Computed tomography system with integrated scatter detectors

• US 6,879,657 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoffman, David Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Allen C.
• Application Number:
  US10/063,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20030210761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 378/7, 378/19, 378/57, 378/86, 378/87, 378/88, 378/89, 378/90
• US Class Current: 378/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/483 involving scattered radiation

Abstract

An imaging system includes an x-ray source coupled to a gantry. The x-ray source generates an x-ray flux, wherein a portion of the x-ray flux becomes scatter radiation. A scatter detector is also coupled to the gantry to receive the scatter radiation. The scatter detector generates a scatter signal in response to the scatter radiation, and a host computer receives the scatter signal.

Claims

1. An imaging system comprising:

a gantry;

an x-ray source coupled to said gantry, said x-ray source generating an x-ray flux, wherein a portion of said x-ray flux becomes scatter radiation;

a first scatter detector coupled to said gantry, said first scatter detector receiving said scatter radiation, said first scatter detector further generating a first scatter signal in response to said scatter radiation;

a host computer receiving said first scatter signal and generating therefrom an image; and

a CT detector coupled to said gantry, said CT detector adapted to generate a detector signal in response to said x-ray flux.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first scatter detector is positioned substantially adjacent to said CT detector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first scatter detector is positioned substantially adjacent to said x-ray source.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second scatter detector coupled to said gantry.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said first scatter detector is positioned on a first side of said CT detector and said second scatter detector is positioned on a second side of said CT detector.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said first scatter detector and said second scatter detector are positioned on only one side of said CT detector.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said x-ray source comprises an extended x-ray source.

8. A method for data collection for an imaging system comprising:

activating an x-ray source;

generating an x-ray flux;

receiving scatter radiation from said x-ray flux in at least one scatter detector coupled to a rotating gantry;

generating a scatter signal in response to said x-ray flux;

receiving said scatter signal in a host computer; and

generating an image from said scatter signal.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating a two dimensional image.

10. A computed tomography system comprising:

a gantry;

an x-ray source coupled to said gantry, said x-ray source generating an x-ray flux;

a CT detector coupled to said gantry, said CT detector generating a detector signal in response to said x-ray flux;

a first scatter detector coupled to said gantry, said first scatter detector generating a first scatter signal in response to said x-ray flux; and

a host computer receiving said detector signal and said first scatter signal and generating an image from said first scatter signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said x-ray source comprises an extended area x-ray source.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said first scatter detector is positioned substantially adjacent to said CT detector.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said first scatter detector is positioned adjacent to said x-ray source.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising a second scatter detector coupled to said gantry.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said first scatter detector is positioned on a first side of said CT detector and said second scatter detector is positioned on a second side of said CT detector.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said first scatter detector and said second scatter detector are positioned on only one side of said CT detector.