U.S. Philips Corporation

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Yxlon International X-ray Gmbh

Gerhard Martens

Ewald Roessl

Thomas Koehler

Jurgen Kordts

Heiner Daerr

Udo Van Stevendaal

Geoffrey Harding

Thomas Helzel

Roland Proksa

Gereon Vogtmeier

Hanns-Ingo Maack

Rafael Wiemker

Roger Steadman Booker

Thomas Buelow

Franz Pfeiffer

Kirsten Regina Meetz

Klaus Juergen Engel

Bernd Schweizer

Jens-Peter Schlomka

Carolina Ribbing

Hans Barschdorf

Dominik Benjamin Kutra

Dieter Geller

Ewald Rössl

Ingwer-Curt Carlsen

Manfred R Liehr

Reiner U Orlowski

Peter Benjamin Theodor Noel

Maximilian Von Teuffenbach

Sebastian Siegmund Schusser

Georg Weidinger

Hans J Hoffmann

Erhard P Gunzel

Joachim W Gensel

Hendrik Albert Pastink

Ingobert H Gorlt

Thomas Detlef Istel

Hans-Detlef Dau

Bernd Geistmann

Horst Peem&ouml;ller

An X-ray imaging apparatus with an interferometer (IF) and an X-ray detector (D). A footprint of the X-ray detector (D) is larger than a footprint of the interferometer (IF). The interferometer is moved in scan motion across the detector (D) whilst the detector (D) remains stationary. Preferably the detector is a 2D full field detector.

Scanning X-ray apparatus with full-field detector

The invention relates to an X-ray imaging apparatus (), comprising: a source () for generating X-ray radiation, an object receiving space () for arranging an object of interest for X-ray imaging, an X-ray collimator arrangement () arranged between the source () and the collimator arrangement (), and an X-ray mirror arrangement (). The mirror arrangement () comprises for example two tapered mirrors () facing each other and adapted for guiding X-ray radiation of the source () to the collimator arrangement (). Consequently, the X-ray intensity at the object receiving space () is increased. In order to limit the X-ray radiation to an area, where the X-ray radiation can be utilized form imaging, an angle of spread &#x398;m between the mirrors () and a length LM of each mirror () is adapted, such that a number of total reflections of X-ray radiation, provided by the source (), at the mirrors () is limited. The limitation provides the effect that an angle of reflection &#x398;r of the totally reflected X-ray radiation is limited. Consequently, an X-ray intensity at the object receiving space () is increased while constrains are provided, which prevent a large increase of a width of the X-ray radiation provided at the object receiving space (), which effectively improves an imaging quality of an object of interest being arrangeable at the object receiving space ().

Imaging with enhanced x-ray radiation

A grating based interferometric X-ray imaging apparatus having an interferometer (IF). The interferometer comprises at least one grating (G). The grating (G) is tiltable relative to an optical axis of the X-ray imaging apparatus. This allows changing a design energy of the X-ray imaging apparatus.

Dual energy differential phase contrast imaging

A phantom body (PB) for use in a differential phase contrast imaging apparatus (IM) for calibration of same. The phantom body (PB) allows for simultaneous calibration of three different image signal channels, namely refraction, phase shift and small angle scattering.

Calibration hardware phantom for differential phase contrast imaging

Apparatus and related method for dark-field imaging. The apparatus operates on projective intensities detected at a detector in different energy channels. An energy weighting is used to improve the signal to noise ratio. The model operates in a logarithmic domain.

Optimal energy weighting of dark field signal in differential phase contrast X-ray imaging

A phase contrast imaging apparatus (MA) and related image processing method. The imaging apparatus includes a movable arm (AR) that carries a detector (D) and one or more interferometric gratings (G,G,G). The imaging apparatus includes a rigidizer (RGD) to control the rigidity of at least the arm (AR) or a mounting (GM) for the gratings (G,G,G). This allows controlling a drift of a Moir&#xe9; pattern as detected in a sequence of readouts. A phase of the so controlled Moir&#xe9; pattern can be used to calibrate the imaging apparatus by using the image processing method.

Phase retrieval for scanning differential phase contrast systems

The present invention relates to calibration in X-ray phase contrast imaging. In order to remove the disturbance due to individual gain factors, a calibration filter grating () for a slit-scanning X-ray phase contrast imaging arrangement is provided that comprises a first plurality of filter segments () comprising a filter material () and a second plurality of opening segments (). The filter segments and the opening segments are arranged alternating as a filter pattern (). The filter material is made from a material with structural elements () comprising structural parameters in the micrometer region. The filter grating is movably arranged between an X-ray source grating () and an analyzer grating () of an interferometer unit in a slit-scanning system of a phase contrast imaging arrangement. The slit-scanning system is provided with a pre-collimator () comprising a plurality of bars () and slits (). The filter pattern is aligned with the pre-collimator pattern ().

