Differential phase-contrast imaging

A diffraction grating configured for X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging, said diffraction grating having an area and comprising:

• a first sub-area comprising multiple portions;
• and
• a second sub-area comprising multiple portions;
• wherein said first sub-area comprises a grating structure with a plurality of bars, and a plurality of gaps, the plurality of bars being arranged interleavingly with the plurality of gaps and with a first grating pitch PG1;
• wherein the plurality of bars are arranged so as to change at least one of phase and amplitude of an X-ray radiation;
• wherein said plurality of gaps being X-ray transparent;
• wherein said second sub-area is X-ray transparent;
• wherein said multiple portions of said second sub-area provide, both collectively and individually, an X-ray transparent aperture in said diffraction grating configured for X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging;
• wherein, for a group consisting collectively of said multiple portions of said first sub-area and said multiple portions of said second sub-area, ones of the portions that make up said group are, in a direction, arranged, from a standpoint of portion-wise belonging to said first sub-area versus portion-wise belonging to said second sub-area, alternatingly, such that, during one image acquisition step, both phase-contrast image information and density information are recordable,
• wherein, for at least one of said first sub-area and said second sub-area, said multiple portions are arranged adjacent as correspondingly first subsets and/or second subsets;
• and
• wherein correspondingly said first subsets and/or said second subsets are arranged, in respectively at least one direction, across said area in direction-wise correspondingly a first subset-repetition pitch PSR1 and/or a second subset-repetition pitch RSR2.

A diffraction grating configured for X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging, comprising:

• a first sub-area comprising multiple portions;
• and
• a second sub-area comprising multiple portions;
• wherein said first sub-area comprises a grating structure with a plurality of bars and a plurality of gaps, the plurality of bars and the plurality of gaps being arranged periodically with a first grating pitch PG1;
• wherein the plurality of bars are arranged so as to change at least one of phase and amplitude of an X-ray radiation;
• wherein the plurality of gaps are X-ray transparent;
• wherein said second sub-area is X-ray transparent;
• wherein said multiple portions of said second sub-area provide an X-ray transparent aperture in said diffraction grating configured for X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging;
• wherein, for a group consisting collectively of said multiple portions of said first sub-area and said multiple portions of said second sub-area, the portions are, in a direction, arranged, from a standpoint of portion-wise belonging to said first sub-area versus portion-wise belonging to said second sub-area, alternatingly, such that, during one image acquisition step, both phase-contrast image information and density information are recordable;
• wherein among said multiple portions of said first sub-area are at least two linear grating groups, each of said at least two linear grating groups comprising a respective plurality of said multiple portions of said first sub-area, the portions of said respective plurality being arranged linearly;
• wherein among said multiple portions of said second sub-area are at least two linear aperture groups, each of said at least two linear aperture groups comprising a respective plurality of said multiple portions of said second sub-area, the portions of said respective plurality being arranged linearly;
• and
• wherein said at least two linear grating groups and said at least two linear aperture groups are arranged in an alternating manner in a first line pitch PL1.

An X-ray image acquisition device configured for X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging, said X-ray image acquisition device including:

• a diffraction grating configured for X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging comprising:
• a first sub-area comprising at least one portion;
• and,
• laterally adjacent to said first sub-area, a second sub-area comprising at least one portion;
• wherein said first sub-area comprises a grating structure with a plurality of bars and a plurality of gaps, wherein the plurality of bars and the plurality of gaps are arranged periodically with a first grating pitch PG1;
• wherein said plurality of bars are arranged so as to change at least one of phase and amplitude of an X-ray radiation;
• wherein said plurality of gaps are X-ray transparent;
• wherein said second sub-area is X-ray transparent;
• wherein said at least one portion of said second sub-area provides an X-ray transparent aperture in said diffraction grating;
• wherein, from among collectively a) and b), wherein a) and b) are defined as:
• a) said at least one portion of said first sub-area;
• b) said at least one portion of said second sub-area, ones of the portions are, in a direction, arranged, from a standpoint of portion-wise belonging to said first sub-area versus portion-wise belonging to said second sub-area, alternatingly;
• said X-ray image acquisition device being configured for recording, during one image acquisition step, both phase-contrast image information, conveyed via said X-ray radiation that has propagated through a portion from among said at least one portion of said first sub-area, and density information, conveyed via said X-ray radiation that has propagated through a portion from among said at least one portion of said second sub-area.

A diffraction grating configured for X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging having an X-ray-receiving face, said diffraction grating comprising:

• multiple grating regions each having a plurality of bars, and a plurality of gaps that:
• a) alternate with the plurality of bars so as to space the plurality of bars apart such that the pitch is constant;
• and b) are transparent to X-rays,
• such that said plurality of bars of a grating region from among said multiple grating regions change at least one of phase and amplitude of X-ray radiation incident upon said grating region via said X-ray receiving face, a change that would be evident by comparing said at least one of phase and amplitude correspondingly to at least one of phase and amplitude of said X-ray radiation that has passed through said grating region;
• and
• multiple apertures, in said diffraction grating configured for X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging, that are regions transparent to X-rays;
• wherein, laterally across said X-ray-receiving face, ones from among said multiple grating regions are disposed side-by-side with ones from among said multiple apertures, such that said ones from among said multiple grating regions are, in two mutually transverse lateral directions, arranged so as to alternate with said ones from among said multiple apertures in a chess-board pattern.