The General Hospital Corporation

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Brown University

Boston University

Corporate Sponsored Research and Licensing for Massachusetts General Hospital, Partners Healthcare System, Inc.

Rajiv Gupta

Richard C Lanza

Akintunde Ibitayo Akinwande

George Barbastathis

Theodore F Morse

Avilash Cramer

Paul Waltz

Berthold Klaus Paul Horn

Alexander H Slocum, Jr

Berthold K P Horn

Angus Ian Kingon

Christopher W Bull

Yongjin Sung

Ramesh Raskar

Achuta Kadambi

Jonah H Jacob

Thomas J Brady

Synho Do

Theodore Morse

Wolfgang Krull

Chistopher Bull

Adam Pan

Carson B Roberts

Robert D Chivas

Stephen E Jones

Chika Kamezawa

Wataru Yashiro

Kazuyuki Hyodo

X-ray absorption of breast cancers and surrounding healthy tissue can be very similar, a situation that sometimes leads to missed cancers or false-positive diagnoses. To increase the accuracy of tomosynthesis and cancer diagnosis, dynamic X-ray elastography using a novel pulsed X-ray source synchronized to shear waves generated in a sample is described in the present disclosure. This imaging modality provides both absorption and mechanical properties of the imaged sample. A vibration source is used to vibrate the sample while a synchronously pulsed cold cathode X-ray source images the mechanical deformation. The generated stroboscopic images are further used to derive stiffness maps of the sample in addition to the conventional X-ray image.

System and method for X-ray elastography using dynamic pulsing

System and method for nanoscale X-ray imaging. The imaging system comprises an electron source configured to generate an electron beam along a first direction; an X-ray source comprising a thin film anode configured to receive the electron beam at an electron beam spot on the thin film anode, and to emit an X-ray beam substantially along the first direction from a portion of the thin film anode proximate the electron beam spot, such that the X-ray beam passes through the sample specimen. The imaging apparatus further comprises an X-ray detector configured to receive the X-ray beam that passes through the sample specimen. Some embodiments are directed to an electron source that is an electron column of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and is configured to focus the electron beam at the electron beam spot.

Apparatus and method for nanoscale X-ray imaging

System and method for imaging an integrated circuit (IC). The imaging system comprises an x-ray source including a plurality of spatially and temporally addressable electron sources, an x-ray detector arranged such that incident x-rays are oriented normal to an incident surface of the x-ray detector and a three-axis stage arranged between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector, the three-axis stage configured to have mounted thereon an integrated circuit through which x-rays generated by the x-ray source pass during operation of the imaging system. The imaging system further comprises at least one controller configured to move the three-axis stage during operation of the imaging system and selectively activate a subset of the electron sources during movement of the three-axis stage to acquire a set of intensity data by the x-ray detector as the three-axis stage moves along a three-dimensional trajectory.

Nanoscale X-ray tomosynthesis for rapid analysis of integrated circuit (IC) dies

System and method for nanoscale X-ray imaging of biological specimen. The imaging system comprises an X-ray source including a plurality of spatially and temporally addressable electron sources, an X-ray detector arranged such that incident X-rays are oriented normal to an incident surface of the X-ray detector and a stage arranged between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector, the stage configured to have mounted thereon a biological specimen through which X-rays generated by the X-ray source pass during operation of the imaging system. The imaging system further comprises at least one controller configured to move the stage during operation of the imaging system and selectively activate a subset of the electron sources during movement of the stage to acquire a set of intensity data by the X-ray detector as the stage moves along a three-dimensional trajectory.

System and method for nanoscale X-ray imaging of biological specimen

For each X-ray path through a tissue, numerous trials are conducted. In each trial, X-ray photons are emitted along the path until a Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode 'clicks'. A temporal average&#x2014;i.e., the average amount of time elapsed before a 'click' occurs&#x2014;is calculated. This temporal average is, in turn, used to estimate a causal intensity of X-ray light that passes through the tissue along the path and reaches the diode. Based on the causal intensities for multiple paths, a computer generates computed tomography (CT) images or 2D digital radiographic images. The causal intensities used to create the images are estimated from temporal statistics, and not from conventional measurements of intensity at a pixel. X-ray dosage needed for imaging is dramatically reduced as follows: a &#x201c;click&#x201d; of the photodiode triggers negative feedback that causes the system to halt irradiation of the tissue along a path, until the next trial begins.

Methods and apparatus for X-ray imaging from temporal measurements

A system and method for computed tomography (CT) imaging is provided. The system includes a gantry having a first and second circumference defining locations fixed in relation to a subject arranged therein, the first and second circumference being axially separated, and spaced from a central axial plane of the gantry. The system also includes a plurality of source modules arranged at locations along the first circumference, and configured for directing X-ray beams toward the subject using a selected illumination pattern, and a plurality of detector modules arranged at locations along the second circumference, wherein the source and detector modules are angled toward the central axial plane such that each source module is diametrically opposed to one or more detector modules. The system further includes an acquisition system configured for controlling the plurality of source modules in accordance with the selected illumination pattern, and acquiring CT image data from the plurality of detector modules.

