X-ray imaging system including brightness control

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray imaging system in which the exit screen of the X-ray image intensifier can be imaged, via a beam deflection element, on a pick-up device (CCD sensor) and on a photodiode for automatic dose control or exposure timing. Because the beam deflection element (prism, partly transparent cube or mirror) covers the entire cross-section of the exit screen, a uniformly illuminated exit screen is imaged on the pick-up device as a uniformly illuminated surface. When the pick-up device is arranged transversely of the prolongation of the X-ray image intensifier and the photodiode is arranged in the prolongation of the X-ray image intensifier, a compact system is obtained. When use is made of an anamorphic system comprising two prisms, a part of the light beam can be reflected to the photodiode from a surface of a prism. More accurate exposure timing can be achieved by measurement of the light reflected by the CCD sensors.

Description: The invention relates to an x-ray imaging system comprising an x-ray source for irradiating an object with an x-ray beam to form an image-carrying x-ray beam, a control unit for controlling the x-ray source, an x-ray detector for converting the x-ray image into an optical image on an exit screen, a photosensor for deriving a control signal from the optical image and for supplying the control signal to the control unit for controlling the x-ray source. The x-ray imaging system also comprises either light-optical imaging means for imaging the optical image on the exit screen, via a partly transparent reflection surface covering the entire cross-section of the image carrying light-beam emanating from the exit screen onto an entrance screen of an image pick-up device and by reflection on the reflection surface onto the photosensor, or the x-ray imaging system also comprises light optical imaging means comprising a beam deflection element, for imaging the optical image on the exit screen via a partly transparent reflection surface of the beam deflection element onto the entrance screen of an image pick-up device and onto the photosensor, wherein the reflection surface covers the entire cross section of the image-carrying light-beam emanating from the exit screen. An x-ray imaging system of said kind is known from the United States Patent US 4 063 092 . The known x-ray imaging system comprises a separate beam-splitter with a partially transmitting reflection surface to divide light from the exit screen between the photosensor and the image pick-up device. Hence, in the known system part of the light is diverted to the photosensor and is not available for the image pick-up device. The applied x-ray dose is determined on the basis of the control signal which is derived from the part of the light received by the photosensor. According to one aspect of the present invention, an x-ray imaging system according to the is preamble of Claim 1 is characterized in that the light-optical imaging means comprises an anamorphic optical system wherein the reflection surface is formed by a surface of the anamorphic optical system. According to a second aspect of the present invention, an x-ray imaging system according to the preamble of Claim 2 is characterized in that the photosensor is arranged so that it substantially receives light emanated from the exit screen which is reflected by the entrance screen of the image pick-up device, thereby obtaining said control signal as a measure for the luminous intensity actually occurring at the area of the entrance screen of the image pick-up device. The light reflected from the anamorphic optical system or from the entrance screen of the image pick-up device would otherwise be lost Hence, the light which is detected by the photosensor for forming the control signal and is not at the expense of light received by the image pick-up device, so that the portion of the light from the exit screen which is available for the image pick-up device is increased as compared to the known system. When use is made of an anamorphic optical system between the exit screen of the x-ray image intensifier tube and the entrance screen of the image pick-up device, as described in the European Patent Application EP 0 295 728 , image compression of the round exit screen can be achieved. When the round exit screen is imaged as an ellipse on the image pick-up device comprising a rectangular entrance screen, notably a CCD-sensor, the horizontal resolution of the sensor is enhanced. When the CCD-sensor is read-out and the image detected by the CCD-sensor is displayed on a television monitor, the image compression is cancelled by adaptation of the read-out frequency of the shift register of the CCD-sensor. When use is made of an anamorphic optical system which may comprise a cylinder lens or a fibre optical system, it is not possible to use a tandem optical system as in the known imaging means. When use is made of the reflective properties of the anamorphic optical system, a part of the light beam can be mirrored over the entire cross-section of the light beam emanating from the exit screen of the X-ray image intensifier tube, without using an additional prism. Thus, compact imaging means can be realised in which imaging is not disturbed by the formation of the control