X-ray scanning method and apparatus
AssigneeCardiac Mariners, Inc.
InventorsEdward G. Solomon, Brian P. Wilfley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for scanning an x-ray target in a reverse geometry x-ray imaging system with a charged particle beam is disclosed. An aspect of the invention is directed to scanning patterns for moving an electron beam across the target assembly to generate x-rays, in which a charged particle beam is moved across a plurality of sets of positions on a target assembly, wherein particular positions or sets of positions on the target assembly are rescanned a plurality of times during a single frame. The length of time between a first and a last illumination of the object during the frame is sufficiently small to prevent image blurring during image reconstruction.
Claims25
A method of moving a charged particle beam across a target assembly to generate an image comprising:
- x-ray illuminating an object to be imaged by moving a charged particle beam across a plurality of sets of positions on a target assembly during a frame, the x-ray illuminating of the object to be imaged beginning at a first time point, the x-ray illuminating of an object to be imaged ending at a second time point, the period of time between the first time point and the second time point being sufficiently small to prevent image blurring due to object motion, the plurality of sets of positions comprising a first set of positions and a second set of positions;
- moving the charged particle beam across the first set of positions on the target assembly a first time;
- moving the charged particle beam across the first set of positions on the target assembly a second time;
- and
- moving the charged particle beam across a second set of positions on the target assembly after moving the charged particle beam across the first set of positions on the target assembly the first and second times.
A method of deflecting a charged particle beam over an x-ray target assembly comprising deflecting the charged particle beam over a plurality of lines on the x-ray target assembly a plurality of times such that any one position on the plurality of lines is excited by the charged particle beam no less than 50 microseconds after a prior excitation of the same position wherein said plurality of lines is less than a full scan of the x-ray target assembly.
A method of moving a charged particle beam across a target assembly comprising:
- moving a charged particle beam across a first set of positions on a target assembly in a first time period at least a first time and a second time;
- generating x-rays from said target assembly in the first time period to image a living organism;
- the first time period being small enough to substantially prevent image blurring due to biological movement.
A method of deflecting a charged particle beam o ver an x-ray target comprising deflecting the charged particle beam over a predefined area of the x-ray target a plurality of times such that any part of the predefined area is excited by the charged particle beam no less than 50 microseconds after a prior excitation of the same part of the predefined area, wherein the predefined area is less than a full scan of the x-ray target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.