Differential phase-contrast imaging

Abstract

The present invention relates to differential phase-contrast imaging, in particular to a structure of a diffraction grating, e.g. an analyzer grating and a phase grating, for X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging. In order to provide enhanced phase-gradient based image data, a diffraction grating () for X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging, is provided with a first sub-area () comprising at least one portion () of a first grating structure () and at least one portion () of a second grating structure (). The first grating structure comprises a plurality of bars () and gaps () with a first grating orientation G(), being arranged periodically, wherein the bars are arranged such that they change the phase and/or amplitude of an X-ray radiation and wherein the gaps are X-ray transparent. The second grating structure comprises a plurality of bars () and gaps () with a second grating orientation G(), being arranged periodically, wherein the bars are arranged such that they change the phase and/or amplitude of an X-ray radiation and wherein the gaps are X-ray transparent. The first grating orientation Gis different than the second grating orientation G. Thus, phase-gradient based image information can be acquired for different directions without the necessity to rotate or pivot any of the respective gratings between the acquisition steps, for example.