Scanning-beam X-ray imaging system
First Claim
1. An imaging system comprising an x-ray source, an x-ray detector array, a monitor and a scan generator;
- said x-ray source comprising an electron beam generator and an anode;
said anode comprising a target layer which emits x-ray photons when stimulated by a beam of electrons;
said scan generator comprising circuitry for controlling an electron beam generated by said electron beam generator;
said x-ray detector array comprising a plurality of detection elements, said detection elements arranged in an array forming a generally planar detection surface having a center;
said anode and said x-ray detector array positioned such that when said electron beam stimulates said target layer at a first spot, emitted x-ray photons strike a plurality of said detection elements of said x-ray detector array and when said electron beam stimulates said target layer at a second spot, emitted x-ray photons strike a plurality of said detection elements of said x-ray detector array;
said scanning beam generator including circuitry for positioning said electron beam at selected spots and causing said electron beam to dwell at said selected spots for a predetermined time period in a predetermined pattern;
said detection elements comprising means for measuring the intensity of said x-ray photons which strike said detection elements and said detector array generating an electrical signal indicative of said intensity of each of said x-ray photons striking said detection elements, said electrical signals from each of said detection elements are discretely output from said x-ray detector array;
a group of discrete electrical output is output from each of said detection elements for selected positionings of said electron beam at said selected spots on said target layer, said monitor comprising processing circuitry which generates a visual image based upon a non-successive combining of said groups of discrete electrical outputs.
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Abstract
An x-ray imaging system according to the present invention comprising a stepped scanning-beam x-ray source and a multi-detector array. The output of the multi-detector array is input to an image reconstruction engine which combines the outputs of the multiple detectors over selected steps of the x-ray beam to generate an x-ray image of the object. A collimating element, preferably in the form of a perforated grid containing an array of apertures, interposed between the x-ray source and an object to be x-rayed. A maneuverable positioner incorporating an x-ray sensitive marker allowing the determination of the precise position coordinates of the maneuverable positioner.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An imaging system comprising an x-ray source, an x-ray detector array, a monitor and a scan generator;
- said x-ray source comprising an electron beam generator and an anode;
said anode comprising a target layer which emits x-ray photons when stimulated by a beam of electrons;
said scan generator comprising circuitry for controlling an electron beam generated by said electron beam generator;said x-ray detector array comprising a plurality of detection elements, said detection elements arranged in an array forming a generally planar detection surface having a center; said anode and said x-ray detector array positioned such that when said electron beam stimulates said target layer at a first spot, emitted x-ray photons strike a plurality of said detection elements of said x-ray detector array and when said electron beam stimulates said target layer at a second spot, emitted x-ray photons strike a plurality of said detection elements of said x-ray detector array;
said scanning beam generator including circuitry for positioning said electron beam at selected spots and causing said electron beam to dwell at said selected spots for a predetermined time period in a predetermined pattern;said detection elements comprising means for measuring the intensity of said x-ray photons which strike said detection elements and said detector array generating an electrical signal indicative of said intensity of each of said x-ray photons striking said detection elements, said electrical signals from each of said detection elements are discretely output from said x-ray detector array;
a group of discrete electrical output is output from each of said detection elements for selected positionings of said electron beam at said selected spots on said target layer, said monitor comprising processing circuitry which generates a visual image based upon a non-successive combining of said groups of discrete electrical outputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- said x-ray source comprising an electron beam generator and an anode;
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15. An x-ray imaging system comprising an x-ray source, an x-ray detector array, a monitor and a scan generator;
- said x-ray source comprising an electron beam generator, an anode and a collimator;
said anode comprising a target layer which emits x-ray photons when stimulated by a beam of electrons;
said scan generator comprising circuitry for controlling an electron beam generated by said electron beam generator;
said collimator disposed between said anode and said x-ray detector array in close proximity to said anode;said x-ray detector array comprising a plurality of detector elements, said detector elements arranged in an array forming a generally planar detector surface having a center; said collimator constructed of an x-ray absorbing material, said x-ray absorbing material comprising a plurality of apertures, each of said plurality of apertures comprising an axis, said axis of each of said apertures intersects said detector surface substantially at said center of said x-ray detector array and intersects said target layer;
said anode, said collimator and said x-ray detector array positioned such that when said electron beam stimulates said target layer at a first point of intersection of a first one of said axes of said apertures and said target layer, said emitted x-ray photons pass through said first aperture and strike a plurality of said detector elements of said x-ray detector array and when said electron beam stimulates said target layer at a second point of intersection of a second one of said axes of said apertures and said target layer, said emitted x-ray photons pass through said second aperture and strike a plurality of said detector elements of said x-ray detector array;
said scanning beam generator including circuitry for positioning said electron beam at said intersections of said axis and said target layer in a predetermined pattern and causing said electron beam to dwell for a predetermined period of time in an area immediately surrounding said intersections of said axes and said target layer;each of said detector elements comprising means for converting the energy from each of said x-ray photons which strike said detector elements to electrical signals, said electrical signals from each of said detector elements are discretely output from said x-ray detector array;
a group of discrete electrical outputs is output for each positioning of the electron beam at selected intersections of said axes and said target layer, said monitor comprising processing circuitry which generates a visual image based upon a non-successive combining of said groups of discrete electrical outputs. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- said x-ray source comprising an electron beam generator, an anode and a collimator;
Specification