Computed tomography with increased field of view
AssigneesThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Nova Ray, Inc.
InventorsNorbert J. Pelc, Rebecca Fahrig, Edward G. Solomon
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Abstract
A volumetric computed tomography system with a large field of view has, in a forward geometry implementation, multiple x-ray point sources emitting corresponding fan beams at a single detector array. The central ray of at least one of the fan beams is radially offset from the axis of rotation of the system by an offset distance D. Consequently, the diameter of the in-plane field of view provided by the fan beams may be larger than in a conventional CT scanner. Any number of point sources may be used. Analogous systems may be implemented with an inverse geometry so that a single source array emits multiple fan beams that converge upon corresponding detectors.
Claims13
A computed tomography system comprising:
- multiple x-ray detectors;
- a source array for generating corresponding fan beams directed at the detectors;
- wherein the x-ray source array and the detectors are capable of being rotated together around a rotational axis;
- and
- wherein the fan beams have corresponding central rays connecting the corresponding detectors to a midpoint of the source array, wherein the central ray of at least one of the fan beams is offset from the rotational axis by a substantial offset distance D.
A method of computed tomography comprising:
- providing multiple x-ray detectors and a source array;
- emitting from the source array corresponding fan beams directed at the detectors;
- acquiring x-ray data at the detectors;
- and
- rotating the x-ray detectors and the source array around a rotational axis;
- wherein the fan beams have corresponding central rays connecting the corresponding detectors to a midpoint of the source array, wherein the central ray of at least one of the fan beams is offset from the rotational axis by a substantial offset distance D.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.