IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,861,155
Granted Patent B2
US 10,861,155 · App. 16/785,598 · Granted Dec 8, 2020

Learning-based correction of grid artifacts in X-ray imaging

Inventors: Philipp Bernhardt (Forchheim, DE); Boris Stowasser (Erlangen, DE)
Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
G06T7/0012A61B6/4291A61B6/4441A61B6/4458G01N23/04G06N20/00G16H30/40G06T2207/10116G06T2207/20081
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,861,155
App. No.
16/785,598
Granted
Dec 8, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for training a function of an X-ray system that has a positioning mechanism such as a C-arm, a detector, and, in a beam path in front of the detector, an anti-scatter grid. Positioning of the detector at a large number of different positions occurs. The positioning mechanism is deflected and/or distorted. Recording of at least one X-ray photograph in each of the positions then takes place, and the method further includes machine learning of artifacts generated by the anti-scatter grid from all X-ray photographs for the function.

Claims (32)

1. A method for training a function of an X-ray system, the X-ray system including a positioning mechanism, a detector, and, in a beam path in front of the detector, an anti-scatter grid, the method comprising:

positioning the detector at a number of different positions, wherein the positioning mechanism is deflected, distorted, or deflected and distorted;

recording in each case at least one X-ray photograph in each of the number of different positions; and

machine learning artifacts generated by the anti-scatter grid from all of the X-ray photographs for the function in a first learning step.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein on each positioning of the detector, respective system geometry data of the X-ray system is supplied, the system geometry data serving as input variables for machine learning.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the number of different positions of the detector for machine learning is approached multiple times by the positioning mechanism.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each of the number of different positions is approached from different directions.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the number of different positions of the detector is arranged uniformly distributed over an entire system-based movement space of the X-ray system.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the machine learning, in addition to the first learning step, comprises a second learning step, the second learning step being identical to the first learning step, and

wherein the anti-scatter grid is removed from the detector and removed from the beam path in the second learning step.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein on recording the X-ray photographs, a phantom that does not generate any scatter radiation is placed in the beam path.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining virtual training data by way of simulation,

wherein, in addition to the X-ray photographs, the obtained virtual training data is used for machine learning.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein an object X-ray photograph is obtained from an object, and artifacts of the anti-scatter grid are reduced or eliminated in the object X-ray photograph by the trained function.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism includes a C-arm.

11. A method for operating an X-ray system, the X-ray system including a positioning mechanism, a detector, and in a beam path in front of the detector, an anti-scatter grid, the method comprising:

positioning the detector at a position, wherein the positioning mechanism is deflected, distorted, or deflected and distorted;

recording an X-ray photograph in the position; and

correcting artifacts resulting, which are caused by the anti-scatter grid, in the X-ray photograph with deflection, distortion, or deflection and distortion of the positioning mechanism by artifacts learned according to a method for training a function of the X-ray system, the method for training the function of the X-ray system comprising:

positioning the detector at a number of different positions, wherein the positioning mechanism is deflected, distorted, or deflected and distorted;

recording in each case at least one X-ray photograph in each of the number of different positions; and

machine learning artifacts generated by the anti-scatter grid from all of the X-ray photographs for the function in a first learning step.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a C-arm.

13. A computer-implemented method for generating object image data, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving an object X-ray photograph;

generating a corrected object-X-ray photograph, the generating comprising applying a trained function to the object-X-ray photograph, such that artifacts of the anti-scatter grid are reduced or eliminated in the object X-ray photograph; and

supplying the corrected object X-ray photograph as the object image data.

14. An X-ray system comprising:

a positioning mechanism;

a recording device including a detector and an anti-scatter grid located in a beam path in front of the detector, wherein the detector and the anti-scatter grid are attached to the positioning mechanism, wherein with the positioning mechanism, the detector is positionable at a large number of different positions in which the positioning mechanism is deflected, distorted, or deflected and distorted as a function of position, and wherein with the recording device, in each case at least one X-ray photograph is generatable in each of the number of different positions; and

a processor configured for machine learning of artifacts generated by the anti-scatter grid from all the X-ray photographs in a first learning step.

15. The X-ray system of claim 14 , wherein the X-ray system is configured as a C-arm X-ray system or a robotic arm-based X-ray system.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2023
From: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
To: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
Reel/Frame 066267/0346 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2020
From: STOWASSER, BORIS; BERNHARDT, PHILIPP
To: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
Reel/Frame 053905/0279 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 19156195 · Feb 8, 2019 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200258222A1 · Aug 13, 2020