Fixed septum collimator for electron beam tomography

Abstract

An x-ray collimator is described which is useful in an electron beam (EB) computed tomography (CT) scanner of the type in which a rotating electron beam is directed to impinge upon a ring-shaped target and the x-rays generated in response thereto are directed to a ring shaped detector array spaced therefrom. The collimator consists of an x-ray blocking septum having an aperture therein, the septum being located in a fixed position substantially co-planer with the planes of the target and the detector, so as to block all x-rays directed from said target to said detector except those which pass through said aperture. Tomographic slice width is determined by the 'view' from the spot where the electron beam impinges upon the target, through the aperture, to the detector, and is variable by adjusting the position where the electron beam impinges upon the width of the x-ray target, and in a preferred embodiment, the position of a movable ring. In the preferred embodiment, a movable ring is provide which has a longitudinal axis positioned coaxial with the axis of the aperture and an end face opposed to and parallel with the septum. As well as forming part of the collimator, this ring acts as a pre-collimation radiation shield. This ring is moved concurrently when moving the position where the electron beam impinges upon the width of the x-ray target when the tomographic slice width is varied, by adjusting the spacing between the end face of the moveable ring and the septum.