Stationary computed tomography system and method

• US 7,142,629 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Edie, Peter Michael, Bernard De Man, Bruno Kristiaan
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick, Edward J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SONG, HOON K
• Application Number:
  US10/814,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20050226363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 378/9, 378/10, 378/11, 378/21, 378/22, 378/4, 378/12, 378/17, 378/19, 378/62, 378/122, 378/136
• US Class Current: 378/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/027 characterised by the use of a particular data acquisition trajectory, e.g. helical or spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4014 arranged in multiple source-detector units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4028 resulting in acquisition of views from substantially different positions, e.g. EBCT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4275 using a detector unit almost surrounding the patient, e.g. more than 180°
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4452 the source unit and the detector unit being able to move relative to each other

Abstract

A radiological imaging system includes one or more radiation sources substantially surrounding a desired portion of an imaging volume and configured to emanate a radiation beam from a plurality of individual source positions around the imaging volume, and one or more detectors configured to receive the transmitted radiation beam. At least one of the radiation source and the detector are displaceable to allow an unimpeded path for the radiation beam and to receive the transmitted radiation beam more completely.

Claims

1. An imaging system comprising:

one or more distributed X-ray sources substantially surrounding a desired portion of an imaging volume and configured to emanate a radiation beam from a plurality of individual source positions around the imaging volume; and

one or more X-ray detectors configured to receive the radiation beam transmitted through the desired portion of the volume,

wherein at least one of the one or more distributed X-ray sources or the one or more X-ray detectors are displaceable transversely and one or more X-ray detectors are stationary to allow an unimpeded path for the radiation beam to illuminate the desired portion of the imaging volume and for the X-ray detector to receive the radiation beam.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more X-ray detectors are configured to move transversely to allow the radiation beam to illuminate the desired portion of the imaging volume by opening at least one individual aperture for the one or more distributed X-ray sources to emanate the radiation beam.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more sections of the one or more X-ray detectors are configured to move transversely and one or more sections of the one or more X-ray detectors are configured to be stationary to allow the radiation beam to illuminate the desired portion of the imaging volume by opening at least one individual aperture for the one or more distributed X-ray sources to emanate the radiation beam.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more X-ray detectors are configured to nutate to allow the radiation beam to illuminate the desired portion of the imaging volume by opening at least one individual aperture for the one or more distributed radiation sources to emanate the radiation beam.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more sections of the one or more X-ray detectors are configured to nutate and one or more sections of the one or more X-ray detectors are configured to be stationary to allow the radiation beam to illuminate the desired portion of the imaging volume by opening at least one individual aperture for the one or more distributed X-ray sources to emanate the radiation beam.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more X-ray detectors are configured to move transversely to intercept the radiation beam by covering at least a portion of the aperture from one or more individual X-ray source positions located generally opposite to the one or more distributed X-ray sources emanating the radiation beam.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more X-ray detectors are configured to nutate to intercept the radiation beam by covering at least a portion of the aperture of one or more individual X-ray source positions located generally opposite to the one or more distributed X-ray sources emanating the radiation beam.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more sections of the one or more X-ray detectors are configured to move transversely and one or more sections of the one or more X-ray detectors are configured to be stationary to intercept the radiation beam by covering at least a portion of the aperture of one or more individual X-ray source positions located generally opposite to the one or more distributed X-ray sources emanating the radiation beam.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one section of the one or more X-ray detectors are configured to nutate to intercept the radiation beam by covering at least partially the aperture of at least one different individual X-ray source position located generally opposite to the one or more distributed X-ray sources emanating the radiation beam.

10. An imaging system comprising:

one or more distributed X-ray sources substantially surrounding a desired portion of an imaging volume and configured to emanate a radiation beam from a plurality of individual X-ray source positions around the imaging volume; and

one or more X-ray detectors configured to be stationary and one or more X-ray detectors configured to move transversely for at least one of;

causing the radiation beam to illuminate the desired portion of the imaging volume by opening at least one individual aperture for the one or more X-ray sources to emanate the radiation beam; and

intercepting the radiation beam by covering at least a portion of the aperture required by one or more individual X-ray positions located generally opposite to the one or more distributed X-ray sources emanating the radiation beam.

