Photon flux modulation to improve dynamic range in photon counting detectors
AssigneeHologic, Inc.
InventorsThomas L. KELLY, Cornell Lee WILLIAMS, Snezana BOGDANOVICH, Robert GORMAN, Marc HANSROUL
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Abstract
Systems and methods for improving radiographic scanning. In an example, the technology relates to a system for performing radiographic scanning. The system includes a photon source configured to emit photons. The system also includes a photon counting detector for detecting photons emitted from the photon source after passing through a target. The photon counting detector comprising first pixels having a first size and second pixels having a second size, and the first size is greater than the second size.
Claims20
A system for performing radiographic scanning, the system comprising:
- a photon source configured to emit photons;
- and
- a photon counting detector for detecting photons emitted from the photon source after passing through a target, the photon counting detector comprising first pixels having a first size and second pixels having a second size, wherein the first size is greater than the second size.
A method for performing radiographic scanning of a target, the method comprising:
- emitting a first x-ray beam at a first intensity from an x-ray source at a first position relative to the target;
- emitting a second x-ray beam at a second intensity from the x-ray source at substantially the first position relative to the target;
- detecting the emitted first x-ray beam and the emitted second x-ray beam;
- emitting a third x-ray beam at the first intensity from the x-ray source at a second position relative to the target;
- emitting a fourth x-ray beam at the second intensity from the x-ray source at substantially the second position relative to the target;
- and
- detecting the emitted third x-ray beam and the emitted fourth x-ray beam.
A system for radiographic scanning, the system comprising:
- a photon source mounted to a source assembly configured to move along a longitudinal axis of a target;
- a photon counting detector mounted to a detector assembly configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the target, the photon counting detector configured to count photons in photon beams emitted by the photon source;
- a processor;
- and
- memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform a set of operations comprising:
- emitting a first photon beam at a first intensity from the photon source at a first position relative to the target;
- emitting a second photon beam at a second intensity from the photon source at substantially the first position relative to the target;
- detecting, by the photon counting detector, the emitted first photon beam and the emitted second photon beam;
- emitting a third photon beam at the first intensity from the photon source at a second position relative to the target;
- emitting a fourth photon beam at the second intensity from the photon source at substantially the second position relative to the target;
- and
- detecting, by the photon counting detector, the emitted third photon beam and the emitted fourth photon beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.