received by the sensor in the image acquisition devices. In some embodiments, the generated images may be stored in internal memory devices  305  disposed in each image acquisition device  303 . As presented in  FIG. 3 , the memory devices  305  of the image acquisition devices  303  may be communicatively captured in imaging device  309 . According to some embodiments, imaging device  309  may be implemented as a computing system either proximately or remotely located with respect to the image acquisition devices  303 , and communicatively coupled to the image acquisition devices  303  via a bilateral connection (e.g., a bus) in a data network. As depicted in  FIG. 3 , image data stored in the memory devices  305  of the imaging acquisition devices  303  may be transmitted to the imaging device  309  via a camera data and control bus  317 . According to an embodiment, the imaging computer may download the stored images from the memory devices  305  once an imaging session is completed. For example, for an imaging session which comprises one or more simulated collisions, the stored image data may be downloaded once the one or more simulated collisions are completed. In alternate embodiments, the imaging computer may receive the images as they are generated in the image acquisition devices  303  in real-time (or approximate real-time). In still further embodiments, the imaging computer may download the image data from the memory devices  305  according to a (pre-defined) schedule. 
     In one embodiment, the schedule may be maintained and administered via a timing device  311  communicatively coupled to both the imaging device  309 , the image acquisition devices  303 . In still further embodiments, the timing device  311  may also be communicatively coupled to an accelerator control and modulator system  313 , operable to control the generation of the x-ray beams in the linear accelerator x-ray source  301 . According to such implementations, the timing device  311  may be operable to coordinate and synchronize timing of events within the imaging system depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described above. Thus, for example, the timing device  311  may be operable to send data to the accelerator control and modulator system  313  to begin (or end) generation of an x-ray beam in linear accelerator x-ray source  301 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , this data may be transmitted through a modulator control and timing bus  319  communicatively coupling the timing device  311  with the accelerator control and modulator system  313 . The timing device  311  then (either immediately, upon user command, or after a pre-defined period of time) sends instructions to the image acquisition devices  303  to begin generating images from received light photons generated from the x-ray beam produced by the linear accelerator x-ray source  301 . 
     In one embodiment, the instructions to the image acquisition devices  303  may be delivered via a camera synchronization bus  317 . The image acquisition devices  303  may generate images continuously, based on the characteristics of the particular image acquisition device, or may generate images at pre-timed intervals. According to an embodiment, two or more of the image acquisition devices may be instructed, via the timing device  311 , to generate images simultaneously. In further embodiments, each generated image is individually time stamped, (e.g., internally by the image acquisition device  303 ). According to still further embodiments, timing device  311  is also operable to transmit data to imaging device  309  to begin downloading of image data stored in memory devices  305  in the image acquisition devices  303  (e.g., when image acquisition is stopped or paused) or end downloading of the image data (e.g., when image acquisition begins or resumes). 
     Once the image data is received in the imaging device  309 , the generated images from the image acquisition devices  303  may be combined and synchronized. That is, generated images with equivalent time stamps or other such imputed chronological association may be combined, with redundancies in the generated images due to overlapping fields of view eliminated or reduced, thereby generating a single contiguous large field image per time unit. Each image acquisition device  303  may be mapped specifically to a portion of the x-ray detector. The acquired images that contain the portions of the x-ray detector corresponding to multiple image acquisition devices  303  (e.g., overlapping portions) may, in such instances, be resolved such that duplicates of overlapping portions are combined or removed from the synchronized image. The synchronized large field images can then be sequenced, chronologically, to produce a video of the x-ray images. 
     Detector Signal Sequence 
       FIG. 4  depicts an illustration of an image detector signal sequence  400 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The x-ray source  401  sends a beam of x-ray photons through an object  402 . X-ray photons  403  that are not absorbed by the object  402 , strike a layer of converting material  404 , which converts some of the x-ray energy into energetic electrons  405 . In some embodiments, the converter  404  may be implemented as an intensifying screen (or foil) of a suitable metallic material that is thick enough to stop some of the megavolt x-ray photons and thin enough to allow the resulting energetic electrons to escape in the forward direction. The unabsorbed photons and energetic electrons from this conversion then strike a layer of scintillating material  406 , that emits light  407  of an intensity related to the amount of x-rays absorbed by the foil and scintillator. Images of the emitted light are then produced by image acquisition devices  409 , either by receiving the emitted light photons in sensors located within the image acquisition devices or, optionally, via reflection of the emitted light in a reflected surface. 
