Photon flux modulation to improve dynamic range in photon counting detectors
AssigneeHologic, Inc.
InventorsThomas L. Kelly, Cornell Lee Williams, Snezana Bogdanovich, Robert Gorman, Marc Hansroul
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for improving radiographic scanning. In an example, the technology relates to a system for performing radiographic scanning. The system includes a photon source configured to emit photons. The system also includes a photon counting detector for detecting photons emitted from the photon source after passing through a target. The photon counting detector comprising first pixels having a first size and second pixels having a second size, and the first size is greater than the second size.
Claims19
A system for performing radiographic scanning, the system comprising:
- a photon source configured to emit photons;
- a photon counting detector for detecting photons emitted from the photon source after passing through a target, the photon counting detector comprising first pixels having a first size and second pixels having a second size, wherein the first size is greater than the second size;
- a first slit aperture positioned between the photon source and the photon counting detector, the first slit aperture having a first slit height;
- and
- a second slit aperture positioned between the photon source and the photon counting detector, the second slit aperture having a second slit height, wherein the second slit height is less than the first slit height.
A system for performing radiographic scanning, the system comprising:
- a photon source configured to emit photons;
- a photon counting detector for detecting photons emitted from the photon source after passing through a target, the photon counting detector comprising first pixels having a first size and second pixels having a second size, wherein the first size is greater than the second size;
- a slit aperture positioned between the photon source and the photon counting detector;
- and
- a photon absorber positioned adjacent an outer portion of the slit aperture to absorb a portion of the photons emitted from the photon source, wherein the photon source is an x-ray tube and the photon absorber includes at least one tungsten pin.
A system for performing radiographic scanning, the system comprising:
- a photon source configured to emit photons;
- and
- a photon counting detector for detecting photons emitted from the photon source after passing through a target, the photon counting detector comprising first pixels having a first size and second pixels having a second size, wherein the first size is greater than the second size,
- wherein the photon source is mounted to a source assembly configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the target, and wherein the photon counting detector is mounted to a detector assembly configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.