Continuous scan tomosynthesis system and method
First Claim
1. An imaging system for performing tomosynthesis on a region of an object, said imaging system comprising:
- an x-ray source positioned a predetermined distance from said object and continuously moving along a path relative to said object, said x-ray source transmitting x-ray radiation through said region of said object at a plurality predetermined locations along said path while said x-ray source is continuously moving along said path relative to said object;
a motion controller coupled to the x-ray source and continuously moving said x-ray source along said path relative to said object wherein continuously moving said x-ray source minimizes vibration in said imaging system;
wherein said motion controller moves said x-ray source at a first velocity at said plurality of predetermined locations along said path and said motion controller moves said x-ray source at a second velocity outside said plurality of predetermined locations along said path, wherein the velocity is not equal to the first velocity;
an x-ray detector positioned a predetermined distance from said x-ray source, the x-ray detector detecting said x-ray radiation transmitted through said region of said object, said x-ray detector acquiring x-ray image data representative of said region of said object; and
a processing unit coupled to said x-ray detector for processing said x-ray image data into at least one tomosynthesis image of said region of said object.
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Abstract
An imaging system for performing tomosynthesis on a region of an object comprises an x-ray source, motion controller, an x-ray detector and a processing unit. The x-ray source is positioned at a predetermined distance from the object and continuously moves along a path relative to the object at a plurality of predetermined locations. The x-ray source transmits x-ray radiation through the region of the object. The motion controller is coupled to the x-ray source and continuously moves the x-ray source along the path relative to the object. The x-ray source minimizes vibration in the imaging system due to continuous movement. The x-ray detector is positioned at a predetermined distance from the x-ray source and detects the x-ray radiation transmitted through the region of the object, thus acquiring x-ray image data representative of the region of the object. The processing unit is coupled to the x-ray detector for processing the x-ray image data into at least one tomosynthesis image of the region of the object.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An imaging system for performing tomosynthesis on a region of an object, said imaging system comprising:
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an x-ray source positioned a predetermined distance from said object and continuously moving along a path relative to said object, said x-ray source transmitting x-ray radiation through said region of said object at a plurality predetermined locations along said path while said x-ray source is continuously moving along said path relative to said object;
a motion controller coupled to the x-ray source and continuously moving said x-ray source along said path relative to said object wherein continuously moving said x-ray source minimizes vibration in said imaging system;
wherein said motion controller moves said x-ray source at a first velocity at said plurality of predetermined locations along said path and said motion controller moves said x-ray source at a second velocity outside said plurality of predetermined locations along said path, wherein the velocity is not equal to the first velocity;
an x-ray detector positioned a predetermined distance from said x-ray source, the x-ray detector detecting said x-ray radiation transmitted through said region of said object, said x-ray detector acquiring x-ray image data representative of said region of said object; and
a processing unit coupled to said x-ray detector for processing said x-ray image data into at least one tomosynthesis image of said region of said object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for generating a tomosynthesis image of a region of an object using an imaging system, said method comprising the steps of:
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continuously moving an x-ray source along a path positioned a predetermined distance from said object wherein continuously moving said x-ray source minimizes vibration in said imaging system;
wherein the continuously moving said x-ray source comprises;
continuously moving said x-ray source at a first velocity at a plurality of predetermined locations along said path; and
continuously moving said x-ray source at a second velocity outside said plurality of predetermined locations along said path, wherein said second velocity is not equal to said first velocity;
transmitting x-ray radiation through said region of said object from said plurality of predetermined locations along said path while said x-ray source is continuously moving along said path relative to said object;
detecting said x-ray radiation transmitted through said region of said object;
acquiring x-ray image data representative of said region of said object; and
processing said x-ray image data into at least one tomosynthesis image of said region of said object. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification