IP Library Granted Patent US 10,172,578
Granted Patent B2
US 10,172,578 · App. 15/218,455 · Granted Jan 8, 2019

X-ray apparatus and system

Inventors: Byeong-won Lee (Suwon-si, KR); Jeong-yong Song (Bucheon-si, KR); Do-kwan Oh (Suwon-si, KR); Hyun-hwa Oh (Hwaseong-si, KR); Choong-Hwan Choi (Seongnam-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
A61B6/4417A61B6/08A61B6/463A61B6/52A61B6/54A61B6/4452A61B6/4464A61B6/587
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,172,578
App. No.
15/218,455
Granted
Jan 8, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An X-ray apparatus performs image processing on an image of an object photographed by using a camera, and uses the image-processed image as an image marker in an X-ray image. A display is configured to display the X-ray image and the image marker on the region of the X-ray image.

Claims (43)

1. An X-ray apparatus for obtaining an X-ray image of an object by X-ray imaging the object, the X-ray apparatus comprising:

an X-ray source configured to emit X-rays to the object;

an image obtainer attached to the X-ray source and configured to obtain a representative still image of the object by photographing the object;

an X-ray detector configured to receive X-rays transmitted through the object to obtain the X-ray image of the object;

a controller configured to generate an image marker by applying image processing to the representative still image, and to generate the X-ray image; and

an image output unit configured to display the image marker so that the image marker overlaps a region of the X-ray image,

wherein the controller is further configured to detect a first feature of the object in the representative still image to which the image processing has been applied, select a pre-stored image containing a second feature similar to the first feature, among images pre-stored in a memory, and generate the image marker based on the pre-stored image.

2. The X-ray apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the image obtainer is further configured to obtain a plurality of still images of the object by photographing the object, and

the controller is further configured to select, among the plurality of still images, the representative still image as an image that represents a candidate body part of the object, the candidate body part being a part of the object to be X-rayed.

3. The X-ray apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the representative still image is obtained by photographing the object immediately prior to obtaining the X-ray image of the object.

4. The X-ray apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust an orientation in which the representative still image is displayed on the image output unit.

5. The X-ray apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the orientation in which the representative still image is displayed based on a certain direction information.

6. The X-ray apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the orientation in which the representative still image is displayed by using a geometric information of the X-ray apparatus and an image algorithm.

7. The X-ray apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate the image marker by performing the image processing that blurs or mosaics the representative still image.

8. The X-ray apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate the image marker by performing the image processing that transforms the representative still image into a cartoon image.

9. The X-ray apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect a shape of a candidate body part of the object by performing the image processing on the representative still image, select the pre-stored image similar to the shape of the candidate body part of the object, and generate the image marker based on the pre-stored image, and

the candidate body part is a part of the object to be X-rayed.

10. The X-ray apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate a guide image indicating a direction of the object or a positional relationship of the object in the image marker.

11. A method of imaging an object by using an X-ray apparatus, the method comprising:

obtaining a representative still image of the object by photographing the object;

generating an image marker by performing image processing on the representative still image; and

obtaining an X-ray image of the object and displaying the image marker on the X-ray image so that the image marker overlaps a region of the X-ray image,

wherein the generating the image marker comprises:

detecting a first feature of the object in the representative still image to which the image processing has been applied;

selecting a pre-stored image containing a second feature similar to the first feature, among images pre-stored in the X-ray apparatus; and

generating the image marker based on the pre-stored image.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the obtaining the representative still image comprises:

obtaining a plurality of still images of the object by photographing the object; and

selecting the representative still image that represents a candidate body part of the object, among the plurality of still images, and

wherein the candidate body part is a part of the object to be X-rayed.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising adjusting an orientation in which the representative still image is displayed, after the selecting the representative still image.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the adjusting the orientation of the representative still image further comprises:

adjusting the orientation of the representative still image based on a direction information preset in the X-ray apparatus.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the obtaining the representative still image comprises obtaining the representative still image by photographing the object immediately prior to the obtaining the X-ray image of the object.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the generating the image marker further comprises:

generating the image marker by performing the image processing that blurs or mosaics the representative still image.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the generating the image marker further comprises generating the image marker by performing the image processing that transforms the representative still image into a cartoon image.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the generating the image marker further comprises:

detecting a shape of a candidate body part of the object by performing the image processing on the representative still image, the candidate body part being a part of the object to be X-rayed;

selecting the pre-stored image similar to the shape of the candidate body part of the object; and

generating the image marker based on the pre-stored image.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising generating a guide image indicating a direction of the object or a positional relationship of the object in the image marker.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program which, when executed by a computer system, causes the computer system to execute the method of claim 11 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2016
From: LEE, BYEONG-WON; SONG, JEONG-YONG; OH, DO-KWAN; OH, HYUN-HWA; CHOI, CHOONG-HWAN
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 039245/0829 →
Priority Claims (2)
KR 10-2015-0104359 · Jul 23, 2015 · national
KR 10-2016-0088711 · Jul 13, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170020469A1 · Jan 26, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,329,559