CT imaging system with multiple peak x-ray source
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorDavid M. Hoffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An x-ray source (32) for performing energy discrimination within an imaging system (10) includes a cathode-emitting device (82) emitting electrons and an anode (81) that has a target (80) whereupon the electrons impinge to generate an x-ray beam (93) with multiple x-ray quantity energy peaks (116 and 120). A method of performing energy discrimination in the imaging system (10) includes emitting the electrons. The x-ray beam (93) with the x-ray quantity energy peaks (116 and 120) is generated. The x-ray beam (93) is directed through an object (44) and is received. An x-ray image having multiple energy differentiable characteristics is generated in response to the x-ray beam (93).
Claims15
An x-ray source for performing energy discrimination within an imaging system comprising:
- a plurality of cathode-emitting devices emitting a plurality of electrons;
- and
- a single rotating anode having a plurality of targets oriented whereupon said plurality of electrons impinge to generate a plurality of x-ray beams;
- and
- a plurality of filters simultaneously filtering said plurality of x-ray beams to generate a post-filter x-ray beam having an x-ray distribution with simultaneously a plurality of x-ray quantity versus energy peaks defined as a plurality of peaks in the number of x-rays at multiple energy levels.
An imaging system comprising:
- an x-ray source comprising;
- a plurality of cathode-emitting devices emitting a plurality of electrons;
- and
- at least one anode having at least one target oriented relative to said plurality of cathode-emitting devices whereupon said plurality of electrons impinge to generate a plurality of x-ray beams;
- and
- a plurality of filters simultaneously filtering said plurality of x-ray beams to generate a post-filter x-ray beam having simultaneously a plurality of x-ray quantity versus energy peaks defined as a plurality of peaks in the quantity of x-rays at a plurality energy levels;
- and
- an energy differentiating detector receiving said post-filter x-ray beam and generating an x-ray signal having material energy density differentiating information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.