US 12,274,577 B2 · Systems and methods for computed tomography

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for increasing a quality of computed tomography (CT) images generated by a CT system by altering a shape of a focal spot of an X-ray emitter of the CT system. In one embodiment, a method comprises controlling the CT system to focus a beam of electrons generated by a cathode of the CT system at a plurality of focal spots on a surface of an target of the CT system; generating a composite focal spot from the plurality of focal spots; and obtaining projection data of the CT system with the composite focal spot. For example, two focal spots may be combined to generate the composite focal spot. By combining focal spots to generate composite focal spots, a quality of a resulting view produced by the CT system may be increased.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for a computed tomography (CT) system, comprising:

controlling an X-ray source of the CT system to create a desired distribution of electrons striking a target of the CT system at each view of a subject, the desired distribution forming a composite focal spot, the composite focal spot including a first focal spot having a first distribution of electrons striking the target and a second focal spot having a second distribution of electrons striking the target, wherein a center of the first focal spot is separated from a center of the second focal spot;
obtaining projection data from X-rays generated as a result of electrons of the desired distribution of electrons striking the target;
and
reconstructing an image from the projection data.

1 more element

A computed tomography (CT) system, comprising:

an X-ray tube including a cathode and a target, and an X-ray controller including one or more processors having executable instructions stored in a non-transitory memory of the CT system that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:
create a desired distribution of electrons striking the target at each view of a subject of the CT system, the desired distribution forming a composite focal spot, the composite focal spot including a first focal spot having a first distribution of electrons striking the target based on a first configuration of electrostatic controls and/or electromagnetic controls of the X-ray controller, and a second focal spot having a second distribution of electrons striking the target based on a second configuration of electrostatic controls and/or electromagnetic controls of the X-ray controller, wherein a center of the second focal spot is separated from a center of the first focal spot;
obtain projection data from X-rays generated as a result of electrons of desired distribution of electrons striking the target;
and
reconstruct an image from the projection data.

2 more elements

A method for a computed tomography (CT) system, comprising:

focusing a first beam of electrons generated by a cathode of the CT system at a first focal spot on a surface of a target of the CT system to generate a first distribution of electrons striking the target;
focusing a second beam of electrons generated by the cathode at a second focal spot on the surface of the target to generate a second distribution of electrons striking the target, wherein a center of the second focal spot is separated from a center of the first focal spot;
generating an image from projection data of the CT system acquired at a composite focal spot having a combined electron distribution that is a combination of the first distribution and the second distribution, the image including an area of focus corresponding to the composite focal spot, the area of focus including a larger area of high X-ray flux where small contrast differences between large objects are better distinguished, corresponding to the first distribution of electrons, and a smaller area of high spatial resolution where large contrast differences between small objects are better distinguished, corresponding to the second distribution of electrons.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for computed tomography

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for computed tomography

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20