DUAL ENERGY IMAGING USING OPTICALLY COUPLED DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY SYSTEM

摘要

This invention relates to an optically coupled digital radiography method and apparatus for simultaneously obtaining two distinct images of the same subject, each of which represents a different x-ray energy spectrum. The two images may be combined in various ways such that anatomical features may be separated from one another to provide a clearer view of those features or of underlying structures. The two different images are obtained using a pair of scintillators separated by an x-ray filter that attenuates part of the x-ray spectrum of an x-ray exposure such that the first and second scintillators receive a different energy spectrum of the same x-ray exposure. Alternatively, the two different images can be obtained without a filter and with two scintillators made of different fluorescing materials that react differently to the same x-ray exposure.