X-ray computerized tomographic image data acquisition circuitry capable of performing high-speed data acquisition

Claim 2

An X-ray CT (computerized tomographic) imaging system comprising; an X-ray source; a plurality of X-ray detectors arranged to detect X-rays emitted by said X-ray source and penetrating through a biological body under medical examination to produce a plurality of analog X-ray image signals; a plurality of A/D (analog-to-digital) converters each connected to a corresponding one of said X-ray detectors to convert said plurality of analog X-ray image signals into corresponding digital X-ray image data; means for integrally rotating said X-ray source, said X-ray detectors, and said A/D converters around said biological body; a digital data bus connected to said plurality of A/D converters; X-ray image reconstruction means coupled via said digital data bus to said plurality of A/D converters for processing said digital X-ray image data so as to reconstruct a computerized tomographic image of said biological body, said X-ray image reconstruction means being stationary with respect to said X-ray source, said X-ray detectors, and said A/D converters; controlling means for controlling said plurality of A/D converters in such a manner that said digital X-ray image data is sequentially outputted from said plurality of A/D converters via said digital data bus to said X-ray image reconstruction means.

Claim 3

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of integrators interposed between said plurality of X-ray detectors and said plurality of A/D converters to integrate said plurality of analog X-ray image signals.

Claim 4

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said integrators includes an operational amplifier and a capacitor connected between an output and an input of said operational amplifier.

Claim 5

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said A/D converters includes: a buffer circuit arranged to receive said digital X-ray image data and to output said digital X-ray image data via said digital data bus to said image reconstruction means under control of said controlling means.

Claim 6

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said buffer circuits outputs said digital X-ray image data as 16 parallel bits of digital X-ray image data under control of said controlling means.

Claim 7

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of X-ray detectors include ionization type xenon detectors commonly biased by a high-voltage source.

Claim 8

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: a plurality of signal storage capacitors coupled to respective ones of said ionization type xenon detectors to store signal electron charges produced by said ionization type xenon detectors; and a plurality of switches each connected in parallel to a respective one of said signal storage capacitors to charge and discharge the signal electron charges into and from, respectively, said signal storage capacitors under control of said controlling means.

Claim 9

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said A/D converters includes: a buffer circuit arranged to receive said digital X-ray image data and to output said digital X-ray image data via said digital data bus to said image reconstruction means under control of said controlling means.

Claim 10

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said buffer circuits outputs said digital X-ray image data as 16 parallel bits of digital X-ray image data under control of said controlling means.

Claim 11

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of X-ray detectors include a plurality of solid-state X-ray detectors.

Claim 12

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of said solid-state X-ray detectors includes a scintillator and a photodiode, said scintillator emitting an optical signal upon receipt of at least one of said X-rays and said photodiode producing a current signal upon receipt of said optical signal.

Claim 13

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: a plurality of current-to-voltage converters arranged to receive said current signals and convert said current signals into corresponding voltage signals; and a plurality of low-pass filters arranged to receive said voltage signals and pass low frequency signal components contained in said voltage signals.

Claim 14

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of said A/D converters includes: a buffer circuit arranged to receive said digital X-ray image data and to output said digital X-ray image data via said digital data bus to said image reconstruction unit under control of said controlling means.

Claim 15

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of said buffer circuits outputs said digital X-ray image data as 16 parallel bits of digital X-ray image data under control of said controlling means.

Claim 16

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of A/D converters includes: a serial data input and a serial data output, whereby said analog X-ray image signals are successively inputted to said serial data inputs and said digital X-ray image data is outputted from said serial data outputs in a serial data form.

Claim 17

A multislice type X-ray of (computerized tomographic) imaging system comprising; an X-ray source; X-ray image data acquisition means formed on a single substrate for acquiring digital X-ray image data on a biological body under medical examination by receiving X-rays generated by said X-ray source, said X-ray image data acquisition means including a plurality of X-ray signal channels each having scintillators and photodiodes arranged in relation with at least two slice portions of said biological body to detect said X-rays generated by said X-ray source and produce analog X-ray image signals therefrom, and a plurality of A/D (analog-to-digital) converter chips fabricated with said X-ray signal channels and said single substrate to convert said analog X-ray image signals into said corresponding digital X-ray image data; means for integrally rotating said X-ray source and said X-ray image data acquisition means around said biological body; image reconstruction means for processing said digital X-ray image data acquired by said X-ray image data acquisition means to obtain CT (computerized tomographic) images of multislice portions of said biological body, said image reconstruction means being stationary with respect to said X-ray source and said X-ray image data acquisition means; and display means for displaying said CT images.

Claim 18

A multislice type X-ray of (computerized tomographic) imaging system comprising; an X-ray source; X-ray image data acquisition means formed on a single substrate for acquiring digital X-ray image data on a biological body under medical examination by receiving X-rays generated by said X-ray source, said X-ray image data acquisition means including a plurality of X-ray signal channels each having scintillators and photodiodes arranged in relation with at least two slice portions of said biological body to detect said X-rays generated by said X-ray source and produce analog X-ray image signals therefrom, and a plurality of A/D (analog-to-digital) converter chips fabricated with said X-ray signal channels and said single substrate to convert said analog X-ray image signals into said corresponding digital X-ray image data; means for integrally rotating said X-ray source and said X-ray image data acquisition means around said biological body; image reconstruction means for processing said digital X-ray image data acquired by said X-ray image data acquisition means to obtain CT (computerized tomographic) images of multislice portions of said biological body, said image reconstruction means being stationary with respect to said X-ray source and said X-ray image data acquisition means; and display means for displaying said CT images.

Claim 19

A multislice type X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said plurality of X-ray signal channels are electrically connected to said plurality of A/D converter chips via conductive patterns formed on said single substrate.

Claim 20

An X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 16, wherein sad plurality of X-ray signal channels include at least two sets of 512 X-ray signal channels.

Claim 21

A multislice type X-ray CT imaging system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said plurality of A/D converter chips are sealed by an electrically insulating material, and a data output connector is mounted on said single substrate so as to output said digital X-ray image data acquired by said X-ray image data acquisition means.