Computed tomography apparatus for determining the pulse momentum transfer spectrum

A computed tomography apparatus comprising:

• a scanning unit which is rotatable, relative to an examination zone, around a scanner axis of rotation which extends through the examination zone;
• a radiation source for generating a radiation beam directed towards the examination zone;
• a detector disposed across the examination zone from the radiation source, said detector including a plurality of detector elements for detecting primary radiation and scattered radiation that passes through the examination zone;
• a modulation unit disposed between the radiation source and the examination zone for temporally and spatially modulating the radiation beam;
• and
• cross-correlation means for cross-correlating the spattered radiation with a modulation signal used for the modulation of the radiation beam whereby a location-dependent momentum transfer spectrum is reconstructed.

A method of computed tomography comprising the steps of:

• projecting a fan-shaped beam of radiation from a radiation source towards an examination region;
• modulating the fan-shaped beam of radiation temporally and spatially 7 using a modulation unit disposed between the radiation source and the examination region;
• detecting primary radiation and scattered radiation using a radiation detector array after the primary and scattered radiation have passed through the examination region;
• and
• obtaining a momentum transfer spectrum of the scattered radiation.