Arrangement and method for image combination
It is possible, by use of a calibration scale shown in partial X-ray images, for non-overlapping partial X-ray images to be combined and assigned to one another. Therefore the individual x-ray images which are not overlapping can be related spatially. In this manner x-ray images only have to be made of surgically significant regions and therefore the x-ray exposure of a patient is reduced.
1. An apparatus for aligning x-ray images, the apparatus comprising:
a linear calibration device having at least one type of spherically shaped X-ray markers being included in the X-ray images to be associated with each other, said spherically shaped X-ray markers including at least a first type of x-ray markers and a second type of x-ray markers having a different diameter than said first type of x-ray markers, wherein said first and second type x-ray markers are disposed according to a coding; and
a correspondence module for establishing a locality of selected ones of said spherically shaped x-ray markers, wherein the locality is established by correspondence of respective partial sections on a basis of an electronically recallable characteristic of said linear calibration device.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said linear calibration device has a linear design.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein distances between said first and/or second type x-ray markers are identical.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said spherically shaped x-ray markers have different x-ray absorptions.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each individual one of said spherically shaped x-ray markers correspond to one bit of a binary sequence.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a selection unit for selecting said spherically shaped x-ray markers.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a center-point establishment unit for determining center points of selected ones of said spherically shaped x-ray markers.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a straight-line formation unit, wherein a partial straight line is formed in each x-ray image using at least two center points of selected ones of said spherically shaped x-ray markers.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising an alignment unit, wherein the partial straight line is aligned on a basis of an alignment axis.
10. A method for aligning x-ray images, which comprises steps of:
placing at least one calibration scale on or next to a part of a patient being imaged; and
imaging the calibration scale in conjunction with the part of the patient, the calibration scale having spherically shaped X-ray markers including a first type of x-ray markers and a second type of x-ray markers having a different diameter than the first type of x-ray markers, the calibration scale being imaged with the spherically shaped X-ray markers in each of the X-ray images, the first and second type x-ray markers are disposed according to a coding;
taking a plurality of the x-ray images of the part of the user resulting in the x-ray images pertaining to different regions of the part of the user; and
aligning the plurality of the x-ray images into a larger x-ray image, an alignment of the x-ray images with each other being dependent on a calibration scale portion imaged in each x-ray image.
11. The method according to claim 10 , which further comprises establishing a locality of selected ones of the spherically shaped x-ray markers in the x-ray images on a basis of an electronically stored characteristic of the calibration scale.