# US 10,945,690 B2 · Scanning X-ray apparatus with full-field detector

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- Number: US 10,945,690 B2
- Document ID: US10945690B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/738,324
- Filed: 2016-06-24
- Published: 2018-06-28
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-30
- Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Inventors: Thomas Koehler; Gerhard Martens; Roland Proksa; Hanns-Ingo Maack; Udo Van Stevendaal; Franz Josef Pfeiffer; Peter Benjamin Theodor Noel; Maximilian Von Teuffenbach
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945690B2

## CPC

- A61B 6/484: {involving phase contrast X-ray imaging}
- A61B 6/4035: {the source being combined with a filter or grating}
- A61B 6/4233: {using matrix detectors}
- A61B 6/4291: {the detector being combined with a grid or grating}
- A61B 6/502: {for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography}
- A61B 6/4464: {the source unit or the detector unit being mounted to ceiling}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising:
an X-ray source for emitting a beam of X-ray radiation;
an X-ray detector arranged opposite said X-ray source across an examination region for accommodating an object to be imaged; and
an interferometer located between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector, wherein the interferometer is arranged at least partly in the beam of X-ray radiation during operation for performing differential phase contrast imaging and/or dark field imaging, the interferometer comprising at least one grating to modulate onto said X-ray radiation an interference pattern detectable by said X-ray detector;
wherein a footprint of said at least one grating is smaller than a footprint of a radiation sensitive area of said X-ray detector; and
wherein during an imaging operation the apparatus is configured to move said at least one grating in a scanning motion across the X-ray detector whilst said X-ray detector remains stationary relative to the examination region.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 1, wherein one dimension of the footprint of the at least one grating is essentially coextensive with a corresponding dimension of the footprint of the X-ray detector.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 1, wherein the X-ray detector is a full-field X-ray detector.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to effect another motion of the at least one grating, different from the scanning motion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 1, wherein during the imaging operation the apparatus is configured to effect a motion of the object relative to the at least one grating or the X-ray detector.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 1, wherein the interferometer includes another grating movable in the scanning motion, wherein the at least two gratings remain in a fixed spatial relationship relative to each other during the scanning motion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 6, wherein the at least two gratings are arranged on mutually opposite sides of the examination region.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 6, wherein the at least two gratings are arranged on a same side of the examination region.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 1, wherein the scanning motion is performed along a straight path.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 1, wherein the scanning motion is performed along a curved path.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 1, wherein the X-ray detector has a monolithic structure.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 1, wherein the X-ray source is configured to move along a path substantially parallel to the scanning motion.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 12, further comprising a plurality of source gratings arranged substantially parallel to the path along which the X-ray source is movable.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 1, wherein the scanning motion is at least one of vertical and horizontal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The X-ray imaging apparatus as per claim 1, wherein rulings of said at least one grating extend in a direction substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to the scanning motion.