Monochromatic X-ray imaging systems and methods
AssigneeImagine Scientific, Inc.
InventorEric H. Silver
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to some aspects, a carrier configured for use with a broadband x-ray source comprising an electron source and a primary target arranged to receive electrons from the electron source to produce broadband x-ray radiation in response to electrons impinging on the primary target is provided. The carrier comprising a housing configured to be removeably coupled to the broadband x-ray source and configured to accommodate a secondary target capable of producing monochromatic x-ray radiation in response to incident broadband x-ray radiation, the housing comprising a transmissive portion configured to allow broadband x-ray radiation to be transmitted to the secondary target when present, and a blocking portion configured to absorb broadband x-ray radiation.
Claims20
A monochromatic x-ray device comprising:
- an electron source configured to emit electrons;
- a primary target configured to produce broadband x-ray radiation in response to incident electrons from the electron source;
- a secondary target configured to generate monochromatic x-ray radiation via fluorescence in response to incident broadband x-ray radiation;
- a housing for the secondary target comprising an aperture through which monochromatic x-ray radiation from the secondary target is emitted, the housing configured to position the secondary target so that at least some of the broadband x-ray radiation emitted by the primary target is incident on the secondary target so that, when the monochromatic x-ray device is operated, monochromatic x-ray radiation is emitted via the aperture to irradiate target material that results in a mean glandular dose of less than 1 mGy;
- and
- a detector positioned to detect monochromatic x-ray radiation transmitted through the target material to acquire two-dimensional image data of the target material from which an image of at least a portion of the target material is obtained having a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 8.5.
A method of generating monochromatic x-rays comprising:
- generating broadband x-ray radiation from a primary target that, in response to incident electrons from an electron source, produces the broadband x-ray radiation;
- generating monochromatic x-ray radiation from a secondary target that, in response to incident broadband x-ray radiation from the primary target, produces the monochromatic x-ray radiation via fluorescence;
- emitting at least some of the monochromatic x-ray radiation via an aperture;
- irradiating target material with monochromatic x-ray radiation emitted via the aperture, the irradiating resulting in a mean glandular dose of less than 1 mGy;
- detecting monochromatic x-ray radiation transmitted through the target material to acquire two-dimensional image data of the target material;
- and
- forming an image of at least a portion of the target material from the two-dimensional image data having a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 8.5.
A method of generating monochromatic x-rays comprising:
- generating broadband x-ray radiation from a primary target that, in response to incident electrons from an electron source, produces the broadband x-ray radiation;
- generating monochromatic x-ray radiation from a secondary target that, in response to incident broadband x-ray radiation from the primary target, produces the monochromatic x-ray radiation via fluorescence;
- emitting at least some of the monochromatic x-ray radiation via an aperture;
- irradiating target material corresponding to up to 4.5 cm of compressed or uncompressed breast tissue with the monochromatic x-ray radiation emitted via the aperture, wherein irradiating the target material results in a mean glandular dose of less than 3 mGy;
- detecting monochromatic x-ray radiation transmitted through the target material to acquire two-dimensional image data of the target material;
- and
- forming an image of at least a portion of the target material from the two-dimensional image data having a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 15.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.