METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONFIGURING AN X-RAY IMAGING SYSTEM
A method of automatically configuring an X-ray imaging system for taking an X-ray image of an object includes, first, obtaining one or more depth images from one or more depth cameras covering at least an area covered by an X-ray bundle of an X-ray source. Then, a thickness of the object is determined from the depth image(s). Then, this thickness value is converted to a dose configuration of the X-ray imaging system by taking into account a transmission length of the X-ray bundle through the object and knowledge about tissue types being imaged.
1 - 17 . (canceled)
18 . A method for configuring an X-ray system for taking an X-ray image of an object, the method comprising the steps of:
obtaining one or more depth images from one or more depth cameras, the one or more depth cameras covering at least an area covered by an X-ray bundle of an X-ray source of the X-ray system;
calculating a thickness of the object from the one or more depth images or from a single depth image obtained from the one or more depth cameras; and
converting the thickness of the object to a dose configuration of the X-ray system by taking into account a transmission length of the X-ray bundle through the object and knowledge about tissue types being imaged.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
determining a size of the object in the one or more depth images or in a single depth image obtained from the one or more depth images; and
determining a resizing configuration of the X-ray system from the size of the object, from a desired size of the object in the X-ray image, and from a known geometric relationship between the one or more depth cameras and the X-ray system.
20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the step of determining the resizing configuration includes a diaphragm reconfiguration of the X-ray system.
21 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the step of determining the resizing configuration includes a distance reconfiguration of the X-ray imaging system indicative of a reconfiguration of a distance between the X-ray source and the object.
22 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the step of determining the resizing configuration includes:
determining a size of an area in the one or more depth images or in the single depth image;
calculating a desired size of the area such that a size of the object with respect to the desired size of the area corresponds to the desired size of the object in the X-ray image; and
converting a difference between the desired size of the area and the size of the area to the resizing configuration by the known geometric relationship.
23 . The method according to claim 22 , further comprising the steps of:
determining a position of the object with respect to the area in the one or more depth images or in the single depth image;
determining a position change of the object relative to the area according to a desired position of the object with respect to the area; and
converting the position change to a position reconfiguration by the known geometric relationship.
24 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein the object is a portion of a bigger object, the object falls outside the one or more depth images and the bigger object is partially in the one or more depth images or in the single depth image, and the step of determining the position further includes the steps of:
determining a position of the bigger object with respect to the area in the one or more depth images or in the single depth image; and
deriving the position of the object from the position of the bigger object and a known position relationship between the object and the bigger object.
25 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein the object is a portion of a human body including a skeleton and joints, and the step of determining the position of the object includes the steps of:
determining a position of the joints of the skeleton in the one or more depth images or in the single depth image;
deriving the position of the object from the position of the joints and a known position relationship between the object and the joints.
26 . The method according to claim 23 , further comprising the step of:
applying the resizing configuration and/or the position reconfiguration to the X-ray imaging system.
27 . The method according to claim 25 , wherein the determining step and the deriving step are performed iteratively.
28 . The method according to claim 26 , wherein the step of calculating the thickness of the object and the step of converting the thickness of the object are performed after the step of applying.
29 . The method according to claim 28 , wherein the one or more depth images used to calculate the thickness of the object are different from the one or more depth images used to determine the size of the object.
30 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the step of calculating the thickness of the object is calculated along an optical axis of the X-ray source.
31 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein step of calculating the thickness of the object further includes the step of:
calculating a distance between a point on the object and a background behind the object, and the background is at a known distance from the object.
32 . The method according to claim 31 , wherein the background is a surface against which, or on top of which, the object is positioned.
33 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the object is positioned against or on a surface including radiation measurement chambers, the method further comprises the steps of:
identifying select ones of the radiation measurement chambers underneath the object from the one or more depth images or the single depth image; and
activating the select ones of the radiation measurement chambers.
34 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the one or more depth cameras includes an aligned camera including an optical axis aligned or substantially aligned with an optical axis of the X-ray source.