Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for enhanced phase-contrast x-ray imaging

A method, comprising:

• emitting an x-ray beam from an x-ray source along a beam path and through a position for an object arranged to be inspected in a field of view of the x-ray source, wherein an object grating, an analyzer grating, a detector grating, and a detector are arranged with respect to each other in the field of view, wherein the object grating includes object grating elements arranged in a first pattern, the detector grating includes detector grating elements arranged in a second pattern that is separable from the first pattern, and the analyzer grating includes analyzer grating elements that are arranged to correspond to a combination of the first pattern and second pattern;
• moving the analyzer grating, and/or the object grating and detector grating, relative to each other to different phase positions;
• and
• detecting indirect moiré image data with the detector at the different phase positions.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors operably connected to an x-ray imaging system that comprises:

• an x-ray source configured to emit an x-ray beam along a beam path and through an object arranged for inspection in a field of view of the x-ray source;
• and
• an object grating, an analyzer grating, a detector grating, and a detector arranged with respect to each other in the field of view;
• wherein the object grating includes object grating elements arranged in a first pattern, the detector grating includes detector grating elements arranged in a second pattern that is separable from the first pattern, and the analyzer grating includes analyzer grating elements that are arranged to correspond to a combination of the first pattern and second pattern;
• wherein the analyzer grating, and/or the object grating and detector grating, are configured to move relative to each other to different phase positions, and wherein the detector is configured to collect indirect moiré image data of the object at the different phase positions;
• causes the x-ray imaging system to collect the indirect moiré image data at the different phase positions.