11. An imaging system comprising:

one or more distributed X-ray sources substantially surrounding a desired portion of an imaging volume and configured to emanate a radiation beam from a plurality of individual X-ray source positions around the imaging volume; and

one or more sections of one or more X-ray detectors configured to be stationary and one or more sections of one or more X-ray detectors configured to move transversely for at least one of;

causing the radiation beam to illuminate the desired portion of the imaging volume by opening at least one individual aperture for the one or more distributed X-ray sources to emanate the radiation beam; and

intercepting the radiation beam by covering at least a portion of the aperture required by one or more individual X-ray source positions located generally opposite to the one or more distributed X-ray sources emanating the radiation beam.

12. An imaging system comprising:

one or more distributed X-ray sources substantially surrounding a desired portion of an imaging volume and configured to emanate a radiation beam from a plurality of individual X-ray source positions around the imaging volume; and

one or more X-ray detectors configured to be stationary and one or more X-ray detectors configured to at least one of nutate or move transversely for at least one of;

causing the radiation beam to illuminate the desired portion of the imaging volume by opening at least one individual aperture for the one or more distributed X-ray sources to emanate the radiation beam; and

intercepting the radiation beam by covering at least a portion of the aperture of at least one different individual X-ray source position located generally opposite to the one or more distributed X-ray sources emanating the radiation beam.

13. An imaging system comprising:

one or more distributed X-ray sources substantially surrounding a desired portion of an imaging volume and configured to emanate a radiation beam from a plurality of individual X-ray source positions around the imaging volume; and

one or more sections of one or more X-ray detectors configured to be stationary and one or more sections of one or more X-ray detectors configured to at least one of nutate or move transversely for at least one of;

causing the radiation beam to illuminate the desired portion of the imaging volume by opening at least one individual aperture for the one or more distributed X-ray sources to emanate the radiation beam; and

intercepting the radiation beam by covering at least a portion of the aperture of at least one different individual X-ray source position located generally opposite to the one or more distributed X-ray sources emanating the radiation beam.

14. A stationary CT system comprising:

a plurality of X-ray sources arranged relative to a volume to be imaged, each X-ray source configured to emanate an X-ray beam; and

a plurality of X-ray detectors arranged generally across from respective X-ray sources, wherein at least one of an X-ray source from the plurality of X-ray sources or a X-ray detector from the plurality of X-ray detectors are configured to be displaced transversely to allow an unimpeded path for the X-ray beam to illuminate a desired portion of an imaging volume and for the X-ray detector to receive a transmitted X-ray beam, and wherein the remaining X-ray detectors from the plurality of X-ray detectors are stationary.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the X-ray detector is configured to at least one of nutate or move transversely and to open an aperture for an adjacent X-ray source to emanate the X-ray beam.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein a section of the X-ray detector is configured to at least one of nutate or move transversely and one or more sections of the plurality of X-ray detectors are configured to be stationary to open an aperture for an adjacent X-ray source to emanate the X-ray beam.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the X-ray detector is configured to at least one of nutate or move transversely to cover at least a portion of an aperture for one or more adjacent X-ray sources located generally opposite to an X-ray source emanating the X-ray beam.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein a section of the X-ray detector is configured to at least one of nutate or move transversely and one or more sections of the plurality of X-ray detectors are configured to be stationary to cover at least a portion of an aperture for one or more adjacent X-ray sources located generally opposite to an X-ray source emanating the X-ray beam.

