Filter assembly for computed tomography systems
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorsMarinus Antonius Dimphna Maria Loos, Felix Godfried Peter Peeters
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Abstract
The invention relates to x-ray filters in a collimator for controlling the energy of an x-ray beam along a projection axis in computed tomography systems. According to the invention, the filter assembly comprises a filter element for attenuating the x-ray beam, and at least a support plate which fixes the filter element. The filter element and the support plate are notch-shaped in the center part of the filter assembly along a direction perpendicular to the projection axis. The design may free space to be used by other collimator parts and further allows use of more than one filter element in a filter assembly for backup purposes. This simplifies replacement of a defective x-ray filter in the field.
Claims9
A filter assembly (30, 40) intended for use in a computed tomography system having an x-ray source for projecting an x-ray beam along a projection axis (11), said filter assembly comprising:
- a filter element (20) for attenuating the x-ray beam and having a center axis parallel to the projection axis (11);
- a first support plate (32), on which the filter element is mounted, for positioning the filter element within the x-ray beam;
- wherein the filter element (20) and the first support plate (32) are notch-shaped in the center part of the filter assembly along a direction perpendicular to the projection axis (11).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.