Correction in slit-scanning phase contrast imaging

The invention relates to a system () for generating spectral computed tomography projection data. A spectral projection data generation device () comprising an energy-resolving detector generates spectral computed tomography projection databased on polychromatic radiation (), which has been provided by a radiation device (), after having traversed an examination zone (), and a reference values generation device generates energy-dependent reference values based on radiation, which has not traversed the examination zone. A spectral parameter providing unit () provides a spectral parameter being indicative of a spectral property of the radiation device based on the energy-dependent reference values. In particular, spectral properties of the radiation device can be monitored over time, wherein this information can be used for, for instance, correcting the spectral computed tomography projection data, and/or, if undesired spectral properties of the radiation device are indicated, triggering a replacement of the radiation device.

System for generating spectral computed tomography projection data

A method and a device for analyzing a region of interest in an object is proposed. The method comprises: (a) providing measurement data by a differential phase contrast X-ray imaging system, and (b) analyzing characteristics of the object in the region of interest. Therein, the measurement data comprise a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional set of pixels wherein for each pixel the measurement data comprises three types of image data spatially aligned with each other, including (i) absorption representing image data A, (ii) differential phase contrast representing image data D, and (iii) coherence representing image data C. The analyzing step is based, for each pixel, on a combination of at least two of information comprised in the absorption representing image data A and information comprised in the differential phase contrast representing image data D and information comprised in the coherence representing image data C.

Method and device for analysing a region of interest in an object using x-rays

An X-ray imaging method includes acquiring a differential phase contrast imaging X-ray scan with an X-ray imaging system having an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, and a grating arrangement having a source grating, a phase grating and an analyzer grating. The source grating is misaligned in respect to an interferometer such that moir&#xe9; fringes are detectable in the plane of the detector. A translation signal is computed for translating the source grating for achieving a predetermined moir&#xe9; pattern. The positioning of the source grating is adjusted in an X-ray projection direction based on the translation signal such that at least 2 pi of phase changes are covered with the Moir&#xe9; fringes over the width of the detector. And a further differential phase contrast imaging X-ray scan is acquired.

Aligning source-grating-to-phase-grating distance for multiple order phase tuning in differential phase contrast imaging

X-ray apparatus, with a collimator arrangement () positioned between the focus point () and the detector (), mechanics () for enabling motion of the collimator arrangement, the detector and the x-ray source along a scan trajectory () in a x-z plane () and also along curved scan trajectory (), which partly extents along a y-axis () perpendicular to the x-z plane. By using this invention better tissue coverage of objects with curved edges can be obtained.

X-ray apparatus

The invention relates to a detection values processing apparatus. Energy-dependent detection values are provided, which are indicative of polychromatic radiation () after having traversed an examination zone (). The radiation is filtered by a filter () which comprises K-edge filter material. A component decomposition technique is applied to the detection values for determining K-edge attenuation values being first component attenuation values, which are indicative of an attenuation caused by the K-edge filter material, and additional component attenuation values, which are indicative of an attenuation caused by additional components of the examination zone, wherein an image of the examination zone is reconstructed from the additional component attenuation values. An image can therefore be reconstructed, which is not adversely affected by the filter, because the K-edge attenuation values are not used for reconstructing the image. This can improve the quality of the reconstructed image.

Detection values processing apparatus

An X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging system has three circular gratings. The circular gratings are aligned with the optical axis of the radiation beam and a phase stepping is performed along the optical axis with the focal spot, the phase grating and/or the absorber grating. The signal measured is the phase-gradient in radial direction away from the optical axis.

Differential phase-contrast imaging with circular gratings

An X-ray image acquisition apparatus employing phase-contrast imaging with enlarged field of view includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector element having a detector size, a beam splitter grating and an analyzer grating. An object is arrangeable between the X-ray source and detector. The beam splitter grating and the analyzer grating are arrangeable between the X-ray source and detector. The X-ray source, the beam splitter grating, the analyzer grating and the X-ray detector are operatively coupled such that a phase-contrast image of the object is obtainable. The apparatus is configure to acquire a phase-contrast image having a field of view larger than the detector size. The X-ray detector element is displaceable where, by the displacement of the X-ray detector, a phase-contrast image of the enlarged field of view is obtainable.

Apparatus for phase-contrast imaging comprising a displaceable X-ray detector element and method

The invention relates to a method and a device for determining the distribution of an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) marker () in a body volume (). The body volume () is irradiated with a beam of rays () from an X-ray source () with a first ray component with a quantum energy just above and a second ray component with a quantum energy just below the K-edge of the XRF marker (). Secondary radiation emitted from the body volume () is detected in a location-resolved way by a detector (). To separate the X-ray fluorescence components in the secondary radiation from background radiation, the body volume is irradiated for a second time with a beam of rays from which the first ray component has been substantially removed by a filter () made from the material of the XRF marker.

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Henstedt-Ulzburg, Germany

Gerhard Martens