X-ray image acquisition system for differential phase contrast imaging of an examination object by way of phase stepping, and angiographic examination method

An angiographic examination method for a patient, the method comprising:

• S1) performing an X-ray acquisition via an X-ray detector;
• S2) iteratively defining, from the X-ray image detector including pixels arranged in a matrix, combined pixels formed from total pixels and subpixels;
• S3) non-destructively reading out image information of the X-ray image detector;
• S4) determining, in a first query, whether all necessary combinations of total pixels and subpixels have been reached;
• S5) returning to S2) upon the determining indicating that all necessary combinations of total pixels and subpixels have not been reached and repeating the iteratively defining of combined pixels formed from total pixels and subpixels;
• S6) performing image processing upon the determining indicating that all necessary combinations of total pixels and subpixels have been reached;
• S7) determining, in another query, whether still further images are required;
• S8) returning to S1), upon the determining of S7) indicating that still further images are required and repeating the X-ray acquisition;
• and
• S9) initiating a process end, upon the determining of S7) indicating that still further images are not required, and terminating data acquisition.

An angiographic examination method for a patient, comprising:

• S1) performing an X-ray acquisition;
• S2) iteratively defining, from the X-ray image detector including pixels arranged in a matrix, combined pixels formed from total pixels and subpixels;
• S3) non-non-destructively reading out image information of the X-ray image detector;
• S4) determining, in a first query, whether all necessary combinations of total pixels and subpixels have been reached;
• S5) returning to S1), upon the determining indicating that all necessary combinations of total pixels and subpixels have not been reached, and repeating the X-ray acquisition;
• S6) performing image processing upon the determining indicating that all necessary combinations of total pixels and subpixels have been reached;
• S7) determining, in a second query, whether still further images are required;
• S8) returning to S1) upon the determining of S7) indicating that still further images are required and repeating the X-ray acquisition;
• and
• S9) initiating a process end upon the determining of S7) indicating that still further images are not required, and terminating data acquisition.