Method and system for three dimensional tomosynthesis imaging

An imaging system for scanning a volume of interest in an object, the system comprising:

• a radiation source configured to traverse in a plurality of focal spot positions yielding a plurality of focal spot trajectories, wherein each focal spot trajectory defines a two dimensional focal spot projection in an image acquisition plane, and wherein the focal spot positions comprise at least two positions at unequal distances from the image acquisition plane;
• and
• a detector configured to acquire a plurality of acquisition images of the volume of interest in the object from the image acquisition plane, wherein the volume of interest is placed between the detector and the plurality of focal spot positions, and wherein the detector is configured to traverse in a plurality of detector positions, each of the detector positions corresponding to a respective focal spot positions,
• wherein a projection of a locus of points in the object on the detector remains stationary during the scan by adjusting the focal spot trajectory and a detector trajectory.

An imaging system for scanning a volume of interest in an object, the system comprising:

• a radiation source configured to traverse in a plurality of focal spot positions yielding a plurality of focal spot trajectories, wherein each focal spot trajectory defines a two dimensional focal spot projection in an image acquisition plane, and wherein the focal spot positions comprise at least two positions at unequal distances from the image acquisition plane;
• a detector configured to acquire a plurality of acquisition images of the volume of interest in the object from the image acquisition plane, wherein the volume of interest is placed between the detector and the plurality of focal spot positions, wherein a projection of a locus of points in the object on the detector remains stationary during the scan by adjusting the focal spot trajectory and/or a detector trajectory;
• a system controller operably coupled to the source;
• a detector configured to acquire a plurality of acquisition images of the volume of interest in the object from the image acquisition plane, wherein the volume of interest is placed between the detector and the plurality of focal spot positions;
• a motor controller configured to displace at least one of the source, and the detector;
• a processor operably coupled to the detector configured to receive the plurality of projection images and to form one or more reconstructed slices representative of the volume of interest being imaged;
• and
• an operator workstation operably coupled to the processor configured to display the one or more reconstructed slices.

A radiological imaging system comprising:

• a detector extending generally in a plane and configured to receive radiation attenuated by a subject of interest;
• and
• a radiation source configured to direct radiation toward the detector through a subject of interest, the source being movable during imaging sequences in three dimensions with respect to the plane of the detector and wherein the source is configured to move in a plurality of focal spot positions,
• wherein the detector is configured to acquire a plurality of acquisition images of a volume of interest in the subject, wherein the volume of interest is placed between the detector and the plurality of focal spot positions, wherein a projection of a locus of points in the object on the detector remains stationary during the scan by adjusting the focal spot trajectory and/or a detector trajectory.

A radiological imaging system comprising:

• a detector extending generally in a plane and configured to receive radiation attenuated by a subject of interest;
• and
• a radiation source configured to direct radiation toward the detector through a subject of interest, the source being movable during imaging sequences in first and second dimensions generally parallel to the plane of the detector and in a third dimension generally perpendicular to the plane of the detector and wherein the source is configured to move in a plurality of focal spot positions,
• wherein the detector is configured to acquire a plurality of acquisition images of a volume of interest in the subject, wherein the volume of interest is placed between the detector and the plurality of focal spot positions, wherein a projection of a locus of points in the object on the detector remains stationary during the scan by adjusting the focal spot trajectory and/or a detector trajectory.

A radiological imaging system comprising:

• a detector extending generally in a plane and configured to receive radiation attenuated by a subject of interest;
• and
• a radiation source configured to direct radiation toward the detector through a subject of interest, the source being movable during imaging sequences in first and second dimensions in the plane of the detector, and a third dimension to vary the distance between the source and the detector and wherein the source is configured to move in a plurality of focal spot positions,
• wherein the detector is configured to acquire a plurality of acquisition images of a volume of interest in the subject, wherein the volume of interest is placed between the detector and the plurality of focal spot positions, wherein a projection of a locus of points in the object on the detector remains stationary during the scan by adjusting the focal spot trajectory and/or a detector trajectory.

A radiological imaging system comprising:

• a detector extending generally in a plane and configured to receive radiation attenuated by a subject of interest;
• and
• a radiation source configured to direct radiation toward the detector through the subject of interest,
• wherein the detector and/or the source are movable in first and second dimensions in the plane of the detector, and in a third dimension to vary the distance between the source and the detector and wherein the source is configured to move in a plurality of focal spot positions,
• wherein the detector is configured to acquire a plurality of acquisition images of a volume of interest in the subject, wherein the volume of interest is placed between the detector and the plurality of focal spot positions, wherein a projection of a locus of points in the object on the detector remains stationary during the scan by adjusting the focal spot trajectory and/or a detector trajectory.

A radiological imaging system comprising:

• a detector extending generally in a plane and configured to receive radiation attenuated by a subject of interest;
• and
• at least one radiation source configured to direct radiation toward the detector through the subject of interest from a plurality of focal spot positions defining a desired two dimensional projection in an image acquisition plane, the positions being displaced from one another in first and second dimensions generally parallel with the image acquisition plane and at a distance from the image acquisition plane in a third dimension detector and wherein the source is configured to move in a plurality of focal spot positions,
• wherein the detector is configured to acquire a plurality of acquisition images of a volume of interest in the subject, wherein the volume of interest is placed between the detector and the plurality of focal spot positions, wherein a projection of a locus of points in the object on the detector remains stationary during the scan by adjusting the focal spot trajectory and/or a detector trajectory.

A method for scanning a volume of interest in an object using an imaging system, the method comprising:

• traversing a radiation source in a plurality of focal spot positions yielding a plurality of focal spot trajectories, each focal spot trajectory defining a two dimensional focal spot projection in an image acquisition plane, and the focal spot positions comprising at least two positions at unequal distances from the image acquisition plane;
• and
• traversing a detector in a plurality of detector positions, each of the detector positions corresponding to a respective focal spot position, the volume of interest being placed between the detector and the plurality of focal spot positions,
• wherein a projection of a locus of points in the object on the detector remains stationary during the scan by adjusting the focal spot trajectory and a detector trajectory.

A method for generating radiological image data comprising:

• acquiring image data by a detector resulting from radiation impacting the detector from at least one radiation source positioned at a plurality of focal spot positions defining a desired projection in an image acquisition plane, the focal spot positions being displaced from one another in first and second dimensions generally parallel to the image acquisition plane and at a varying distance from the image acquisition plane in a third dimension;
• and
• moving the detector in a plurality of detector positions, each of the detector positions corresponding to a respective focal spot position, an object being placed between the detector and the plurality of focal spot positions,
• wherein a projection of a locus of points in the object on the detector remains stationary during the scan by adjusting the focal spot trajectory and a detector trajectory.

A method for generating radiological image data comprising:

• positioning at least one radiation source at a plurality of positions defining a desired projection of an object in an image acquisition plane, the positions being displaced from one another in first and second dimensions generally parallel to the image acquisition plane and at a varying distance from the image acquisition plane in a third dimension;
• and
• acquiring image data by a detector resulting from radiation impacting the detector from the at least one radiation source,
• wherein a projection of a locus of points in the object on the detector remains stationary during the scan.