Dynamic multi-spectral CT imaging
First Claim
1. A method of imaging and determining constituents of a body, the method comprising steps of:
- (a) projecting X-ray radiation along paths through a body by scanning a beam of X-ray radiation with respect to the body in synchronicity with system configuration for selective emission of the X-ray radiation having M sets of spectral characteristics to provide T sets of measurements in M spectra, the paths extending from an X-ray source to a detector commensurate with an x-ray source excursion in such a manner as to acquire sufficient data for at least one of a tomographic reconstruction and a tomosynthesis reconstruction, the paths extending from an X-ray source to a detector;
(b) detecting the X-ray radiation with a plurality of detectors that each define an X-ray path terminus;
(c) generating a plurality of signals representative of attenuation of the X-ray radiation on the X-ray paths, the plurality of signals allocated to one of the T sets of measurements;
(d) iterating through the above steps (a) through (c) to acquire the T sets of measurements in M sets of spectra in consequence of the projecting step (a) to provide multispectral projection data, the iterations being performed in such a manner that there is spatial commonality between respective ones of the T sets of measurements where each one of the T sets of measurements is substantially spatially aligned with at least a subset of another of the T sets of measurements; and
(e) processing the multispectral projection data to provide first information for a at least one of a multispectral tomographic and a multispectral tomosynthesis reconstruction, to obtain image data decomposed onto basis functions representative of body constituents, and to obtain analytical results indicative of a diagnostic condition.
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Abstract
A multispectral X-ray imaging system uses a wideband source and filtration assembly to select for M sets of spectral data. Spectral characteristics may be dynamically adjusted in synchrony with scan excursions where an X-ray source, detector array, or body may be moved relative to one another in acquiring T sets of measurement data. The system may be used in projection imaging and/or CT imaging. Processed image data, such as a CT reconstructed image, may be decomposed onto basis functions for analytical processing of multispectral image data to facilitate computer assisted diagnostics. The system may perform this diagnostic function in medical applications and/or security applications.
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Citations
128 Claims
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1. A method of imaging and determining constituents of a body, the method comprising steps of:
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(a) projecting X-ray radiation along paths through a body by scanning a beam of X-ray radiation with respect to the body in synchronicity with system configuration for selective emission of the X-ray radiation having M sets of spectral characteristics to provide T sets of measurements in M spectra, the paths extending from an X-ray source to a detector commensurate with an x-ray source excursion in such a manner as to acquire sufficient data for at least one of a tomographic reconstruction and a tomosynthesis reconstruction, the paths extending from an X-ray source to a detector;
(b) detecting the X-ray radiation with a plurality of detectors that each define an X-ray path terminus;
(c) generating a plurality of signals representative of attenuation of the X-ray radiation on the X-ray paths, the plurality of signals allocated to one of the T sets of measurements;
(d) iterating through the above steps (a) through (c) to acquire the T sets of measurements in M sets of spectra in consequence of the projecting step (a) to provide multispectral projection data, the iterations being performed in such a manner that there is spatial commonality between respective ones of the T sets of measurements where each one of the T sets of measurements is substantially spatially aligned with at least a subset of another of the T sets of measurements; and
(e) processing the multispectral projection data to provide first information for a at least one of a multispectral tomographic and a multispectral tomosynthesis reconstruction, to obtain image data decomposed onto basis functions representative of body constituents, and to obtain analytical results indicative of a diagnostic condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A process for imaging and determining two or more constituents of a body, comprising:
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illuminating the body with X-ray radiation while adjusting, over time, spectra of the X-ray radiation and moving the X-ray source;
capturing the X-ray radiation with a moving detector array, over time and synchronously with the adjustment of the spectra, and processing data from the detector array to image and determine the body constituents.
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60. A system for imaging and determining constituents of a body, comprising:
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(a) means for projecting X-ray radiation along paths through a body by scanning a beam of X-ray radiation with respect to the body in synchronicity with system configuration for selective emission of the X-ray radiation having M sets of spectral characteristics to provide T sets of measurements, the paths extending from an X-ray source to a detector commensurate with an x-ray source excursion in such a manner as to acquire sufficient data for at least one of a multispectral tomographic reconstruction and a multispectral tomosynthesis reconstruction, the paths extending from an X-ray source to a detector;
(b) means for detecting the X-ray radiation with a plurality of detectors that each define an X-ray path terminus;
(c) means for generating a plurality of signals representative of attenuation of the X-ray radiation on the X-ray paths, the plurality of signals allocated to one of the T sets of measurements;
(d) means for iterating through use of the above means (a) through (c) to acquire T sets of measurements in M sets of spectra in consequence of the projecting step (a) to provide multispectral projection data, the iterations being performed in such a manner that there is spatial commonality between respective ones of the T sets of measurements where each one of the T sets of measurements is substantially spatially aligned with at least a subset of another of the T sets of measurements; and
(e) means for processing the multispectral projection data to provide first information for a at least one of a multispectral tomographic and a multispectral tomosynthesis reconstruction, to obtain image data decomposed onto basis functions representative of body constituents, and to obtain analytical results indicative of a diagnostic condition. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125)
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126. A dynamic multi-spectral X-ray imaging and analysis system, comprising:
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an X-ray source for illuminating a body with X-ray radiation with adjustable spectra;
a plurality of detectors for detecting the X-ray radiation; and
means for moving the source and detectors with respect to the body while changing X-ray radiation spectrum to synchronize detection of the X-ray radiation with spectrum changes and body advance along the longitudinal system axis, wherein data from the detectors represents multi-spectral characteristics of the body. - View Dependent Claims (127, 128)
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Specification