signal. A preferred embodiment of an X-ray imaging system in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the anamorphic optical system comprises a system of prisms. When a system of prisms is used, for example, approximately 5% of the luminous flux can be deflected from the beam to the photodiode by reflection from the prism situated nearest to the exit screen of the X-ray image intensifier tube. To this end, a customarily used anti-reflection coating of, for example MgF 2 can be omitted or removed from the side of the prism facing the exit screen. By using, in accordance with Claim 2, a part of the light beam reflected from the entrance screen of the image pick-up device, a measure is obtained for the luminous intensity actually occurring at the area of the entrance screen of the image pick-up device. Because not all light emanating from the exit screen of the X-ray image intensifier tube reaches the image pick-up device, due to an adjustment of the diaphragm, more accurate exposure timing is achieved by means of the control signal formed on the basis of the light beam reflected from the entrance screen. A further embodiment of an X-ray imaging system is characterized in that, via the beam deflection element, the exit screen is imaged on entrance screens of two or more image pick-up devices. The light beam emanating from the exit screen is partly transmitted by the beam deflection element to the first image pick-up device and is partly deflected to the second image pick-up device. By using two image pick-up devices which have been mutually shifted relative to the image of the exit screen, the resolution can be doubled in the direction of shift. The light reflected by the entrance screen of the first image pick-up device is partly deflected to the photodiode by the beam deflection element and the light of the second image pick-up device is partly transmitted to the photodiode. The beam deflection element may comprise a semi-transparent mirror or an optical splitting cube. Some embodiments of an X-ray imaging system in accordance with the invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing. Therein: Fig. 1 shows a known X-ray imaging system, Fig. 2 shows imaging means in accordance with one aspect of the invention, and Fig. 3 shows imaging means in which an entrance screen of an image pick-up device acts as a reflection surface. Fig. 1 shows an X-ray imaging system, comprising an X-ray source 1 which emits an X-ray beam 3. An object 5, notably a part of a patient arranged in the X-ray beam 3, attenuates the X-ray beam in dependence on the local absorption density within the patient. An image-carrying X-ray beam 3' is incident on an entrance screen 7 of an X-ray detector 9, notably an X-ray image intensifier tube. The entrance screen 7 comprises a scintillation layer of CsI in which the X-rays release light which releases electrons in a photocathode. The electrons are accelerated to, for example 20 keV by means of an electron-optical system (not shown in the Figure) so as to be focused onto an exit screen 11 of the X-ray image intensifier tube 9. A brightness-intensified optical image of the X-ray image detected on the entrance screen 7 of the X-ray image intensifier tube then appears on the round exit screen 11 which comprises a phosphor layer. Via imaging means, comprising a tandem optical system 13-13', a partly transparent mirror 14 and a beam deflection element in the form of a prism 15, the exit screen 11 is imaged on the entrance screen 16 of an image pick-up device 17, notably a CCD sensor, on a measurement field selecting diaphragm 21 and on the film of a photo or film camera 20. The video signal generated by the CCD sensor 17 is applied to a television monitor 23. A part of the light beam present between the lenses 13 is mirrored out via a reflection surface 18 of the prism 15 which is arranged between the lenses 13. Via a lens 19, the exit screen 11 of the X-ray image intensifier tube 9 is imaged on the diaphragm 21. The part of the exit screen 11 selected by the diaphragm 21 activates a photosensitive sensor 25, notably a photodiode, which forms an electric control signal which is applied to a control unit 27. The control unit 27 is connected to the X-ray source 1 and is capable of adapting, in dependence on the control signal, the voltage (kV) and the current (mA) in the X-ray source 1 in order to achieve constant brightness on the exit screen 11 (automatic dose control) in the case of patients 5 of different thickness. For exposure timing, the control unit can also deactivate the X-ray source when the integrated control signal has reached a predetermined value which is sufficient to ensure suitable exposure of the CCD sensor 17 or the film of the camera 20. Fig. 2 shows the imaging means in accordance with one aspect of the invention, comprising a collimator lens 30, an anamorphic optical system comprising two prisms 31 and 33, a camera lens 35, and the lens 19. Via the imaging means, the circular exit screen 11 of the X-ray image intensifier tube 9 is imaged as an ellipse on the entrance screen 16 of the CCD sensor 17. The horizontal resolution of the CCD sensor can thus be increased or the part of the image sensor used in the vertical direction can be adapted to the number of image lines of the television monitor 23. This is disclosed in the European Patent Application EP 0469678. Via the reflection surface 18 of the prism 31, a part of the exit pupil of the lens 30 can be reflected to the lens 19, the exit surface being imaged on the measurement field selecting diaphragm 21. When the customary MgF 2 anti-reflective coating on the surface 18 of the prism 31 is omitted, the prism also constitutes the beam deflection element whereby a reflection of 5% or more can be achieved. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of an X-ray examination system in which the beam deflection element comprises a partly transparent mirror or prism 40. Via the mirror 40, an image of an exit screen 11 is projected onto a laterally arranged CCD sensor 50. Light transmitted by the partly transparent mirror is projected onto a further CCD sensor 52. Both sensors partly reflect the incident light. As has already been stated, the degree of reflection can be adapted. The reflected image-carrying light beams 51 and 53 of the two sensors are imaged by a lens 42, via the partly transparent mirror, on a measurement field determining diaphragm 44 and the light transmitted thereby is focused, via a field lens 46, on a photosensor 48 which may be constructed as a single sensor, a television pick-up tube, a CCD matrix etc . The photosensor thus generates a signal which is a measure for the brightness of a measurement field within the image or, if desired, of the entire image. The variables determining the brightness can be controlled in known manner by means of this signal. In an arrangement of this kind, brightness control utilizes only light which otherwise would be lost and no light selection element which readily disturbs the imaging need be arranged in the image-carrying light beam. The second lens 13', also referred to as the camera lens, of the tandem lens system 13, 13' in a practical embodiment forms part of the camera, the first lens forming more or less part of the imaging system comprising the image intensifier 9. The first lens 13, also referred to as the collimator lens, may then also form part of the exit window 11 of the tube 9.

Claims: An x-ray imaging system comprising an x-ray source for irradiating an object with an x-ray beam to form an image-carrying x-ray beam, a control unit for controlling the x-ray source, an x-ray detector for converting the x-ray image into an optical image on an exit screen (11), a photosensor (25) for deriving a control signal from the optical image and for supplying the control signal to the control unit for controlling the x-ray source, and light-optical imaging means (30,31,33,35) for imaging the optical image on the exit screen (11), via a partly transparent reflection surface covering the entire cross-section of the image carrying light-beam emanating from the exit screen onto an entrance screen (16) of an image pick-up device and by reflection on the reflection surface onto the photosensor (25), characterized in that the light-optical imaging means comprises an anamorphic optical system (31,33), wherein the reflection surface is formed by a surface of the anamorphic optical system. An x-ray imaging system comprising an x-ray source for irradiating an object with an x-ray beam to form an image-carrying x-ray beam, a control unit for controlling the x-ray source, an x-ray detector (9) for converting the x-ray image into an optical image on an exit screen (11), a photosensor (48) for deriving a control signal from the optical image and for supplying the control signal to the control unit for controlling the x-ray source, and light optical imaging means (13,13',40) comprising a beam deflection element (40) for imaging the optical image on the exit screen (11), via a partly transparent reflection surface of the beam deflection element (40), onto the entrance screen of an image pick-up device (50,52) and onto the photosensor (48), wherein the reflection surface covers the entire cross section of the image-carrying light-beam emanating from the exit screen, characterized in that the photosensor (48) is arranged so that it substantially receives light emanated from the exit screen (11) which is reflected by the entrance screen of the image pick-up device (50,52), thereby obtaining said control signal as a measure for the luminous intensity actually occurring at the area of the entrance screen of the image pick-up device (50,52). An x-ray imaging system as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the anamorphic optical system comprises a system of prisms (31,33). An x-ray imaging system as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the exit screen is imaged on entrance screens of two or more image pick-up devices (50,52) via the beam deflection element (40). An x-ray imaging system as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that the light reflected by the entrance screens of the image-pick up devices (50,52) is projected on the photosensor (48) via the beam deflection element (40). An x-ray imaging system as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that light reflected by the entrance screens of the image pick-up devices is imaged onto a diaphragm (44) determining a measurement field by a lens (42).

Inventors: SNOEREN RUDOLPH MARIA, SNOEREN, RUDOLPH MARIA
Applicants: PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H05G1
IPC codes: A61B6, H05G1, H04N5