Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.v.

Udo Van Stevendaal

Peter Forthmann

Ewald Roessl

Thomas Koehler

Holger Schmitt

Gerhard Martens

Michael Grass

Heiner Daerr

Roland Proksa

Claas Bontus

Rafael Wiemker

Gereon Vogtmeier

Tobias Klinder

Hanns-Ingo Maack

Bernhard Johannes Brendel

Dirk Schaefer

Franz Pfeiffer

Thomas Köhler

Jens-Peter Schlomka

Shlomo Gotman

Matthias Bertram

Robert M Manzke

Guy A Lavi

Peter Benjamin Theodor Noel

Maximilian Von Teuffenbach

Colas Schretter

Steffen Wiesner

Hendrik Albert Pastink

Thomas Detlef Istel

Carsten Oliver Schirra

Schlomo Gotman

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

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

An imaging system () analyzes airways of a patient. The system () includes a hardware phantom () including tubes () representative of airways. The tubes () include different lumen sizes and/or wall thicknesses. The system further includes an imaging scanner () for scanning a region of interest (ROI), including the airways, and the hardware phantom () to create raw image data. At least one processor () is programmed to at least one of: (1) correct measurements of walls of the airways based on measurements of lumen size and/or wall thickness of the tubes () and known lumen size and/or wall thickness of the tubes (); and (2) generate an image of the ROI in which color and/or opacity of the airways are based on a comparison of images or maps of the tubes () and images or maps of the airways. A corresponding method is also provided.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) phantom for computed tomography (CT) and methods of using the same

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 handling misalignment in differential phase contrast imaging. In order to provide an improved handling of misalignment in X-ray imaging systems for differential phase contrast imaging, an X-ray imaging system () for differential phase contrast imaging is provided that comprises a differential phase contrast setup () with an X-ray source (), an X-ray detector (), and a grating arrangement comprising a source grating (), a phase grating () and an analyzer grating (). The source grating is arranged between the X-ray source and the phase grating, and the analyzer grating is arranged between the phase grating and the detector. Further, the system comprises a processing unit (), and a measurement system () for determining a misalignment of at least one of the gratings. The X-ray source and the source grating are provided as a rigid X-ray source unit (). The phase grating, the analyzer grating and the detector are provided as a rigid X-ray detection unit (). The measurement system is an optical measurement system configured to determine a misalignment between the differential phase contrast setup consisting of the X-ray source unit and the X-ray detection unit. Further, the processing unit is configured to provide a correction signal () based on the determined misalignment.

Handling misalignment in differential phase contrast imaging

A method includes obtaining a dark-field signal generated from a dark-field CT scan of an object, wherein the dark-field CT scan is at least a 360 degree scan. The method further includes weighting the dark-field signal. The method further includes performing a cone beam reconstruction of the weighted dark-field signal over the 360 degree scan, thereby generating volumetric image data. For an axial cone-beam CT scan, in one non-limiting instance, the cone-beam reconstruction is a full scan FDK cone beam reconstruction. For a helical cone-beam CT scan, in one non-limiting instance, the dark-field signal is rebinned to wedge geometry and the cone-beam reconstruction is a full scan aperture weighted wedge reconstruction. For a helical cone-beam CT scan, in another non-limiting instance, the dark-field signal is rebinned to wedge geometry and the cone-beam reconstruction is a full scan angular weighted wedge reconstruction.

Dark field computed tomography imaging

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

An imaging system includes a radiation source that emits radiation that traverses an examination region. A controller activates the radiation source to emit radiation and deactivates the radiation source to stop radiation emission. The controller selectively activates the radiation source to emit radiation at one or more pre-determined angles. In another embodiment, the imaging system includes a data processing component that generates a virtual three dimensional image of an object of interest of the scanned subject based on the image data. In another embodiment, the imaging system is in a communication with a data manipulation and packaging component that generates at least a two dimensional or a three dimensional data set based on the volumetric image data and packages the data set in an object provided to a remote system that manipulates and navigates through the data set.

Interventional imaging and data processing

A method and apparatus are provided to filter x-ray beams generated using a CT apparatus or other x-ray based system with displaced acquisition geometry. A CT apparatus may be used having a source (), a detector () transversely displaced from a center () of a field of view () during acquisition of the projection data, and a filter (). The filter may absorb at least a portion of overlapping radiation emitted by the source at opposing angular positions. The amount of transverse displacement may be determined for a desired field of view configuration and amount of overlapping radiation. The detector may be adjusted to correspond to the amount of determined transverse displacement. The size and location of the filter may be determined based on the amount of overlapping radiation. The filter may be adjusted to correspond to the determined size and location of the filter.

Method and apparatus to filter X-ray beams generated using a CT apparatus with displaced geometry

A method is provided for using CT imaging data to characterize the movement of a moving object. The method calculates one or more motion values based on motion vectors which are representative of the object's movement. The moving object may be, for example, a beating heart.

Method for characterizing object movement from CT imaging data

An imaging system includes a radiation source (, T, T, T) that rotates about an examination region and emits radiation that traverses the examination region. The radiation source (, T, T, T) emits radiation having an energy spectrum that is selectively alternately switched between at least two different energy spectra during an imaging procedure. The system further includes an energy-resolving detector array (, D, D, D) that detects radiation traversing the examination region. The energy-resolving detector array (, D, D, D) resolves the detected radiation over at least two different energy ranges and produces energy-resolved output signals as a function of both emission energy spectrum and energy range. The system further includes a reconstructor () that performs a spectral reconstruction of the energy-resolved output signals. In another embodiment, the detector array () includes a photon-counting detector array ().

Spectral CT

The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a region of interest comprising a moving object, which moves less in small motion phases than in large motion phases. Detection values are provided and a small motion determination unit () determines the motion of the object in the region of interest in the small motion phases from the 5 detection values. A large motion determination unit () determines the motion of the object in the large motion phases from the determined motion of the object in the small motion phases. A reconstruction unit () reconstructs an image of the region of interest from the detection values, wherein the reconstruction unit () is adapted for performing a motion compensation using the determined motions in the small and large motion phases.

Imaging system for imaging a region of interest in different phases

A method and apparatus are provided to improve CT image acquisition using a displaced acquisition geometry. A CT apparatus may be used having a source () and a detector () transversely displaced from a center () of a field of view () during acquisition of the projection data. The amount of transverse displacement may be determined based on the size of the object (). The source and the detector may be adjusted to vary the size of the transverse field of view. The first data set acquired by the detector may be reconstructed and used to simulate missing projection data that could not be acquired by the detector at each projection angle. The measured projection data and the simulated projection data may be used to obtain a second data set. The second data set may be compared to the first data set to produce a corrected data set.

Method and apparatus to improve CT image acquisition using a displaced geometry

An imaging system includes a radiation source () that emits radiation that traverses an examination region. A controller () activates the radiation source () to emit radiation and deactivates the radiation source () to stop radiation emission. The controller () selectively activates the radiation source () to emit radiation at one or more pre-determined angles. In another embodiment, the imaging system includes a data processing component () that generates a virtual three dimensional image of an object of interest of the scanned subject based on the image data. In another embodiment, the imaging system is in a communication with a data manipulation and packaging component () that generates at least a two dimensional or a three dimensional data set based on the volumetric image data and packages the data set in an object provided to a remote system () that manipulates and navigates through the data set.

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Ahrensburg, Germany

Udo Van Stevendaal