Ct scanning systems and methods using multi-pixel x-ray sources

A method of reducing the number of x-ray detector rows in a third generation CT scanning system without affecting x-ray beam coverage along a z-axis, wherein the z-axis is a traveling direction of the object, the method comprising:

• providing a multi-pixel x-ray source having a plurality N1 of pixels, and a number N2 of rows of x-ray detectors;
• and
• sequentially activating the pixels along a direction substantially parallel to the z-axis, so as to provide the same x-ray beam coverage as a multi-row detector CT scanning system having a single pixel source and a plurality M of rows of x-ray detectors;
• wherein M=N1×N2.

A CT system configured to generate a CT image of an object, the CT system comprising:

• a multi-pixel x-ray source including a plurality of pixels disposed along a z-axis, each pixel configured to be sequentially activated and to controllably emit x-rays in response to incident electrons, when activated;
• a detector array comprising a plurality of rows of x-ray detectors, the detector array stationary with respect to the multi-pixel x-ray source in a direction parallel to the z-axis, the detectors configured to detect x-rays that are emitted from the pixels and that have traversed the object, and to generate data from detected x-rays;
• and
• an image reconstruction system configured to generate the CT image of the object from the data generated by the x-ray detectors;
• wherein each pixel is configured to have x-ray beam coverage of the entire detector array, when activated.

A method of enhancing image quality in a single rotation single organ CT scan, the method comprising:

• providing a multi-pixel x-ray source having a plurality pixels disposed along a z-axis, and a detector array including a plurality of rows of x-ray detectors;
• wherein each pixel is constructed and arranged to have x-ray coverage of the entire detector array, when the pixel is activated;
• rotating the multi-pixel x-ray source and the detector array about the z-axis while the object is being scanned;
• and
• sequentially activating the pixels so that each activated pixel controllably emits x-rays in response to incident electrons, in a way that data completeness conditions for an exact reconstruction algorithm that is used in the image reconstruction system are satisfied.

A method of implementing a saddle trajectory in a CT system without tilting rotational gantry or translational conveyor or having the x-ray source, detector array, or the scanning object involving any motion along the z-axis during scanning, the method comprising:

• providing a multi-pixel x-ray source having a plurality pixels, and a detector array including a plurality of rows of x-ray detectors;
• wherein each pixel is constructed and arranged to have x-ray coverage of the entire detector array, when the pixel is activated;
• rotating the multi-pixel x-ray source and the detector array about the z-axis while the object is being scanned;
• and sequentially activating the pixels according to the parameterization formula of hcos2λ which specifies the source activation timing with respect to the view angle λ where h is the half distance of the multi-pixel x-ray source coverage in Z.

A stationary CT system with a rectangular opening for generating a CT image of an object, the CT system comprising:

• a multi-pixel x-ray source including a plurality of pixels disposed on three sides of the rectangular opening, which is perpendicular to the object translational direction (or z-axis), each pixel configured to be sequentially activated and to controllably emit x-rays in response to incident electrons, when activated;
• a detector array that is not rotatable with respect to the multi-pixel x-ray source, the detector array including a plurality of rows of x-ray detectors that are configured to detect x-rays that are emitted from the pixels and that have traversed the object, and to generate data from detected x-rays;
• wherein the detectors of each row are disposed on the three sides of the rectangular opening;
• a conveyor configured to translate the object along the z-axis during the scan;
• an image reconstruction system configured to generate the CT image of the object from the data generated by the x-ray detectors;
• wherein two opposite sides of the rectangular opening have both x-ray pixel sources and x-ray detectors;
• and
• wherein one of the remaining sides of the rectangular opening has only x-ray pixel sources, and the other remaining side of the rectangular opening has only x-ray detectors.