System and method for motion-free computed tomography

A method and apparatus to manufacture a coherent bundle of scintillating fibers is disclosed. A method includes providing a collimated bundle having a glass preform with capillaries therethrough known in the industry as a glass capillary array, and infusing the glass capillary array with a scintillating polymer or a polymer matrix containing scintillating nanoparticles.

Method and apparatus for creating coherent bundle of scintillating fibers

An x-ray source for use in Phase Contrast Imaging is disclosed. In particular, the x-ray source includes a cathode array of individually controlled field-emission electron guns. The field emission guns include very small diameter tips capable of producing a narrow beam of electrons. Beams emitted from the cathode array are accelerated through an acceleration cavity and are directed to a transmission type anode, impinging on the anode to create a small spot size, typically less than five micrometers. The individually controllable electron guns can be selectively activated in patterns, which can be advantageously used in Phase Contrast Imaging.

Distributed, field emission-based X-ray source for phase contrast imaging

Described here is a method for performing phase contrast imaging using an array of independently controllable x-ray sources. The array of x-ray sources can be controlled to produce a distinct spatial pattern of x-ray radiation and thus can be used to encode phase contrast signals without the need for a coded aperture. The lack of coded aperture increases the flexibility of the imaging method. For instance, because a fixed, coded aperture is not required, the angular resolution of the imaging technique can be increased as compared to coded-aperture imaging. Moreover, the lack of a radioopaque coded aperture increases the photon flux that reaches the subject, thereby increasing the attainable signal-to-noise ratio.

Method for coded-source phase contrast X-ray imaging

A system and method for producing an image of a subject with a tomographic imaging system are provided. A tomographic imaging system is operated to rotate a radiation detector, radiation source, or both through a plurality of angular positions around a subject while acquiring data. As the radiation detector or source is rotated, the radiation detector or source is shifted at each angular position by a different shift value. An image of the subject is reconstructed from the acquired data using a reconstruction technique that incorporates the shifts applied to the detector, source, or both into a system matrix.

System and method for ultra-high resolution tomographic imaging

A method and apparatus to manufacture a coherent bundle of scintillating fibers is disclosed. In the method and apparatus, a polymer matrix of a transparent polymer and nanoparticle scintillators is placed on top of a collimated bundle having a plurality of capillaries and pressed in a pressure vessel until the polymer matrix is forced into the capillaries. Pressure is applied via an anvil on top of the polymer matrix. To prevent fracturing of the collimated bundle during pressing, back pressure is supplied to the pressure vessel via a valve, which controls a supply of high pressure gas. Alternatively, the back pressure may also be supplied by a press (and or pressure) and support to the collimated bundle is provided by a high melting point thermoplastic. Heat may be applied to the polymer matrix via the anvil to speed the pressing operation due to the viscosity of the polymer.

Systems and methods for performing x-ray phase-contrast imaging using a conventional x-ray source and detector are provided. An array of x-ray focusing elements it provided and used to focus x-ray onto a pattern of multiple different focal spots. When an object is introduced into the beam path, the focal spots will be displaced based on the x-rays being refracted by the object. A refraction angle map is produced and used to generate a phase contrast image, such as an image that indicates the electron density distribution in the object. Multi-spectral imaging can be achieved by utilizing the chromatic aberration of the array of x-ray focusing elements and sweeping the detector through different focal planes associated with different x-ray energy levels or sweeping the peak voltage of the x-ray source for a fixed object-to-detector distance.

Systems and methods for x-ray phase contrast imaging using arrays of x-ray focusing elements

A bundle of drawn fibers that have X-ray scintillating unagglommerated nanocrystallite particles in plastic or glass cores of down to 0.1 micron spacing and claddings of X-ray absorbing compounds in the cladding composition. Optional is a cover to the bundle that blocks light from leaving the bundle at the X-ray side while allowing X-rays to pass into the cores. To image the light exiting the fiber bundle at the sub-micron level, light expansion is preferable using either a lens system or a fiber bundle expander.

High definition scintillation detector for medicine, homeland security and non-destructive evaluation

A system and method for determining the temporal resolution of a tomographic imaging device uses an apparatus to drive one or more dynamic phantoms composed of multiple materials. The apparatus is placed at or near the isocenter of the imaging device and the one or more phantoms are moved to produce a plurality of dynamic features, each having a specified frequency. The dynamic features are imaged with the device and the acquired image data corresponding to the dynamic features is analyzed to determine a temporal modulation transfer value at each of the known specified frequencies. The temporal resolution of the imaging device is determined using these temporal modulation transfer values.

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Wayland, MA, United States of America

Rajiv Gupta