       FIG. 5  depicts an example procedure  500  for generating large field x-ray images and videos with high speed image acquisition devices. Steps  501 - 511  describe exemplary steps of the process  500  in accordance with the various embodiments herein described. 
     At step  501 , a plurality of x-ray particles (photons) are generated. Generation of the x-ray particles may be performed in a linear accelerator x-ray source (e.g., linear accelerator X-ray Source  301  of  FIG. 3 ), and controlled by an accelerator control and modulator system (e.g., accelerator control and modulator system  313  of  FIG. 3 ). According to one aspect, generation of the x-ray particles may be initiated according to a schedule and/or based on user input, via a timing device (e.g., timing device  311  of  FIG. 3 ). In some embodiments, the x-ray particles comprise high energy (megavolt) x-rays 
     At step  503 , the (high energy) x-ray particles generated at step  501  are directed to an x-ray detector (e.g., x-ray detector  103  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The x-ray particles may, for example, be directed as a continuous beam of x-ray particles encompassing a field emanating from the x-ray source to the x-ray detector. At step  505 , an imaging subject is positioned within the field of emitted x-ray particles. In some embodiments, the subject may be positioned through controlled movement of the subject into (and/or through) the field of emitted x-ray particles. Alternately, the subject may be pre-positioned prior to the generation and emission of the x-ray particles and stationary during all or a portion of the x-ray particle emission. Alternately, the subject may be positioned by directing the subject to a designated point within the field of emitted x-ray particles. In still further embodiments, a collision between the imaging subject and a secondary object (e.g., either a stationary object or another controlled movement object) may be facilitated during step  505 . In some embodiments, the collision may be triggered within the field of emitted x-ray particles. Alternately, the collision may occur at a pre-defined distance outside the field of emitted x-ray particles. Movement of the imaging subject and/or the secondary object may be controlled according to various methods including, but not limited to: radio control; pre-programmed routes; and/or track, rail, cable or other such guidance systems. 
     At step  507 , the portion of the high energy x-ray particles emitted in step  501  that were not absorbed by the imaging subject at step  505  are received in the x-ray detector. Once received, a portion of the x-ray particles are converted into energetic electrons by a converter layer disposed within the x-ray detector. The actual amount of converted particles depends in part on the characteristics of the converter. The kinetic energy of the energetic electrons and the energy deposited from the x-ray photons not absorbed in the converter cause a scintillator layer in the detector to emit light photons at step  509 . At step  511 , one or more images are acquired of the emission of the light photons from the scintillator in the x-ray detector at step  509 . Image acquisition may be performed, for example, by receiving, in a sensor of an image acquisition device (such as a camera, or other image acquisition device  303  depicted in  FIG. 3  and described above). Subsequently, the acquired images may be stored (in an on-board memory device of the image acquisition device, for example) and downloaded to an imaging device (e.g., imaging device  309  in  FIG. 3 ). The imaging device may then synchronize acquired images from multiple image acquisition devices which correspond to equivalent times by combining the images and removing overlapping portions. In this manner, large field X-ray images and videos can be efficiently produced with high speed image acquisition devices without requiring prohibitively expensive equipment. 
     Exemplary Image Acquisition Device 
       FIG. 6  depicts an illustration of an exemplary image acquisition device  600  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Although specific components are disclosed in image acquisition device  600  it should be appreciated that such components are examples. That is, embodiments of the present invention are well suited to having various other components or variations of the components recited in image acquisition device  600 . It is appreciated that the components in image acquisition device  600  may operate with other components other than those presented, and that not all of the components of image acquisition device  600  may be required to achieve the goals of image acquisition device  600 . 
     In a typical embodiment, image acquisition device  600  includes sensor  603 , image signal processor (ISP)  605 , memory  607 , input module  609 , central processing unit (CPU)  611 , display  613 , communications bus  615 , and power source  616 . Power source  616  supplies power to image acquisition device  600  and may, for example, be a DC or AC power source. CPU  611  and the ISP  605  can also be integrated into a single integrated circuit die and CPU  611  and ISP  605  may share various resources, such as instruction logic, buffers, functional units and so on, or separate resources may be provided for image processing and general-purpose operations. Image acquisition device  600  can be implemented as, for example, a digital camera, webcam, video device (e.g., camcorder), or similar image/video acquisition devices capable of high-speed image acquisition. 
