Systems and related methods for stationary digital chest tomosynthesis (s-dct) imaging

A method for stationary x-ray digital tomosynthesis imaging, the method comprising:

• providing a stationary x-ray source array comprising an array of spatially distributed x-ray pixels configured to generate x-ray beams at different viewing angles relative to a subject to be imaged that is stationary, and providing a stationary area x-ray detector positioned substantially parallel to a plane of the x-ray source array and configured to record x-ray projection images of the subject from the different viewing angles for tomosynthesis reconstruction;
• monitoring, by a physiological gating apparatus, at least one physiological signal of the subject, the physiological gating apparatus defining a physiological phase and a time window based on the at least one physiological signal during which the x-ray projection images of the subject from the different viewing angles are acquirable;
• activating, by the computing platform, the x-ray pixels upon receiving the at least one physiological signal in order to synchronize x-ray exposure with the at least one physiological signal of the subject;
• and
• recording x-ray projection images of the subject from the different viewing angles.

A method of producing fast tomography images of a human chest or torso, the method comprising:

• providing an x-ray source array configured to generate cone-beam x-ray radiation from an array of spatially distributed x-ray focal spots;
• collimating the x-ray radiation from each of the x-ray focal spots of the x-ray source array to a region of interest in an area x-ray detector;
• detecting and collecting projection images of an object with a primary beam sampling apparatus placed in between the x-ray source array and the area x-ray detector;
• estimating and subtracting a scatter signal profile of the object from the projection images;
• and
• reconstructing tomography images based on projection images with a reduced scatter signal.

A method of producing one or more images of an object using at least one of monochromatic and quasi-monochromatic x-ray beams, the method comprising:

• providing field emission x-ray sources with spatially distributed focal spots with respect to an object to be imaged;
• irradiating the object with at least one of monochromatic and quasi-monochromatic x-ray beams produced by the x-ray sources to generate projection images of the object;
• detecting the projection images of the object;
• and
• reconstructing one or more displayable images of the object based on the projection images of the object.