19. An imaging system for scanning a volume to be imaged, the system comprising:

one or more distributed X-ray sources substantially surrounding a desired portion of an imaging volume and configured to emanate a radiation beam from a plurality of individual X-ray source positions around the imaging volume;

a control circuit operably coupled to the source;

one or more X-ray detectors to receive a transmitted radiation;

a motor controller configured to displace at least one of the source and the detector;

a processing circuit operably coupled to the detector configured to receive a plurality of projection images and to form one or more reconstructed slices representative of the volume being imaged; and

an operator workstation operably coupled to the processing circuit configured to display the one or more reconstructed slices,

wherein at least one of the one or more distributed X-ray sources or the one or more X-ray detectors are displaceable transversely and one or more X-ray detectors are stationary to allow an unimpeded path for generation of the radiation beam and the reception of the transmitted radiation beam.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

one or more X-ray detectors configured to be are stationary; and

one or more X-ray detectors configured to at least one of nutate or move transversely for at least one of;

allowing the radiation beam to illuminate the desired portion of the imaging volume by opening at least one individual aperture for the one or more distributed X-ray sources to emanate the radiation beam; and

intercepting the radiation beam by covering at least a portion of the aperture of at least one different individual X-ray source positions located generally opposite to the one or more distributed X-ray sources emanating the radiation beam.

21. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

one or more sections of one or more X-ray detectors configured to be stationary; and

one or more sections of one or more X-ray detectors configured to one of nutate or move transversely for at least one of;

allowing the radiation beam to illuminate the desired portion of the imaging volume by opening at least one individual aperture for the one or more distributed X-ray sources to emanate the radiation beam; and

intercepting the radiation beam by covering at least a portion of the aperture of at least one different individual X-ray source positions located generally opposite to the one or more distributed X-ray sources emanating the radiation beam.

22. An imaging system comprising:

one or more distributed X-ray sources substantially surrounding a desired portion of an imaging volume and configured to emanate a radiation beam from a plurality of individual X-ray source positions around the imaging volume; and

one or more sections of one or more X-ray detectors configured to be stationary; and

one or more sections of one or more X-ray detectors configured to one of nutate or move transversely for at least one of;

allowing the radiation beam to illuminate the desired portion of the imaging volume by opening at least one individual aperture for the one or more distributed X-ray sources to emanate the radiation beam; and

intercepting the radiation beam by covering at least a portion of the aperture of at least one different individual X-ray source positions located generally opposite to the one or more distributed X-ray sources emanating the radiation beam.

23. An imaging system comprising:

one or more distributed X-ray sources substantially surrounding a desired portion of an imaging volume and configured to emanate a radiation beam from a plurality of individual X-ray source positions around the imaging volume; and

one or more X-ray detectors configured to receive a transmitted radiation beam,

wherein at least one of the X-ray source or the X-ray detector is displaceable transversely and the one or more X-ray detectors are stationary to allow illumination of the desired portion of the imaging volume and for the X-ray detector to receive the transmitted radiation beam.

24. An imaging system comprising:

one or more distributed X-ray sources substantially surrounding a desired portion of an imaging volume and configured to emanate a radiation beam from a plurality of individual X-ray source positions around the imaging volume; and

one or more X-ray detectors configured to receive a transmitted radiation beam,

wherein at least one of the X-ray source or the X-ray detector is nutated or displaced transversely and the one or more X-ray detectors are stationary to allow illumination of the desired portion of the imaging volume and for the X-ray detector to receive the transmitted radiation beam.

25. A method of scanning a volume to be imaged, the method comprising:

triggering a distributed X-ray source for emanating a radiation beam;

displacing transversely one or more X-ray detectors positioned generally adjacent to the distributed X-ray source to allow an unimpeded path for the radiation beam to illuminate an imaging volume; and

displacing one or more X-ray detectors positioned generally opposite to the distributed X-ray source to intercept a transmitted radiation beam,

wherein the one or more X-ray detectors comprise stationary detectors and movable detectors.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising displacing a section of one or more X-ray detectors for allowing an unimpeded path for the radiation beam to illuminate the imaging volume, wherein the one or more X-ray detectors comprise stationary sections and movable sections.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising displacing a section of one or more X-ray detectors for intercepting the transmitted radiation beam, wherein the one or more X-ray detectors comprise stationary sections and movable sections.