Method and apparatus of stationary-source nonplanar-trajectory narrow-beam computed tomography

A method of performing computed tomography (CT) to image an object of interest comprising:

• a) generating, at a stationary X-ray source, a beam of X-ray photons;
• b) oscillating an opening of a pre-object collimator, the pre-object collimator positioned between the stationary X-ray source and an object of interest, the opening configured to oscillate on a first translational arc having a first center of oscillation, and the oscillation on the first translational arc having less than 360 degrees rotation;
• c) oscillating a narrow-field X-ray detector, the narrow-field X-ray detector configured to oscillate on a second translational arc having a second center of oscillation, and the oscillation on the second translational arc having less than 360 degrees rotation;
• d) synchronizing a speed and a phase for the oscillatory translation of the narrow-field X-ray detector with the opening of the pre-object collimator;
• e) positioning of the object of interest between the pre-object collimator and the narrow-field X-ray detector within a field of view;
• and
• f) moving the object of interest on a nonplanar trajectory during an image acquisition;
• wherein the first translational arc and the second translational arc have parallel axes of rotation;
• wherein:
• R
• 1
• D
• 1
• =
• R
• 2
• D
• 2
• when:
• D1 is a distance of the stationary X-ray source from the first center of oscillation,
• R1 is a distance of the opening of the pre-object collimator from the first center of oscillation,
• R2 is a distance of the narrow-field X-ray detector from the second center of oscillation, and
• D2 is a distance of the stationary X-ray source from the second center of oscillation.

A stationary-source and stationary-detector computed tomography (CT) system comprising:

• a) a stationary X-ray source configured to generate a beam of X-ray photons;
• b) a pre-object collimator positioned between the stationary X-ray source and an object of interest and comprising an opening configured to oscillate on a first translational arc having a first center of oscillation;
• c) a stationary wide-field X-ray detector configured to acquire X-ray photons;
• d) a post-object collimator positioned between the object of interest and the stationary wide-field X-ray detector, comprising an opening configured to oscillate on a second translational arc having a second center of oscillation;
• wherein the first translational arc and the second translational arc have parallel axes of rotation;
• wherein:
• R
• 1
• D
• 1
• =
• R
• 2
• D
• 2
• when:
• D1 is a distance of the stationary X-ray source from the first center of oscillation,
• R1 is a distance of the opening of the pre-object collimator from the first center of oscillation,
• R2 is a distance of the opening of the post-object collimator from the second center of oscillation, and
• D2 is a distance of the stationary X-ray source from the second center of oscillation;
• e) a structure configured to articulate the position of the object of interest between the pre-object collimator and the post-object collimator within a field of view and move the object of interest on a nonplanar trajectory;
• and
• f) a controller configured to perform at least the following operations:
• i) oscillating the opening of the pre-object collimator on the first translational arc with less than 360 degrees rotation;
• ii) oscillating the opening of the post-object collimator on the second translational arc with less than 360 degrees rotation;
• iii) synchronizing a speed and a phase for the oscillatory translation of the opening of the post-object collimator with the opening of the pre-object collimator;
• and
• iv) moving the object of interest on the nonplanar trajectory within the field of view during an image acquisition.

A method of performing computed tomography (CT) to image an object of interest comprising:

• a) generating, at a stationary X-ray source, a beam of X-ray photons;
• b) oscillating an opening of a pre-object collimator, the pre-object collimator positioned between the stationary X-ray source and an object of interest, the opening configured to oscillate on a first translational arc having a first center of oscillation, and the oscillation on the first translational arc having less than 360 degrees rotation;
• c) oscillating an opening of a post-object collimator, the post-object collimator positioned between the object of interest and a stationary wide-field X-ray detector, the opening configured to oscillate on a second translational arc having a second center of oscillation, and the oscillation on the second translational arc having less than 360 degrees rotation;
• d) synchronizing a speed and a phase for the oscillatory translation of the opening of the post-object collimator with the opening of the pre-object collimator;
• e) positioning the object of interest between the pre-object collimator and the and the post-object collimator within a field of view;
• and
• f) moving the object of interest on a nonplanar trajectory during an image acquisition;
• wherein the first translational arc and the second translational arc have parallel axes of rotation;
• wherein:
• R
• 1
• D
• 1
• =
• R
• 2
• D
• 2
• when:
• D1 is a distance of the stationary X-ray source from the first center of oscillation,
• R1 is a distance of the opening of the pre-object collimator from the first center of oscillation,
• R2 is a distance of the opening of the post-object collimator from the second center of oscillation, and
• D2 is a distance of the stationary X-ray source from the second center of oscillation.