     Sensor  603  receives light via a lens  601  and converts the light received into a signal (e.g., digital or analog). According to some embodiments, lens  601  may be permanently attached to the image acquisition device  600 . Alternatively, lens  601  may be detachable and interchangeable with lens of other properties. These properties may include, for example, focal lengths, apertures and classifications. In typical embodiments, lens  601  may be constructed of glass, though alternate materials such as quartz or molded plastics may also be used. Sensor  603  may be any of a variety of optical sensors including, but not limited to, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) or charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors. Sensor  603  is coupled to communications bus  615  and may provide image data received over communications bus  615 . In further embodiments, sensor  603  includes light intensity sensing capability, and the image data received may include data corresponding to the determined intensity of the light in a scene or image. 
     Image signal processor (ISP)  605  is coupled to communications bus  615  and processes the data generated by sensor  603 . More specifically, image signal processor  605  processes data from sensor  602  for storing in memory  607 . For example, image signal processor  605  may compress and determine a file format for an image to be stored in within memory  607 . 
     The input module  609  allows the entry of user-input into image acquisition device  600  which may then, among other things, control the sampling of data by sensor  603  and subsequent processing by ISP  605 . Input module  609  may include, but is not limited to, navigation pads, keyboards (e.g., QWERTY), buttons, touch screen controls (e.g., via display  613 ) and the like. 
     The central processing unit (CPU)  611  receives commands via input module  609  and may control a variety of operations including, but not limited to, sampling and configuration of sensor  603 , processing by ISP  605 , and management (e.g., the addition, transfer, and removal) of images and/or video from memory  607 . 
     Exemplary Computing System 
     As presented in  FIG. 7 , an exemplary system  700  upon which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented includes a general purpose computing system environment. Imaging device  309 , depicted in  FIG. 3  and described above may, for example, be implemented as a computing system. In its most basic configuration, computing system  700  typically includes at least one processing unit  701  and memory, and an address/data bus  709  (or other interface) for communicating information. Depending on the exact configuration and type of computing system environment, memory may be volatile (such as RAM  702 ), nonvolatile (such as ROM  703 , flash memory, etc.) or some combination of the two. 
     Computer system  700  may also comprise an optional graphics subsystem  705  for presenting information to the computer user, e.g., by displaying information on an attached display device  710 , connected by a video cable  711 . According to embodiments of the present claimed invention, the graphics subsystem  705  may be coupled directly to the display device  710  through the video cable  711 . A graphical user interface of an application for displaying images generated by a medical imaging device described above with respect to  FIG. 1 , and executing in the computer system  700  may be generated in the graphics subsystem  705 , for example, and displayed to the user in the display device  710 . In alternate embodiments, display device  710  may be integrated into the computing system (e.g., a laptop or netbook display panel) and will not require a video cable  711 . In one embodiment, the processing of the image data acquired in the sensors ( 603  of  FIG. 6 ) to generate an image may be performed, in whole or in part, by graphics subsystem  705  in conjunction with the processor  701  and memory  702 , with any resulting output displayed in attached display device  710 . 
     Additionally, computing system  700  may also have additional features/functionality. For example, computing system  700  may also include additional storage (removable and/or non-removable) including, but not limited to, magnetic or optical disks or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in  FIG. 7  by data storage device  707 . Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. RAM  702 , ROM  703 , and data storage device  707  are all examples of computer storage media. 
     Computer system  700  also comprises an optional alphanumeric input device  706 , an optional cursor control or directing device  707 , and one or more signal communication interfaces (input/output devices, e.g., a network interface card)  709 . Optional alphanumeric input device  706  can communicate information and command selections to central processor  701 . Optional cursor control or directing device  707  is coupled to bus  709  for communicating user input information and command selections to central processor  701 . Signal communication interface (input/output device)  709 , also coupled to bus  709 , can be a serial port. Communication interface  709  may also include wireless communication mechanisms. Using communication interface  709 , computer system  700  can be communicatively coupled to other computer systems over a communication network such as the Internet or an intranet (e.g., a local area network), or can receive data (e.g., a digital television signal). 
     In the foregoing specification, embodiments have been described with reference to numerous specific details that may vary from implementation to implementation. Thus, the sole and exclusive indicator of what is the invention, and is intended by the applicant to be the invention, is the set of claims that issue from this application, in the specific form in which such claims issue, including any subsequent correction. Hence, no limitation, element, property, feature, advantage, or attribute that is not expressly recited in a claim should limit the scope of such claim in any way. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.