Computed tomography system

• US 20110274238A1
• Filed: 05/09/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: MASCHKE, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/103,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20110274238A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/035 Mechanical aspects of CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4021 involving movement of the focal spot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4035 the source being combined with a filter or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4464 the source unit or the detector unit being mounted to ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/484 involving phase contrast X-ray imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/505 for diagnosis of bone
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 2207/005 Methods and devices obtaining contrast from non-absorbing interaction of the radiation with matter, e.g. phase contrast

Abstract

A computed tomography system is provided for allowing it to be deployed more effectively. The computed tomography system features an annular CT gantry with a central opening, a recording system that can be rotated within the gantry. The recording system has an x-ray source and an x-ray detector apparatus. It is possible to remove a part of the ring of the CT gantry from the ring at least partially so that there is a break in the ring, through which an examination object can be moved into the central opening. The computed tomography system is for phase contrast x-ray imaging.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A computed tomography system for phase contrast x-ray imaging, comprising:

an annular CT gantry having a ring segment with a central opening;

a hinge arranged on the ring segment; and

a recording system that rotates within the gantry having an x-ray source and an x-ray detector,

wherein a part of the ring segment is configured to be folded out by the hinge so that the ring segment is broken and through which an examination object is moved into the central opening.

14. The computed tomography system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the x-ray source comprises a plurality of field emission x-ray sources for emitting quasi-coherent x-ray radiation.

15. The computed tomography system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the field emission x-ray sources are disposed in an array.

16. The computed tomography system as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of the field emission x-ray sources comprises field emission cathodes with a nanostructured material and carbon nano tubes.

17. The computed tomography system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a grating disposed behind the x-ray source for emitting coherent x-ray radiation from the x-ray source.

18. The computed tomography system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a phase grating disposed between the examination object and the x-ray detector, and

an amplitude grating disposed between the phase grating and the x-ray detector.

19. The computed tomography system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a device for moving the amplitude grating perpendicular to a radiation direction of an x-ray radiation emitted by the x-ray source.

20. The computed tomography system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the gantry comprises a first recording system and a second recording system each have one x-ray source and one x-ray detector.

21. The computed tomography system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first recording system is configured for phase contrast x-ray imaging and the second recording system is configured for fluoroscopy x-ray imaging.

22. The computed tomography system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the CT gantry is pivotably disposed on a mount.

23. The computed tomography system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the mount is a ceiling mount.

24. The computed tomography system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the part of the ring segment is completely decoupled from the CT gantry.

25. The computed tomography system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the part of the ring segment is configured to pivot out from the ring segment.