Stationary computed tomography system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A volumetric stationary CT system comprising:
- at least one stationary detector extending generally around at least a portion of an imaging volume;
at least one stationary distributed X-ray source placed proximal to the at least one stationary detector; and
a source controller for triggering one or more emitters in the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source for acquiring volumetric data by the at least one stationary detector,wherein the at least one stationary detector and the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source are configured to cooperate to contribute towards mathematical completeness of acquired volumetric data for image reconstruction, andwherein the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source includes at least two full ring sources, wherein the at least one stationary detector includes a pair of ring detectors and wherein at least one ring source of the at least two full ring sources is positioned between the pair of ring detectors.
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Abstract
Configurations for stationary imaging systems are provided. The configurations may include combinations of various types of distributed sources of X-ray radiation, which generally include addressable emitter elements which may be triggered for emission in desired sequences and combinations. The sources may be ring-like, partial ring-like, or line-like (typically along a Z-axis), and so forth. Combinations of these are envisaged. Corresponding detectors may also be full ring detectors or partial ring detectors associated with the sources to provide sufficient coverage of imaging volumes and to provide the desired mathematical completeness of the collected data.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A volumetric stationary CT system comprising:
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at least one stationary detector extending generally around at least a portion of an imaging volume; at least one stationary distributed X-ray source placed proximal to the at least one stationary detector; and a source controller for triggering one or more emitters in the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source for acquiring volumetric data by the at least one stationary detector, wherein the at least one stationary detector and the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source are configured to cooperate to contribute towards mathematical completeness of acquired volumetric data for image reconstruction, and wherein the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source includes at least two full ring sources, wherein the at least one stationary detector includes a pair of ring detectors and wherein at least one ring source of the at least two full ring sources is positioned between the pair of ring detectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A volumetric stationary CT system comprising:
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at least one stationary detector extending generally around at least a portion of an imaging volume; at least one stationary distributed X-ray source placed proximal to the at least one stationary detector; one or more line sources extending at least along a Z-direction; and a source controller for triggering one or more emitters in the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source for acquiring volumetric data by the at least one stationary detector, wherein the at least one stationary detector, the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source, and the one or more line sources are configured to cooperate to contribute towards mathematical completeness of acquired volumetric data for image reconstruction.
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15. A volumetric stationary CT system comprising:
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at least one stationary ring detector extending generally around at least a portion of an imaging volume; more than one partial ring sources flanking the at least one stationary ring detector on alternating sides of the at least one stationary ring detector and configured to emit radiation toward the ring detector; and a source controller for triggering one or more emitters in the more than one partial ring sources for acquiring volumetric data by the at least one stationary ring detector, wherein the at least one stationary ring detector, and the more than one partial ring sources are configured to cooperate to contribute towards mathematical completeness of acquired volumetric data for image reconstruction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A volumetric stationary CT system comprising:
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at least one stationary detector extending generally around at least a portion of an imaging volume; at least one stationary distributed X-ray source placed proximal to the at least one stationary detector; and a source controller for triggering one or more emitters in the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source for acquiring volumetric data by the at least one stationary detector, wherein the at least one stationary detector and the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source are configured to cooperate to contribute towards mathematical completeness of acquired volumetric data for image reconstruction, wherein the at least one stationary detector includes a helical detector, and wherein the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source includes a helical source placed adjacent to the helical detector. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. An X-ray imaging system for scanning a volume to be imaged, the system comprising:
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at least one stationary distributed X-ray source extending generally around at least a portion of an imaging volume and configured to emanate an X-ray radiation; at least one stationary detector for receiving the X-ray radiation after attenuation in the imaging volume and placed proximal to the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source; a control circuit operably coupled to the at least one distributed X-ray source, wherein the control circuit is configured for triggering one or more emitters in the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source for acquiring volumetric data by the at least one stationary detector; a processing circuit operably coupled to the at least one detector and configured to receive the 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 the at least one stationary detector and the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source are configured to cooperate to contribute towards mathematical completeness of acquired volumetric data for image reconstruction, wherein the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source includes at least two full ring sources, wherein the at least one stationary detector includes a pair of ring detectors and wherein at least one ring source of the two or more full ring sources is positioned between the pair of ring detectors. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of X-ray imaging comprising:
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providing at least one stationary detector extending generally around at least a portion of an imaging volume; providing at least one stationary distributed X-ray source placed adjacent to the at least one detector configured to emit radiation toward the detector; providing a source controller for triggering one or more emitters in the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source for acquiring volumetric data by the at least one stationary detector, wherein the at least one stationary detector and the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source are configured to cooperate to contribute towards mathematical completeness of acquired volumetric data for image reconstruction; and measuring additional data by employing line sources.
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37. A method of X-ray imaging comprising:
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providing at least one stationary detector extending generally around at least a portion of an imaging volume; providing at least one stationary distributed X-ray source placed adjacent to the at least one detector configured to emit radiation toward the detector; providing a source controller for triggering one or more emitters in the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source for acquiring volumetric data by the at least one stationary detector, wherein the at least one stationary detector and the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source are configured to cooperate to contribute towards mathematical completeness of acquired volumetric data for image reconstruction; and providing one or more ring detectors placed between two or more ring sources. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A volumetric stationary CT system comprising:
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at least two stationary detectors extending generally around at least a portion of an imaging volume; at least one stationary distributed X-ray source placed proximal to the at least two stationary detectors; a source controller for triggering one or more emitters in the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source for acquiring volumetric data by the at least two stationary detectors, wherein the at least two stationary detectors and the at least one stationary distributed X-ray source are configured to cooperate to contribute towards mathematical completeness of acquired volumetric data for image reconstruction; and one or more line sources extending at least along a Z-direction to increase mathematical completeness in acquired volumetric data for image reconstruction.
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Specification