US 12,329,563 B2
System and method for continuous calibration of X-ray scans
Thomas Kelly, Woburn, MA (US); Kevin Wilson, Acton, MA (US); Mark Guetersloh, Bedford, MA (US); and Wei Wang, Wellesley Hills, MA (US)
Assigned to Hologic, Inc., Marlborough, MA (US)
Appl. No. 17/612,476
Filed by HOLOGIC, INC., Marlborough, MA (US)
PCT Filed May 20, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/033783
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 18, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/242855, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 3, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/853,379, filed on May 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0225957 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 6/00 (2024.01); A61B 6/02 (2006.01); A61B 6/06 (2006.01); A61B 6/40 (2024.01); A61B 6/58 (2024.01)
CPC A61B 6/583 (2013.01) [A61B 6/027 (2013.01); A61B 6/06 (2013.01); A61B 6/4035 (2013.01); A61B 6/4071 (2013.01); A61B 6/4078 (2013.01); A61B 6/4085 (2013.01); A61B 6/482 (2013.01); A61B 6/5258 (2013.01); A61B 6/54 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An x-ray system comprising:
an x-ray source assembly comprising a source carriage configured to move the x-ray source assembly along a scan path during a scan of the x-ray system, the scan path comprising an active scan portion and a reference measurement portion;
an x-ray detector assembly including a detector carriage configured to move the x-ray detector assembly synchronously with the x-ray source assembly along the scan path and along a longitudinal patient axis substantially perpendicular to the scan path, and to collect scan data at active scan portions of the scan path, wherein the reference measurement portion is laterally outside of the active scan portion along the longitudinal patient axis;
a support structure including a first end supporting the x-ray source assembly and a second end supporting the x-ray detector assembly;
a calibration element comprising a material having a known x-ray attenuation value;
a calibration controller coupled to the calibration element and configured to position the calibration element between the x-ray source assembly and the x-ray detector assembly during the reference measurement portion of the scan path and to remove the calibration element from between the x-ray source assembly and the x-ray detector assembly during the active scan portion of the scan path; and
a processing unit operable to compare the reference measurement against an expected reference value to identify a variance and to selectively trigger an action in response to the variance.