Compact x-ray devices, systems, and methods for tomosynthesis, fluoroscopy, and stereotactic imaging

A method of x-ray imaging using a compact x-ray imaging system, the method comprising:

• providing an x-ray source array, which has a plurality of spatially distributed x-ray focal spots, and a digital area x-ray detector;
• substantially collimating x-ray radiation generated from each of the plurality of spatially distributed x-ray focal spots to a surface of the digital area x-ray detector using a collimation assembly connected to an exit window of the x-ray source array;
• providing an electronic switching device comprising:
• a high voltage power supply;
• a current source;
• a switch;
• and
• a trigger comprising one or more first processors and/or circuitry;
• positioning and orienting the x-ray source array and the digital area x-ray detector such that both upper and lower extremities of a patient can be imaged using tomosynthesis in either a non-load bearing position or in a load bearing position, a relative position between the plurality of spatially distributed x-ray focal spots and the digital area x-ray detector remaining unchanged during the positioning and orienting of the x-ray source array and the digital area x-ray detector;
• sequentially connecting the current source to a plurality of field emission cathodes of the compact x-ray imaging system, with a pre-set current value, one at a time, to produce one or more projection images for tomosynthesis reconstruction without any mechanical motion of either the x-ray source array or the digital area x-ray detector;
• and
• synchronizing detector data collection with x-ray exposure from the plurality of spatially distributed x-ray focal spots;
• wherein the compact x-ray imaging system is configured to operate in a plurality of imaging modes
• wherein, when the compact x-ray imaging system is operated in the tomosynthesis imaging mode, a scanning x-ray beam is produced by sequentially activating x-ray beams from the plurality of spatially distributed x-ray focal spots electronically without moving any of the x-ray source array, the digital area x-ray detector, or the patient, in order to collect one or more required projection images for tomosynthesis reconstruction;
• and
• wherein, when the compact x-ray imaging system is operated in the pulsed fluoroscopy imaging mode, x-ray radiation generated from a central focal spot of the plurality of spatially distributed x-ray focal spots is pulsed from about 5 to 30 pulses per second and, for each x-ray pulse, an image of an object being scanned is formed and displayed to produce an x-ray movie of the object.

A mini c-arm x-ray imaging system comprising:

• a carbon nanotube based micro-focus x-ray source array comprising a plurality of spatially distributed micro-focus x-ray focal spots and a digital area x-ray detector mounted on a mini c-arm;
• a collimation assembly connected to an exit window of the micro-focus x-ray source array configured to substantially collimate the x-ray radiation generated from each of the plurality of spatially distributed micro-focus x-ray focal spots to a surface of the digital area x-ray detector;
• and
• an electronic switching device comprising:
• a high voltage power supply;
• a current source;
• a switch configured to sequentially connect the current source to a plurality of field emission cathodes of the mini c-arm x-ray imaging system with a pre-set current value, one at a time, to produce one or more projection images for tomosynthesis reconstruction without any mechanical motion of either the micro-focus x-ray source array or the digital area x-ray detector;
• and
• a trigger comprising one or more processors and/or circuitry configured to synchronize detector data collection with x-ray exposure from the plurality of spatially distributed micro-focus x-ray focal spots;
• wherein the mini c-arm x-ray imaging system is configured to operate in a three-dimensional tomosynthesis imaging mode, a fluoroscopy mode, and a stereotactic mode.

A method of x-ray imaging using a mini c-arm x-ray imaging system comprising:

• providing a mini c-arm x-ray imaging system comprising:
• a carbon nanotube based micro-focus x-ray source array with a plurality of spatially distributed micro-focus x-ray focal spots;
• and
• a digital area x-ray detector mounted on a mini c-arm;
• substantially collimating x-ray radiation generated from each of the plurality of spatially distributed micro-focus x-ray focal spots to a surface of the digital area x-ray detector using a collimation assembly connected to an exit window of the micro-focus x-ray source array;
• providing an electronic switching device comprising:
• a high voltage power supply;
• a current source;
• a switch;
• and
• a trigger comprising one or more processors and/or circuitry;
• sequentially connecting the current source to a plurality of field emission cathodes of the mini c-arm x-ray imaging system with a pre-set current value, one at a time, to produce one or more projection images for tomosynthesis reconstruction without any mechanical motion of either the micro-focus x-ray source array or the digital area x-ray detector;
• and
• synchronizing detector data collection with x-ray exposure from the plurality of spatially distributed micro-focus x-ray focal spots;
• wherein the mini c-arm x-ray imaging system is configured to operate in a three-dimensional tomosynthesis imaging mode, a fluoroscopy mode, and a stereotactic mode.