Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Nxp B.v.

Astrid Lewalter

Rainer Pietig

Michael Grass

Christoph Herrmann

Werner Hufenbach

Peter G Steeneken

Rolf Karl Otto Behling

Christoph Loef

Bernd R David

Kai Eck

Rainer Kiewitt

Matthias Simon

Guenter Zeitler

Carolina Ribbing

Christoph Helmut Bathe

Georg Rose

Olaf Wischhusen

Oliver Muelhens

Wolfgang Chrost

Heiko Pelzer

Albert Langkamp

Thomas Behnisch

Heiko Richter

A distributed X-ray source () and an imaging system () comprising such an X-ray source () are proposed. The X-ray source () comprises an electron beam source arrangement () and an anode arrangement (). The electron beam source arrangement () is adapted to emit electron beams () towards at least two locally distinct focal spots () on the anode arrangement (). Therein, the X-ray source is adapted for displacing the anode arrangement () with respect to the electron beam source arrangement (). While the provision of a plurality of focal spots allows acquisition of projection images under different projection angles thereby allowing reconstruction of three-dimensional X-ray images e.g. in tomosynthesis application, a displacement motion of the anode arrangement () with respect to the electron beam source arrangement () may allow for distributed heat flux to the anode arrangement thereby possibly reducing cooling requirements.

Distributed X-ray source and X-ray imaging system comprising the same

This invention relates to high power X-ray sources, in particular to those equipped with a rotating X-ray anode capable of delivering a higher short time peak power than conventional rotating x-ray anodes. This invention can overcome the thermal limitation of peak power by allowing fast rotation of the anode and by introducing a lightweight material with high thermal conductivity in the region adjacent to the focal track material. The fast rotation can be provided by using sections of the rotating anode disk made of anisotropic high specific strength materials with high thermal stability that can be specifically adapted to the high stresses of anode operation. Uses include high speed image acquisition for X-ray imaging, for example, of moving objects in real-time such as in medical radiography.

Hybrid design of an anode disk structure for high prower X-ray tube configurations of the rotary-anode type

The device improved according to the invention comprises a micro-electromechanical switch (MEMS) with a piezoelectric element connected to a mechanical support on both sides at the edges. The electrode design of this piezoelectric element is characterized by two electrodes mounted on at least one of the surfaces.

Electronic apparatus with a micro-electromechanical switch made of a piezoeletric material

Systems and methods for data acquisition in computed tomography (CT) applications are provided. The systems and methods are particularly adapted for scanning and acquiring/processing data in connection with high-power cone-beam CT applications. The electron beam is moved/scanned along the anode surface to multiple focal positions. Data acquisition for a full projection at one focus position and one view angle is achieved by activating each focus position multiple times during the data acquisition for one angle of the gantry. The detector array and associated data processing system are adapted to rapidly switch between the different focus positions during the acquisitions for one view angle and to collect all data belonging to the same projection into the same data set. Adaptive electron optics are utilized to move/scan the electron beam along the anode surface to the various focus positions. Alternatively, a plurality of cathodes may be provided for respective focus positions and the system may support fast switching therebetween to achieve desirably short spot times. The disclosed CT system permits greater power densities without risk of heat damage to the anode and effectively increases the track velocity of the electron beam on the anode surface. The CT system and associated data acquisition methods have particular utility in CT applications requiring increased time resolution and/or spatial resolution, e.g., cardiac CT applications.

Systems and methods for scanning and data acquisition in computed tomography (CT) applications

A computed tomography reconstruction method includes concurrently emitting radiation from at least two x-ray sources (), switching the output state of each of the at least two x-ray sources () within a plurality of respective cross scatter sampling intervals () and detecting with a corresponding one of the sets of detectors () cross scatter radiation emitted by the other at least two x-ray sources (), wherein the cross scatter sampling intervals are angularly spaced over a plurality of frames to allow the at least two x-ray sources () to concurrently emit radiation throughout at least one frame, deriving scatter correction data for each set of detectors () from corresponding cross scatter samples, scatter correcting the projection data with corresponding scatter correction data, and reconstructing the scatter corrected projection data to generate at least one image.

Multi-tube imaging system scatter correction

Growing community of inventors

Aachen, Germany

Astrid Lewalter