CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application includes subject matter similar to that disclosed in concurrently filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/080,398. The entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to imaging a subject, and particularly to a system to acquire image data with a selected filter system.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

A subject, such as a human patient, may undergo a surgical procedure to address an issue in the subject's anatomy. The surgery can include various procedures, such as movement or augmentation of bone, insertion of an implant (i.e. an implantable device), or other appropriate procedures.

Images of a subject can assist a surgeon in planning and performing a procedure. A surgeon may select a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image representation of the subject, based on images acquired from an imaging system, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, computed tomography (CT) system, fluoroscopy (e.g. C-Arm imaging systems), or other appropriate imaging systems. The images can assist the surgeon in performing a procedure with less invasive techniques by allowing the surgeon to view the anatomy of the subject without removing the overlying tissue (including dermal and muscular tissue).

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

According to various embodiments, an imaging system acquires image data of a subject, such as a living patient (e.g., a human patient). Imaging systems may acquire image data at a plurality of energies. Imaging systems may also include filter members alternatively to or in addition to multiple energy emission systems. The filters may augment or select a beam or emission (e.g., x-ray beam) for generating image data, such as with projections of the subject. Imaging systems may include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2018/0310899, published Nov. 1, 2018, and entitled “FILTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMAGING A SUBJECT”, incorporated by reference herein.

Enhanced or selected contrast imaging can include a contrast agent injected and/or applied to the subject used either with one and/or the plurality of energies. Also, various filters may be used at selected times alone or in combination with the contrast agent. Thus, a plurality of image projections may be acquired with or without the contrast agent and/or with or without a selected one or more filters.

An imaging system having a plurality of energies may include portions that operate at different parameters allow for emission of multiple beams with differing characteristics. Thus, the beam may have characteristics based on selected parameters and/or have selected energy parameters. In various embodiments, the imaging system may include a first energy source with one or more first energy parameters and one or more second energy source with a second energy parameters to energize a source. Further, the imaging system may include a plurality of sources (each source may have the same trajectory or path), wherein each source includes one or more different features or portions to achieve the first and second energy parameters (e.g., voltage) to provide emitted beams (e.g., of X-rays) with the different energy characteristics.

The imaging system with filters may include one or more filters to ensure, and/or assist in ensuring, appropriate or selected separation between the first energy characteristics and the second energy characteristics. The first energy characteristics may be selected to provide a first x-ray energy spectra with the first energy characteristics and a second x-ray energy spectra at the second energy characteristics. The filter may be provided at a selected time to assist in ensuring appropriate or selected spectra for imaging the subject, such as eliminating possible or actual overlap of the x-ray energy spectra.

One or more filters may also be used to various purposes in acquiring selected image projections. The filters may be used to generate a plurality of image projections with a single broad spectrum beam. Selected filters may also be used to assist in detecting and/or correcting for various aberrations and/or distortions.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

