X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner

An X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner comprising a scanning setup comprising a plurality of X-Ray sources and detectors mounted about an opening defining a volume useful field of view (FOV) where scanning takes place,

• the X-ray sources being distributed to provide substantially uniform coverage of the FOV by being arranged at angular positions to collectively span 360 degrees around the FOV,
• wherein the X-Ray sources and detectors are arranged to perform alpha sized rotational motions in the same rotational direction about the scanner's axis of rotation in order to generate scanned slice data of an object located within the opening, wherein
• the X-Ray sources are arranged in sets and all X-Ray sources in a certain set are arranged to emit X-ray radiation towards a similar common detector, and wherein
• some X-Ray sources are arranged to be sequentially activated during rotation, and during each activation only one X-Ray source in a set is activated, and wherein
• at least some of the detectors are of inverse-geometry CT architecture in that they are sized to be smaller than the scanner's FOV, and wherein
• the CT scanner is controlled to activate at least some of the X-Ray sources at different powers in order to reduce radiation to a scanned object while obtaining scanned slice data of the object, by determining instances during a CT examination where certain X-Ray sources of the CT scanner are activated at different powers, and wherein a different power comprises providing to the X-Ray source with different current and/or voltage.

A method for medical imaging comprising the steps of:

• providing an X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner comprising a plurality of X-Ray sources and detectors mounted about an opening defining a volume useful field of view (FOV) where scanning is designed to take place, the X-ray sources being distributed to provide substantially uniform coverage of the FOV by being arranged at angular positions to collectively span 360 degrees around the FOV,
• locating an object to be scanned within the opening, and
• performing alpha sized rotational motions in the same rotational direction about the scanner's axis of rotation in order to generate scanned slice data of the object located within the opening, wherein
• the X-Ray sources are arranged in sets and all X-Ray sources in a certain set are arranged to emit X-ray radiation towards a similar common detector, and wherein
• some X-Ray sources are arranged to be sequentially activated during rotation, and during each activation only one X-Ray source in a set is activated, and wherein
• at least some of the detectors are of inverse-geometry CT architecture in that they are sized to be smaller than the scanner's FOV, and wherein
• the CT scanner is controlled to activate at least some of the X-Ray sources at different powers in order to reduce radiation to a scanned object while obtaining scanned slice data of the object, by determining instances during a CT examination where certain X-Ray sources of the CT scanner are activated at different powers, and wherein a different power comprises providing to the X-Ray source with different current and/or voltage.